Best colleges for Environmental/Environmental Health Engineering
A program that prepares individuals to apply mathematical and scientific principles to the design, development and operational evaluation of systems for controlling contained living environments and for monitoring and controlling factors in the external natural environment, including pollution control, waste and hazardous material disposal, health and safety protection, conservation, life support, and requirements for protection of special materials and related work environments.
152 U.S. institutions graduated 2,877 Environmental/Environmental Health Engineering students in 2024–25 (IPEDS). It is CIP 14.1401, a specialization of Environmental/Environmental Health Engineering (CIP 14.14), and leads most directly to the Environmental Engineers occupation (BLS SOC 17-2081).
About Environmental/Environmental Health Engineering programs
A program that prepares individuals to apply mathematical and scientific principles to the design, development and operational evaluation of systems for controlling contained living environments and for monitoring and controlling factors in the external natural environment, including pollution control, waste and hazardous material disposal, health and safety protection, conservation, life support, and requirements for protection of special materials and related work environments.
See also: 03.0103 - Environmental Studies., 03.0104 - Environmental Science.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics, Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020).
The Environmental/Environmental Health Engineering program prepares students to apply mathematical and scientific principles to design and evaluate systems that control living environments and monitor external natural factors. This program is ideal for individuals interested in addressing environmental challenges, such as pollution control and waste management, while ensuring health and safety protection.
Students will gain core skills in reading comprehension, critical thinking, and mathematics, alongside knowledge in engineering, chemistry, and environmental design. Coursework typically includes the design and management of systems for air, water, and soil quality control.
Credentials awarded
What Environmental/Environmental Health Engineering graduates earned in 2024–25, by award level (IPEDS completions).
- Bachelor's degree1,903 graduates / yr · 117 institutions66%
- Master's degree738 graduates / yr · 86 institutions26%
- Doctor's degree - research/scholarship176 graduates / yr · 44 institutions6.1%
- Award of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year32 graduates / yr · 2 institutions1.1%
- Postbaccalaureate certificate24 graduates / yr · 9 institutions0.8%
- Post-master's certificate4 graduates / yr · 1 institution0.1%
Graduates over time
Environmental/Environmental Health Engineering completions reported to IPEDS each year, all award levels combined.
| Year | Graduates |
|---|---|
| 2012 | 1,933 |
| 2013 | 2,265 |
| 2014 | 2,416 |
| 2015 | 2,501 |
| 2016 | 2,504 |
| 2017 | 2,506 |
| 2018 | 2,729 |
| 2019 | 2,828 |
| 2020 | 2,776 |
| 2021 | 2,717 |
| 2022 | 2,823 |
| 2023 | 2,989 |
| 2024 | 2,829 |
| 2025 | 2,877 |
Top 50 institutions for Environmental/Environmental Health Engineering, ranked by graduates
Graduates (IPEDS completions), 2024–25. Award levels show which credentials each institution confers in this specialization.
| # | Institution | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price | Field starting salary* (1 yr) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Georgia Institute of Technology Atlanta, GAPublicBachelor'sMaster'sDoctoral | 94 | 94% | — | $70,008 |
| 2 | Purdue University West Lafayette, INPublicBachelor'sMaster'sDoctoral | 90 | 83% | — | $71,861 |
| 3 | University of Florida Gainesville, FLPublicBachelor'sMaster'sDoctoral | 86 | 91% | — | $62,480 |
| 4 | The University of Texas at Austin Austin, TXPublicBachelor'sMaster's | 71 | 89% | — | — |
| 5 | University of Colorado Boulder Boulder, COPublicBachelor'sMaster'sDoctoral | 69 | 74% | — | $63,049 |
| 6 | Columbia University New York, NYPrivate not-for-profitMaster'sBachelor'sDoctoralMaster's | 69 | 96% | $15,315 | — |
| 7 | University of Michigan-Ann Arbor Ann Arbor, MIPublicBachelor'sMaster'sDoctoral | 66 | 93% | — | $57,824 |
| 8 | Colorado School of Mines Golden, COPublicBachelor'sPost-degree cert.Master'sDoctoral | 63 | 82% | — | $69,102 |
| 9 | Johns Hopkins University Baltimore, MDPrivate not-for-profitMaster'sBachelor'sPost-degree cert.Doctoral | 63 | 94% | $11,888 | — |
