2026 Best Value Environmental Engineering Schools in the New England Region
[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.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 13 schools to find the best return on investment for environmental engineering students.
What’s on this page:
2026 Best Value Environmental Engineering Schools in the New England 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
For return on investment in environmental engineering, no school beat Massachusetts Institute Of Technology this year. Located in the city of Cambridge, Massachusetts Institute Of Technology is a large private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $62,396 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for environmental engineering graduates is $13,516. Early-career environmental engineering graduates make about $113,129. That is a strong return on a $13,516 median debt. Roughly 4% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Connecticut came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best value environmental engineering schools. Set in the town of Storrs, University Of Connecticut is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $21,044, with out-of-state students paying around $43,712. Typical student debt for environmental engineering graduates is $21,738. Early-career environmental engineering graduates make about $64,950. Set against $21,738 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Connecticut admits about 52% of applicants.
University Of Vermont came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best value environmental engineering schools. Located in the city of Burlington, University Of Vermont is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $19,058, compared with $45,502 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for environmental engineering graduates is $21,000. Environmental Engineering graduates of University Of Vermont earn a median of $63,697 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 65% of applicants are accepted.
University Of New Hampshire Main Campus is a great value for students pursuing a degree in environmental engineering, landing the #4 spot this year. University Of New Hampshire Main Campus is a large public school located in the town of Durham. Students from in state pay about $19,202 in tuition and fees, compared with $39,852 for out-of-state students. Environmental Engineering graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Environmental Engineering graduates of University Of New Hampshire Main Campus earn a median of $62,190 early in their careers. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 88% of applicants are accepted.
Yale University came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best value environmental engineering schools. Yale University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of New Haven. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $67,250. Environmental Engineering graduates carry a median of $14,357 in student loans. Soon after graduation, environmental engineering degree recipients from Yale University generally make around $74,578. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Yale University admits about 4% of applicants.
University Of New Haven placed #6 among the best values for environmental engineering. Set in the suburb of West Haven, University Of New Haven is a large private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $47,332. Environmental Engineering graduates carry a median of $26,244 in student loans. Environmental Engineering graduates of University Of New Haven earn a median of $49,615 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $26,244 median debt. Roughly 60% of applicants are accepted.
Tufts University earned the #7 position for value in environmental engineering this year. Tufts University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Medford. Students from in state pay about $70,704 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for environmental engineering graduates is $17,074. Soon after graduation, environmental engineering degree recipients from Tufts University generally make around $68,154. That is a strong return on a $17,074 median debt. Roughly 12% of applicants are accepted.
Worcester Polytechnic Institute landed the #8 spot for environmental engineering value this year. Located in the city of Worcester, Worcester Polytechnic Institute is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $60,765 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for environmental engineering graduates is $26,259. Soon after graduation, environmental engineering degree recipients from Worcester Polytechnic Institute generally make around $91,834. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Worcester Polytechnic Institute admits about 60% of applicants.
Narrow Environmental Engineering Schools by State
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 · 13 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 8 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.
