Finding the Best Value General Environmental Engineering School for You
The general environmental engineering program you select can have a big impact on your finances and your future. To help, we created our Best Value General Environmental Engineering Schools ranking. It weighs the cost of a degree against the outcomes graduates go on to achieve, so you can find the strongest return on your investment.
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2026 Best Value General Environmental Engineering Schools in the United States
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the general environmental engineering degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value General Environmental Engineering Schools
California State University Fullerton earned the #1 spot for value among general environmental engineering schools in the United States. Located in the suburb of Fullerton, California State University Fullerton is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,470, with out-of-state students paying around $20,070. Typical student debt for general environmental engineering graduates is $15,525. General Environmental Engineering graduates of California State University Fullerton earn a median of $97,390 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $15,525 median debt. Roughly 90% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Florida is a great value for students pursuing a degree in general environmental engineering, landing the #2 spot this year. Set in the city of Gainesville, University Of Florida is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,381, with out-of-state students paying around $28,659. Students borrow a median of $23,000 to complete the general environmental engineering program here. Early-career general environmental engineering graduates make about $72,288. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 24%.
Students looking for strong value in general environmental engineering will find it at Cuny City College, which ranked #3. Set in the city of New York, Cuny City College is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,340, with out-of-state students paying around $15,290. Typical student debt for general environmental engineering graduates is $13,389. Early-career general environmental engineering graduates make about $62,945. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Cuny City College admits about 60% of applicants.
A rank of #4 makes University Of California Irvine one of the best values for general environmental engineering. Set in the city of Irvine, University Of California Irvine is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $14,752, while out-of-state students pay about $46,640. Typical student debt for general environmental engineering graduates is $16,539. General Environmental Engineering graduates of University Of California Irvine earn a median of $50,958 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $16,539 median debt. The acceptance rate is 29%.
A rank of #5 makes University Of Washington Seattle Campus one of the best values for general environmental engineering. Set in the city of Seattle, University Of Washington Seattle Campus is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,973, compared with $43,209 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for general environmental engineering graduates is $16,481. Soon after graduation, general environmental engineering degree recipients from University Of Washington Seattle Campus generally make around $65,681. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 39% of applicants are accepted.
Florida International University earned the #6 position for value in general environmental engineering this year. Florida International University is a very large public school located in the suburb of Miami. In-state tuition and fees average $6,565, compared with $18,964 for out-of-state students. General Environmental Engineering graduates carry a median of $19,349 in student loans. Early-career general environmental engineering graduates make about $64,541. That is a strong return on a $19,349 median debt. The acceptance rate is 55%.
Purdue University Main Campus came in at #7 for value in general environmental engineering this year. Located in the city of West Lafayette, Purdue University Main Campus is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,992, while out-of-state students pay about $28,794. Typical student debt for general environmental engineering graduates is $16,316. Early-career general environmental engineering graduates make about $71,861. Set against $16,316 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 50% of applicants are accepted.
University Of South Florida Main Campus came in at #8 for value in general environmental engineering this year. Set in the city of Tampa, University Of South Florida Main Campus is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,410, compared with $17,324 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for general environmental engineering graduates is $21,829. General Environmental Engineering graduates of University Of South Florida Main Campus earn a median of $52,885 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $21,829 median debt. University Of South Florida Main Campus admits about 43% of applicants.
Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus placed #9 among the best values for general environmental engineering. Set in the city of Atlanta, Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,058, compared with $34,484 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $27,250 to complete the general environmental engineering program here. General Environmental Engineering graduates of Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus earn a median of $70,008 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $27,250 median debt. Roughly 14% of applicants are accepted.
Texas A And M University Kingsville placed #10 among the best values for general environmental engineering. Located in the town of Kingsville, Texas A And M University Kingsville is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,892, while out-of-state students pay about $25,746. Typical student debt for general environmental engineering graduates is $25,531. General Environmental Engineering graduates of Texas A And M University Kingsville earn a median of $44,510 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $25,531 median debt. Roughly 91% of applicants are accepted.
The University Of Texas At El Paso landed the #11 spot for general environmental engineering value this year. Set in the city of El Paso, The University Of Texas At El Paso is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $9,544, with out-of-state students paying around $25,502. Typical student debt for general environmental engineering graduates is $19,819. General Environmental Engineering graduates of The University Of Texas At El Paso earn a median of $48,335 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $19,819 median debt. Roughly 100% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Central Florida came in at #12 for value in general environmental engineering this year. University Of Central Florida is a very large public school located in the suburb of Orlando. Students from in state pay about $6,368 in tuition and fees, compared with $22,467 for out-of-state students. General Environmental Engineering graduates carry a median of $24,596 in student loans. General Environmental Engineering graduates of University Of Central Florida earn a median of $56,443 early in their careers. Set against $24,596 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Central Florida admits about 40% of applicants.
