Environmental Health Engineering: Program Overview, Universities, Careers & Salaries
Program Overview
Environmental Health Engineering is a rigorous, science-driven discipline focused on safeguarding human health and ecological integrity through the strategic design and management of engineered systems. This program equips students with the analytical and technical expertise needed to address complex environmental challenges, from mitigating pollution to ensuring safe, sustainable living and working environments.
- Pollution Control Systems: Design and evaluation of technologies and processes to reduce or eliminate air, water, and soil contaminants from industrial and urban sources.
- Hazardous Waste Management: Development of protocols and infrastructure for the safe handling, treatment, and disposal of toxic and dangerous materials.
- Occupational Health and Safety Engineering: Application of engineering principles to identify, assess, and mitigate workplace hazards that threaten worker well-being.
- Environmental Monitoring and Assessment: Implementation of data-driven methods to track environmental quality and detect deviations from safe or sustainable thresholds.
- Life Support and Controlled Environment Systems: Engineering of closed or semi-closed environments—such as in space habitats or medical facilities—for optimal human health and performance.
- Conservation Engineering: Integration of sustainability principles into system design to minimize resource consumption and protect natural ecosystems.
- Special Materials Protection: Creation of specialized environments and handling procedures to preserve sensitive materials, including those used in advanced manufacturing, biotechnology, and defense applications.
Environmental Health Engineering Graduate Trends (2010-2024)
Environmental Health Engineering Career Pathways & Salary Outlook
The following table presents salary data for occupations typically aligned with Environmental Health Engineering degrees, including Architectural and Engineering Managers, Health and Safety Engineers, Except Mining Safety Engineers and Inspectors and Engineering Teachers, Postsecondary. These career paths represent common employment outcomes but are not guaranteed for all graduates. Salary ranges vary by location, employer, experience level, and specific role requirements. Nationally, these occupations employ approximately 311,420 professionals.
National Average Salaries
| Occupation | Median Salary | Salary Range | Total Employment | Hourly Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Architectural and Engineering Managers 11-9041 | $167,740 | $111,450 - $239,200 | 210,340 | $80.64 |
| Health and Safety Engineers, Except Mining Safety Engineers and Inspectors 17-2111 | $109,660 | $62,050 - $166,670 | 23,220 | $52.72 |
| Engineering Teachers, Postsecondary 25-1032 | $106,120 | $59,790 - $200,650 | 39,910 | N/A |
| Environmental Engineers 17-2081 | $104,170 | $64,950 - $161,910 | 37,950 | $50.08 |
Salary Comparison
Environmental Health Engineering Salary Map by State
Geographic location significantly impacts earning potential for these careers. Average salaries range from $101,668 in Mississippi to $146,005 in California—a 44% difference. The highest-paying states include California, District of Columbia, and Massachusetts. Nationwide, these occupations employ over 311,420 professionals across all states. Explore the interactive map below to compare regional compensation and identify optimal markets for your career goals.
Average Salary Range:
Top Universities for Environmental Health Engineering by Graduate Enrollment
Below are the top 100 institutions offering Environmental Health Engineering programs for the 2023-2024 academic year (the most recent data reported as of 2025), ranked by the number of graduates. The highest graduate enrollment in Environmental Health Engineering is found at University of Florida (UF) (96 graduates), Columbia University in the City of New York (87 graduates), University of Colorado Boulder (CU) (86 graduates), Purdue University (PU), Main Campus (84 graduates), and Arizona State University Campus Immersion (ASU) (70 graduates). Combined, these colleges produced 2,654 graduates across all degree levels. Program availability varies by award level, including Associate, Bachelor's, Master's, and Doctoral degrees at participating universities and schools.
| College Name | Award Levels | Graduates | Admissions | Location | Control | Website |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| University of Florida (UF) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (R)
|
96 |
SAT: 1300-1480 ACT: 28-33 |
Gainesville, Florida | Public | ufl.edu |
| Columbia University in the City of New York |
Bachelor's
Master's
Post-Master's
Doctorate (R)
|
87 |
SAT: 1490-1570 ACT: 34-35 |
New York, New York | Private | columbia.edu |
| University of Colorado Boulder (CU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (R)
|
86 |
SAT: 1230-1420 ACT: 28-33 |
Boulder, Colorado | Public | colorado.edu |
| Purdue University (PU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (R)
|
84 |
SAT: 1190-1460 ACT: 27-34 |
West Lafayette, Indiana | Public | purdue.edu |
| Arizona State University Campus Immersion (ASU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
70 | N/A | Tempe, Arizona | Public | asu.edu |
| Georgia Institute of Technology (Georgia Tech) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (R)
|
70 |
SAT: 1330-1530 ACT: 28-34 |
Atlanta, Georgia | Public | gatech.edu |
| Michigan Technological University (MTU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (R)
|
70 |
SAT: 1120-1330 ACT: 25-31 |
Houghton, Michigan | Public | mtu.edu |
| Johns Hopkins University (JHU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Post-Master's
Doctorate (R)
|
61 |
SAT: 1530-1580 ACT: 34-35 |
Baltimore, Maryland | Private | jhu.edu |
| Colorado School of Mines |
Bachelor's
Postbac Cert.
