Est. Earnings (1yr)
$64,675
Est. from national median (47 programs)
Est. Median Debt
$21,941
Est. from national median (36 programs)

Analysis

Montana Tech's environmental engineering program aligns with typical outcomes for this specialized field nationally, though the exact picture for this school remains uncertain due to limited graduate sample sizes. Based on peer programs across the country, graduates typically start around $65,000—solid for Montana's cost of living—with debt loads around $22,000. That 0.34 debt-to-earnings ratio is manageable by any standard, suggesting graduates could reasonably pay off loans within a few years even on entry-level salaries.

The challenge for parents is that Montana only has three schools offering environmental engineering, and none report detailed graduate outcomes publicly. Montana Tech's strong STEM reputation and Butte's mining and environmental remediation history suggest real-world connections to the field, but you're essentially betting on the school's technical rigor translating to outcomes consistent with national norms. The 90% admission rate and middle-range test scores indicate this isn't a hyper-selective program filtering for top performers from the start.

For a Montana family, the debt projection looks reasonable if your student is genuinely committed to environmental engineering specifically. But given the data limitations, visiting campus to evaluate lab facilities, meeting faculty actively working in the field, and connecting with recent alumni would be essential due diligence before committing to this relatively specialized degree path.

Where Montana Technological University Stands

Earnings vs. debt across all environmental/environmental health engineering bachelors's programs nationally

Compare to Similar Programs Nationally

Environmental/Environmental Health Engineering bachelors's programs at top institutions nationally

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SchoolIn-State TuitionEarnings (1yr)*Earnings (4yr)Median Debt*Debt/Earnings
Montana Technological UniversityButte$8,050$64,675*$21,941*
California Polytechnic State University-San Luis ObispoSan Luis Obispo$11,075$82,197*$84,785$20,500*0.25
Texas Tech UniversityLubbock$11,852$76,708*$19,750*0.26
Purdue University-Main CampusWest Lafayette$9,992$71,861*$16,316*0.23
Georgia Institute of Technology-Main CampusAtlanta$11,764$70,008*$71,742$27,250*0.39
Cornell UniversityIthaca$66,014$69,558*$76,992$13,102*0.19
National Median$64,675*$23,000*0.36
* Estimated from similar programs

Career Paths

Occupations commonly associated with environmental/environmental health engineering graduates

Architectural and Engineering Managers

Plan, direct, or coordinate activities in such fields as architecture and engineering or research and development in these fields.

$167,740/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Biofuels/Biodiesel Technology and Product Development Managers

Define, plan, or execute biofuels/biodiesel research programs that evaluate alternative feedstock and process technologies with near-term commercial potential.

$167,740/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Health and Safety Engineers, Except Mining Safety Engineers and Inspectors

Promote worksite or product safety by applying knowledge of industrial processes, mechanics, chemistry, psychology, and industrial health and safety laws. Includes industrial product safety engineers.

$109,660/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Fire-Prevention and Protection Engineers

Research causes of fires, determine fire protection methods, and design or recommend materials or equipment such as structural components or fire-detection equipment to assist organizations in safeguarding life and property against fire, explosion, and related hazards.

$109,660/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Environmental Engineers

Research, design, plan, or perform engineering duties in the prevention, control, and remediation of environmental hazards using various engineering disciplines. Work may include waste treatment, site remediation, or pollution control technology.

$104,170/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Engineering Teachers, Postsecondary

Teach courses pertaining to the application of physical laws and principles of engineering for the development of machines, materials, instruments, processes, and services. Includes teachers of subjects such as chemical, civil, electrical, industrial, mechanical, mineral, and petroleum engineering. Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching and those who do a combination of teaching and research.

$83,980/yrJobs growth:
About This Data

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (October 2025 release)

Population: Graduates who received federal financial aid (Title IV grants or loans). At Montana Technological University, approximately 21% of students receive Pell grants. Students who did not receive federal aid are not included in these figures.

Earnings: Median earnings from IRS W-2 data for graduates who are employed and not enrolled in further education, measured 1 year after completion. Earnings are pre-tax and include wages, salaries, and self-employment income.

Debt: Median cumulative federal loan debt at graduation. Does not include private loans or Parent PLUS loans borrowed on behalf of students.

Estimated Earnings: Actual earnings data is not available for this program (typically due to privacy thresholds when fewer than 30 graduates reported earnings). The estimate shown is based on the national median of 47 similar programs. Actual outcomes may vary.