Environmental/Environmental Health Engineering at Drexel University

Drexel's environmental engineering graduates start with solid six-figure potential—$64,712 in year one, climbing to over $76,000 by year four. That 18% earnings growth suggests the program is building real technical skills that employers value as graduates gain experience. Among Pennsylvania's nine environmental engineering programs, Drexel places in the 60th percentile for earnings, edging out the state median by about $2,300 annually.

The debt picture here is unusually favorable. At roughly $31,000, graduates carry about $7,000 more than the national median but significantly less than typical for a private university. That debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.48 means graduates owe less than half their first-year salary—a manageable burden that should allow for comfortable repayment within standard timelines. The program ranks in just the 5th percentile nationally for debt, meaning 95% of comparable programs saddle students with more.

One important caveat: these figures come from a small sample of fewer than 30 graduates, so individual outcomes may vary more than typical. Still, for families worried about private school debt, this program demonstrates you can attend Drexel without necessarily taking on crushing loans. The combination of reasonable debt and competitive Pennsylvania earnings makes this a viable path into environmental engineering, though the most debt-averse families might still prefer a state school option.