2027 Best Value General Environmental Engineering Schools in Pennsylvania

[General Environmental Engineering](/majors/engineering/environmental-engineering/general-environmental-engineering/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong general environmental engineering education at a price that pays off.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 6 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for general environmental engineering students.
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2027 Best Value General Environmental Engineering Schools in Pennsylvania
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in general environmental engineering, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value General Environmental Engineering Schools
Wilkes University tops our 2027 list of the best value general environmental engineering schools in Pennsylvania. Set in the city of Wilkes-Barre, Wilkes University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $43,496. Typical student debt for general environmental engineering graduates is $27,000. Early-career general environmental engineering graduates make about $60,098. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 91%.
University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus came in at #2 on our 2027 list of the best value general environmental engineering schools. University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus is a very large public school located in the city of Pittsburgh. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $21,926, compared with $41,430 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $24,958 to complete the general environmental engineering program here. Early-career general environmental engineering graduates make about $56,926. Set against $24,958 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus admits about 58% of applicants.
A rank of #3 makes Carnegie Mellon University one of the best values for general environmental engineering. Set in the city of Pittsburgh, Carnegie Mellon University is a large private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $65,636 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $23,529 to complete the general environmental engineering program here. Soon after graduation, general environmental engineering degree recipients from Carnegie Mellon University generally make around $89,327. Set against $23,529 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 12%.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Pennsylvania State University Main Campus earned it the #4 place for general environmental engineering. Pennsylvania State University Main Campus is a very large public school located in the city of University Park. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $20,644, while out-of-state students pay about $41,790. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the general environmental engineering program here. Early-career general environmental engineering graduates make about $61,414. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 61% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Lehigh University earned it the #5 place for general environmental engineering. Located in the city of Bethlehem, Lehigh University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $64,980. General Environmental Engineering graduates carry a median of $23,008 in student loans. General Environmental Engineering graduates of Lehigh University earn a median of $70,321 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Lehigh University admits about 26% of applicants.
Drexel University placed #6 among the best values for general environmental engineering. Set in the city of Philadelphia, Drexel University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $62,412. General Environmental Engineering graduates carry a median of $30,983 in student loans. General Environmental Engineering graduates of Drexel University earn a median of $64,712 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $30,983 median debt. The acceptance rate is 79%.
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Notes and References
This list is compiled 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 · 6 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 6 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.