| 10 | Michigan Technological University Houghton, MIPublicBachelor'sMaster'sDoctoral | 61 | 68% | — | $64,453 |
| 11 | Arizona State University Campus Immersion Tempe, AZPublicBachelor'sMaster's | 57 | 68% | — | $53,013 |
| 12 | University of Wisconsin-Madison Madison, WIPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearBachelor's | 52 | 90% | — | — |
| 13 | University of Georgia Athens, GAPublicBachelor'sMaster'sPost-degree cert.Doctoral | 44 | 90% | — | $62,915 |
| 14 | Montana State University Bozeman, MTPublicBachelor'sMaster's | 44 | 57% | — | — |
| 15 | Ohio State University Columbus, OHPublicBachelor's | 44 | 88% | — | $67,938 |
| 16 | University of Central Florida Orlando, FLPublicBachelor'sMaster'sDoctoral | 43 | 78% | — | $56,443 |
| 17 | Clemson University Clemson, SCPublicBachelor'sMaster'sDoctoral | 43 | 87% | — | $68,363 |
| 18 | California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo San Luis Obispo, CAPublicBachelor's | 40 | 86% | — | $82,197 |
| 19 | University at Buffalo Buffalo, NYPublicBachelor'sMaster'sDoctoral | 39 | 75% | — | $57,098 |
| 20 | San Diego State University San Diego, CAPublicBachelor's | 38 | 76% | — | $66,482 |
| 21 | Colorado State University - Fort Collins Fort Collins, COPublicBachelor's | 38 | 67% | — | $66,109 |
| 22 | Cornell University Ithaca, NYPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 38 | 95% | $17,613 | $69,558 |
| 23 | University of Cincinnati Cincinnati, OHPublicBachelor'sMaster'sDoctoral | 38 | 75% | — | — |
| 24 | University of California-Davis Davis, CAPublicBachelor's | 36 | 86% | — | — |
| 25 | University of Connecticut Storrs, CTPublicBachelor'sDoctoralMaster's | 36 | 83% | — | $64,950 |
| 26 | North Carolina State University at Raleigh Raleigh, NCPublicBachelor'sMaster's | 35 | 85% | — | $67,251 |
| 27 | University of South Florida Tampa, FLPublicBachelor'sMaster'sDoctoral | 34 | 77% | — | — |
| 28 | California State University - Fullerton Fullerton, CAPublicMaster's | 32 | 70% | — | — |
| 29 | SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry Syracuse, NYPublicBachelor'sMaster's | 32 | 66% | — | — |
| 30 | California State Polytechnic University - Humboldt Arcata, CAPublicBachelor's | 30 | 49% | — | $55,589 |
| 31 | Pennsylvania State University University Park, PAPublicBachelor'sMaster'sDoctoral | 30 | 86% | — | $61,414 |
| 32 | University of Washington-Seattle Campus Seattle, WAPublicBachelor's | 30 | 85% | — | — |
| 33 | Missouri University of Science and Technology Rolla, MOPublicBachelor'sMaster's | 29 | 64% | — | $57,679 |
| 34 | Texas Tech University Lubbock, TXPublicBachelor'sMaster's | 29 | 69% | — | $76,708 |
| 35 | University of Vermont Burlington, VTPublicBachelor's | 29 | 79% | — | $63,697 |
| 36 | University of San Diego San Diego, CAPrivate not-for-profitMaster's | 28 | 84% | $26,035 | — |
| 37 | Drexel University Philadelphia, PAPrivate not-for-profitBachelor'sMaster'sDoctoral | 26 | 78% | $36,004 | $64,712 |
| 38 | University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Champaign, ILPublicMaster'sDoctoralBachelor's | 25 | 85% | — | — |
| 39 | CUNY City College New York, NYPublicBachelor'sMaster's | 25 | 57% | — | $62,945 |
| 40 | University of California-Riverside Riverside, CAPublicBachelor'sMaster's | 24 | 76% | — | $59,309 |
| 41 | University of Southern California Los Angeles, CAPrivate not-for-profitBachelor'sMaster'sDoctoral | 24 | 92% | $26,873 | — |
| 42 | University of Minnesota-Twin Cities Minneapolis, MNPublicBachelor's | 24 | 85% | — | $53,447 |
| 43 | Texas A&M University - College Station College Station, TXPublicBachelor's | 24 | 84% | — | — |
| 44 | Massachusetts Institute of Technology Cambridge, MAPrivate not-for-profitMaster'sDoctoralBachelor's | 23 | 96% | $11,666 | — |
| 45 | Clarkson University Potsdam, NYPrivate not-for-profitBachelor'sMaster'sDoctoral | 23 | 75% | $27,281 | $67,308 |
| 46 | Oregon State University Corvallis, ORPublicBachelor'sMaster'sDoctoral | 22 | 70% | — | $68,223 |
| 47 | University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus Pittsburgh, PAPublicBachelor's | 22 | 85% | — | — |
| 48 | University of Delaware Newark, DEPublicBachelor's | 21 | 81% | — | $65,634 |
| 49 | Worcester Polytechnic Institute Worcester, MAPrivate not-for-profitBachelor'sMaster's | 21 | 90% | $32,926 | — |
| 50 | The University of Alabama Tuscaloosa, ALPublicBachelor'sMaster's | 20 | 73% | — | — |
* Field starting salary (1 yr): median earnings 1 year after graduation for the broader Environmental/Environmental Health Engineering field (CIP 14.14) at these institutions; College Scorecard does not publish earnings at the 6-digit level.
