2027 Best Value Environmental Engineering Master’s Degree Schools
[Environmental Engineering](/majors/engineering/environmental-engineering/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong environmental engineering education at a price that pays off.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 23 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for environmental engineering students.
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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
Leading the list is University Of Florida, our #1 best value for environmental engineering in the United States. Located in the city of Gainesville, University Of Florida is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $6,381, compared with $28,659 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $23,000 to complete the environmental engineering program here. Soon after graduation, environmental engineering degree recipients from University Of Florida generally make around $82,095. Set against $23,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Florida admits about 24% of applicants.
California State University Fullerton came in at #2 on our 2027 list of the best value environmental engineering schools. California State University Fullerton is a very large public school located in the suburb of Fullerton. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,470, with out-of-state students paying around $20,070. Environmental Engineering graduates carry a median of $15,525 in student loans. Soon after graduation, environmental engineering degree recipients from California State University Fullerton generally make around $97,390. Set against $15,525 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 90% of applicants are accepted.
Students looking for strong value in environmental engineering will find it at University Of Michigan Ann Arbor, which ranked #3. 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. Soon after graduation, environmental engineering degree recipients from University Of Michigan Ann Arbor generally make around $57,824. That is a strong return on a $19,028 median debt. The acceptance rate is 16%.
Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus is a great value for students pursuing a degree in environmental engineering, landing the #4 spot this year. Located in the city of Atlanta, Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,058, compared with $34,484 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for environmental engineering graduates is $27,250. Environmental Engineering graduates of Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus earn a median of $70,008 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus admits about 14% of applicants.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign earned it the #5 place for environmental engineering. University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a very large public school located in the city of Champaign. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $18,267, with out-of-state students paying around $40,096. Typical student debt for environmental engineering graduates is $20,778. Soon after graduation, environmental engineering degree recipients from University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign generally make around $57,461. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 42%.
Purdue University Main Campus came in at #6 for value in environmental engineering this year. Located in the city of West Lafayette, Purdue University Main Campus is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $9,992 in tuition and fees, compared with $28,794 for out-of-state students. Environmental Engineering graduates carry a median of $16,316 in student loans. Soon after graduation, environmental engineering degree recipients from Purdue University Main Campus generally make around $71,861. Set against $16,316 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 50% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Georgia landed the #7 spot for environmental engineering value this year. Set in the city of Athens, University Of Georgia is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $11,450 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $31,688. Typical student debt for environmental engineering graduates is $22,143. Early-career environmental engineering graduates make about $62,915. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 38% of applicants are accepted.
Michigan Technological University earned the #8 position for value in environmental engineering this year. Located in the town of Houghton, Michigan Technological University is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $20,532 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $44,807. Environmental Engineering graduates carry a median of $26,545 in student loans. Soon after graduation, environmental engineering degree recipients from Michigan Technological University generally make around $64,453. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 92%.
Arizona State University landed the #9 spot for environmental engineering value this year. Arizona State University is a very large public school located in the city of Tempe. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,223, with out-of-state students paying around $33,139. Environmental Engineering graduates carry a median of $19,103 in student loans. Early-career environmental engineering graduates make about $73,584. Set against $19,103 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 90%.
Missouri University Of Science And Technology landed the #10 spot for environmental engineering value this year. Missouri University Of Science And Technology is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Rolla. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $14,984, while out-of-state students pay about $33,248. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the environmental engineering program here. Early-career environmental engineering graduates make about $57,679. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 72%.
North Carolina State University At Raleigh earned the #11 position for value in environmental engineering this year. Located in the city of Raleigh, North Carolina State University At Raleigh is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,799, with out-of-state students paying around $32,847. Typical student debt for environmental engineering graduates is $26,004. Soon after graduation, environmental engineering degree recipients from North Carolina State University At Raleigh generally make around $67,251. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 42% of applicants are accepted.
Johns Hopkins University ranked #12 on our 2027 list of the best value environmental engineering schools. Johns Hopkins University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Baltimore. In-state tuition and fees average $64,730. Typical student debt for environmental engineering graduates is $13,426. Early-career environmental engineering graduates make about $86,557. Set against $13,426 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 6%.
