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Best Value Environmental/Environmental Health Engineering Colleges

Ranked by best return on investment (earnings vs. cost). See our methodology.

Environmental engineering programs show remarkable cost efficiency across public institutions, with CUNY City College delivering graduates who earn $55,964 annually for just $3,486 in net costs. This 16-to-1 return ratio highlights how strategic program selection can maximize career value in a field where the EPA employs over 14,000 environmental professionals nationwide. California Polytechnic State University leads earnings at $63,005, while University of Florida combines strong outcomes with accessible pricing at $6,351 net cost. The $14,740 earnings gap between top and bottom performers reflects regional demand variations, particularly in states with major environmental consulting firms and renewable energy sectors. Georgia Tech and University of Michigan maintain sub-18% acceptance rates while keeping net costs below $15,000, proving that selectivity doesn't always correlate with expense. Most programs cluster in the $48,000-$58,000 earnings range, with debt loads typically under $25,000, making environmental engineering one of the more financially accessible STEM pathways for addressing climate change challenges.
50
Programs
$3,486 – $43,273
Net Price Range
$52,059
Avg. Program Earnings
71.5%
Avg. Graduation Rate

50 Environmental/Environmental Health Engineering Programs

Program rankings
# School Net Price Program Earnings In-State Tuition Graduation Rate Acceptance Rate
1 $3,486 $55,964 $7,340 54.7% 66.6%
2 $6,351 $48,823 $6,381 91.5% 23.4%
3 $8,896 $58,221 $17,462 59.5% 97.9%
4 $10,319 $57,318 $6,118 56.0% 74.4%
5 $11,504 $58,221 $17,462 56.7% 97.4%
6 $10,650 $53,358 $6,368 75.1% 41.0%
7 $13,339 $58,221 $17,452 65.4% 97.3%
8 $13,289 $56,641 $11,764 92.3% 17.1%
9 $14,059 $58,221 $17,472 56.9% 92.2%
10 $14,832 $60,771 $17,228 93.2% 17.7%
11 $15,624 $63,005 $11,075 85.2% 30.4%
12 $14,754 $58,673 $8,315 61.5% 85.4%
13 $13,816 $52,941 $11,180 87.2% 42.6%
14 $13,773 $52,733 $14,278 63.6% 81.5%
15 $15,402 $57,318 $8,994 62.4% 85.6%
16 $13,167 $48,265 $7,913 46.6% 98.2%
17 $18,292 $62,012 $12,859 87.7% 52.7%
18 $15,729 $51,607 $18,392 68.7% 93.7%
19 $16,931 $55,512 $16,080 78.8% 73.8%
20 $14,922 $48,432 $12,652 56.9% 80.0%
21 $13,670 $43,128 $12,051 67.8% 89.8%
22 $13,707 $42,682 $14,170 76.6% 68.7%
23 $12,744 $38,721 $14,167 69.1% 89.5%
24 $17,722 $50,856 $12,594 51.2% 79.0%
25 $19,568 $50,856 $13,494 70.6% 82.5%
26 $20,470 $52,107 $10,782 73.4% 67.7%
27 $22,886 $58,221 $20,366 83.8% 54.5%
28 $20,015 $50,856 $11,954 71.0% 75.7%
29 $21,480 $54,254 $16,430 75.0% 80.7%
30 $22,112 $52,941 $15,554 87.9% 43.0%
31 $20,332 $47,118 $12,896 66.9% 90.8%
32 $20,860 $48,041 $18,890 78.6% 59.8%
33 $23,261 $50,621 $19,112 76.4% 87.0%
34 $16,174 $35,060 $8,290 78.3% 39.3%
35 $27,700 $52,941 $42,286 60.3% 94.1%
36 $31,955 $56,157 $57,950 73.6% 78.4%
37 $27,823 $48,432 $62,693 96.8% 12.9%
38 $29,240 $50,558 $21,186 79.4% 58.0%
39 $33,139 $52,941 $61,884 83.2% 64.5%
40 $32,337 $51,273 $66,014 95.1% 7.5%
41 $38,428 $55,286 $60,663 77.1% 79.6%
42 $43,273 $54,035 $59,070 88.4% 57.5%
43 $36,371 $25,194 $53,500 86.9% 69.7%
44 $17,216 $11,380 52.4% 91.9%
45 $23,156 $13,570 71.5% 86.2%
46 $23,206 $37,951 69.5% 80.9%
47 $22,140 $34,899 68.9% 83.7%
48 $15,389 $9,622 43.0%
49 $17,460 $12,377 55.6% 92.2%
50 $16,972 $5,786 48.1% 67.9%

Frequently Asked Questions

What makes CUNY City College such an strong value for environmental engineering?

CUNY City College offers the lowest net cost at $3,486 while producing graduates earning $55,964 annually, creating a remarkable return on investment. The program maintains a 66.6% acceptance rate with a 54.7% graduation rate. Located in New York, graduates access major environmental consulting firms and city agencies focused on urban sustainability projects.

How do earnings vary between the highest and lowest paying programs?

California Polytechnic State University graduates earn $63,005 compared to University of Florida's $48,823, creating a $14,182 annual difference. However, Cal Poly's net cost reaches $15,624 versus Florida's $6,351. The earnings premium often reflects regional cost of living and industry concentration, particularly in California's growing clean technology sector.

Is University of Connecticut worth considering across multiple campus locations?

UConn operates four campuses with identical $58,221 graduate earnings but varying costs from $8,896 at Waterbury to $14,059 at Stamford. All locations maintain 97%+ acceptance rates and similar debt levels around $21,500. The Hartford campus shows the strongest graduation rate at 65.4% among the regional campuses.

Does Georgia Tech justify its competitive admission standards for environmental engineering?

Georgia Tech accepts only 17.13% of applicants but maintains reasonable costs with $13,289 net price and graduates earning $56,641. The program achieves a 92.3% graduation rate, significantly higher than most alternatives. Located in Atlanta, students benefit from proximity to CDC environmental health divisions and major engineering firms.

Where can students find strong programs with manageable debt levels?

University of Michigan produces the lowest average debt at $17,587 while maintaining $60,771 graduate earnings and a 93.2% graduation rate. Florida Gulf Coast University and Cal Poly both keep debt around $20,000-$20,500. Most programs in this analysis maintain debt below $25,000, making environmental engineering relatively affordable compared to other engineering disciplines.

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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.