Environmental Science Programs Near Dubuque, Iowa

Quick answer: 12 colleges within 100 miles of Dubuque, Iowa award a environmental science degree, the nearest about 1 miles away (IPEDS Completions, 2024). Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health in Iowa earn a median $78,780 per year against $82,220 nationally (BLS OEWS, May 2025).

Environmental Science Program Access Near Dubuque, Iowa

Distance from DubuqueColleges awarding this degree
Within 25 miles2
Within 50 miles2
Within 100 miles12
Within 250 miles74

Source: IPEDS Completions, 2024, counting institutions that reported awarding this degree, joined to IPEDS institution coordinates. Distances are straight-line.

Access around Dubuque is thinner than in the larger Iowa metros. The nearest college awarding this degree is roughly 1 miles away and 12 sit within 100 miles, which is the case where an online or low-residency program earns its keep.

Colleges Near Dubuque

How we rank schools – graduation rate, graduate earnings, cost and retention. Advertising plays no part.

This page lists 10 schools within 166 miles, closest group first, then ordered by BOC Score with the highest at the top. 10 of them carry a score.

Location / proximity to this page
Defines the local group
Graduation rate how often students finish
30%
Median earnings, 10 years after entry whether it paid off
25%
Average net price what students actually pay after aid; lower ranks higher
20%
Retention rate how many come back for year two
15%
Fully online availability whether you can study while working
10%

Scores come from IPEDS (2024) and the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Earnings are for all graduates of a school, not one program, so treat them as a signal about the institution rather than about this subject. Sponsored listings are paid placements and are labelled as such; they are separate from this ranking and never change it. Read the full methodology.

#1

Iowa State University

Ames, IA 154.0 miles away BOC Score 76.9
Tuition Contact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Programs offered: 26
  • Annual completions: 1515
  • Median graduate earnings, 4 yrs after completing (all majors, not a single program): $68,277 (College Scorecard)
  • Online programs available

Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard

#2

University of Iowa

Iowa City, IA 71.9 miles away BOC Score 73.5
Tuition Contact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Programs offered: 21
  • Annual completions: 828
  • Median graduate earnings, 4 yrs after completing (all majors, not a single program): $69,866 (College Scorecard)
  • Online programs available

Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard

#3

Drake University

Des Moines, IA 163.4 miles away BOC Score 72.1
Tuition Contact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Completion rate: 75.7% (College Scorecard)
  • Programs offered: 6
  • Annual completions: 178
  • Median graduate earnings, 4 yrs after completing (all majors, not a single program): $65,232 (College Scorecard)
  • Online programs available

Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard

#4

University of Northern Iowa

Cedar Falls, IA 89.3 miles away BOC Score 68.9
Tuition $9,936 - $22,278
Contact
Key stats
  • Admission rate: 92.7%
  • Graduation rate: 68.5%
  • Programs offered: 20
  • Annual completions: 227
  • Median graduate earnings, 4 yrs after completing (all majors, not a single program): $54,830 (College Scorecard)
  • Online programs available

Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard

#5

Simpson College

Indianola, IA 166.5 miles away BOC Score 64.4
Tuition $47,656 - $61,227
Contact
Key stats
  • Admission rate: 86.2%
  • Graduation rate: 64.4%
  • Programs offered: 7
  • Annual completions: 29
  • Median graduate earnings, 4 yrs after completing (all majors, not a single program): $56,509 (College Scorecard)
  • Online programs available

Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard

#6

Wartburg College

Waverly, IA 91.7 miles away BOC Score 56.6
Tuition Contact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Completion rate: 65.5% (College Scorecard)
  • Programs offered: 2
  • Median graduate earnings, 4 yrs after completing (all majors, not a single program): $58,373 (College Scorecard)
  • Online programs available

Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard

#7

Central College

Pella, IA 136.9 miles away BOC Score 49.0
Tuition Contact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Completion rate: 67.8% (College Scorecard)
  • Programs offered: 1
  • Annual completions: 4
  • Median graduate earnings, 4 yrs after completing (all majors, not a single program): $55,693 (College Scorecard)

Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard

#8

Cornell College

Mount Vernon, IA 54.1 miles away BOC Score 45.8
Tuition Contact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Completion rate: 66.8% (College Scorecard)
  • Programs offered: 2
  • Annual completions: 5
  • Median graduate earnings, 4 yrs after completing (all majors, not a single program): $48,353 (College Scorecard)

Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard

#9

University of Dubuque

Dubuque, IA 0.7 miles away BOC Score 43.1
Tuition Contact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Completion rate: 40.6% (College Scorecard)
  • Programs offered: 5
  • Annual completions: 95
  • Median graduate earnings, 4 yrs after completing (all majors, not a single program): $59,598 (College Scorecard)
  • Online programs available

Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard

#10

Upper Iowa University

Fayette, IA 60.2 miles away BOC Score 42.5
Tuition $19,475 - $34,022
Contact
Key stats
  • Admission rate: 96.5%
  • Graduation rate: 38.0%
  • Programs offered: 8
  • Annual completions: 34
  • Median graduate earnings, 4 yrs after completing (all majors, not a single program): $58,837 (College Scorecard)
  • Online programs available

Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard

What Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health Earn in Iowa

The Iowa median for environmental scientists and specialists, including health is $78,780 per year, below the national median of $82,220, on state employment of 690 (BLS OEWS, May 2025).

These are statewide figures. The Bureau of Labor Statistics does not publish wages at city level, so no page can tell you what this job pays in Dubuque specifically. For the metro-level picture where it is published, and the full percentile spread, see the Iowa page.

Choosing a Environmental Science Program From Dubuque

The subject matter does not change by location: environmental chemistry, hydrology and geology, GIS and remote sensing, toxicology and risk assessment, and environmental policy. What changes is how you take it. Ask each college whether the program holds accreditation from a recognized institutional accreditor, how much of the coursework is delivered online, and which components require you on campus. Credit transfer is decided by the receiving institution and genuinely varies, so request a written transfer evaluation before you enroll.

Other Iowa Cities

Clinton * Marion * Cedar Rapids * Davenport * Coralville * Iowa City * Muscatine * Waterloo

Sources

  • U.S. Department of Education, IPEDS Completions, 2024 - institutions awarding this degree, with IPEDS institution coordinates
  • U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 - Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health (SOC 19-2041)

About this guide: Researched and written by the TradeCareerPath Editorial Team. Our editorial team researches and sources every trade school and career guide using federal labor and education data, including BLS OEWS and Employment Projections, DOL apprenticeship records, IPEDS, College Scorecard, and state licensing boards. We follow the editorial standards documented at /editorial-policy/.