Environmental/Environmental Health Engineering at University of Georgia

UGA's environmental engineering program produces middle-of-the-pack outcomes nationally—graduates earn slightly below the $64,675 national median at $62,915—but the debt picture looks manageable at $22,143. With a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.35, graduates can realistically pay off their loans within a few years of working. Given UGA's 37% admission rate and strong reputation as a flagship state school, these numbers suggest a solid if unspectacular return on investment.

The challenge is that Georgia Tech graduates in this field earn about $7,000 more annually starting out, which compounds to a significant difference over a career. If your child is competitive for both schools, that's worth considering—though UGA's lower in-state tuition may help offset the earnings gap. Among Georgia's limited options for this major (only three schools offer it), UGA sits right at the state median.

The biggest caveat: this data reflects fewer than 30 graduates, so these figures could swing considerably year to year. For families seeking an affordable engineering path at a well-regarded public university, UGA delivers reasonable value. But students with strong academic profiles should weigh whether Tech's higher earning potential justifies any additional cost or difficulty of admission.