2026 Best Environmental Engineering Schools
Looking for the best Environmental Engineering programs programs in the United States? We have ranked 171 colleges by overall quality and student outcomes, using our 2026 methodology. Each school below is scored on factors such as graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, cost, and admissions selectivity.
To arm you with the information you need, Course Advisor analyzed schools to compile this 2026 ranking, drawing primarily on U.S. Department of Education data (IPEDS and College Scorecard). View our full ranking methodology.
Top 25 Environmental Engineering Schools in the United States
Explore the leading schools below:
Leading the list is Massachusetts Institute Of Technology, our #1 Environmental Engineering school in the United States. Located in Cambridge, MA, Massachusetts Institute Of Technology is a private not-for-profit institution. Massachusetts Institute Of Technology posts a six-year graduation rate of 96%. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $62,396. Massachusetts Institute Of Technology Environmental Engineering students take on a median of $13,516 in debt. Get the full Massachusetts Institute Of Technology report
Out of the 171 schools in the United States in this year's ranking, Cornell University landed the #2 spot. This private not-for-profit school is set in Ithaca, NY. Roughly 95% of students complete a degree within six years here. In-state tuition and fees run about $69,314. Typical Environmental Engineering student debt is $13,102. More on Cornell University
A rank of #3 makes Northwestern University one of the top choices in the United States. This private not-for-profit school is set in Evanston, IL. Roughly 95% of students complete a degree within six years here. In-state tuition and fees average $68,322. Northwestern University Environmental Engineering students take on a median of $16,616 in debt. See the full Northwestern University profile
The strong Environmental Engineering programs at Duke University earned it the #4 place in the United States. Set in Durham, NC, Duke University is a private not-for-profit institution. About 97% of students finish within six years. Students from in state pay about $68,758 in tuition and fees. Graduates carry a median of $13,296 in student loans. Read the full report on Duke University
University Of Notre Dame came in at #5 on this year's Environmental Engineering ranking in the United States. Based in Notre Dame, IN, University Of Notre Dame is a private not-for-profit institution. University Of Notre Dame posts a six-year graduation rate of 95%. In-state tuition and fees run about $65,025. Graduates carry a median of $25,000 in student loans. Read the full report on University Of Notre Dame
Rice University landed the #6 spot in the United States this year. Rice University is a private not-for-profit school based in Houston, TX. The six-year graduation rate is 95%. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $61,247. Students borrow a median of $11,904 to complete their Environmental Engineering program here. Read more about Rice University
Purdue University Main Campus landed the #7 spot in the United States this year. Based in West Lafayette, IN, Purdue University Main Campus is a public institution. Purdue University Main Campus posts a six-year graduation rate of 83%. Students from in state pay about $9,992 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $28,794. Students borrow a median of $16,316 to complete their Environmental Engineering program here. See the full Purdue University Main Campus profile
Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus did well this year, earning the #8 position. Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus is a public school based in Atlanta, GA. About 94% of students finish within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $12,058, compared with $34,484 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $27,250 to complete their Environmental Engineering program here. Read more about Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus
Bucknell University ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the best Environmental Engineering schools. Located in Lewisburg, PA, Bucknell University is a private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 86% of students complete a degree within six years here. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $67,812. Bucknell University Environmental Engineering students take on a median of $25,951 in debt. Get the full Bucknell University report
California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo landed the #10 spot in the United States this year. Set in San Luis Obispo, CA, California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo is a public institution. About 86% of students finish within six years. In-state tuition and fees average $12,161, compared with $33,230 for out-of-state students. Typical Environmental Engineering student debt is $20,500. See the full California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo profile
Vanderbilt University placed #11 among Environmental Engineering schools in the United States. Vanderbilt University is a private not-for-profit school based in Nashville, TN. The six-year graduation rate is 94%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $67,498. Typical Environmental Engineering student debt is $13,975. See the full Vanderbilt University profile
Johns Hopkins University came in at #12 in this year's ranking. Johns Hopkins University is a private not-for-profit school based in Baltimore, MD. Roughly 94% of students complete a degree within six years here. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $64,730. The median Environmental Engineering program debt is $13,426. See the full Johns Hopkins University profile