Master's
Doctorate (R)
|
59 |
SAT: 1320-1470 ACT: 29-33 |
Golden, Colorado | Public | mines.edu |
| The University of Texas |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
57 |
SAT: 1230-1490 ACT: 27-33 |
Austin, Texas | Public | utexas.edu |
| University of Michigan (U‑M) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (R)
|
55 |
SAT: 1350-1530 ACT: 31-34 |
Ann Arbor, Michigan | Public | umich.edu |
| University of Wisconsin-Madison |
Bachelor's
Other Award
|
51 |
SAT: 1360-1510 ACT: 28-32 |
Madison, Wisconsin | Public | wisc.edu |
| California State University (CSUF) |
Master's
|
48 | N/A | Fullerton, California | Public | fullerton.edu |
| University of Cincinnati (UC) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (R)
|
46 |
SAT: 1150-1360 ACT: 24-29 |
Cincinnati, Ohio | Public | uc.edu |
| Ohio State University |
Bachelor's
|
45 |
SAT: 1330-1480 ACT: 29-32 |
Columbus, Ohio | Public | osu.edu |
| University of Georgia (UGA) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (R)
|
44 |
SAT: 1160-1390 ACT: 25-32 |
Athens, Georgia | Public | uga.edu |
| Colorado State University (CSU) |
Bachelor's
|
42 | N/A | Fort Collins, Colorado | Public | colostate.edu |
| University of Central Florida (UCF) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (R)
|
39 |
SAT: 1190-1350 ACT: 25-29 |
Orlando, Florida | Public | ucf.edu |
| Clemson University |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (R)
|
39 |
SAT: 1230-1390 ACT: 28-32 |
Clemson, South Carolina | Public | clemson.edu |
| University of Connecticut (UConn) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (R)
|
38 |
SAT: 1210-1420 ACT: 29-33 |
Storrs, Connecticut | Public | uconn.edu |
| North Carolina State University (NC State) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
37 |
SAT: 1300-1460 ACT: 28-32 |
Raleigh, North Carolina | Public | ncsu.edu |
| Drexel University |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (R)
|
35 |
SAT: 1230-1430 ACT: 27-33 |
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania | Private | drexel.edu |
| Texas A & M University |
Bachelor's
|
34 |
SAT: 1140-1380 ACT: 25-31 |
College Station, Texas | Public | tamu.edu |
| Montana State University (MSU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
33 |
SAT: 1060-1270 ACT: 20-27 |
Bozeman, Montana | Public | montana.edu |
| SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry (ESF) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (R)
|
32 | N/A | Syracuse, New York | Public | esf.edu |
| Oregon State University (OSU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (R)
|
32 | N/A | Corvallis, Oregon | Public | oregonstate.edu |
| University of Vermont (UVM) |
Bachelor's
|
32 |
SAT: 1250-1420 ACT: 29-32 |
Burlington, Vermont | Public | uvm.edu |
| California Polytechnic State University (Cal Poly) |
Bachelor's
|
31 | N/A | San Luis Obispo, California | Public | calpoly.edu |
| Texas Tech University (TTU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
31 |
SAT: 1090-1270 ACT: 22-28 |
Lubbock, Texas | Public | ttu.edu |
| San Diego State University (SDSU) |
Bachelor's
|
30 | N/A | San Diego, California | Public | sdsu.edu |
| Missouri University of Science and Technology (Missouri S&T) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
30 |
SAT: 1150-1378 ACT: 25-31 |
Rolla, Missouri | Public | mst.edu |
| Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
29 | N/A | Worcester, Massachusetts | Private | wpi.edu |
| Clarkson University (Clarkson) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (R)
|
29 |
SAT: 1198-1390 ACT: 26-31 |
Potsdam, New York | Private | clarkson.edu |
| University of Washington (UW) |
Bachelor's
|
29 | N/A | Seattle, Washington | Public | washington.edu |
| University of California (UCR) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
28 | N/A | Riverside, California | Public | ucr.edu |
| University of Southern California (USC) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (R)
|
28 |
SAT: 1440-1550 ACT: 32-35 |
Los Angeles, California | Private | usc.edu |
| University of South Florida (USF) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (R)
|
28 |
SAT: 1140-1330 ACT: 24-29 |
Tampa, Florida | Public | usf.edu |
| University of California (UCD) |
Bachelor's
|
27 | N/A | Davis, California | Public | ucdavis.edu |
| University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (UIUC) |
Master's
Doctorate (R)
|
26 |
