Environmental Design Colleges Under $20,000

Environmental Design programs under $20,000 reveal striking cost differences across the country, from University of Puerto Rico-Rio Piedras at just $6,507 to North Carolina State at $16,931. Florida Atlantic University graduates earn $55,964 annually while Minnesota graduates start at $32,382, highlighting how regional markets shape career outcomes. California dominates the high-performance tier with UC Berkeley achieving 92.9% graduation rates and UC Irvine maintaining 86% completion despite selective 21.15% acceptance rates. The Southwest and Pacific regions drive much of the environmental design job market, with firms like AECOM, Gensler, and HDR recruiting heavily from these programs. Arizona State's 89.75% acceptance rate makes quality education accessible, while schools like University of Washington blend urban planning expertise with sustainability focus that employers increasingly demand.

Programs

$6,507 – $18,430

Net Price Range

$43,553

Avg. Program Earnings

70.5%

Avg. Graduation Rate

18 Environmental Design Programs

Program rankings
#	School	Net Price	In-State Tuition	Graduation Rate	Acceptance Rate
1	University of Puerto Rico-Rio Piedras San Juan, Puerto Rico	$6,507	$5,324	52.5%	51.6%
2	Florida Atlantic University Boca Raton, Florida	$8,001	$4,879	64.3%	81.3%
3	University of California-Irvine Irvine, California	$12,840	$14,237	86.0%	21.2%
4	Utah State University Logan, Utah	$12,869	$9,228	57.3%	93.7%
5	University of Hawaii at Manoa Honolulu, Hawaii	$13,181	$12,186	62.6%	72.8%
6	University of Memphis Memphis, Tennessee	$13,253	$10,344	49.4%	94.6%
7	University of Washington-Seattle Campus Seattle, Washington	$13,485	$12,643	83.7%	47.5%
8	Arizona State University Campus Immersion Tempe, Arizona	$13,670	$12,051	67.8%	89.8%
9	University of Houston Houston, Texas	$13,853	$9,711	64.9%	66.2%
10	University of California-Berkeley Berkeley, California	$14,979	$14,850	92.9%	11.3%
11	University of California-Davis Davis, California	$15,288	$15,247	85.1%	37.3%
12	Ball State University Muncie, Indiana	$15,898	$10,758	63.3%	69.0%
13	North Dakota State University-Main Campus Fargo, North Dakota	$16,334	$10,857	63.7%	95.7%
14	North Carolina State University at Raleigh Raleigh, North Carolina	$16,931	$8,895	84.6%	47.2%
15	University of Minnesota-Twin Cities Minneapolis, Minnesota	$17,139	$16,488	84.8%	74.9%
16	University of Oklahoma-Norman Campus Norman, Oklahoma	$17,413	$9,595	75.3%	72.9%
17	University of New Mexico-Main Campus Albuquerque, New Mexico	$17,478	$8,115	52.5%	96.1%
18	Stony Brook University Stony Brook, New York	$18,430	$10,560	77.8%	49.1%

Frequently Asked Questions

What explains the $49,457 earnings gap between top and bottom programs?

Florida Atlantic graduates earn $55,964 compared to Minnesota's $32,382, reflecting regional job markets and industry concentration. Florida's growing urban development and climate resilience projects create higher-paying opportunities. Geographic location often matters more than program rankings for starting salaries. Hawaii graduates earn $49,019 despite the state's remote location due to unique environmental challenges requiring specialized expertise.

How do California schools maintain such high graduation rates?

UC Berkeley achieves 92.9% graduation rates while UC Davis reaches 85.1%, well above the national average. These programs benefit from strong industry connections and solid academic support systems. California's environmental design sector provides clear career pathways through firms like EHDD and Sasaki Associates. The state's environmental regulations create consistent demand for graduates, improving retention and completion rates.

Does acceptance rate correlate with program quality in environmental design?

UC Berkeley's 11.33% acceptance rate produces 92.9% graduation rates, while North Dakota State accepts 95.68% with 63.7% completion. However, Arizona State combines 89.75% acceptance with solid outcomes, proving accessibility doesn't compromise quality. Utah State accepts 93.73% of applicants yet maintains reasonable graduation rates at 57.3%. Selective admissions often reflect location desirability rather than program strength alone.

Where do debt levels create the biggest challenges for graduates?

North Carolina State graduates carry $25,684 in debt despite strong 84.6% graduation rates and reasonable $16,931 net costs. Hawaii students face $22,648 debt burdens but earn $49,019 starting salaries, creating manageable debt-to-income ratios. Arizona State's $18,845 average debt aligns with moderate earnings expectations. Puerto Rico offers the lowest debt risk at just $5,500 for graduates willing to start careers locally.

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Net price reflects the average cost after grants and scholarships for first-time, full-time students. See our methodology for details.