2026 Best Value Occupational Health and Industrial Hygiene Schools
[Occupational Health and Industrial Hygiene](/majors/health-care-professions/public-health/occupational-health-and-industrial-hygiene/) 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 38 schools to find the best return on investment for occupational health and industrial hygiene students.
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Finding the Best Value Occupational Health and Industrial Hygiene School for You
The right occupational health and industrial hygiene school can pay off for years to come. To help, we created our Best Value Occupational Health and Industrial Hygiene Schools ranking. It weighs the cost of a degree against the outcomes graduates go on to achieve, so you can find the strongest return on your investment.
See how we build our rankings
One Size Does Not Fit All
Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we offer several rankings, including this Best Value Occupational Health and Industrial Hygiene Schools list, to help you choose. More interested in schools in a specific area of the country? Filter this list by region or state.
To further help you make the college decision, we have developed a unique tool called College Combat that lets you compare schools on the factors that matter most to you.
Learn more about our methodology
2026 Best Value Occupational Health and Industrial Hygiene Schools in the United States
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the occupational health and industrial hygiene degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Occupational Health and Industrial Hygiene Schools
For return on investment in occupational health and industrial hygiene, no school beat Brigham Young University Idaho this year. Brigham Young University Idaho is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the town of Rexburg. Students from in state pay about $4,800 in tuition and fees. Occupational Health And Industrial Hygiene graduates carry a median of $13,048 in student loans. Soon after graduation, occupational health and industrial hygiene degree recipients from Brigham Young University Idaho generally make around $30,128. That is a strong return on a $13,048 median debt. Brigham Young University Idaho admits about 96% of applicants.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Eastern Kentucky University earned it the #2 place for occupational health and industrial hygiene. Set in the town of Richmond, Eastern Kentucky University is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $10,320, with out-of-state students paying around $21,230. Occupational Health And Industrial Hygiene graduates carry a median of $22,999 in student loans. Early-career occupational health and industrial hygiene graduates make about $40,921. Set against $22,999 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 78%.
Students looking for strong value in occupational health and industrial hygiene will find it at Western Kentucky University, which ranked #3. Western Kentucky University is a large public school located in the city of Bowling Green. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,652, while out-of-state students pay about $27,000. Occupational Health And Industrial Hygiene graduates carry a median of $23,543 in student loans. Early-career occupational health and industrial hygiene graduates make about $44,778. That is a strong return on a $23,543 median debt. The acceptance rate is 94%.
A rank of #4 makes University Of Washington Seattle Campus one of the best values for occupational health and industrial hygiene. Set in the city of Seattle, University Of Washington Seattle Campus is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $12,973 in tuition and fees, compared with $43,209 for out-of-state students. Occupational Health And Industrial Hygiene graduates carry a median of $16,490 in student loans. Occupational Health And Industrial Hygiene graduates of University Of Washington Seattle Campus earn a median of $65,681 early in their careers. Set against $16,490 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Washington Seattle Campus admits about 39% of applicants.
University Of Utah came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best value occupational health and industrial hygiene schools. Set in the city of Salt Lake City, University Of Utah is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $9,620 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $30,860. Typical student debt for occupational health and industrial hygiene graduates is $14,500. Occupational Health And Industrial Hygiene graduates of University Of Utah earn a median of $47,787 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $14,500 median debt. University Of Utah admits about 86% of applicants.
Oakland University came in at #6 for value in occupational health and industrial hygiene this year. Set in the suburb of Rochester Hills, Oakland University is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $17,167, with out-of-state students paying around $24,735. Students borrow a median of $30,750 to complete the occupational health and industrial hygiene program here. Early-career occupational health and industrial hygiene graduates make about $57,173. That is a strong return on a $30,750 median debt. Roughly 88% of applicants are accepted.
Old Dominion University landed the #7 spot for occupational health and industrial hygiene value this year. Located in the city of Norfolk, Old Dominion University is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $12,750, with out-of-state students paying around $33,780. Students borrow a median of $26,001 to complete the occupational health and industrial hygiene program here. Soon after graduation, occupational health and industrial hygiene degree recipients from Old Dominion University generally make around $57,131. That is a strong return on a $26,001 median debt. Old Dominion University admits about 90% of applicants.