Florida Gulf Coast University ranked #13 on our 2026 list of the best value general environmental engineering schools. Florida Gulf Coast University is a large public school located in the suburb of Fort Myers. Students from in state pay about $6,118 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $25,162. Students borrow a median of $19,929 to complete the general environmental engineering program here. General Environmental Engineering graduates of Florida Gulf Coast University earn a median of $60,797 early in their careers. Set against $19,929 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 63%.
University Of California Berkeley earned the #14 position for value in general environmental engineering this year. University Of California Berkeley is a very large public school located in the city of Berkeley. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $15,377, while out-of-state students pay about $47,265. General Environmental Engineering graduates carry a median of $14,238 in student loans. General Environmental Engineering graduates of University Of California Berkeley earn a median of $70,847 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 11%.
University Of Michigan Ann Arbor earned the #15 position for value in general environmental engineering this year. Set in the city of Ann Arbor, University Of Michigan Ann Arbor is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $18,848, while out-of-state students pay about $63,081. Students borrow a median of $19,028 to complete the general environmental engineering program here. Early-career general environmental engineering graduates make about $57,824. That is a strong return on a $19,028 median debt. The acceptance rate is 16%.
University Of California Riverside came in at #16 for value in general environmental engineering this year. Set in the city of Riverside, University Of California Riverside is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $14,636 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $46,524. Typical student debt for general environmental engineering graduates is $18,068. Early-career general environmental engineering graduates make about $59,309. That is a strong return on a $18,068 median debt. Roughly 76% of applicants are accepted.
Arizona State University earned the #17 position for value in general environmental engineering this year. Located in the city of Tempe, Arizona State University is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $12,223 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $33,139. Typical student debt for general environmental engineering graduates is $19,103. Early-career general environmental engineering graduates make about $63,299. Set against $19,103 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Arizona State University admits about 90% of applicants.
University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign earned the #18 position for value in general environmental engineering this year. University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a very large public school located in the city of Champaign. Students from in state pay about $18,267 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $40,096. Students borrow a median of $20,778 to complete the general environmental engineering program here. General Environmental Engineering graduates of University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign earn a median of $57,461 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $20,778 median debt. University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign admits about 42% of applicants.
University Of Georgia came in at #19 for value in general environmental engineering this year. Located in the city of Athens, University Of Georgia is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $11,450 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $31,688. Typical student debt for general environmental engineering graduates is $22,143. Early-career general environmental engineering graduates make about $62,915. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 38%.
University Of California Davis came in at #20 for value in general environmental engineering this year. Set in the suburb of Davis, University Of California Davis is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $15,804, compared with $47,692 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for general environmental engineering graduates is $14,404. General Environmental Engineering graduates of University Of California Davis earn a median of $53,749 early in their careers. Set against $14,404 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of California Davis admits about 42% of applicants.
University Of California Merced came in at #21 for value in general environmental engineering this year. Located in the suburb of Merced, University Of California Merced is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $14,653 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $46,541. General Environmental Engineering graduates carry a median of $21,665 in student loans. Early-career general environmental engineering graduates make about $47,028. Set against $21,665 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 90% of applicants are accepted.
California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo ranked #22 on our 2026 list of the best value general environmental engineering schools. Located in the suburb of San Luis Obispo, California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,161, with out-of-state students paying around $33,230. General Environmental Engineering graduates carry a median of $20,500 in student loans. General Environmental Engineering graduates of California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo earn a median of $82,197 early in their careers. Set against $20,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 31% of applicants are accepted.
Portland State University came in at #23 for value in general environmental engineering this year. Located in the city of Portland, Portland State University is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,118, while out-of-state students pay about $29,136. General Environmental Engineering graduates carry a median of $26,475 in student loans. Early-career general environmental engineering graduates make about $47,717. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 91%.
Missouri University Of Science And Technology ranked #24 on our 2026 list of the best value general environmental engineering schools. Located in the town of Rolla, Missouri University Of Science And Technology is a moderately-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $14,984, compared with $33,248 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the general environmental engineering program here. General Environmental Engineering graduates of Missouri University Of Science And Technology earn a median of $57,679 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Missouri University Of Science And Technology admits about 72% of applicants.
University Of Wisconsin Madison earned the #25 position for value in general environmental engineering this year. Located in the city of Madison, University Of Wisconsin Madison is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,603, compared with $42,103 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $21,813 to complete the general environmental engineering program here. General Environmental Engineering graduates of University Of Wisconsin Madison earn a median of $59,877 early in their careers. Set against $21,813 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Wisconsin Madison admits about 45% of applicants.
Rest of the Top 50 Best Value General Environmental Engineering Schools
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s general environmental engineering value ranking:
Narrow General Environmental Engineering Schools by Region
Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 171 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 78 ranked schools only.
- The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE), serves as the core of our data about colleges.
- Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
More about our data sources and methodologies.
[General Environmental Engineering](/majors/engineering/environmental-engineering/general-environmental-engineering/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong general environmental engineering education at a price that pays off.
