Environmental/Environmental Health Engineering at University of New Hampshire-Main Campus

UNH's environmental engineering program lands graduates in solid financial territory right from the start, with $62,190 in first-year earnings and remarkably low debt of $27,000—well below what most engineering graduates carry. That 0.43 debt-to-earnings ratio means graduates typically owe less than half their starting salary, giving them financial breathing room that's rare among recent college grads. Earnings climb to over $70,000 by year four, showing steady career progression.

The numbers require some context, though. While this program performs well within New Hampshire (60th percentile), it sits below the national median for environmental engineering graduates by about $2,500 annually. The 35th percentile national ranking suggests stronger programs exist elsewhere, though the tradeoff may be worth it—those competing programs often saddle students with significantly more debt. The $27,000 UNH graduates owe falls into the 5th percentile nationally, meaning 95% of comparable programs leave students with heavier loan burdens.

For New Hampshire families, this is the only in-state option for environmental engineering, which simplifies the decision considerably. The combination of manageable debt and respectable starting salaries creates a sustainable financial foundation, even if graduates aren't reaching the highest earnings tiers in their field. If your child is committed to environmental engineering and you value keeping debt low, UNH delivers a practical path into the profession without the financial stress many engineering graduates face.