2026 Best Value Environmental Engineering Schools in the The Plains States Region
[Environmental Engineering](/majors/engineering/environmental-engineering/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 12 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for environmental engineering students.
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2026 Best Value Environmental Engineering Schools in the The Plains States 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
Our analysis ranked Missouri University Of Science And Technology the best value for a degree in environmental engineering in the The Plains States Region. Missouri University Of Science And Technology is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Rolla. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $14,984, compared with $33,248 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for environmental engineering graduates is $27,000. Early-career environmental engineering graduates make about $57,679. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Missouri University Of Science And Technology admits about 72% of applicants.
University Of Minnesota Twin Cities came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best value environmental engineering schools. Located in the city of Minneapolis, University Of Minnesota Twin Cities is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $17,214, compared with $38,362 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the environmental engineering program here. Environmental Engineering graduates of University Of Minnesota Twin Cities earn a median of $53,447 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 80%.
Iowa State University came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best value environmental engineering schools. Located in the city of Ames, Iowa State University is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,787, while out-of-state students pay about $28,881. Students borrow a median of $23,495 to complete the environmental engineering program here. Soon after graduation, environmental engineering degree recipients from Iowa State University generally make around $53,900. Set against $23,495 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 89%.
Washington University In St Louis came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best value environmental engineering schools. Washington University In St Louis is a large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of St. Louis. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $65,790. Students borrow a median of $17,553 to complete the environmental engineering program here. Environmental Engineering graduates of Washington University In St Louis earn a median of $68,303 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Washington University In St Louis admits about 12% of applicants.
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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 · 12 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 4 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.