University Of Wisconsin Whitewater ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best value occupational health and industrial hygiene schools. University Of Wisconsin Whitewater is a large public school located in the town of Whitewater. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,616, with out-of-state students paying around $18,716. Typical student debt for occupational health and industrial hygiene graduates is $25,306. Early-career occupational health and industrial hygiene graduates make about $45,767. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 86%.
Montana Tech Of The University Of Montana landed the #9 spot for occupational health and industrial hygiene value this year. Located in the town of Butte, Montana Tech Of The University Of Montana is a small public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,289, compared with $26,094 for out-of-state students. Occupational Health And Industrial Hygiene graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Occupational Health And Industrial Hygiene graduates of Montana Tech Of The University Of Montana earn a median of $91,774 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 91%.
Johns Hopkins University placed #10 among the best values for occupational health and industrial hygiene. Johns Hopkins University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Baltimore. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $64,730. Typical student debt for occupational health and industrial hygiene graduates is $15,500. Occupational Health And Industrial Hygiene graduates of Johns Hopkins University earn a median of $66,959 early in their careers. Set against $15,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 6%.
University Of Toledo placed #11 among the best values for occupational health and industrial hygiene. Set in the city of Toledo, University Of Toledo is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,157, while out-of-state students pay about $21,517. Occupational Health And Industrial Hygiene graduates carry a median of $25,000 in student loans. Occupational Health And Industrial Hygiene graduates of University Of Toledo earn a median of $52,771 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Toledo admits about 92% of applicants.
University Of Central Oklahoma placed #12 among the best values for occupational health and industrial hygiene. University Of Central Oklahoma is a large public school located in the suburb of Edmond. In-state tuition and fees average $8,818, compared with $19,704 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $21,625 to complete the occupational health and industrial hygiene program here. Early-career occupational health and industrial hygiene graduates make about $49,560. That is a strong return on a $21,625 median debt. The acceptance rate is 78%.
Illinois State University came in at #13 for value in occupational health and industrial hygiene this year. Located in the suburb of Normal, Illinois State University is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $14,410, while out-of-state students pay about $26,058. Typical student debt for occupational health and industrial hygiene graduates is $22,250. Soon after graduation, occupational health and industrial hygiene degree recipients from Illinois State University generally make around $59,207. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 88% of applicants are accepted.
Ohio University Main Campus ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the best value occupational health and industrial hygiene schools. Ohio University Main Campus is a very large public school located in the town of Athens. Students from in state pay about $14,158 in tuition and fees, compared with $24,838 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for occupational health and industrial hygiene graduates is $27,000. Soon after graduation, occupational health and industrial hygiene degree recipients from Ohio University Main Campus generally make around $37,883. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 85%.
Texas A And M University College Station ranked #15 on our 2026 list of the best value occupational health and industrial hygiene schools. Located in the city of College Station, Texas A And M University College Station is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $12,995, compared with $40,124 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for occupational health and industrial hygiene graduates is $18,856. Soon after graduation, occupational health and industrial hygiene degree recipients from Texas A And M University College Station generally make around $54,497. Set against $18,856 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Texas A And M University College Station admits about 57% of applicants.
University Of Iowa earned the #16 position for value in occupational health and industrial hygiene this year. Set in the city of Iowa City, University Of Iowa is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $11,283, with out-of-state students paying around $33,371. Typical student debt for occupational health and industrial hygiene graduates is $22,469. Occupational Health And Industrial Hygiene graduates of University Of Iowa earn a median of $48,836 early in their careers. Set against $22,469 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Iowa admits about 84% of applicants.
University Of Cincinnati Main Campus earned the #17 position for value in occupational health and industrial hygiene this year. Located in the city of Cincinnati, University Of Cincinnati Main Campus is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $13,363, while out-of-state students pay about $28,697. Students borrow a median of $28,625 to complete the occupational health and industrial hygiene program here. Occupational Health And Industrial Hygiene graduates of University Of Cincinnati Main Campus earn a median of $55,859 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Cincinnati Main Campus admits about 85% of applicants.
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published 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 · 38 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 9 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.
