Environmental/Environmental Health Engineering at Marquette University

Environmental engineering programs in Wisconsin are scarce—just two schools offer this degree—making direct comparisons difficult. Based on peer programs nationally, Marquette's estimated outcomes suggest first-year earnings around $64,675 against roughly $27,000 in debt. That 0.42 debt-to-earnings ratio falls comfortably in manageable territory, though the University of Wisconsin-Platteville reports actual earnings nearly $5,000 higher for its environmental engineering graduates, a meaningful gap that's worth investigating.

The estimated debt figure here exceeds both the Wisconsin median ($20,457) and the national median ($23,000) for this field by several thousand dollars. For an engineering credential that typically commands strong starting salaries, that extra borrowing eats into what should be one of the program's key advantages—quick debt payoff. Engineering degrees generally justify moderate debt through rapid earnings growth, but you're starting from a less favorable position than comparable programs suggest is typical.

Without actual graduate outcomes from Marquette's specific program, you're working with more uncertainty than usual. The UW-Platteville comparison is particularly relevant since it's your only in-state reference point with real data, and it shows both higher earnings and lower debt. Before committing to Marquette at this estimated debt level, contact the engineering department directly to ask about their graduates' actual job placements and starting salaries—they should have this information even if federal reporting rules suppress it.