Environmental/Environmental Health Engineering at Florida International University

A debt load around $23,000 for an engineering degree is manageable, especially when first-year earnings hit $64,541. That's a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.36—well below the 1.0 threshold that typically signals trouble. While the debt figure is estimated from comparable programs in Florida (the graduate sample here was too small for the DOE to publish), this credential level and field generally produce consistent financial outcomes.

What's encouraging is that FIU's environmental engineering graduates earn slightly above the Florida median for this program and nearly match the national benchmark. Among the state's seven programs offering this degree, FIU holds its own—graduates earn more than those from UCF and FGCU, landing just below UF. For a school serving 40% Pell-eligible students with a 59% admission rate, these outcomes suggest solid return on investment without requiring Ivy League credentials to get there.

The numbers point to a practical path: manageable debt, immediate earning power in the mid-$60Ks, and access to a growing field without the sticker shock of more expensive programs. Environmental engineering sits at the intersection of infrastructure needs and climate concerns, meaning demand should remain steady. If your child is genuinely interested in this work and FIU's location works logistically, the financial picture supports the decision—just recognize we're working with estimated debt figures since this program's graduate cohort was small.