Environmental/Environmental Health Engineering at Syracuse University

Syracuse's environmental engineering program produces first-year earnings of $49,297—substantially below what graduates typically earn from this degree. That figure ranks in the 5th percentile nationally and 25th percentile within New York, where Cornell grads start at $69,558 and even CUNY City College grads earn $62,945. The national median for this bachelor's degree is $64,675, meaning Syracuse graduates are earning roughly $15,000 less than peers from comparable programs.

The estimated $27,000 in debt (based on similar programs at Syracuse) translates to a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.55, which would typically signal manageable borrowing. But that math only works if the earnings trajectory improves significantly. Environmental engineering is a technical field where starting salaries usually reflect long-term earning potential, and beginning nearly $20,000 below Cornell graduates—or $13,000 below the state median—suggests something isn't working in how this program positions students for the job market.

For parents paying private university tuition at a school with a 1351 average SAT and 42% acceptance rate, these outcomes deserve serious scrutiny. If your child is drawn to environmental engineering, the data suggests they'd be better served at Cornell, Buffalo, or even CUNY City College, all of which produce stronger earnings despite the last being far less expensive. Syracuse may excel in other programs, but this one isn't delivering competitive value.