Environmental/Environmental Health Engineering at Northern Arizona University

Northern Arizona University's environmental engineering program sits in an unusual position: it outperforms other Arizona programs (60th percentile statewide) while trailing the national median slightly. Given that ASU—the state's flagship—reports median earnings of just $53,013, NAU's $62,936 starting salary represents a significant premium for students who stay in-state. The $27,000 median debt is manageable, creating a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.43 that suggests graduates can handle their loans on a standard repayment plan.

However, the small sample size (under 30 graduates) means these numbers could shift dramatically with just a few outliers. The 10% earnings growth to $69,436 by year four is respectable but not spectacular for an engineering field. If your child is certain about environmental engineering and prefers Arizona's lower cost of living, NAU delivers solid outcomes with reasonable debt. But if they're considering multiple engineering disciplines or might relocate to coastal job markets where environmental engineering roles often pay more, the below-national-average starting salary becomes more concerning. This program works best for students committed to working in Arizona's specific environmental sector—water resources, mining reclamation, or public utilities—where these salary levels reflect regional market realities rather than program quality.