Environmental Engineering Degree in Lake Charles, LA — Salary & ROI 2026
Environmental Engineering degree analysis for Lake Charles, LA. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$52K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$76K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
3.9 yrs
in Lake Charles
Cost of Living
80
index (100 = avg)
Environmental Engineering in Lake Charles, LA Overview
Lake Charles, Louisiana (pop. 84,872) has 6 colleges offering Environmental Engineering programs. The local cost of living index of 80 keeps student expenses low, with average rent near campus at $925/month. Environmental Engineering has seen growing enrollment nationally, reflecting rising employer demand for Water Treatment and Air Quality skills. The adjusted starting salary in Lake Charles is approximately $52,000.
Category
Engineering
Local Colleges
6
Public Tuition
$9,274/yr
Private Tuition
$41,023/yr
Room & Board
$14,078/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$16,078/yr
Unemployment
3.3%
Graduation Rate
56%
Environmental Engineering Salary in Lake Charles (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Lake Charles's cost of living index of 80 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Environmental Engineering salary: $65,000 starting, $95,000 mid-career, $120,000 senior level.Lake Charles adjustment factor: 0.80x based on the local cost of living index.
Environmental Engineering ROI Calculator for Lake Charles
Estimate your return on investment for a Environmental Engineering degree using local Lake Charles tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $9,274 | Private avg: $41,023
Lake Charles avg aid: $16,078/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$93,408
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$24,000
vs HS diploma in Lake Charles
ROI Payback Period
3.9 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Lake Charles
$506,592
Lifetime earnings premium ($600,000) minus total education cost ($93,408)
Student Loan Payoff for Environmental Engineering in Lake Charles
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Lake Charles for Environmental Engineering
McNeese State University
public
$9,274/yr
$37,096 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Sowela Technical Community College
$4,236/yr
Top Employers for Environmental Engineering in Lake Charles
Lake Charles offers opportunities in Engineering firms, Manufacturing, Defense contractors for Environmental Engineering graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Lake Charles Hiring Sectors for Engineering
Engineering firms
Manufacturing
Defense contractors
Energy companies
Construction firms
Common Environmental Engineering Job Titles
Environmental Engineering in Nearby Louisiana Cities
New Orleans, LA
$59K starting · COL 90
23 colleges
Baton Rouge, LA
$53K starting · COL 82
16 colleges
Shreveport, LA
$64K starting · COL 99
14 colleges
Metairie, LA
$58K starting · COL 89.4
6 colleges
Lafayette, LA
$68K starting · COL 104
5 colleges
Bossier City, LA
$57K starting · COL 87.8
3 colleges
Kenner, LA
$60K starting · COL 92.5
3 colleges
Other Engineering Majors in Lake Charles
Petroleum Engineering
$40K starting · 2.5 yr ROI
Computer Engineering
$40K starting · 3 yr ROI
Chemical Engineering
$66K starting · 3.2 yr ROI
Nuclear Engineering
$40K starting · 3.3 yr ROI
Electrical Engineering
$64K starting · 3.3 yr ROI
Aerospace Engineering
$64K starting · 3.5 yr ROI
Mechanical Engineering
$62K starting · 3.5 yr ROI
Mining Engineering
$40K starting · 3 yr ROI
Environmental Engineering Degree in Lake Charles — 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 Lake Charles.