Justin Lichter graduated from the University of California, Santa Barbara, with B.A. degrees in geography and business economics. He also received his graduate degree from UCSB, studying environmental science and management with specializations in pollution prevention and remediation, corporate environmental management, and eco-entrepreneurship in the university's Bren School of Environmental Science & Management. Lichter has logged more than 35,000 miles of hiking and backpacking since finishing his undergraduate degree.