Environmental Engineering Degree in Springfield, MO — Salary & ROI 2026
Environmental Engineering degree analysis for Springfield, MO. 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
3.6 yrs
in Springfield
Cost of Living
80
index (100 = avg)
Environmental Engineering in Springfield, MO Overview
While Springfield has a smaller college scene with 5 institutions, Environmental Engineering students benefit from lower tuition costs. Room and board averages $13,383/year, and the car-friendly layout shapes the student experience. Environmental Engineering has seen growing enrollment nationally, reflecting rising employer demand for Water Treatment and Air Quality skills. The adjusted starting salary in Springfield is approximately $52,000.
Category
Engineering
Local Colleges
5
Public Tuition
$8,210/yr
Private Tuition
$33,330/yr
Room & Board
$13,383/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$13,942/yr
Unemployment
3.2%
Graduation Rate
52%
Environmental Engineering Salary in Springfield (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Springfield'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.Springfield adjustment factor: 0.80x based on the local cost of living index.
Environmental Engineering ROI Calculator for Springfield
Estimate your return on investment for a Environmental Engineering degree using local Springfield tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $8,210 | Private avg: $33,330
Springfield avg aid: $13,942/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$86,372
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$24,000
vs HS diploma in Springfield
ROI Payback Period
3.6 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Springfield
$513,628
Lifetime earnings premium ($600,000) minus total education cost ($86,372)
Student Loan Payoff for Environmental Engineering in Springfield
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Springfield for Environmental Engineering
Missouri State University
public
$8,210/yr
$32,840 total
Drury University
private
$33,330/yr
$133,320 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Ozarks Technical Community College
$3,900/yr
Top Employers for Environmental Engineering in Springfield
Springfield offers opportunities in Engineering firms, Manufacturing, Defense contractors for Environmental Engineering graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Springfield Hiring Sectors for Engineering
Engineering firms
Manufacturing
Defense contractors
Energy companies
Construction firms
Common Environmental Engineering Job Titles
Environmental Engineering in Nearby Missouri Cities
Kansas City, MO
$61K starting · COL 94
44 colleges
St. Louis, MO
$63K starting · COL 97
23 colleges
Columbia, MO
$55K starting · COL 84
10 colleges
Independence, MO
$56K starting · COL 85.8
5 colleges
Lee's Summit, MO
$62K starting · COL 95.5
4 colleges
OFallon, MO
$57K starting · COL 87.3
4 colleges
St. Joseph, MO
$59K starting · COL 90.4
3 colleges
St. Charles, MO
$54K starting · COL 83.4
3 colleges
Other Engineering Majors in Springfield
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 Springfield — 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 Springfield.