College-bound | JobMap

A college degree is one of the best ways to boost your income. You can study full-time at a traditional four-year college or you can study first at a community college. Many 4-year colleges have admissions requirements you need to meet to get in; many community colleges accept almost everyone with a high school degree or GED. You can study part-time, in-person or online. Either way, getting a four-year, bachelor’s degree or a two-year, associate’s degree can really improve your chances of getting a good-paying and rewarding job that helps the environment.

Want more proof that getting a college degree is a good idea? People with college degrees make an average of $17,500 a year more than people who don’t have college degrees. Even considering the cost of college, those higher earnings can really add up. Also, on average, people with college degrees are three times less likely to be unemployed. A college degree is a great investment of time and money.

These days, more and more colleges and universities are offering degrees and classes that can help their students get green jobs. College majors and minors include programs like environmental studies, environmental engineering, ocean and marine biology, urban planning, and landscape architecture. But almost any degree can be used to help the environment. Studying political science, for example, can help you understand why people and politicians adopt green practices and policies. A communications degree can help you get environmental information out to the public. A business degree can help you start a green business. In cases like these, an environmental minor can be especially useful. People with scientific and technical skills, like scientists and engineers, can find their skills to be in high demand when they graduate from college.

Resources

There are many great resources for people interested in studying for green careers in college. The Princeton Review offers a wealth of valuable information. Its Career Profile webpage can help you find out about college degrees that can lead to the kind of career you want. It can also help you find colleges that offer programs in the fields you’re interested in. The Princeton Review offers great advice on applying to college. It offers helpful information about scholarships and financial aid. It even has a green college guide!

Another great resource is the website of the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education. The organization helps colleges and their students meet the environmental challenges we all face. One of its best resources is a listing, college by college, of courses and majors that can eventually lead to green jobs. It also lists green college majors and minors at colleges across the country and associate degrees at community colleges as well.

Lastly, for more information about the type of work you can do with your green college degree, visit this great webpage sponsored by Arizona State University’s School of Sustainability.

Many New York City and New York State colleges and universities are leaders in training students in fields that help the environment. The City University of New York (CUNY) and the State University of New York (SUNY) offer degrees at campuses that are close to home, at an affordable cost; SUNY even has an entire college devoted to environmental sciences and forestry. The SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry offers both undergraduate and graduate degrees. In New York City, private universities like Columbia University and New York University are also leaders in this field.

Four-Year or Two-Year Degree?

Community colleges can be great places to start if you’ve been out of high school for a long time. They’re great, too, if you’re looking for a very affordable education, or if your high school grades or GED scores are low.

Community colleges usually offer two-year, associate’s degrees that can give you technical training and help you get a leg up when you’re looking for a green job. The Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education lists many community colleges and the green associate degrees they offer. Many students who start at community colleges eventually transfer to four-year colleges to get a bachelor ’s degree.

Scholarships

There are a growing number of scholarships available to students interested in studying for green careers Check out the resources below to find out more about them. (Since many of the listings come from articles, there’s some overlap.) Also, many individual colleges offer scholarships to students interested in environmental degrees. So remember to check out the scholarship offerings at the colleges you apply to.

To find out more about studying for a green career and about community and 4-year colleges, check out the websites listed here:

CUNY

CUNY Admissions Webpage

CUNY Admissions Profiles (including average SAT scores, ACT scores and grade point averages)

CUNY Green Classes and Degree Programs

SUNY

SUNY Admissions

SUNY Admission Information Summary (including average SAT scores, ACT scores and grade point averages)

Princeton Review and Other College Resources

Arizona State University Green Careers Listings

Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education

Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education Associates Degrees Webpage