Environmental/Environmental Health Engineering at Loyola University Chicago

Environmental engineering graduates typically launch into solid-paying fields, and peer programs nationally suggest this path could deliver around $65,000 in first-year earnings. That figure positions comparable programs roughly at the national median for environmental engineering degrees—respectable for an emerging field, though not exceptional compared to other engineering disciplines where starting salaries often push $70,000 or higher.

The estimated $27,000 debt load sits above the national median of $23,000 for similar programs, yielding a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.42. In practical terms, borrowers from comparable programs would face manageable monthly payments, likely consuming 10-12% of take-home income under standard repayment plans. That's workable, though the margin isn't enormous if career growth proves slower than expected or if graduates pursue lower-paying environmental consulting or nonprofit work—common paths in this field.

The uncertainty here matters more than usual. With only two schools offering environmental engineering in Illinois and no reported outcomes data from either, you're relying entirely on national patterns to predict this specific program's value. Loyola's 81% admission rate and modest test scores suggest it may not match outcomes at more selective engineering schools. If environmental engineering strongly appeals to your child and Loyola offers the right campus environment, the estimated debt burden appears sustainable—but recognize you're making this call with limited visibility into how this particular program actually performs.