Is the University of Maryland or the University of Vermont better for environmental studies?

The biggest practical tradeoff is that Maryland places environmental study near Washington, D.C.’s policy, regulatory, and advocacy ecosystem, while Vermont offers a more field-centered education rooted in Lake Champlain, forests, agriculture, and outdoor research. At UMD, the Environmental Science and Policy major connects scientific coursework with economics, policy, and governance, and students can pursue internships with federal agencies, nonprofits, and environmental consulting organizations in the D.C. area. At UVM, Environmental Studies is notably interdisciplinary, with strong links to the Rubenstein School of Environment and Natural Resources and frequent opportunities to study sustainability and conservation in a hands-on regional setting.

For a student who means “environmental studies” in the broad liberal-arts sense, UVM has the more naturally aligned academic culture. Its program emphasizes the human, political, ethical, and scientific dimensions of environmental problems, and Burlington provides an accessible setting for work involving watershed health, food systems, climate resilience, and land conservation. The university’s environmental identity is highly visible across campus rather than confined to one major.

Maryland may be more compelling for environmental policy, climate governance, environmental justice, science communication, or careers that benefit from regular access to national institutions. It also has the advantages of a large research university: more extensive course options, research labs, and connections across fields such as public policy, biology, engineering, geography, and agriculture. Students should note that its Environmental Science and Policy curriculum can feel more structured and policy-oriented than a traditional environmental studies program.