2026 Best Value Environmental Health Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region

[Environmental Health](/majors/health-care-professions/public-health/environmental-health/) 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.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 23 schools to find the best return on investment for environmental health students.
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2026 Best Value Environmental Health Schools in the Middle Atlantic 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
Our analysis ranked Cuny Hunter College the best value for a degree in environmental health in the Middle Atlantic Region. Located in the city of New York, Cuny Hunter College is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,382, compared with $15,332 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for environmental health graduates is $11,091. Early-career environmental health graduates make about $51,372. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 54%.
Students looking for strong value in environmental health will find it at Cuny York College, which ranked #2. Cuny York College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Jamaica. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,358, compared with $15,308 for out-of-state students. Environmental Health graduates carry a median of $13,000 in student loans. Early-career environmental health graduates make about $43,000. That is a strong return on a $13,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 64%.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of Maryland College Park earned it the #3 place for environmental health. Located in the suburb of College Park, University Of Maryland College Park is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,809, while out-of-state students pay about $41,186. Students borrow a median of $23,424 to complete the environmental health program here. Environmental Health graduates of University Of Maryland College Park earn a median of $55,440 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $23,424 median debt. The acceptance rate is 45%.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of Maryland University College earned it the #4 place for environmental health. University Of Maryland University College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Adelphi. Students from in state pay about $8,136 in tuition and fees, compared with $12,336 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $23,276 to complete the environmental health program here. Early-career environmental health graduates make about $65,020. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
A rank of #5 makes Johns Hopkins University one of the best values for environmental health. Set in the city of Baltimore, Johns Hopkins University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $64,730. Typical student debt for environmental health graduates is $15,500. Early-career environmental health graduates make about $66,959. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 6%.
Columbia University In The City Of New York earned the #6 position for value in environmental health this year. Set in the city of New York, Columbia University In The City Of New York is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $70,517 in tuition and fees. Environmental Health graduates carry a median of $23,258 in student loans. Soon after graduation, environmental health degree recipients from Columbia University In The City Of New York generally make around $73,074. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 4%.
East Stroudsburg University Of Pennsylvania placed #7 among the best values for environmental health. East Stroudsburg University Of Pennsylvania is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of East Stroudsburg. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,236, with out-of-state students paying around $19,202. Typical student debt for environmental health graduates is $27,250. Environmental Health graduates of East Stroudsburg University Of Pennsylvania earn a median of $39,601 early in their careers. Set against $27,250 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 92% of applicants are accepted.
Suny At Albany came in at #8 for value in environmental health this year. Located in the city of Albany, Suny At Albany is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,601, compared with $30,991 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for environmental health graduates is $25,086. Environmental Health graduates of Suny At Albany earn a median of $44,736 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $25,086 median debt. Suny At Albany admits about 69% of applicants.
University At Buffalo earned the #9 position for value in environmental health this year. University At Buffalo is a very large public school located in the suburb of Buffalo. Students from in state pay about $10,936 in tuition and fees, compared with $31,536 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for environmental health graduates is $23,250. Environmental Health graduates of University At Buffalo earn a median of $52,403 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 74% of applicants are accepted.
West Chester University Of Pennsylvania came in at #10 for value in environmental health this year. West Chester University Of Pennsylvania is a large public school located in the suburb of West Chester. Students from in state pay about $10,775 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $22,599. Median earnings reach $61,258 ten years out. The acceptance rate is 78%.
Temple University landed the #11 spot for environmental health value this year. Located in the city of Philadelphia, Temple University is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $23,005, while out-of-state students pay about $38,805. Typical student debt for environmental health graduates is $27,000. Environmental Health graduates of Temple University earn a median of $51,129 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 80%.
University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus earned the #12 position for value in environmental health this year. Located in the city of Pittsburgh, University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $21,926 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $41,430. Typical student debt for environmental health graduates is $21,500. Environmental Health graduates of University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus earn a median of $58,507 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $21,500 median debt. University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus admits about 58% of applicants.
University Of Rochester ranked #13 on our 2026 list of the best value environmental health schools. Set in the city of Rochester, University Of Rochester is a large private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $67,080. Students borrow a median of $19,000 to complete the environmental health program here. Environmental Health graduates of University Of Rochester earn a median of $60,865 early in their careers. Set against $19,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Rochester admits about 40% of applicants.
University Of Pennsylvania came in at #14 for value in environmental health this year. Set in the city of Philadelphia, University Of Pennsylvania is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $68,686. Students borrow a median of $16,155 to complete the environmental health program here. Environmental Health graduates of University Of Pennsylvania earn a median of $99,682 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Pennsylvania admits about 5% of applicants.
Cornell University came in at #15 for value in environmental health this year. Cornell University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Ithaca. Students from in state pay about $69,314 in tuition and fees. Environmental Health graduates carry a median of $12,133 in student loans. Early-career environmental health graduates make about $44,516. Set against $12,133 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 9% of applicants are accepted.
Lehigh University earned the #16 position for value in environmental health this year. Set in the city of Bethlehem, Lehigh University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $64,980. Typical student debt for environmental health graduates is $23,008. Early-career environmental health graduates make about $70,321. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 26% of applicants are accepted.
New York University came in at #17 for value in environmental health this year. New York University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of New York. In-state tuition and fees average $62,796. Students borrow a median of $19,000 to complete the environmental health program here. Early-career environmental health graduates make about $52,113. That is a strong return on a $19,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 9%.
George Washington University ranked #18 on our 2026 list of the best value environmental health schools. Set in the city of Washington, George Washington University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $67,710. Environmental Health graduates carry a median of $23,822 in student loans. Environmental Health graduates of George Washington University earn a median of $57,119 early in their careers. Set against $23,822 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 47%.
Drexel University ranked #19 on our 2026 list of the best value environmental health schools. Set in the city of Philadelphia, Drexel University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $62,412. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the environmental health program here. Soon after graduation, environmental health degree recipients from Drexel University generally make around $50,059. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 79% of applicants are accepted.
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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 · 23 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 10 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.