by our College Data Analytics Team
[Environmental Engineering](/majors/engineering/environmental-engineering/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 33 schools to find the best return on investment for environmental engineering students.
What’s on this page:
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the environmental engineering degrees they offer, see the list below.
For return on investment in environmental engineering, no school beat Johns Hopkins University this year. Set in the city of Baltimore, Johns Hopkins University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $64,730. Environmental Engineering graduates carry a median of $13,426 in student loans. Early-career environmental engineering graduates make about $86,557. Set against $13,426 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 6%.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Cuny City College earned it the #2 place for environmental engineering. Located in the city of New York, Cuny City College is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $7,340 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $15,290. Typical student debt for environmental engineering graduates is $13,389. 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.
A rank of #3 makes University Of Delaware one of the best values for environmental engineering. Set in the suburb of Newark, University Of Delaware is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $16,810, while out-of-state students pay about $41,400. Typical student debt for environmental engineering graduates is $26,950. Environmental Engineering graduates of University Of Delaware earn a median of $65,634 early in their careers. Set against $26,950 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 71%.
Students looking for strong value in environmental engineering will find it at Indiana University Of Pennsylvania Main Campus, which ranked #4. Indiana University Of Pennsylvania Main Campus is a large public school located in the town of Indiana. In-state tuition and fees average $11,380, while out-of-state students pay about $16,297. Environmental Engineering graduates carry a median of $26,513 in student loans. Environmental Engineering graduates of Indiana University Of Pennsylvania Main Campus earn a median of $42,972 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Indiana University Of Pennsylvania Main Campus admits about 91% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in environmental engineering will find it at Suny College Of Environmental Science And Forestry, which ranked #5. 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. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $55,763. The acceptance rate is 63%.
1
2
3
4
5
Columbia University In The City Of New York landed the #6 spot for environmental engineering value this year. Located in the city of New York, Columbia University In The City Of New York is a very large private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $70,517. Environmental Engineering graduates carry a median of $23,258 in student loans. Environmental Engineering graduates of Columbia University In The City Of New York earn a median of $86,770 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $23,258 median debt. Columbia University In The City Of New York admits about 4% of applicants.
University At Buffalo came in at #7 for value in environmental engineering this year. Located in the suburb of Buffalo, University At Buffalo is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,936, compared with $31,536 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for environmental engineering graduates is $27,000. Soon after graduation, environmental engineering degree recipients from University At Buffalo generally make around $57,098. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 74%.
Manhattan College came in at #8 for value in environmental engineering this year. Manhattan College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Riverdale. Students from in state pay about $53,400 in tuition and fees. Environmental Engineering graduates carry a median of $25,968 in student loans. Soon after graduation, environmental engineering degree recipients from Manhattan College generally make around $61,065. That is a strong return on a $25,968 median debt. The acceptance rate is 79%.
University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus landed the #9 spot for environmental engineering value this year. Located in the city of Pittsburgh, University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $21,926, compared with $41,430 for out-of-state students. Environmental Engineering graduates carry a median of $24,958 in student loans. Soon after graduation, environmental engineering degree recipients from University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus generally make around $56,926. Set against $24,958 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 58%.
Carnegie Mellon University came in at #10 for value in environmental engineering this year. Located in the city of Pittsburgh, Carnegie Mellon University is a large private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $65,636 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $23,529 to complete the environmental engineering program here. Environmental Engineering graduates of Carnegie Mellon University earn a median of $89,327 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $23,529 median debt. Carnegie Mellon University admits about 12% of applicants.
Cornell University landed the #11 spot for environmental engineering value this year. Set in the city of Ithaca, Cornell University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $69,314. Typical student debt for environmental engineering graduates is $13,102. Soon after graduation, environmental engineering degree recipients from Cornell University generally make around $69,558. Set against $13,102 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Cornell University admits about 9% of applicants.
Pennsylvania State University Main Campus came in at #12 for value in environmental engineering this year. Located in the city of University Park, Pennsylvania State University Main Campus is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $20,644, with out-of-state students paying around $41,790. Median earnings reach $63,435 ten years out. The acceptance rate is 61%.
Clarkson University ranked #13 on our 2026 list of the best value environmental engineering schools. Clarkson University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the town of Potsdam. Students from in state pay about $59,398 in tuition and fees. Environmental Engineering graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, environmental engineering degree recipients from Clarkson University generally make around $67,308. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 77%.
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute placed #14 among the best values for environmental engineering. Located in the city of Troy, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $64,078 in tuition and fees. Environmental Engineering graduates carry a median of $24,975 in student loans. Soon after graduation, environmental engineering degree recipients from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute generally make around $77,378. That is a strong return on a $24,975 median debt. The acceptance rate is 64%.
Drexel University landed the #15 spot for environmental engineering value this year. Drexel University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Philadelphia. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $62,412. Typical student debt for environmental engineering graduates is $30,983. Early-career environmental engineering graduates make about $64,712. That is a strong return on a $30,983 median debt. Drexel University admits about 79% of applicants.
Bucknell University earned the #16 position for value in environmental engineering this year. Set in the town of Lewisburg, Bucknell University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $67,812. Typical student debt for environmental engineering graduates is $25,951. Early-career environmental engineering graduates make about $64,331. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 29%.
Syracuse University ranked #17 on our 2026 list of the best value environmental engineering schools. Located in the city of Syracuse, Syracuse University is a very large private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $65,528. Typical student debt for environmental engineering graduates is $26,130. Soon after graduation, environmental engineering degree recipients from Syracuse University generally make around $49,297. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Syracuse University admits about 46% of applicants.
The ranking above is published 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 · 33 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 16 ranked schools only.
More about our data sources and methodologies.