Environmental Engineering Major — Salary & ROI 2026
Application of engineering to protect the environment and public health.
Starting Salary
$62K
median
Mid-Career
$95K
salary
ROI Payback
4.2 yrs
avg payback
Unemployment
3.2%
rate
Environmental Engineering Overview
Application of engineering to protect the environment and public health.
Category
Engineering
Degree Level
Bachelor's
Graduation Rate
64%
Enrollment Trend
growing
Online Available
Limited
Underemployment
14%
Lifetime Premium
$750K
Female Graduates
42%
Environmental Engineering Degree ROI Calculator
Estimate your actual return on investment based on school type and scholarships.
0 to $40K/year in aid
Est. Total Cost
$20,250
4-year tuition
Net Cost (w/ aid)
$20,250
after scholarships
ROI Payback
1 years
to break even
Lifetime Return
$729,750
Lifetime earnings premium ($750,000) minus net degree cost ($20,250)
Environmental Engineering Salary Progression
Common Environmental Engineering Careers
Environmental Engineer
Sustainability Engineer
Water Resources Engineer
Top Employers
Skills You'll Learn
Top Schools for Environmental Engineering
#1
Stanford
#2
MIT
#3
UC Berkeley
#4
University of Michigan
#5
Georgia Tech
Related Majors
Environmental Engineering Degree FAQ
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