by our College Data Analytics TeamIn the latest year, 152 U.S. colleges awarded 2,892 degrees and certificates in General Environmental Engineering. Bachelor’s degrees are the most popular award, at 66% of graduates. College Factual ranks 80 schools in its 2027 Best General Environmental Engineering Schools ranking and compares their cost in a Best Value ranking. Graduates earn a median $65,973 one year after completing, rising to $84,474 after four years.
A major in General Environmental Engineering explores Environmental/environmental Health Engineering. A Program That Prepares Individuals To Apply Mathematical And Scientific Principles To The Design, Development And Operational Evaluation Of Systems For Controlling Contained Living Environments And For Monitoring And Controlling Factors In The External Natural Environment, Including Pollution Control, Waste And Hazardous Material Disposal, Health And Safety Protection, Conservation, Life Support, And Requirements For Protection Of Special Materials And Related Work Environments. Examples: [Environmental Engineering], [Environmental Management Engineering].
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; BLS; O*NET; College Factual rankings 2027. Data as of: July 2026.
Nationwide, general environmental engineering draws strong interest, with 2,892 degrees awarded annually. 152 colleges award general environmental engineering degrees, an average of 19 graduates per school; the largest program awarded 94.
By level, the 2,892 awards include 1,918 bachelor’s degrees, 798 master’s degrees and 176 doctorates.
Women earned 55% of general environmental engineering degrees and certificates in the latest year (1,603 of 2,892). The largest groups of graduates by race and ethnicity are White (1,604) and Hispanic or Latino (361), and international students earned 414.
College Factual ranks 80 schools in its 2027 Best General Environmental Engineering Schools ranking, including 70 for bachelor’s degrees, 23 for master’s degrees and 2 for doctorates. It also ranks general environmental engineering schools within 30 states. In all, 152 colleges offer general environmental engineering programs; compare them by degree level below or in the Best Value General Environmental Engineering Colleges ranking, which weighs quality against cost.
The most common general environmental engineering credential is the bachelor’s degree: 1,918 of the 2,892 awarded in the latest year. Jobs related to general environmental engineering call most for Speaking, Reading Comprehension and Active Listening, and for knowledge of Engineering and Technology, English Language and Mathematics, according to O*NET. The most important abilities are Oral Expression, Written Comprehension and Oral Comprehension.
Top skills, rated 0–5:
Top knowledge areas, rated 0–5:
How long a general environmental engineering degree takes:
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 1,918 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 798 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 176 |
Doctoral degree is the most common level of education among workers in jobs related to general environmental engineering, at 34.1%.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Doctoral degree | 34.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree | 28.1% |
| Master’s degree | 11.6% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 10.8% |
| Post-doctoral training | 10.1% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 1.8% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 1.5% |
| First professional degree | 1.0% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 0.8% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 0.2% |
Source: O*NET Online.
6 occupations are related to General Environmental Engineering, with an average median salary of $99,249; the strongest outlook belongs to Environmental Engineers, at 9.8% projected job growth. Typical job titles include Environmental Engineering Professor, Aeronautics Teacher, Mechanical Engineering Professor and Research Professor.
The occupation related to general environmental engineering with the most projected jobs is Engineering Teachers, Postsecondary, at 1,297,204.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Engineering Teachers, Postsecondary | 1,297,204 | -2.0% |
| Biofuels/Biodiesel Technology and Product Development Managers | 440,884 | 8.0% |
| Fire-Prevention and Protection Engineers | 334,450 | -0.8% |
| Architectural and Engineering Managers | 207,139 | 9.0% |
| Health and Safety Engineers, Except Mining Safety Engineers and Inspectors | 101,952 | 0.4% |
| Environmental Engineers | 83,613 | 9.8% |
General Environmental Engineering graduates earn a median $65,973 one year after completing their program, $84,474 after four years and $82,616 after five years, according to the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $65,973 |
| 4 years | $84,474 |
| 5 years | $82,616 |
Source: College Scorecard.
The highest-paying occupation related to general environmental engineering is Fire-Prevention and Protection Engineers, with a median salary of $122,967.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Fire-Prevention and Protection Engineers | $122,967 |
| Health and Safety Engineers, Except Mining Safety Engineers and Inspectors | $122,201 |
| Architectural and Engineering Managers | $101,277 |
| Biofuels/Biodiesel Technology and Product Development Managers | $89,263 |
| Environmental Engineers | $79,896 |
| Engineering Teachers, Postsecondary | $79,889 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
