Environmental/Environmental Health Engineering at University of Wisconsin-Platteville

UW-Platteville's environmental engineering program punches well above its weight, with graduates earning $69,490 right out of school—significantly higher than the national median of $64,675 and placing this program in the 95th percentile nationally. For a regional university with an 87% admission rate, these outcomes are remarkable. The debt load of $20,457 is manageable, translating to a debt-to-earnings ratio of just 0.29, meaning graduates earn more than three times their debt in their first year alone.

The challenge here is the earnings trajectory: median pay actually dips to $65,429 by year four. This 6% decline is unusual for engineering fields and suggests graduates may be starting in higher-paying private sector roles before some shift to government or nonprofit environmental work, which often pays less but offers different benefits. Even with this dip, earnings remain competitive with the national median. Wisconsin only has two schools offering this program, so state comparisons are limited, but UW-Platteville holds its own.

For parents concerned about ROI, this program delivers strong immediate earnings with very manageable debt—a combination that's hard to beat in environmental engineering. The earnings decline warrants a conversation with your child about career goals, but the low debt means they'll have flexibility to choose mission-driven work if they want it without being financially hamstrung.