2026 Best Value General Environmental Engineering Schools in Colorado

[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.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 4 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 Colorado
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in general environmental engineering, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value General Environmental Engineering Schools
Metropolitan State College Of Denver tops our 2026 list of the best value general environmental engineering schools in Colorado. Set in the city of Denver, Metropolitan State College Of Denver is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $11,124 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $30,684. General Environmental Engineering graduates carry a median of $27,484 in student loans. General Environmental Engineering graduates of Metropolitan State College Of Denver earn a median of $44,861 early in their careers. Set against $27,484 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 99%.
A rank of #2 makes Colorado State University Fort Collins one of the best values for general environmental engineering. Colorado State University Fort Collins is a very large public school located in the city of Fort Collins. In-state tuition and fees average $13,373, compared with $35,061 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $27,500 to complete the general environmental engineering program here. Soon after graduation, general environmental engineering degree recipients from Colorado State University Fort Collins generally make around $66,109. Set against $27,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 88% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Colorado Boulder is a great value for students pursuing a degree in general environmental engineering, landing the #3 spot this year. Located in the city of Boulder, University Of Colorado Boulder is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $15,214, compared with $42,970 for out-of-state students. General Environmental Engineering graduates carry a median of $20,836 in student loans. Soon after graduation, general environmental engineering degree recipients from University Of Colorado Boulder generally make around $63,049. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Colorado Boulder admits about 78% of applicants.
A rank of #4 makes Colorado School Of Mines one of the best values for general environmental engineering. Colorado School Of Mines is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Golden. Students from in state pay about $21,914 in tuition and fees, compared with $45,824 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for general environmental engineering graduates is $23,500. Soon after graduation, general environmental engineering degree recipients from Colorado School Of Mines generally make around $69,102. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 61% of applicants are accepted.
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Notes and References
This list is compiled 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 · 4 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 3 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.