Environmental/Environmental Health Engineering at University of California-San Diego

Environmental engineering typically offers strong returns, but the estimated figures for UCSD's program land in the middle of what similar California programs produce. Based on comparable programs in the state, first-year earnings around $59,000 combined with debt near $20,500 creates a manageable 0.35 debt-to-earnings ratio—meaning graduates would owe roughly four months of their first year's salary. That's a reasonable starting point for an engineering career, though it's worth noting that Cal Poly SLO's environmental engineering graduates earn closer to $82,000 in their first year, while San Diego State produces outcomes around $66,000.

The challenge here is that we're looking at estimates based on peer programs rather than UCSD's actual track record, so there's inherent uncertainty about where this specific program lands within California's range. UCSD's selectivity and research focus could position it closer to the higher-performing programs, or its particular curriculum emphasis might produce different outcomes altogether. The national median of $64,675 suggests most environmental engineering programs exceed what these California estimates indicate, adding another layer of question marks.

For a family weighing this investment, the estimated debt load is manageable enough that even if earnings come in at the lower end of the range, repayment shouldn't be overwhelming. But without this program's actual outcomes data, you're essentially betting on UCSD's general reputation translating to results comparable to—or better than—the state median rather than having proof.