Offered in 45 states & territories
Where Environmental/Environmental Health Engineering graduates come from. Each state links to all Environmental/Environmental Health Engineering programs offered there.
Careers & outlook
The payoff after graduation: occupation 17-2081, Environmental Engineers, and its national outlook.
Graduates of this program can pursue careers as Environmental Engineers, with a median wage of $104,170. The job outlook is about as fast as average, with an expected growth rate of 3.9% and approximately 3,000 annual openings in the field, typically requiring a Bachelor's degree.
Top-paying metros
Career pathways for CIP 14.1401
The occupations the NCES crosswalk maps this 6-digit code to, with BLS pay and 10-year outlook.
| Occupation | US median pay | Growth | Openings / yr | Typical entry education |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Environmental Engineersprimary SOC 17-2081 | $107,110 | +3.9% About as fast as average | ~3,000 | Bachelor's degree |
Architectural and Engineering Managers SOC 11-9041 | $171,270 | +3.8% About as fast as average | ~14,500 | Bachelor's degree |
Engineering Teachers, Postsecondary SOC 25-1032 | $109,270 | +8.1% Much faster than average | ~4,100 | Doctoral or professional degree |
Health and Safety Engineers, Except Mining Safety Engineers and Inspectors SOC 17-2111 | $115,160 | +4.4% About as fast as average | ~1,500 | Bachelor's degree |
Job Zone Four: Considerable Preparation Needed
- Education
- Most of these occupations require a four-year bachelor's degree, but some do not.
- Experience
- A considerable amount of work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is needed for these occupations. For example, an accountant must complete four years of college and work for several years in accounting to be considered qualified.
- Training
- Employees in these occupations usually need several years of work-related experience, on-the-job training, and/or vocational training.
Related careers
Skills & knowledge in Environmental/Environmental Health Engineering programs
From the U.S. Dept. of Labor for the occupation this specialization most leads to.
Skills you'll build
Knowledge areas
Abilities that matter most
Day-to-day work activities
What graduates do on the job
- Design, or supervise the design of, systems, processes, or equipment for control, management, or remediation of water, air, or soil quality.
- Assess the existing or potential environmental impact of land use projects on air, water, or land.
- Collaborate with environmental scientists, planners, hazardous waste technicians, engineers, experts in law or business, or other specialists to address environmental problems.
- Advise corporations or government agencies of procedures to follow in cleaning up contaminated sites to protect people and the environment.
- Develop proposed project objectives and targets and report to management on progress in attaining them.
- Monitor progress of environmental improvement programs.
Tools and technology used
Common questions
What degrees can I earn in this program?+
You can earn a Bachelor's, Master's, or Doctor's degree in Environmental/Environmental Health Engineering.
What skills will I develop?+
You will develop skills in critical thinking, mathematics, and effective communication.
What types of jobs can I get?+
You can work as an Environmental Engineer, Health and Safety Engineer, or in related managerial roles.
What is the job outlook for this field?+
The job outlook is about as fast as average, with an expected growth rate of 3.9%.
What is the CIP code for Environmental/Environmental Health Engineering?+
Environmental/Environmental Health Engineering is CIP 14.1401 in the NCES Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020), a 6-digit specialization within Environmental/Environmental Health Engineering (CIP 14.14). NCES defines it as: A program that prepares individuals to apply mathematical and scientific principles to the design, development and operational evaluation of systems for controlling contained living environments and for monitoring and controlling factors in the external natural environment, including pollution control, waste and hazardous material disposal, health and safety protection, conservation, life support, and requirements for protection of special materials and related work environments.
How many institutions offer Environmental/Environmental Health Engineering programs?+
152 U.S. institutions reported Environmental/Environmental Health Engineering graduates in IPEDS 2024–25, across 45 states & territories, awarding 2,877 credentials in the year. That is 100.0% of all Environmental/Environmental Health Engineering graduates.
How much do Environmental/Environmental Health Engineering graduates earn?+
Earnings are not published at the 6-digit CIP level by any federal source. The Environmental Engineers occupation, which Environmental/Environmental Health Engineering most directly leads to, pays a median of $107,110 a year nationally (BLS OEWS May 2025), and graduates of the broader Environmental/Environmental Health Engineering field report median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $63,697, College Scorecard.
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.
Program definitions are from the NCES Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020). Skills, knowledge, abilities, work activities, tools, and job zones are from the O*NET database by the U.S. Department of Labor, used under the CC BY 4.0 license. This specialization accounts for nearly all Environmental/Environmental Health Engineering graduates, so its figures match the Environmental/Environmental Health Engineering program page.
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