The University Of Texas At Austin ranked #13 on our 2026 list of the best Environmental Engineering schools. The University Of Texas At Austin is a public school based in Austin, TX. Roughly 89% of students complete a degree within six years here. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,688, while out-of-state students pay about $44,908. The median Environmental Engineering program debt is $21,275. Get the full The University Of Texas At Austin report
University Of California Berkeley did well this year, earning the #14 position. This public school is set in Berkeley, CA. The six-year graduation rate is 93%. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $15,377, with out-of-state students paying around $47,265. Graduates carry a median of $14,238 in student loans. See the full University Of California Berkeley profile
University Of Wisconsin Madison came in at #15 in this year's ranking. Located in Madison, WI, University Of Wisconsin Madison is a public institution. About 90% of students finish within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,603, with out-of-state students paying around $42,103. Graduates carry a median of $21,813 in student loans. Read the full report on University Of Wisconsin Madison
University Of Michigan Ann Arbor ranked #16 on our 2026 list of the best Environmental Engineering schools. Based in Ann Arbor, MI, University Of Michigan Ann Arbor is a public institution. University Of Michigan Ann Arbor posts a six-year graduation rate of 93%. In-state tuition and fees run about $18,848, with out-of-state students paying around $63,081. Graduates carry a median of $19,028 in student loans. More on University Of Michigan Ann Arbor
University Of Georgia did well this year, earning the #17 position. Located in Athens, GA, University Of Georgia is a public institution. University Of Georgia graduates 90% of students within six years. Students from in state pay about $11,450 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $31,688. The median Environmental Engineering program debt is $22,143. Read more about University Of Georgia
Michigan Technological University came in at #18 in this year's ranking. Based in Houghton, MI, Michigan Technological University is a public institution. About 68% of students finish within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $20,532, with out-of-state students paying around $44,807. The median Environmental Engineering program debt is $26,545. Get the full Michigan Technological University report
Colorado School Of Mines did well this year, earning the #19 position. Set in Golden, CO, Colorado School Of Mines is a public institution. Roughly 82% of students complete a degree within six years here. In-state tuition and fees run about $21,914, while out-of-state students pay about $45,824. Students borrow a median of $23,500 to complete their Environmental Engineering program here. Get the full Colorado School Of Mines report
Carnegie Mellon University came in at #20 in this year's ranking. This private not-for-profit school is set in Pittsburgh, PA. About 94% of students finish within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $65,636. Typical Environmental Engineering student debt is $23,529. Get the full Carnegie Mellon University report
University Of Wisconsin Platteville landed the #21 spot in the United States this year. Located in Platteville, WI, University Of Wisconsin Platteville is a public institution. Roughly 61% of students complete a degree within six years here. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,644, with out-of-state students paying around $17,603. University Of Wisconsin Platteville Environmental Engineering students take on a median of $20,457 in debt. Get the full University Of Wisconsin Platteville report
University Of Southern California did well this year, earning the #22 position. Based in Los Angeles, CA, University Of Southern California is a private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 92%. In-state tuition and fees average $71,647. University Of Southern California Environmental Engineering students take on a median of $15,625 in debt. Get the full University Of Southern California report
Lehigh University placed #23 among Environmental Engineering schools in the United States. Based in Bethlehem, PA, Lehigh University is a private not-for-profit institution. Lehigh University graduates 88% of students within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $64,980. Lehigh University Environmental Engineering students take on a median of $23,008 in debt. More on Lehigh University
University Of Nebraska Lincoln came in at #24 in this year's ranking. This public school is set in Lincoln, NE. University Of Nebraska Lincoln posts a six-year graduation rate of 67%. In-state tuition and fees average $10,434, while out-of-state students pay about $28,584. The median Environmental Engineering program debt is $22,386. Get the full University Of Nebraska Lincoln report
Stanford University did well this year, earning the #25 position. Located in Stanford, CA, Stanford University is a private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 92% of students complete a degree within six years here. In-state tuition and fees run about $65,910. Students borrow a median of $10,492 to complete their Environmental Engineering program here. Read more about Stanford University
Rest of the Top 50 Best Environmental Engineering Schools in the United States
Not far behind, these schools also made the top of the list:
Marquette University landed the #26 spot in the United States this year. Marquette University is a private not-for-profit school based in Milwaukee, WI. Marquette University posts a six-year graduation rate of 83%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $51,170. Students borrow a median of $24,122 to complete their Environmental Engineering program here. Read more about Marquette University
