Side-by-Side Comparison

Compare schools across environmental programs, campus features, academic rigor, and more. Schools are ranked by star rating in each category.

⭐ Schools ranked by YOUR priorities (adjust weights in My Priorities to re-rank)

#1
ACCEPTED

UC Davis

AVERAGE RATING
4.0

R1 research university with world-class environmental programs, bike-friendly campus, close to Palo Alto, and strong in-state value.

RATINGS BY CRITERION

Programs:
5.0
Liberal Arts:
4.0
Nature:
4.0
Rigor:
4.0
Student Life:
4.0
Commute:
5.0
Cost:
5.0
Small Classes:
3.0
Job Placement:
4.0
Experiential:
4.0

LOCATION

Davis, California

#2
DENIED

Cal Poly SLO

AVERAGE RATING
5.0

Top polytechnic university on California's Central Coast with 'Learn by Doing' approach, strong environmental engineering, and excellent value.

RATINGS BY CRITERION

Programs:
5.0
Liberal Arts:
3.0
Nature:
5.0
Rigor:
4.0
Student Life:
3.7
Commute:
4.0
Cost:
5.0
Small Classes:
3.0
Job Placement:
4.0
Experiential:
5.0

LOCATION

San Luis Obispo, California

#3
DENIED

UC Berkeley

AVERAGE RATING
4.0

Elite public university closest to home with top-ranked programs across all fields, competitive atmosphere, and excellent California resident value.

RATINGS BY CRITERION

Programs:
5.0
Liberal Arts:
4.5
Nature:
4.0
Rigor:
5.0
Student Life:
3.0
Commute:
5.0
Cost:
4.0
Small Classes:
2.0
Job Placement:
5.0
Experiential:
3.0

LOCATION

Berkeley, California

#4
ACCEPTED

Mines

AVERAGE RATING
4.0

Top-ranked engineering university in Rocky Mountain foothills specializing in earth, energy, and environment with rigorous STEM focus and stunning outdoor access.

RATINGS BY CRITERION

Programs:
4.5
Liberal Arts:
2.5
Nature:
5.0
Rigor:
4.5
Student Life:
4.0
Commute:
2.0
Cost:
3.5
Small Classes:
4.5
Job Placement:
4.5
Experiential:
4.5

LOCATION

Golden, Colorado

#5
ACCEPTED

UCSB

AVERAGE RATING
4.0

Top-ranked UC campus on a coastal mesa with the Pacific Ocean on three sides, one of the oldest Environmental Studies programs in the US, and 6 Nobel Laureates on faculty.

RATINGS BY CRITERION

Programs:
4.5
Liberal Arts:
3.5
Nature:
5.0
Rigor:
4.0
Student Life:
4.5
Commute:
3.0
Cost:
4.5
Small Classes:
2.5
Job Placement:
4.0
Experiential:
4.0

LOCATION

Santa Barbara, California

#6
ACCEPTED

Cornell CALS

AVERAGE RATING
5.0

Ivy League research powerhouse with world-class environmental programs across all fields, stunning campus, and very high academic expectations.

RATINGS BY CRITERION

Programs:
5.0
Liberal Arts:
5.0
Nature:
5.0
Rigor:
5.0
Student Life:
4.0
Commute:
1.0
Cost:
1.0
Small Classes:
3.0
Job Placement:
5.0
Experiential:
4.5

LOCATION

Ithaca, New York

#7
WAITLISTED

Olin

AVERAGE RATING
5.0

Tiny innovative engineering college with project-based learning, collaborative culture, and automatic half-tuition scholarship for all students.

RATINGS BY CRITERION

Programs:
4.0
Liberal Arts:
4.0
Nature:
2.0
Rigor:
4.5
Student Life:
4.0
Commute:
2.0
Cost:
3.0
Small Classes:
5.0
Job Placement:
5.0
Experiential:
5.0

LOCATION

Needham, Massachusetts

#8
WAITLISTED

Bowdoin

AVERAGE RATING
5.0

Prestigious Maine liberal arts college with top-tier dining, excellent pre-law preparation, and very high academic rigor in coastal setting.

