2027 Best Value Environmental Engineering Bachelor’s Degree Schools
[Environmental Engineering](/majors/engineering/environmental-engineering/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
For its 2027 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 70 schools to find the best return on investment for environmental engineering students.
What’s on this page:
2027 Best Value Environmental Engineering Schools in the United States
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the environmental engineering degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Environmental Engineering Schools
For return on investment in environmental engineering, no school beat University Of Florida this year. Located in the city of Gainesville, University Of Florida is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $6,381 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $28,659. Typical student debt for environmental engineering graduates is $23,000. Environmental Engineering graduates of University Of Florida earn a median of $62,480 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $23,000 median debt. University Of Florida admits about 24% of applicants.
Cuny City College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in environmental engineering, landing the #2 spot this year. Set in the city of New York, Cuny City College is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,340, compared with $15,290 for out-of-state students. Environmental Engineering graduates carry a median of $13,389 in student loans. Environmental Engineering graduates of Cuny City College earn a median of $62,945 early in their careers. Set against $13,389 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 60%.
Students looking for strong value in environmental engineering will find it at University Of California Berkeley, which ranked #3. University Of California Berkeley is a very large public school located in the city of Berkeley. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $15,377, with out-of-state students paying around $47,265. Students borrow a median of $14,238 to complete the environmental engineering program here. Early-career environmental engineering graduates make about $70,847. That is a strong return on a $14,238 median debt. The acceptance rate is 11%.
A rank of #4 makes University Of Michigan Ann Arbor one of the best values for environmental engineering. Set in the city of Ann Arbor, University Of Michigan Ann Arbor is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $18,848 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $63,081. Environmental Engineering graduates carry a median of $19,028 in student loans. Early-career environmental engineering graduates make about $57,824. Set against $19,028 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 16%.
A rank of #5 makes Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus one of the best values for environmental engineering. Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus is a very large public school located in the city of Atlanta. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,058, with out-of-state students paying around $34,484. Students borrow a median of $27,250 to complete the environmental engineering program here. Soon after graduation, environmental engineering degree recipients from Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus generally make around $70,008. Set against $27,250 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 14%.
University Of South Florida Main Campus landed the #6 spot for environmental engineering value this year. Set in the city of Tampa, University Of South Florida Main Campus is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $6,410 in tuition and fees, compared with $17,324 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for environmental engineering graduates is $21,829. Early-career environmental engineering graduates make about $52,885. Set against $21,829 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of South Florida Main Campus admits about 43% of applicants.
Stanford University landed the #7 spot for environmental engineering value this year. Set in the suburb of Stanford, Stanford University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $65,910 in tuition and fees. Environmental Engineering graduates carry a median of $10,492 in student loans. Early-career environmental engineering graduates make about $100,827. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Stanford University admits about 4% of applicants.
University Of Washington Seattle Campus earned the #8 position for value in environmental engineering this year. Located in the city of Seattle, University Of Washington Seattle Campus is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,973, compared with $43,209 for out-of-state students. Environmental Engineering graduates carry a median of $16,481 in student loans. Early-career environmental engineering graduates make about $65,681. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 39%.
University Of Central Florida placed #9 among the best values for environmental engineering. University Of Central Florida is a very large public school located in the suburb of Orlando. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,368, with out-of-state students paying around $22,467. Environmental Engineering graduates carry a median of $24,596 in student loans. Early-career environmental engineering graduates make about $56,443. Set against $24,596 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 40% of applicants are accepted.
University Of California Irvine placed #10 among the best values for environmental engineering. Located in the city of Irvine, University Of California Irvine is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $14,752 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $46,640. Typical student debt for environmental engineering graduates is $16,539. Early-career environmental engineering graduates make about $50,958. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of California Irvine admits about 29% of applicants.
Purdue University Main Campus earned the #11 position for value in environmental engineering this year. Located in the city of West Lafayette, Purdue University Main Campus is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $9,992, with out-of-state students paying around $28,794. Environmental Engineering graduates carry a median of $16,316 in student loans. Environmental Engineering graduates of Purdue University Main Campus earn a median of $71,861 early in their careers. Set against $16,316 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 50%.
Portland State University placed #12 among the best values for environmental engineering. Set in the city of Portland, Portland State University is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $11,118 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $29,136. Typical student debt for environmental engineering graduates is $26,475. Early-career environmental engineering graduates make about $47,717. Set against $26,475 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Portland State University admits about 91% of applicants.
