2026 Best Value General Environmental Engineering Schools in New York
[General Environmental Engineering](/majors/engineering/environmental-engineering/general-environmental-engineering/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 13 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for general environmental engineering students.
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2026 Best Value General Environmental Engineering Schools in New York
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
Cuny City College tops our 2026 list of the best value general environmental engineering schools in New York. Cuny City College is a large public school located in the city of New York. Students from in state pay about $7,340 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $15,290. General Environmental Engineering graduates carry a median of $13,389 in student loans. General Environmental Engineering graduates of Cuny City College earn a median of $62,945 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 60% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Suny College Of Environmental Science And Forestry earned it the #2 place for general environmental engineering. Located in the city of Syracuse, Suny College Of Environmental Science And Forestry is a mid-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,303, compared with $22,263 for out-of-state students. Median earnings reach $55,763 ten years out. The acceptance rate is 63%.
A rank of #3 makes Columbia University In The City Of New York one of the best values for general environmental engineering. 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 general environmental engineering program here. General Environmental Engineering graduates of Columbia University In The City Of New York earn a median of $86,770 early in their careers. 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.
A rank of #4 makes University At Buffalo one of the best values for general environmental engineering. Located in the suburb of Buffalo, University At Buffalo is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $10,936 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $31,536. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the general environmental engineering program here. Soon after graduation, general environmental engineering degree recipients from University At Buffalo generally make around $57,098. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University At Buffalo admits about 74% of applicants.
Manhattan College came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best value general environmental engineering schools. Located in the city of Riverdale, Manhattan College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $53,400. Typical student debt for general environmental engineering graduates is $25,968. Early-career general environmental engineering graduates make about $61,065. Set against $25,968 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 79%.
Clarkson University placed #6 among the best values for general environmental engineering. Clarkson University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the town of Potsdam. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $59,398. General Environmental Engineering graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, general environmental engineering degree recipients from Clarkson University generally make around $67,308. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 77% of applicants are accepted.
Cornell University came in at #7 for value in general environmental engineering this year. Cornell University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Ithaca. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $69,314. General Environmental Engineering graduates carry a median of $13,102 in student loans. Soon after graduation, general environmental engineering degree recipients from Cornell University generally make around $69,558. That is a strong return on a $13,102 median debt. Roughly 9% of applicants are accepted.
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best value general environmental engineering schools. Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Troy. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $64,078. Students borrow a median of $24,975 to complete the general environmental engineering program here. Soon after graduation, general environmental engineering degree recipients from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute generally make around $77,378. That is a strong return on a $24,975 median debt. Roughly 64% of applicants are accepted.
Syracuse University placed #9 among the best values for general environmental engineering. Syracuse University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Syracuse. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $65,528. Typical student debt for general environmental engineering graduates is $26,130. Early-career general environmental engineering graduates make about $49,297. That is a strong return on a $26,130 median debt. The acceptance rate is 46%.
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Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment, 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 8 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.