Ohio State University Main Campus ranked #27 on our 2026 list of the best Environmental Engineering schools. This public school is set in Columbus, OH. Roughly 88% of students complete a degree within six years here. In-state tuition and fees average $13,244, while out-of-state students pay about $40,022. Typical Environmental Engineering student debt is $24,850. More on Ohio State University Main Campus
University Of Cincinnati Main Campus did well this year, earning the #28 position. Located in Cincinnati, OH, University Of Cincinnati Main Campus is a public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 74%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $13,363, compared with $28,697 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $23,530 to complete their Environmental Engineering program here. See the full University Of Cincinnati Main Campus profile
University Of Delaware did well this year, earning the #29 position. Set in Newark, DE, University Of Delaware is a public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 82%. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $16,810, with out-of-state students paying around $41,400. Students borrow a median of $26,950 to complete their Environmental Engineering program here. Read more about University Of Delaware
Michigan State University did well this year, earning the #30 position. This public school is set in East Lansing, MI. Michigan State University graduates 81% of students within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $18,079, while out-of-state students pay about $44,850. Students borrow a median of $25,213 to complete their Environmental Engineering program here. See the full Michigan State University profile
University Of Florida did well this year, earning the #31 position. University Of Florida is a public school based in Gainesville, FL. About 91% of students finish within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $6,381, with out-of-state students paying around $28,659. University Of Florida Environmental Engineering students take on a median of $23,000 in debt. See the full University Of Florida profile
California State University Fullerton landed the #32 spot in the United States this year. Set in Fullerton, CA, California State University Fullerton is a public institution. California State University Fullerton posts a six-year graduation rate of 70%. In-state tuition and fees average $7,470, compared with $20,070 for out-of-state students. California State University Fullerton Environmental Engineering students take on a median of $15,525 in debt. Read the full report on California State University Fullerton
Clarkson University did well this year, earning the #33 position. This private not-for-profit school is set in Potsdam, NY. About 75% of students finish within six years. In-state tuition and fees average $59,398. Typical Environmental Engineering student debt is $27,000. See the full Clarkson University profile
University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign landed the #34 spot in the United States this year. Based in Champaign, IL, University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a public institution. University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign posts a six-year graduation rate of 85%. Students from in state pay about $18,267 in tuition and fees, compared with $40,096 for out-of-state students. The median Environmental Engineering program debt is $20,778. Get the full University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign report
North Carolina State University At Raleigh did well this year, earning the #35 position. Based in Raleigh, NC, North Carolina State University At Raleigh is a public institution. North Carolina State University At Raleigh graduates 85% of students within six years. Students from in state pay about $8,799 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $32,847. Graduates carry a median of $26,004 in student loans. More on North Carolina State University At Raleigh
Clemson University landed the #36 spot in the United States this year. Set in Clemson, SC, Clemson University is a public institution. Clemson University graduates 87% of students within six years. In-state tuition and fees average $15,554, while out-of-state students pay about $40,866. Students borrow a median of $20,500 to complete their Environmental Engineering program here. Read the full report on Clemson University
Tufts University did well this year, earning the #37 position. This private not-for-profit school is set in Medford, MA. Tufts University graduates 94% of students within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $70,704. Typical Environmental Engineering student debt is $17,074. More on Tufts University
Columbia University In The City Of New York did well this year, earning the #38 position. Columbia University In The City Of New York is a private not-for-profit school based in New York, NY. Columbia University In The City Of New York posts a six-year graduation rate of 96%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $70,517. Typical Environmental Engineering student debt is $23,258. More on Columbia University In The City Of New York
University Of Washington Seattle Campus placed #39 among Environmental Engineering schools in the United States. University Of Washington Seattle Campus is a public school based in Seattle, WA. The six-year graduation rate is 85%. Students from in state pay about $12,973 in tuition and fees, compared with $43,209 for out-of-state students. University Of Washington Seattle Campus Environmental Engineering students take on a median of $16,481 in debt. Read more about University Of Washington Seattle Campus
Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University landed the #40 spot in the United States this year. Set in Blacksburg, VA, Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University is a public institution. About 86% of students finish within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $15,948, with out-of-state students paying around $37,764. Students borrow a median of $23,393 to complete their Environmental Engineering program here. Get the full Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University report
