2026 Best Value Environmental Health Schools in the Southeast 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.
College Factual analyzed 21 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best value environmental health schools.
What’s on this page:
ADVERTISEMENTS
Featured Environmental Health Programs
Learn about start dates, transferring credits, availability of financial aid, and more by contacting the universities below.
BS in Public Health
Make a meaningful impact and improve quality of life with this specialized online bachelor's from Southern New Hampshire University.
Learn More
Master of Public Health (MPH)
The online MPH degree at SNHU gives you a solid grounding in the scientific basis of public health, preparing you to effect change for entire populations.
Learn More
2026 Best Value Environmental Health Schools in the Southeast 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
For return on investment in environmental health, no school beat University Of Florida this year. Set in the city of Gainesville, University Of Florida is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,381, while out-of-state students pay about $28,659. Environmental Health graduates carry a median of $17,580 in student loans. Environmental Health graduates of University Of Florida earn a median of $42,481 early in their careers. Set against $17,580 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Florida admits about 24% of applicants.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Roane State Community College earned it the #2 place for environmental health. Roane State Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Harriman. Students from in state pay about $4,998 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $18,630. Typical student debt for environmental health graduates is $9,408. Soon after graduation, environmental health degree recipients from Roane State Community College generally make around $36,933. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Eastern Kentucky University came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best value environmental health schools. Eastern Kentucky University is a large public school located in the town of Richmond. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,320, with out-of-state students paying around $21,230. Students borrow a median of $22,999 to complete the environmental health program here. Soon after graduation, environmental health degree recipients from Eastern Kentucky University generally make around $40,921. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 78% of applicants are accepted.
Marshall University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in environmental health, landing the #4 spot this year. Set in the city of Huntington, Marshall University is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,162, while out-of-state students pay about $20,342. Students borrow a median of $25,250 to complete the environmental health program here. Early-career environmental health graduates make about $52,481. That is a strong return on a $25,250 median debt. Roughly 96% of applicants are accepted.
Western Kentucky University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in environmental health, landing the #5 spot this year. Western Kentucky University is a large public school located in the city of Bowling Green. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,652, while out-of-state students pay about $27,000. Typical student debt for environmental health graduates is $23,543. Soon after graduation, environmental health degree recipients from Western Kentucky University generally make around $44,778. Set against $23,543 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 94% of applicants are accepted.
University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill earned the #6 position for value in environmental health this year. Set in the city of Chapel Hill, University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $8,994, while out-of-state students pay about $41,203. Typical student debt for environmental health graduates is $16,203. Soon after graduation, environmental health degree recipients from University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill generally make around $75,293. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill admits about 15% of applicants.
Western Carolina University landed the #7 spot for environmental health value this year. Western Carolina University is a large public school located in the town of Cullowhee. In-state tuition and fees average $4,630, compared with $8,630 for out-of-state students. Environmental Health graduates carry a median of $26,343 in student loans. Environmental Health graduates of Western Carolina University earn a median of $44,926 early in their careers. Set against $26,343 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Western Carolina University admits about 82% of applicants.
University Of Georgia came in at #8 for value in environmental health this year. University Of Georgia is a very large public school located in the city of Athens. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,450, with out-of-state students paying around $31,688. Students borrow a median of $21,500 to complete the environmental health program here. Early-career environmental health graduates make about $43,268. Set against $21,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 38% of applicants are accepted.
East Tennessee State University earned the #9 position for value in environmental health this year. Located in the city of Johnson City, East Tennessee State University is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $10,216 in tuition and fees, compared with $13,726 for out-of-state students. Environmental Health graduates carry a median of $22,299 in student loans. Early-career environmental health graduates make about $46,940. Set against $22,299 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 86% of applicants are accepted.
East Carolina University earned the #10 position for value in environmental health this year. Located in the city of Greenville, East Carolina University is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,361, while out-of-state students pay about $23,638. Environmental Health graduates carry a median of $25,750 in student loans. Environmental Health graduates of East Carolina University earn a median of $45,253 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $25,750 median debt. East Carolina University admits about 89% of applicants.
University Of Alabama At Birmingham placed #11 among the best values for environmental health. Set in the city of Birmingham, University Of Alabama At Birmingham is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,098, with out-of-state students paying around $22,562. Environmental Health graduates carry a median of $25,000 in student loans. Early-career environmental health graduates make about $55,413. That is a strong return on a $25,000 median debt. University Of Alabama At Birmingham admits about 88% of applicants.
Benedict College earned the #12 position for value in environmental health this year. Benedict College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Columbia. Students from in state pay about $17,748 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $39,254 to complete the environmental health program here. Soon after graduation, environmental health degree recipients from Benedict College generally make around $25,769. Set against $39,254 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 96% of applicants are accepted.
Emory University came in at #13 for value in environmental health this year. Set in the city of Atlanta, Emory University is a large private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $64,280 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for environmental health graduates is $19,431. Soon after graduation, environmental health degree recipients from Emory University generally make around $63,822. Set against $19,431 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 11% of applicants are accepted.
University Of South Carolina Columbia earned the #14 position for value in environmental health this year. Set in the city of Columbia, University Of South Carolina Columbia is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,688, compared with $36,298 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $24,958 to complete the environmental health program here. Early-career environmental health graduates make about $64,396. Set against $24,958 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 60%.
University Of Miami landed the #15 spot for environmental health value this year. Located in the suburb of Coral Gables, University Of Miami is a very large private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $62,616. Students borrow a median of $17,750 to complete the environmental health program here. Environmental Health graduates of University Of Miami earn a median of $57,234 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $17,750 median debt. Roughly 19% of applicants are accepted.
Tulane University Of Louisiana landed the #16 spot for environmental health value this year. Tulane University Of Louisiana is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of New Orleans. Students from in state pay about $68,678 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for environmental health graduates is $22,077. Soon after graduation, environmental health degree recipients from Tulane University Of Louisiana generally make around $55,042. That is a strong return on a $22,077 median debt. The acceptance rate is 14%.
Narrow Environmental Health Schools by State
More Environmental Health Rankings
View All Environmental Health Rankings >
Notes and References
This ranking is produced 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 · 21 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 11 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.