Environmental/Environmental Health Engineering at Central State University

The estimated $22,000 debt load for this engineering program is notably lower than what similar programs typically require—peer programs nationally carry a median debt of $23,000, while Ohio programs average nearly $25,000. That lighter burden matters when you're evaluating whether the investment pencils out, especially at a school where 42% of students receive Pell grants.

Based on comparable environmental engineering programs nationwide, first-year earnings around $65,000 translate to a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.34—well within the manageable range. Similar programs in Ohio, like Ohio State's which reports $68,000 in first-year earnings, show this field delivers solid early returns regardless of institution. The estimate here sits right at the national median, suggesting Central State's program likely prepares graduates for the same entry-level positions other schools' grads pursue.

The caveat: these figures are extrapolated from peer programs because Central State's graduate cohorts are too small for the Department of Education to publish their actual outcomes. You won't find verified earnings data specific to this campus. But the fundamentals—lower debt than average for an engineering degree that typically commands solid starting salaries—suggest reasonable value if your student is committed to environmental engineering specifically and this program offers the right fit otherwise.