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2026 Best Value General Environmental Engineering Master’s Degree Schools

26 Colleges in the United States
$21,620 Avg Student Debt
$78,324 Avg Median Earnings (10yr)
2026 Best Value General Environmental Engineering Master's Degree Badge [General Environmental Engineering](/majors/engineering/environmental-engineering/general-environmental-engineering/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.

For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 171 schools to find the best return on investment for general environmental engineering students.

What’s on this page:

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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

1

California State University Fullerton earned the #1 spot for value among general environmental engineering schools in the United States. California State University Fullerton is a very large public school located in the suburb of Fullerton. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,470, while out-of-state students pay about $20,070. Typical student debt for general environmental engineering graduates is $15,525. Early-career general environmental engineering graduates make about $97,390. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. California State University Fullerton admits about 90% of applicants.

2
University Of Florida crest
University Of Florida
Gainesville, FL

The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of Florida earned it the #2 place for general environmental engineering. University Of Florida is a very large public school located in the city of Gainesville. 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 general environmental engineering program here. Early-career general environmental engineering graduates make about $82,095. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 24% of applicants are accepted.

3
Purdue University Main Campus crest
Purdue University Main Campus
West Lafayette, IN

Students looking for strong value in general environmental engineering will find it at Purdue University Main Campus, which ranked #3. 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. Typical student debt for general environmental engineering graduates is $16,316. Early-career general environmental engineering graduates make about $71,861. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Purdue University Main Campus admits about 50% of applicants.

4

Students looking for strong value in general environmental engineering will find it at University Of South Florida Main Campus, which ranked #4. Located in the city of Tampa, University Of South Florida Main Campus is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $6,410, compared with $17,324 for out-of-state students. General Environmental Engineering graduates carry a median of $21,829 in student loans. Early-career general environmental engineering graduates make about $52,885. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 43%.

5

A rank of #5 makes Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus one of the best values for general environmental engineering. Located in the city of Atlanta, Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $12,058 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $34,484. Typical student debt for general environmental engineering graduates is $27,250. Soon after graduation, general environmental engineering degree recipients from Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus generally make around $70,008. That is a strong return on a $27,250 median debt. Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus admits about 14% of applicants.

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6

Florida International University ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best value general environmental engineering schools. Set in the suburb of Miami, Florida International University is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,565, compared with $18,964 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for general environmental engineering graduates is $19,349. General Environmental Engineering graduates of Florida International University earn a median of $64,541 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 55%.

7

Texas A And M University Kingsville ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best value general environmental engineering schools. 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. Students borrow a median of $25,531 to complete the general environmental engineering program here. Soon after graduation, general environmental engineering degree recipients from Texas A And M University Kingsville generally make around $44,510. That is a strong return on a $25,531 median debt. Roughly 91% of applicants are accepted.

8

University Of Michigan Ann Arbor came in at #8 for value in general environmental engineering this year. Located in the city of Ann Arbor, University Of Michigan Ann Arbor is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $18,848, while out-of-state students pay about $63,081. Typical student debt for general environmental engineering graduates is $19,028. Early-career general environmental engineering graduates make about $57,824. That is a strong return on a $19,028 median debt. University Of Michigan Ann Arbor admits about 16% of applicants.

9

University Of Georgia landed the #9 spot for general environmental engineering value this year. University Of Georgia is a very large public school located in the city of Athens. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,450, compared with $31,688 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $22,143 to complete the general environmental engineering program here. General Environmental Engineering graduates of University Of Georgia earn a median of $62,915 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 38%.

10

University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign came in at #10 for value in general environmental engineering this year. Set in the city of Champaign, University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $18,267, while out-of-state students pay about $40,096. General Environmental Engineering graduates carry a median of $20,778 in student loans. Early-career general environmental engineering graduates make about $57,461. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 42%.

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11

Arizona State University landed the #11 spot for general environmental engineering value this year. Located in the city of Tempe, Arizona State University is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,223, while out-of-state students pay about $33,139. Students borrow a median of $19,103 to complete the general environmental engineering program here. General Environmental Engineering graduates of Arizona State University earn a median of $73,584 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $19,103 median debt. The acceptance rate is 90%.

12

Missouri University Of Science And Technology earned the #12 position for value in general environmental engineering this year. Missouri University Of Science And Technology is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Rolla. In-state tuition and fees average $14,984, with out-of-state students paying around $33,248. General Environmental Engineering graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. 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. The acceptance rate is 72%.

13

Michigan Technological University came in at #13 for value in general environmental engineering this year. Located in the town of Houghton, Michigan Technological University is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $20,532, compared with $44,807 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $26,545 to complete the general environmental engineering program here. Early-career general environmental engineering graduates make about $64,453. That is a strong return on a $26,545 median debt. Roughly 92% of applicants are accepted.

14

North Carolina State University At Raleigh came in at #14 for value in general environmental engineering this year. North Carolina State University At Raleigh is a very large public school located in the city of Raleigh. Students from in state pay about $8,799 in tuition and fees, compared with $32,847 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for general environmental engineering graduates is $26,004. Soon after graduation, general environmental engineering degree recipients from North Carolina State University At Raleigh generally make around $67,251. Set against $26,004 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 42%.