RATINGS BY CRITERION

Programs:
4.5
Liberal Arts:
5.0
Nature:
4.0
Rigor:
4.5
Student Life:
5.0
Commute:
1.0
Cost:
1.0
Small Classes:
5.0
Job Placement:
4.0
Experiential:
3.7

LOCATION

Brunswick, Maine

#9
ACCEPTED

Humboldt

AVERAGE RATING
4.0

Small CSU focused on hands-on environmental education in remote Northern California redwood country with strong outdoor culture and affordability.

RATINGS BY CRITERION

Programs:
4.0
Liberal Arts:
3.5
Nature:
5.0
Rigor:
3.0
Student Life:
3.0
Commute:
2.0
Cost:
5.0
Small Classes:
4.5
Job Placement:
3.0
Experiential:
4.0

LOCATION

Arcata, Northern California

#10
ACCEPTED

Oregon State

AVERAGE RATING
4.0

Large research university offering strong environmental programs with Pacific Northwest access, moderate rigor, and big school energy.

RATINGS BY CRITERION

Programs:
4.0
Liberal Arts:
4.0
Nature:
5.0
Rigor:
3.5
Student Life:
4.0
Commute:
2.0
Cost:
4.0
Small Classes:
3.0
Job Placement:
3.0
Experiential:
4.0

LOCATION

Corvallis, Oregon

#11
ACCEPTED

Carleton

AVERAGE RATING
4.0

Quirky Minnesota liberal arts college with fast-paced trimester system, beautiful arboretum campus, and collaborative intellectual community.

RATINGS BY CRITERION

Programs:
3.0
Liberal Arts:
4.5
Nature:
4.0
Rigor:
4.5
Student Life:
5.0
Commute:
2.0
Cost:
1.0
Small Classes:
5.0
Job Placement:
3.7
Experiential:
3.7

LOCATION

Northfield, Minnesota

#12
ACCEPTED

Colorado College

AVERAGE RATING
4.0

Elite liberal arts college with intensive Block Plan, exceptional nature access at the base of Pikes Peak, and rigorous academics.

RATINGS BY CRITERION

Programs:
3.0
Liberal Arts:
4.5
Nature:
5.0
Rigor:
4.0
Student Life:
4.0
Commute:
2.0
Cost:
1.0
Small Classes:
5.0
Job Placement:
3.5
Experiential:
4.0

LOCATION

Colorado Springs, Colorado

#13
DENIED

Swarthmore

AVERAGE RATING
5.0

Highly rigorous liberal arts college near Philadelphia known for collaborative honors program and outstanding pre-law preparation.

RATINGS BY CRITERION

Programs:
3.0
Liberal Arts:
5.0
Nature:
3.0
Rigor:
5.0
Student Life:
5.0
Commute:
1.0
Cost:
1.0
Small Classes:
5.0
Job Placement:
4.0
Experiential:
2.5

LOCATION

Swarthmore, Pennsylvania

#14
ACCEPTED

Occidental

AVERAGE RATING
4.0

Small liberal arts college in LA with diverse community, solid environmental science, pre-law preparation, and urban opportunities.

RATINGS BY CRITERION

Programs:
3.0
Liberal Arts:
4.0
Nature:
4.0
Rigor:
3.0
Student Life:
4.0
Commute:
3.0
Cost:
2.0
Small Classes:
5.0
Job Placement:
3.5
Experiential:
2.5

LOCATION

Los Angeles (Eagle Rock), California

#15
ACCEPTED

Lafayette

AVERAGE RATING
4.0

Traditional liberal arts college in Pennsylvania with ABET-accredited engineering, strong pre-law support, and balanced rigor.

RATINGS BY CRITERION

Programs:
3.0
Liberal Arts:
4.0
Nature:
3.5
Rigor:
3.0
Student Life:
4.0
Commute:
1.0
Cost:
2.0
Small Classes:
4.0
Job Placement:
3.7
Experiential:
3.7

LOCATION

Easton, Pennsylvania