Indiana University’s Paul H. O’Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs — ranked #1 for Environmental Policy & Management — is now accepting applications for 3 master’s programs in environmental science and sustainability:
- Master of Science in Environmental Science (MSES)
- Master of Environmental Sustainability (MES) — In Person
- Online Master of Environmental Sustainability (Online MES)
75% of on-campus students receive funding packages of at least 25%, and MSES graduates have a 100% placement rate. Programs are available on campus or fully online.
Click here to learn more about O’Neill’s environmental programs
Program Comparison
| MSES | MES (In Person) | Online MES | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Format | In person | In person | 100% online, asynchronous |
| Credits | 48 | 36 | 36 |
| Duration | 2 years | As little as 1 year | As little as 2 years |
| Focus | Environmental science, analytical methods, and policy | Environmental policy and planning | Environmental policy and planning; municipal and industrial sustainability |
| Funding | Most receive at least 25% | 75% receive 25%+ | $690/credit hour flat rate (all states) |
| STEM OPT Eligible | Yes | Yes | — |
| Application Deadline | May 1 | May 1 | July 15 |
Master of Science in Environmental Science (MSES)
The MSES at the O’Neill School is a 48-credit, two-year in-person degree — one of the oldest and largest programs of its kind in the nation. The curriculum covers environmental science, analytical methods, and policy. Graduates are eligible for the STEM OPT extension.
100% of IU MSES graduates place immediately after graduation. All MSES students are considered for funding — most receive at least 25%.
Application deadline: May 1
Master of Environmental Sustainability (MES) — In Person
The in-person MES is an accelerated, 36 credit-hour degree that can be completed in as little as one year. The curriculum emphasizes social, economic, and environmental sustainability, with a concentration in environmental policy and planning. Students gain quantitative, economic, and management skills applicable across the public, private, and nonprofit sectors. International graduates are eligible for the STEM OPT extension, and students may also complete the program at a slower pace to fit their schedule.
75% of all students receive funding of 25% or more.
Application deadline: May 1
Online Master of Environmental Sustainability (Online MES)
The Online MES is a fully online, self-paced, asynchronous 36 credit-hour degree that can be completed in as little as two years. Designed for working professionals, the curriculum emphasizes social, economic, and environmental sustainability, with concentration options in environmental policy and planning or municipal and industrial sustainability. Taught by the same faculty as the in-person program.
All online MES students are charged one flat rate for tuition — $690 per credit hour — regardless of state residency status.
Application deadline: July 15
Funding Your Degree
75% of all O’Neill master’s students taking programs on campus receive funding packages of at least 25%. Email [email protected] to learn more about funding your degree.
Where O’Neill Graduates Work
O’Neill environmental graduates go on to roles such as:
- Wetlands Project Manager, Indiana Department of Environmental Management
- Park Ranger, National Parks Service
- Environmental Quality Analyst, State of Michigan
- Ecologist Coordinator, Arkansas Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Division
- Policy Regulatory Planner, Midcontinent Independent System Operator
- Environmental Protection Specialist, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
- Landscape Conservation Design Specialist, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
- Wetlands Specialist, Burns & McDonnell
Learn More:
- Click here to explore O’Neill’s environmental programs
- Bison herd growing as O’Neill School alumna restores Indiana’s prairies (alumni impact story + video)
- From Bloomington to the backcountry: How O’Neill’s MSES prepared David Diamond for collaborative grizzly bear conservation (alumni impact story)
- Sustainability in action: O’Neill students’ Costa Rica summer program experience (student impact story)
- Nurturing roots: A student’s journey towards environmental sustainability (student experience story)
- Experiencing the world as your classroom: Julie Frieder, O’Neill MPA-MSES alum (alumni experience story)
You can also learn more about these Master’s programs in this video: