Best colleges for Environmental/Environmental Health Engineering in California
Ranked by graduate earnings
California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo, San Diego State University and University of California-Riverside are the top bachelor's Environmental/Environmental Health Engineering programs in California by graduate earnings. California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo leads with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $82,197, College Scorecard. California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo, San Diego State University and University of California-Davis award the most Environmental/Environmental Health Engineering degrees in California: 40, 38 and 36 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 14 California colleges offer Environmental/Environmental Health Engineering and award 329 degrees and certificates a year in all.
The Environmental/Environmental Health Engineering program focuses on the intersection of engineering principles and environmental science. It prepares students to address complex environmental issues by studying the impact of human…
Top 5 bachelor's programs, ranked by graduate earnings
Ranked by median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard. Programs with fewer than 20 graduates a year, a graduation rate under 30%, or online, degree-completion or graduate-only status rank after the rest.
| # | Institution | Starting salary (1 yr) | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo San Luis Obispo Public · Bachelor's degree | $82,197 | 40 | 86% | — | $20,500 |
| 2 | San Diego State University San Diego Public · Bachelor's degree | $66,482 | 38 | 76% | — | $19,089 |
| 3 | University of California-Riverside Riverside Public · Bachelor's degree | $59,309 | 24 | 76% | — | $18,068 |
| 4 | California State Polytechnic University - Humboldt Arcata Public · Bachelor's degree | $55,589 | 30 | 49% | — | $24,350 |
| 5 | University of California-Merced Merced Public · Bachelor's degree Small program | $47,028 | 12 | 69% | — | $21,665 |
Colleges awarding the most Environmental/Environmental Health Engineering degrees in California
Top 10 by graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25 completions). Certificate and associate programs, online, degree-completion and graduate-only schools, and schools with a graduation rate under 30% are listed in full below.
| # | Institution | Graduates / yr | Starting salary (1 yr) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo San Luis Obispo Public | 40 | $82,197 |
| 2 | San Diego State University San Diego Public | 38 | $66,482 |
| 3 | University of California-Davis Davis Public | 36 | Not reported |
| 4 | California State University - Fullerton Fullerton Public | 32 | Not reported |
| 5 | California State Polytechnic University - Humboldt Arcata Public | 30 | $55,589 |
| 6 | University of San Diego San Diego Private not-for-profit | 28 | Not reported |
| 7 | University of California-Riverside Riverside Public | 24 | $59,309 |
| 8 | University of Southern California Los Angeles Private not-for-profit | 24 | Not reported |
| 9 | University of California-Irvine Irvine Public | 20 | Not reported |
| 10 | California Institute of Technology Pasadena Private not-for-profit | 15 | Not reported |
ShowHide the other 4 California colleges offering Environmental/Environmental Health Engineering
| Institution | City | Control | Graduates / yr |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of California-Berkeley | Berkeley | Public | 15 |
| Stanford University | Stanford | Private not-for-profit | 14 |
| University of California-Merced | Merced | Public | 12 |
| University of California-San Diego | La Jolla | Public | 1 |
Career outlook
What this program leads to: Environmental Engineers (SOC 17-2081).
Top skills
What Environmental Engineers earn in California
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing Environmental/Environmental Health Engineering programs in California.
Which California colleges award the most Environmental/Environmental Health Engineering degrees?+
California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo (40 graduates a year), San Diego State University (38 graduates a year) and University of California-Davis (36 graduates a year) award the most Environmental/Environmental Health Engineering degrees in California, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 14 California colleges offer Environmental/Environmental Health Engineering.
What is the best college for Environmental/Environmental Health Engineering in California?+
By graduate earnings, California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo leads among bachelor's Environmental/Environmental Health Engineering programs in California, with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $82,197, College Scorecard. San Diego State University and University of California-Riverside follow. By degrees awarded, California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo is the largest, with 40 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25).
Which Environmental/Environmental Health Engineering program in California has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo tops the list at $82,197. Compare it against graduates a year, graduation rate, cost, and debt in the ranked table above.
How much do Environmental Engineers earn in California?+
The average annual wage for Environmental Engineers in California is $125,870 (median $130,410), across about 4,550 jobs. Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025.
What is the focus of the Environmental/Environmental Health Engineering program?+
The Environmental/Environmental Health Engineering program focuses on the intersection of engineering principles and environmental science. It prepares students to address complex environmental issues by studying the impact of human…
What skills will I develop in this program?+
You will develop reading comprehension, active listening, writing, speaking, and related professional skills.
What is the job outlook for Environmental Engineers?+
The national job outlook is about +3.9% growth with around 3,000 annual openings (BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034).
What is the typical education requirement?+
A Bachelor's degree is the typical entry-level education for this field (BLS).
About the data on this page
Every figure comes from an official federal or public source. Here is each one and the release it is currently on.
Explore every U.S. college in one conversation
Clema turns plain-language questions into sourced answers across every U.S. institution — earnings, aid, acceptance, graduation, safety, and athletics from IPEDS, College Scorecard, and 10+ federal datasets, built in.
Free for teams up to 3 · No credit card