2027 Best Value Environmental Health Schools in the Great Lakes Region

[Environmental Health](/majors/health-care-professions/public-health/environmental-health/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong environmental health education at a price that pays off.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 13 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for environmental health students.
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2027 Best Value Environmental Health Schools in the Great Lakes Region
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the environmental health degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Environmental Health Schools
Columbus State Community College earned the #1 spot for value among environmental health schools in the Great Lakes Region. Located in the city of Columbus, Columbus State Community College is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $5,488, compared with $11,224 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $9,041 to complete the environmental health program here. Median earnings reach $39,435 ten years out. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Oakland University earned it the #2 place for environmental health. Located in the suburb of Rochester Hills, Oakland University is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $17,167, with out-of-state students paying around $24,735. Typical student debt for environmental health graduates is $30,750. Early-career environmental health graduates make about $57,173. Set against $30,750 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 88%.
University Of Michigan Ann Arbor came in at #3 on our 2027 list of the best value environmental health schools. 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, compared with $63,081 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for environmental health graduates is $20,167. Environmental Health graduates of University Of Michigan Ann Arbor earn a median of $56,058 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $20,167 median debt. University Of Michigan Ann Arbor admits about 16% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in environmental health will find it at University Of Illinois At Springfield, which ranked #4. Located in the city of Springfield, University Of Illinois At Springfield is a moderately-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $12,557, while out-of-state students pay about $20,139. Students borrow a median of $24,925 to complete the environmental health program here. Environmental Health graduates of University Of Illinois At Springfield earn a median of $54,701 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 86%.
Students looking for strong value in environmental health will find it at Purdue University Main Campus, which ranked #5. Located in the city of West Lafayette, Purdue University Main Campus is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,992, while out-of-state students pay about $28,794. Environmental Health graduates carry a median of $21,500 in student loans. Soon after graduation, environmental health degree recipients from Purdue University Main Campus generally make around $45,262. Set against $21,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Purdue University Main Campus admits about 50% of applicants.
Indiana University Bloomington earned the #6 position for value in environmental health this year. Located in the city of Bloomington, Indiana University Bloomington is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $12,144, compared with $41,891 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for environmental health graduates is $19,689. Soon after graduation, environmental health degree recipients from Indiana University Bloomington generally make around $49,460. Set against $19,689 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 78% of applicants are accepted.
Ohio State University Main Campus ranked #7 on our 2027 list of the best value environmental health schools. Set in the city of Columbus, Ohio State University Main Campus is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $13,244, compared with $40,022 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for environmental health graduates is $18,500. Soon after graduation, environmental health degree recipients from Ohio State University Main Campus generally make around $48,552. Set against $18,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 61% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Toledo landed the #8 spot for environmental health value this year. University Of Toledo is a large public school located in the city of Toledo. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,157, while out-of-state students pay about $21,517. Students borrow a median of $25,000 to complete the environmental health program here. Early-career environmental health graduates make about $52,771. That is a strong return on a $25,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 92%.
Central Michigan University ranked #9 on our 2027 list of the best value environmental health schools. Located in the town of Mount Pleasant, Central Michigan University is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $15,480 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $27,857 to complete the environmental health program here. Environmental Health graduates of Central Michigan University earn a median of $50,688 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $27,857 median debt. Roughly 90% of applicants are accepted.
Illinois State University ranked #10 on our 2027 list of the best value environmental health schools. Set in the suburb of Normal, Illinois State University is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $14,410, compared with $26,058 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $22,250 to complete the environmental health program here. Early-career environmental health graduates make about $59,207. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Illinois State University admits about 88% of applicants.
Ohio University Main Campus came in at #11 for value in environmental health this year. Located in the town of Athens, Ohio University Main Campus is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $14,158, while out-of-state students pay about $24,838. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the environmental health program here. Early-career environmental health graduates make about $37,883. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 85%.
University Of Cincinnati Main Campus landed the #12 spot for environmental health value this year. Located in the city of Cincinnati, University Of Cincinnati Main Campus is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $13,363 in tuition and fees, compared with $28,697 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for environmental health graduates is $28,625. Environmental Health graduates of University Of Cincinnati Main Campus earn a median of $55,859 early in their careers. Set against $28,625 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 85%.
Loyola University Chicago landed the #13 spot for environmental health value this year. Located in the city of Chicago, Loyola University Chicago is a large private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $53,710. Environmental Health graduates carry a median of $23,521 in student loans. Early-career environmental health graduates make about $66,981. That is a strong return on a $23,521 median debt. Loyola University Chicago admits about 82% of applicants.
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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 · 13 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 13 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.