2026 Best Value Environmental Health Schools in the Great Lakes Region

[Environmental Health](/majors/health-care-professions/public-health/environmental-health/) 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 20 schools to find the best return on investment for environmental health students.
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Featured Environmental Health Programs
Learn about start dates, transferring credits, availability of financial aid, and more by contacting the universities below.
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2026 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
Purdue University Main Campus tops our 2026 list of the best value environmental health schools in the Great Lakes Region. Set in the city of West Lafayette, Purdue University Main Campus is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $9,992, compared with $28,794 for out-of-state students. Environmental Health graduates carry a median of $21,500 in student loans. Early-career environmental health graduates make about $45,262. Set against $21,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 50%.
A rank of #2 makes Oakland University one of the best values for environmental health. Set in the suburb of Rochester Hills, Oakland University is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $17,167 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $24,735. Environmental Health graduates carry a median of $30,750 in student loans. Environmental Health graduates of Oakland University earn a median of $57,173 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $30,750 median debt. Roughly 88% of applicants are accepted.
Students looking for strong value in environmental health will find it at University Of Illinois At Springfield, which ranked #3. University Of Illinois At Springfield is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Springfield. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,557, compared with $20,139 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for environmental health graduates is $24,925. Environmental Health graduates of University Of Illinois At Springfield earn a median of $54,701 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $24,925 median debt. The acceptance rate is 86%.
University Of Michigan Ann Arbor came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best value environmental health schools. University Of Michigan Ann Arbor is a very large public school located in the city of Ann Arbor. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $18,848, compared with $63,081 for out-of-state students. Environmental Health graduates carry a median of $20,167 in student loans. 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. Roughly 16% of applicants are accepted.
Indiana University Bloomington is a great value for students pursuing a degree in environmental health, landing the #5 spot this year. Indiana University Bloomington is a very large public school located in the city of Bloomington. Students from in state pay about $12,144 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $41,891. Environmental Health graduates carry a median of $19,689 in student loans. Environmental Health graduates of Indiana University Bloomington earn a median of $49,460 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 78%.
Central Michigan University placed #6 among the best values for environmental health. Central Michigan University is a large public school located in the town of Mount Pleasant. Students from in state pay about $15,480 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for environmental health graduates is $27,857. Environmental Health graduates of Central Michigan University earn a median of $50,688 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 90%.
University Of Toledo placed #7 among the best values for environmental health. Set in the city of Toledo, University Of Toledo is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $12,157, while out-of-state students pay about $21,517. Environmental Health graduates carry a median of $25,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, environmental health degree recipients from University Of Toledo generally make around $52,675. Set against $25,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Toledo admits about 92% of applicants.
Ohio State University Main Campus landed the #8 spot for environmental health value this year. Set in the city of Columbus, Ohio State University Main Campus is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $13,244 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $40,022. Typical student debt for environmental health graduates is $18,500. Early-career environmental health graduates make about $48,552. Set against $18,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 61%.
Illinois State University landed the #9 spot for environmental health value this year. 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. Environmental Health graduates of Illinois State University earn a median of $59,207 early in their careers. Set against $22,250 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 88%.
Ohio University Main Campus placed #10 among the best values for environmental health. Ohio University Main Campus is a very large public school located in the town of Athens. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $14,158, compared with $24,838 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the environmental health program here. Soon after graduation, environmental health degree recipients from Ohio University Main Campus generally make around $37,883. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 85%.
University Of Cincinnati Main Campus placed #11 among the best values for environmental health. 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, with out-of-state students paying around $28,697. Environmental Health graduates carry a median of $28,625 in student loans. Soon after graduation, environmental health degree recipients from University Of Cincinnati Main Campus generally make around $55,859. Set against $28,625 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 85%.
Loyola University Chicago placed #12 among the best values for environmental health. Loyola University Chicago is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Chicago. In-state tuition and fees average $53,710. Students borrow a median of $23,521 to complete the environmental health program here. Environmental Health graduates of Loyola University Chicago earn a median of $66,981 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. 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), 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 · 20 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 6 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.