SAT: 1270-1510 ACT: 29-34 |
Champaign, Illinois | Public | illinois.edu |
| Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College (LSU) |
Bachelor's
|
26 |
SAT: 1150-1330 ACT: 24-29 |
Baton Rouge, Louisiana | Public | lsu.edu |
| Cornell University |
Bachelor's
|
26 |
SAT: 1480-1560 ACT: 33-35 |
Ithaca, New York | Private | cornell.edu |
| University at Buffalo (UB) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (R)
|
26 |
SAT: 1210-1380 ACT: 27-32 |
Buffalo, New York | Public | buffalo.edu |
| Yale University |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (R)
|
24 |
SAT: 1500-1580 ACT: 33-35 |
New Haven, Connecticut | Private | yale.edu |
| Florida International University (FIU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
24 |
SAT: 1060-1250 ACT: 20-26 |
Miami, Florida | Public | fiu.edu |
| Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (R)
|
24 |
SAT: 1510-1580 ACT: 34-36 |
Cambridge, Massachusetts | Private | web.mit.edu |
| Syracuse University |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
24 |
SAT: 1260-1430 ACT: 28-32 |
Syracuse, New York | Private | syracuse.edu |
| University of Pittsburgh |
Bachelor's
|
24 |
SAT: 1270-1450 ACT: 29-33 |
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania | Public | pitt.edu |
| Pennsylvania State University |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (R)
|
23 |
SAT: 1220-1400 ACT: 27-32 |
University Park, Pennsylvania | Public | psu.edu |
| Texas A & M University |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
23 | SAT: 980-1160 | Kingsville, Texas | Public | tamuk.edu |
| CUNY City College (CCNY) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
22 | SAT: 1220-1460 | New York, New York | Public | ccny.cuny.edu |
| Kennesaw State University (KSU) |
Bachelor's
|
22 |
SAT: 1020-1220 ACT: 19-25 |
Kennesaw, Georgia | Public | kennesaw.edu |
| University of Arizona |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (R)
|
21 |
SAT: 1160-1420 ACT: 21-30 |
Tucson, Arizona | Public | arizona.edu |
| California State Polytechnic University (Cal Poly Humboldt) |
Bachelor's
|
20 | N/A | Arcata, California | Public | humboldt.edu |
| The University of Texas (UTEP) |
Master's
Doctorate (R)
|
20 |
SAT: 870-1090 ACT: 17-23 |
El Paso, Texas | Public | utep.edu |
| University of New Haven (UNH) |
Master's
|
19 | SAT: 1090-1260 | West Haven, Connecticut | Private | newhaven.edu |
| University of California |
Bachelor's
|
18 | N/A | Merced, California | Public | ucmerced.edu |
| The University of Alabama (UA) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
17 |
SAT: 1170-1400 ACT: 24-31 |
Tuscaloosa, Alabama | Public | ua.edu |
| University of California (UCI) |
Bachelor's
|
17 | N/A | Irvine, California | Public | uci.edu |
| Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
17 |
SAT: 1330-1500 ACT: 30-34 |
Troy, New York | Private | rpi.edu |
| University of Toledo (UToledo) |
Bachelor's
|
17 |
SAT: 1050-1300 ACT: 22-28 |
Toledo, Ohio | Public | utoledo.edu |
| University of Notre Dame (ND) |
Bachelor's
|
16 |
SAT: 1440-1540 ACT: 33-35 |
Notre Dame, Indiana | Private | nd.edu |
| University of New Hampshire (UNH) |
Bachelor's
|
16 |
SAT: 1120-1320 ACT: 26-31 |
Durham, New Hampshire | Public | unh.edu |
| University of San Diego (USD) |
Master's
|
15 | N/A | San Diego, California | Private | sandiego.edu |
| Tufts University |
Bachelor's
|
14 |
SAT: 1460-1550 ACT: 33-35 |
Medford, Massachusetts | Private | tufts.edu |
| Lehigh University |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
14 |
SAT: 1350-1490 ACT: 31-33 |
Bethlehem, Pennsylvania | Private | lehigh.edu |
| Florida Gulf Coast University (FGCU) |
Bachelor's
|
14 |
SAT: 1040-1210 ACT: 20-25 |
Fort Myers, Florida | Public | fgcu.edu |
| University of California (UCB) |
Bachelor's
|
13 | N/A | Berkeley, California | Public | berkeley.edu |
| Metropolitan State University of Denver (MSU Denver) |
Bachelor's
|
13 |
SAT: 880-1110 ACT: 17-23 |
Denver, Colorado | Public | msudenver.edu |
| University of Delaware (UD) |
Bachelor's
|
13 |
SAT: 1200-1360 ACT: 27-31 |
Newark, Delaware | Public | udel.edu |
| Iowa State University (ISU) |
Bachelor's
|
13 |
SAT: 1110-1350 ACT: 21-28 |
Ames, Iowa | Public | iastate.edu |
| University of Minnesota (UMN) |
Bachelor's
|
13 |
SAT: 1310-1480 ACT: 27-31 |
Minneapolis, Minnesota | Public | twin-cities.umn.edu |
| Stevens Institute of Technology |
Bachelor's
Postbac Cert.
