2027 Best Value General Environmental Engineering Schools in the Great Lakes Region

[General Environmental Engineering](/majors/engineering/environmental-engineering/general-environmental-engineering/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong general environmental engineering education at a price that pays off.
For its 2027 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 10 schools to find the best return on investment for general environmental engineering students.
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2027 Best Value General Environmental Engineering Schools in the Great Lakes Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in general environmental engineering, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value General Environmental Engineering Schools
Leading the list is University Of Michigan Ann Arbor, our #1 best value for general environmental engineering in the Great Lakes Region. Set in the city of Ann Arbor, University Of Michigan Ann Arbor is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $18,848 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $63,081. Typical student debt for general environmental engineering graduates is $19,028. Soon after graduation, general environmental engineering degree recipients from University Of Michigan Ann Arbor generally make around $57,824. Set against $19,028 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Michigan Ann Arbor admits about 16% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in general environmental engineering will find it at University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign, which ranked #2. Located in the city of Champaign, University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $18,267, compared with $40,096 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $20,778 to complete the general environmental engineering program here. General Environmental Engineering graduates of University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign earn a median of $57,461 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $20,778 median debt. The acceptance rate is 42%.
Students looking for strong value in general environmental engineering will find it at Purdue University Main Campus, which ranked #3. Located in the city of West Lafayette, Purdue University Main Campus is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $9,992, compared with $28,794 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $16,316 to complete the general environmental engineering program here. General Environmental Engineering graduates of Purdue University Main Campus earn a median of $71,861 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 50% of applicants are accepted.
A rank of #4 makes Michigan Technological University one of the best values for general environmental engineering. Michigan Technological University is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Houghton. In-state tuition and fees average $20,532, compared with $44,807 for out-of-state students. General Environmental Engineering graduates carry a median of $26,545 in student loans. Soon after graduation, general environmental engineering degree recipients from Michigan Technological University generally make around $64,453. That is a strong return on a $26,545 median debt. Roughly 92% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Wisconsin Platteville is a great value for students pursuing a degree in general environmental engineering, landing the #5 spot this year. Set in the town of Platteville, University Of Wisconsin Platteville is a moderately-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $8,644 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $17,603. Typical student debt for general environmental engineering graduates is $20,457. General Environmental Engineering graduates of University Of Wisconsin Platteville earn a median of $69,490 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $20,457 median debt. The acceptance rate is 89%.
University Of Wisconsin Madison landed the #6 spot for general environmental engineering value this year. University Of Wisconsin Madison is a very large public school located in the city of Madison. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,603, while out-of-state students pay about $42,103. Students borrow a median of $21,813 to complete the general environmental engineering program here. Early-career general environmental engineering graduates make about $59,877. That is a strong return on a $21,813 median debt. University Of Wisconsin Madison admits about 45% of applicants.
Ohio State University Main Campus ranked #7 on our 2027 list of the best value general environmental engineering schools. Ohio State University Main Campus is a very large public school located in the city of Columbus. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $13,244, while out-of-state students pay about $40,022. Typical student debt for general environmental engineering graduates is $24,850. Soon after graduation, general environmental engineering degree recipients from Ohio State University Main Campus generally make around $67,938. That is a strong return on a $24,850 median debt. Ohio State University Main Campus admits about 61% of applicants.
University Of Toledo landed the #8 spot for general environmental engineering value this year. University Of Toledo is a large public school located in the city of Toledo. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,157, with out-of-state students paying around $21,517. General Environmental Engineering graduates carry a median of $24,923 in student loans. Early-career general environmental engineering graduates make about $52,675. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Toledo admits about 92% of applicants.
University Of Cincinnati Main Campus landed the #9 spot for general environmental engineering value this year. Located in the city of Cincinnati, University Of Cincinnati Main Campus is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $13,363, while out-of-state students pay about $28,697. General Environmental Engineering graduates carry a median of $23,530 in student loans. Soon after graduation, general environmental engineering degree recipients from University Of Cincinnati Main Campus generally make around $58,659. Set against $23,530 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 85% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Notre Dame ranked #10 on our 2027 list of the best value general environmental engineering schools. Located in the suburb of Notre Dame, University Of Notre Dame is a large private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $65,025 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for general environmental engineering graduates is $25,000. Soon after graduation, general environmental engineering degree recipients from University Of Notre Dame generally make around $64,675. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Notre Dame admits about 11% of applicants.
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. The methodology weighs the cost of a degree against the earnings graduates go on to achieve, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 10 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 10 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.