by our College Data Analytics Team
[Environmental Engineering](/majors/engineering/environmental-engineering/) graduates earn very different salaries depending on where they study. The highest-paying schools turn a environmental engineering degree into the strongest early-career earnings.
College Factual analyzed 6 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the highest-paying environmental engineering schools.
What’s on this page:
If you want to know which schools send environmental engineering graduates into the highest-paying careers, see the list below.
Leading the list is California State University Fullerton, our #1 for environmental engineering graduate salaries in California. California State University Fullerton is a public school located in the suburb of Fullerton. After graduating, environmental engineering degree recipients from California State University Fullerton typically earn about $106,631 annually.
California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo produces some of the highest-paid graduates in environmental engineering, landing the #2 spot this year. Set in the suburb of San Luis Obispo, California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo is a public institution. Environmental Engineering graduates of California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo earn a median of about $86,311 a year early in their careers.
University Of California Riverside produces some of the highest-paid graduates in environmental engineering, landing the #3 spot this year. Set in the city of Riverside, University Of California Riverside is a public institution. Environmental Engineering graduates of University Of California Riverside earn a median of about $81,979 a year early in their careers.
San Diego State University came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying environmental engineering schools. San Diego State University is a public school located in the city of San Diego. Students who complete the environmental engineering program here go on to a median salary of roughly $66,482.
Students chasing top earnings in environmental engineering will find them at Humboldt State University, which ranked #5. Humboldt State University is a public school located in the town of Arcata. Environmental Engineering graduates of Humboldt State University earn a median of about $81,168 a year early in their careers.
University Of California Merced placed #6 among the highest-paying schools for environmental engineering. Set in the suburb of Merced, University Of California Merced is a public institution. Early-career environmental engineering graduates from University Of California Merced make a median of around $83,194 per year.
The ranking above is published by College Factual, 2026 edition. Schools are ranked on the median early-career earnings of their environmental engineering graduates, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (College Scorecard field-of-study earnings and IPEDS).
Ranking method: College Major Earnings · 6 schools evaluated.
*Salary figures reflect median early-career earnings (about 5 years after graduation) and may vary by how long a person takes to complete their degree.
More about our data sources and methodologies.