Environmental Engineering Degree in Elgin, IL — Salary & ROI 2026
Environmental Engineering degree analysis for Elgin, IL. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$51K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$75K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
3.4 yrs
in Elgin
Cost of Living
79
index (100 = avg)
Environmental Engineering in Elgin, IL Overview
Elgin, Illinois (pop. 114,797) has 13 colleges offering Environmental Engineering programs. The local cost of living index of 79 keeps student expenses low, with average rent near campus at $1,008/month. Environmental Engineering has seen growing enrollment nationally, reflecting rising employer demand for Water Treatment and Air Quality skills. The adjusted starting salary in Elgin is approximately $51,350.
Category
Engineering
Local Colleges
13
Public Tuition
$10,014/yr
Private Tuition
$30,900/yr
Room & Board
$9,983/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$15,897/yr
Unemployment
4.7%
Graduation Rate
47%
Environmental Engineering Salary in Elgin (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Elgin's cost of living index of 79 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Environmental Engineering salary: $65,000 starting, $95,000 mid-career, $120,000 senior level.Elgin adjustment factor: 0.79x based on the local cost of living index.
Environmental Engineering ROI Calculator for Elgin
Estimate your return on investment for a Environmental Engineering degree using local Elgin tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $10,014 | Private avg: $30,900
Elgin avg aid: $15,897/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$79,988
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$23,700
vs HS diploma in Elgin
ROI Payback Period
3.4 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Elgin
$512,512
Lifetime earnings premium ($592,500) minus total education cost ($79,988)
Student Loan Payoff for Environmental Engineering in Elgin
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Elgin for Environmental Engineering
Judson University
private
$30,900/yr
$123,600 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Elgin Community College
$4,980/yr
Top Employers for Environmental Engineering in Elgin
Elgin offers opportunities in Engineering firms, Manufacturing, Defense contractors for Environmental Engineering graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Elgin Hiring Sectors for Engineering
Engineering firms
Manufacturing
Defense contractors
Energy companies
Construction firms
Common Environmental Engineering Job Titles
Environmental Engineering in Nearby Illinois Cities
Chicago, IL
$71K starting · COL 109
98 colleges
Aurora, IL
$60K starting · COL 92.8
7 colleges
Joliet, IL
$70K starting · COL 108
12 colleges
Naperville, IL
$66K starting · COL 102
13 colleges
Rockford, IL
$59K starting · COL 90
8 colleges
Springfield, IL
$60K starting · COL 92
9 colleges
Peoria, IL
$68K starting · COL 104
5 colleges
Waukegan, IL
$59K starting · COL 90.3
4 colleges
Other Engineering Majors in Elgin
Petroleum Engineering
$40K starting · 2.5 yr ROI
Computer Engineering
$40K starting · 3 yr ROI
Chemical Engineering
$65K starting · 3.2 yr ROI
Nuclear Engineering
$40K starting · 3.3 yr ROI
Electrical Engineering
$63K starting · 3.3 yr ROI
Aerospace Engineering
$63K starting · 3.5 yr ROI
Mechanical Engineering
$62K starting · 3.5 yr ROI
Mining Engineering
$40K starting · 3 yr ROI
Environmental Engineering Degree in Elgin — FAQ
Data Sources: Salary data from BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook. Cost of living from BLS Regional Data. College data from NCES/IPEDS. Updated March 2026.
Explore More
Compare Environmental Engineering ROI in other cities, or explore other majors in Elgin.