Environmental/Environmental Health Engineering at University of Michigan-Ann Arbor

Michigan's environmental engineering program graduates start behind the curve at $57,824—trailing both the state median ($61,138) and the national median by nearly $7,000. This places it at just the 16th percentile nationally and at the middle of the pack among Michigan's three programs, well below Michigan Tech's $64,453 starting salary. For a school with an 18% admission rate and a 1473 average SAT, these are surprisingly modest outcomes for its most selective students.

The program's saving grace is strong earnings growth and manageable debt. Graduates see a solid 27% salary increase to $73,669 by year four, and the $19,028 median debt is among the lowest in the country (5th percentile). That 0.33 debt-to-earnings ratio means graduates can realistically pay off loans while building their careers. The debt advantage matters more than the rankings suggest—many environmental engineering programs saddle students with $23,000+ in loans for similar or only slightly better starting salaries.

The calculation here is straightforward: you're accepting below-average starting pay in exchange for the Michigan brand, low debt, and decent salary progression. If your child is committed to environmental engineering specifically and values the Ann Arbor experience, the financial burden won't be crushing. But families expecting engineering salaries that match Michigan's selectivity will be disappointed—this program delivers results closer to a solid mid-tier state school than an elite engineering powerhouse.