15

Johns Hopkins University ranked #15 on our 2026 list of the best value general 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. General Environmental Engineering graduates carry a median of $13,426 in student loans. Soon after graduation, general environmental engineering degree recipients from Johns Hopkins University generally make around $86,557. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Johns Hopkins University admits about 6% of applicants.

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16

The University Of Texas At Austin earned the #16 position for value in general environmental engineering this year. Located in the city of Austin, The University Of Texas At Austin is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $11,688 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $44,908. Students borrow a median of $21,275 to complete the general environmental engineering program here. General Environmental Engineering graduates of The University Of Texas At Austin earn a median of $57,819 early in their careers. Set against $21,275 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 27%.

17

Massachusetts Institute Of Technology earned the #17 position for value in general environmental engineering this year. Located in the city of Cambridge, Massachusetts Institute Of Technology is a large private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $62,396. Students borrow a median of $13,516 to complete the general environmental engineering program here. General Environmental Engineering graduates of Massachusetts Institute Of Technology earn a median of $113,129 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 4%.

18

Columbia University In The City Of New York placed #18 among the best values for general environmental engineering. Columbia University In The City Of New York is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of New York. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $70,517. Typical student debt for general environmental engineering graduates is $23,258. Soon after graduation, general environmental engineering degree recipients from Columbia University In The City Of New York generally make around $86,770. Set against $23,258 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Columbia University In The City Of New York admits about 4% of applicants.

19

Texas Tech University ranked #19 on our 2026 list of the best value general environmental engineering schools. Set in the city of Lubbock, Texas Tech University is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $11,852, while out-of-state students pay about $24,157. General Environmental Engineering graduates carry a median of $19,750 in student loans. Soon after graduation, general environmental engineering degree recipients from Texas Tech University generally make around $76,829. Set against $19,750 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Texas Tech University admits about 73% of applicants.

20

University Of Colorado Boulder came in at #20 for value in general environmental engineering this year. Set in the city of Boulder, University Of Colorado Boulder is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $15,214, compared with $42,970 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for general environmental engineering graduates is $20,836. Early-career general environmental engineering graduates make about $63,049. That is a strong return on a $20,836 median debt. University Of Colorado Boulder admits about 78% of applicants.

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21

University Of Cincinnati Main Campus ranked #21 on our 2026 list of the best value general environmental engineering schools. University Of Cincinnati Main Campus is a very large public school located in the city of Cincinnati. Students from in state pay about $13,363 in tuition and fees, compared with $28,697 for out-of-state students. General Environmental Engineering graduates carry a median of $23,530 in student loans. General Environmental Engineering graduates of University Of Cincinnati Main Campus earn a median of $58,659 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Cincinnati Main Campus admits about 85% of applicants.

22

Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University earned the #22 position for value in general environmental engineering this year. Set in the city of Blacksburg, Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $15,948 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $37,764. Typical student debt for general environmental engineering graduates is $23,393. Soon after graduation, general environmental engineering degree recipients from Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University generally make around $60,004. Set against $23,393 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University admits about 55% of applicants.

23
Yale University crest
Yale University
New Haven, CT

Yale University came in at #23 for value in general environmental engineering this year. Yale University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of New Haven. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $67,250. General Environmental Engineering graduates carry a median of $14,357 in student loans. Early-career general environmental engineering graduates make about $74,578. That is a strong return on a $14,357 median debt. Roughly 4% of applicants are accepted.

24
Manhattan College crest
Manhattan College
Riverdale, NY

Manhattan College placed #24 among the best values for general environmental engineering. Located in the city of Riverdale, Manhattan College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $53,400 in tuition and fees. General Environmental Engineering graduates carry a median of $25,968 in student loans. General Environmental Engineering graduates of Manhattan College earn a median of $61,065 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 79%.

25

University Of San Diego landed the #25 spot for general environmental engineering value this year. Set in the city of San Diego, University Of San Diego is a large private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $59,486. Students borrow a median of $23,795 to complete the general environmental engineering program here. General Environmental Engineering graduates of University Of San Diego earn a median of $68,281 early in their careers. Set against $23,795 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of San Diego admits about 52% of applicants.

Rest of the Top 28 Best Value General Environmental Engineering Schools

These schools rounded out the top of this year’s general environmental engineering value ranking:

26
27
University Of New Haven crest
University Of New Haven
West Haven, CT
28
Drexel University crest
Drexel University
Philadelphia, PA

Other General Environmental Engineering Degree Levels

Looking for a different degree level? Compare best-value General Environmental Engineering rankings across degree levels:

All Degree Levels in General Environmental Engineering
Associate's Degrees in General Environmental Engineering
Bachelor's Degrees in General Environmental Engineering
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View All General Environmental Engineering Rankings >

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Notes and References

This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 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 · 171 schools evaluated.

*Averages shown above reflect the top 26 ranked schools only.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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