University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus placed #41 among Environmental Engineering schools in the United States. This public school is set in Pittsburgh, PA. About 86% of students finish within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $21,926, with out-of-state students paying around $41,430. The median Environmental Engineering program debt is $24,958. Get the full University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus report
University Of California Davis came in at #42 in this year's ranking. This public school is set in Davis, CA. University Of California Davis graduates 86% of students within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $15,804, while out-of-state students pay about $47,692. University Of California Davis Environmental Engineering students take on a median of $14,404 in debt. See the full University Of California Davis profile
Wilkes University ranked #43 on our 2026 list of the best Environmental Engineering schools. Wilkes University is a private not-for-profit school based in Wilkes-Barre, PA. The six-year graduation rate is 63%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $43,496. Graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. More on Wilkes University
University Of Colorado Boulder ranked #44 on our 2026 list of the best Environmental Engineering schools. Set in Boulder, CO, University Of Colorado Boulder is a public institution. University Of Colorado Boulder posts a six-year graduation rate of 74%. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $15,214, compared with $42,970 for out-of-state students. University Of Colorado Boulder Environmental Engineering students take on a median of $20,836 in debt. More on University Of Colorado Boulder
Missouri University Of Science And Technology came in at #45 in this year's ranking. Located in Rolla, MO, Missouri University Of Science And Technology is a public institution. Missouri University Of Science And Technology posts a six-year graduation rate of 64%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $14,984, while out-of-state students pay about $33,248. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete their Environmental Engineering program here. More on Missouri University Of Science And Technology
Stevens Institute Of Technology placed #46 among Environmental Engineering schools in the United States. This private not-for-profit school is set in Hoboken, NJ. About 87% of students finish within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $63,462. The median Environmental Engineering program debt is $26,767. Get the full Stevens Institute Of Technology report
Louisiana State University And Agricultural And Mechanical College landed the #47 spot in the United States this year. Based in Baton Rouge, LA, Louisiana State University And Agricultural And Mechanical College is a public institution. Roughly 66% of students complete a degree within six years here. In-state tuition and fees run about $11,954, compared with $28,631 for out-of-state students. The median Environmental Engineering program debt is $24,486. Get the full Louisiana State University And Agricultural And Mechanical College report
Worcester Polytechnic Institute came in at #48 in this year's ranking. Located in Worcester, MA, Worcester Polytechnic Institute is a private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 90% of students complete a degree within six years here. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $60,765. Typical Environmental Engineering student debt is $26,259. Get the full Worcester Polytechnic Institute report
University Of Nevada Reno placed #49 among Environmental Engineering schools in the United States. Based in Reno, NV, University Of Nevada Reno is a public institution. About 61% of students finish within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $9,578, with out-of-state students paying around $27,720. University Of Nevada Reno Environmental Engineering students take on a median of $25,060 in debt. More on University Of Nevada Reno
Southern Methodist University placed #50 among Environmental Engineering schools in the United States. Based in Dallas, TX, Southern Methodist University is a private not-for-profit institution. Southern Methodist University posts a six-year graduation rate of 84%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $67,040. Southern Methodist University Environmental Engineering students take on a median of $20,712 in debt. Read more about Southern Methodist University
Best Environmental Engineering Schools by Degree Level
Explore rankings for a specific degree level:
- Best Environmental Engineering Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Environmental Engineering Undergraduate Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Environmental Engineering Associate’s Degree Schools
- Best Environmental Engineering Bachelor’s Degree Schools
- Best Environmental Engineering Graduate Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Environmental Engineering Master’s Degree Schools
- Best Environmental Engineering Doctoral Degree Schools
Ranking Methodology & Notes
The ranking above is published by Course Advisor (DMS_RANKING_2023), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and admissions data drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: Dms College Quality · Scope: Nation. *Averages shown above reflect the top 171 ranked schools only.
References
- Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) — National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education (core institutional data).
- College Scorecard — U.S. Department of Education (graduate earnings and outcomes data).
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