Environmental/Environmental Health Engineering at University of California-Berkeley

Berkeley's environmental engineering program shows estimated first-year earnings of $59,309 against $20,500 in debt—a 0.35 debt-to-earnings ratio that looks manageable on paper. These figures come from the median outcomes of similar environmental engineering programs at California public universities, not Berkeley-specific data (too few graduates to report). That context matters because Berkeley's 12% admission rate suggests this is an elite program that may well outperform the state average it's being measured against.

The comparison with peer California programs is telling. Cal Poly SLO's environmental engineering graduates earn $82,000 their first year out, while San Diego State hits $66,000—both substantially above the $59,000 estimate here. UC Riverside matches it, but UC Merced comes in lower at $47,000. This wide range within the UC system alone highlights how program-specific outcomes can be, making it harder to trust that Berkeley's graduates land at the state median rather than toward the top.

The $20,500 debt estimate is below both the national median ($23,000) and reasonable for an engineering degree, but the real question is earnings potential. If Berkeley's actual outcomes track closer to Cal Poly's—entirely plausible given the school's reputation and selectivity—this becomes an excellent investment. If they match the estimate, it's still workable but less compelling than top alternatives. Request placement data or alumni employment information directly from the department before committing.