2026 Best Value Environmental Engineering Schools in the Great Lakes Region
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the environmental engineering degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Environmental Engineering Schools
Leading the list is Purdue University Main Campus, our #1 best value for environmental engineering in the Great Lakes Region. Set in the city of West Lafayette, Purdue University Main Campus is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,992, compared with $28,794 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $16,316 to complete the environmental engineering program here. Early-career environmental engineering graduates make about $71,861. That is a strong return on a $16,316 median debt. The acceptance rate is 50%.
Students looking for strong value in environmental engineering will find it at University Of Michigan Ann Arbor, which ranked #2. University Of Michigan Ann Arbor is a very large public school located in the city of Ann Arbor. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $18,848, compared with $63,081 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for environmental engineering graduates is $19,028. Soon after graduation, environmental engineering degree recipients from University Of Michigan Ann Arbor generally make around $57,824. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 16% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a great value for students pursuing a degree in environmental engineering, landing the #3 spot this year. Set in the city of Champaign, University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $18,267 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $40,096. Environmental Engineering graduates carry a median of $20,778 in student loans. Soon after graduation, environmental engineering degree recipients from University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign generally make around $57,461. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 42% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Wisconsin Platteville is a great value for students pursuing a degree in environmental engineering, landing the #4 spot this year. Set in the town of Platteville, University Of Wisconsin Platteville is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,644, while out-of-state students pay about $17,603. Students borrow a median of $20,457 to complete the environmental engineering program here. Early-career environmental engineering graduates make about $69,490. That is a strong return on a $20,457 median debt. Roughly 89% of applicants are accepted.
Students looking for strong value in environmental engineering will find it at Michigan Technological University, which ranked #5. Michigan Technological University is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Houghton. In-state tuition and fees average $20,532, with out-of-state students paying around $44,807. Students borrow a median of $26,545 to complete the environmental engineering program here. Early-career environmental engineering graduates make about $64,453. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 92%.
University Of Wisconsin Madison earned the #6 position for value in environmental engineering this year. Set in the city of Madison, University Of Wisconsin Madison is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $11,603, with out-of-state students paying around $42,103. Typical student debt for environmental engineering graduates is $21,813. Environmental Engineering graduates of University Of Wisconsin Madison earn a median of $59,877 early in their careers. Set against $21,813 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 45% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Toledo ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best value environmental engineering schools. Set in the city of Toledo, University Of Toledo is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,157, with out-of-state students paying around $21,517. Typical student debt for environmental engineering graduates is $24,923. Early-career environmental engineering graduates make about $52,675. That is a strong return on a $24,923 median debt. University Of Toledo admits about 92% of applicants.
Ohio State University Main Campus came in at #8 for value in environmental engineering this year. 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, with out-of-state students paying around $40,022. Typical student debt for environmental engineering graduates is $24,850. Early-career environmental engineering graduates make about $67,938. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 61% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Cincinnati Main Campus placed #9 among the best values for environmental engineering. University Of Cincinnati Main Campus is a very large public school located in the city of Cincinnati. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $13,363, with out-of-state students paying around $28,697. Students borrow a median of $23,530 to complete the environmental engineering program here. Soon after graduation, environmental engineering degree recipients from University Of Cincinnati Main Campus generally make around $58,659. That is a strong return on a $23,530 median debt. Roughly 85% of applicants are accepted.
Northwestern University placed #10 among the best values for environmental engineering. Located in the city of Evanston, Northwestern University is a very large private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $68,322. Students borrow a median of $16,616 to complete the environmental engineering program here. Environmental Engineering graduates of Northwestern University earn a median of $78,551 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Northwestern University admits about 8% of applicants.
Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 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 · 32 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 11 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.
[Environmental Engineering](/majors/engineering/environmental-engineering/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