University Of California Davis earned the #13 position for value in environmental engineering this year. Located in the suburb of Davis, University Of California Davis is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $15,804 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $47,692. Students borrow a median of $14,404 to complete the environmental engineering program here. Early-career environmental engineering graduates make about $53,749. 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 placed #14 among the best values for environmental engineering. Set in the suburb of Merced, University Of California Merced is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $14,653, while out-of-state students pay about $46,541. Environmental Engineering graduates carry a median of $21,665 in student loans. Environmental Engineering graduates of University Of California Merced earn a median of $47,028 early in their careers. Set against $21,665 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 90%.
University Of Georgia came in at #15 for value in environmental engineering this year. University Of Georgia is a very large public school located in the city of Athens. Students from in state pay about $11,450 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $31,688. Students borrow a median of $22,143 to complete the environmental engineering program here. Early-career environmental engineering graduates make about $62,915. Set against $22,143 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 38%.
University Of California Riverside ranked #16 on our 2027 list of the best value environmental engineering schools. Located in the city of Riverside, University Of California Riverside is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $14,636 in tuition and fees, compared with $46,524 for out-of-state students. Environmental Engineering graduates carry a median of $18,068 in student loans. Early-career environmental engineering graduates make about $59,309. Set against $18,068 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of California Riverside admits about 76% of applicants.
Florida Gulf Coast University landed the #17 spot for environmental engineering value this year. Florida Gulf Coast University is a large public school located in the suburb of Fort Myers. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,118, with out-of-state students paying around $25,162. Typical student debt for environmental engineering graduates is $19,929. Early-career environmental engineering graduates make about $60,797. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 63% of applicants are accepted.
San Diego State University ranked #18 on our 2027 list of the best value environmental engineering schools. Located in the city of San Diego, San Diego State University is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,728, while out-of-state students pay about $21,328. Typical student debt for environmental engineering graduates is $19,089. Soon after graduation, environmental engineering degree recipients from San Diego State University generally make around $66,482. Set against $19,089 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 36% of applicants are accepted.
Michigan Technological University came in at #19 for value in environmental engineering this year. Located in the town of Houghton, Michigan Technological University is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $20,532, compared with $44,807 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for environmental engineering graduates is $26,545. Environmental Engineering graduates of Michigan Technological University earn a median of $64,453 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $26,545 median debt. Roughly 92% of applicants are accepted.
Arizona State University came in at #20 for value in environmental engineering this year. Arizona State University is a very large public school located in the city of Tempe. In-state tuition and fees average $12,223, while out-of-state students pay about $33,139. Typical student debt for environmental engineering graduates is $19,103. Environmental Engineering graduates of Arizona State University earn a median of $53,013 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $19,103 median debt. The acceptance rate is 90%.
Humboldt State University landed the #21 spot for environmental engineering value this year. Located in the town of Arcata, Humboldt State University is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,397, while out-of-state students pay about $20,997. Environmental Engineering graduates carry a median of $24,350 in student loans. Early-career environmental engineering graduates make about $55,589. Set against $24,350 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Humboldt State University admits about 98% of applicants.
California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo landed the #22 spot for environmental engineering value this year. Located in the suburb of San Luis Obispo, California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $12,161, with out-of-state students paying around $33,230. Students borrow a median of $20,500 to complete the environmental engineering program here. Soon after graduation, environmental engineering degree recipients from California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo generally make around $82,197. Set against $20,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo admits about 31% of applicants.
Utah State University earned the #23 position for value in environmental engineering this year. Located in the city of Logan, Utah State University is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $8,560 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $24,993. Typical student debt for environmental engineering graduates is $16,191. Early-career environmental engineering graduates make about $50,348. Set against $16,191 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 92% of applicants are accepted.
Metropolitan State College Of Denver earned the #24 position for value in environmental engineering this year. Located in the city of Denver, Metropolitan State College Of Denver is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,124, while out-of-state students pay about $30,684. Students borrow a median of $27,484 to complete the environmental engineering program here. Early-career environmental engineering graduates make about $44,861. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 99% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Wisconsin Madison placed #25 among the best values for environmental engineering. Located in the city of Madison, University Of Wisconsin Madison is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $11,603, compared with $42,103 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for environmental engineering graduates is $21,813. Soon after graduation, environmental engineering degree recipients from University Of Wisconsin Madison generally make around $59,877. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Wisconsin Madison admits about 45% of applicants.
Rest of the Top 50 Best Value Environmental Engineering Schools
Not far behind, these schools also offered excellent value in environmental engineering:
Other Environmental Engineering Degree Levels
Explore the best-value environmental engineering schools at other degree levels:
View All Environmental Engineering Rankings >
Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. The methodology weighs the cost of a degree against the earnings graduates go on to achieve, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 70 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 70 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.