The University Of Tennessee ranked #13 on our 2027 list of the best value environmental engineering schools. Located in the city of Knoxville, The University Of Tennessee is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $13,812 in tuition and fees, compared with $33,256 for out-of-state students. Environmental Engineering graduates carry a median of $22,859 in student loans. Soon after graduation, environmental engineering degree recipients from The University Of Tennessee generally make around $49,826. Set against $22,859 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 42%.
Massachusetts Institute Of Technology earned the #14 position for value in environmental engineering this year. Set in the city of Cambridge, Massachusetts Institute Of Technology is a large private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $62,396 in tuition and fees. Environmental Engineering graduates carry a median of $13,516 in student loans. Early-career environmental engineering graduates make about $113,129. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Massachusetts Institute Of Technology admits about 4% of applicants.
Texas Tech University ranked #15 on our 2027 list of the best value environmental engineering schools. Located in the city of Lubbock, Texas Tech University is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $11,852, while out-of-state students pay about $24,157. Students borrow a median of $19,750 to complete the environmental engineering program here. Early-career environmental engineering graduates make about $76,829. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Texas Tech University admits about 73% of applicants.
Columbia University In The City Of New York earned the #16 position for value in environmental engineering this year. Located in the city of New York, Columbia University In The City Of New York is a very large private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $70,517 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $23,258 to complete the environmental engineering program here. Soon after graduation, environmental engineering degree recipients from Columbia University In The City Of New York generally make around $86,770. That is a strong return on a $23,258 median debt. The acceptance rate is 4%.
Clemson University placed #17 among the best values for environmental engineering. Clemson University is a very large public school located in the suburb of Clemson. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $15,554, while out-of-state students pay about $40,866. Environmental Engineering graduates carry a median of $20,500 in student loans. Environmental Engineering graduates of Clemson University earn a median of $68,363 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $20,500 median debt. Clemson University admits about 38% of applicants.
University Of Massachusetts Amherst ranked #18 on our 2027 list of the best value environmental engineering schools. University Of Massachusetts Amherst is a very large public school located in the city of Amherst. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $17,772, compared with $40,449 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $25,195 to complete the environmental engineering program here. Soon after graduation, environmental engineering degree recipients from University Of Massachusetts Amherst generally make around $53,666. Set against $25,195 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 60%.
Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University earned the #19 position for value in environmental engineering this year. Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University is a very large public school located in the city of Blacksburg. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $15,948, compared with $37,764 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for environmental engineering graduates is $23,393. Soon after graduation, environmental engineering degree recipients from Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University generally make around $60,004. That is a strong return on a $23,393 median debt. Roughly 55% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Colorado Boulder earned the #20 position for value in environmental engineering this year. Set in the city of Boulder, University Of Colorado Boulder is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $15,214 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $42,970. Typical student debt for environmental engineering graduates is $20,836. Early-career environmental engineering graduates make about $63,049. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 78% of applicants are accepted.
Manhattan College came in at #21 for value in environmental engineering this year. Located in the city of Riverdale, Manhattan College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $53,400. Environmental Engineering graduates carry a median of $25,968 in student loans. Soon after graduation, environmental engineering degree recipients from Manhattan College generally make around $61,065. That is a strong return on a $25,968 median debt. Roughly 79% of applicants are accepted.
University Of San Diego landed the #22 spot for environmental engineering value this year. University Of San Diego is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of San Diego. In-state tuition and fees average $59,486. Students borrow a median of $23,795 to complete the environmental engineering program here. Soon after graduation, environmental engineering degree recipients from University Of San Diego generally make around $68,281. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 52%.
University Of New Haven came in at #23 for value in environmental engineering this year. Set in the suburb of West Haven, University Of New Haven is a large private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $47,332. Environmental Engineering graduates carry a median of $26,244 in student loans. Environmental Engineering graduates of University Of New Haven earn a median of $49,615 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $26,244 median debt. The acceptance rate is 60%.
Other Environmental Engineering Degree Levels
Explore the best-value environmental engineering schools at other degree levels:
View All Environmental Engineering Rankings >
Notes and References
This ranking is produced 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 · 23 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 23 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.