Master's
Doctorate (R)
|
13 |
SAT: 1370-1500 ACT: 31-34 |
Hoboken, New Jersey | Private | stevens.edu |
| University of Wisconsin-Platteville |
Bachelor's
|
13 | ACT: 21-27 | Platteville, Wisconsin | Public | uwplatt.edu |
| University of Oklahoma (OU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
12 |
SAT: 1140-1330 ACT: 23-29 |
Norman, Oklahoma | Public | ou.edu |
| Portland State University (PSU) |
Bachelor's
|
12 | N/A | Portland, Oregon | Public | pdx.edu |
| Carnegie Mellon University (CMU) |
Bachelor's
Doctorate (R)
|
12 |
SAT: 1500-1570 ACT: 34-35 |
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania | Private | cmu.edu |
| Northern Arizona University (NAU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
11 | N/A | Flagstaff, Arizona | Public | nau.edu |
| Washington University in St Louis (WashU) |
Bachelor's
|
11 |
SAT: 1500-1570 ACT: 33-35 |
Saint Louis, Missouri | Private | wustl.edu |
| University of Nevada (UNR) |
Bachelor's
|
11 | N/A | Reno, Nevada | Public | unr.edu |
| Bucknell University |
Bachelor's
|
11 |
SAT: 1300-1450 ACT: 31-33 |
Lewisburg, Pennsylvania | Private | bucknell.edu |
| Northwestern University |
Bachelor's
|
10 |
SAT: 1490-1560 ACT: 33-35 |
Evanston, Illinois | Private | northwestern.edu |
| Manhattan College |
Master's
|
10 |
SAT: 1150-1340 ACT: 22-31 |
Riverdale, New York | Private | manhattan.edu |
| United States Military Academy (USMA) |
Bachelor's
|
10 |
SAT: 1200-1430 ACT: 28-33 |
West Point, New York | Public | westpoint.edu |
| Indiana University of Pennsylvania (IUP) |
Bachelor's
|
10 |
SAT: 940-1170 ACT: 17-24 |
Indiana, Pennsylvania | Public | iup.edu |
| Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (Virginia Tech) |
Master's
|
10 |
SAT: 1240-1420 ACT: 27-32 |
Blacksburg, Virginia | Public | vt.edu |
| University of Massachusetts |
Bachelor's
|
9 |
SAT: 1180-1350 ACT: 26-30 |
Lowell, Massachusetts | Public | uml.edu |
| Michigan State University (MSU) |
Master's
|
9 |
SAT: 1150-1350 ACT: 26-31 |
East Lansing, Michigan | Public | msu.edu |
| New Jersey Institute of Technology (NJIT) |
Master's
Doctorate (R)
|
9 |
SAT: 1210-1470 ACT: 25-32 |
Newark, New Jersey | Public | njit.edu |
| University of Houston (UH) |
Master's
Doctorate (R)
|
9 |
SAT: 1150-1330 ACT: 23-28 |
Houston, Texas | Public | uh.edu |
| Southern Methodist University (SMU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
9 |
SAT: 1320-1480 ACT: 30-34 |
Dallas, Texas | Private | smu.edu |
| Marquette University |
Bachelor's
|
9 |
SAT: 1190-1360 ACT: 26-31 |
Milwaukee, Wisconsin | Private | marquette.edu |
| Kansas State University (K‑State) |
Bachelor's
|
8 |
SAT: 1040-1260 ACT: 20-27 |
Manhattan, Kansas | Public | k-state.edu |
| New York University (NYU) |
Master's
|
8 |
SAT: 1480-1570 ACT: 33-35 |
New York, New York | Private | nyu.edu |
| University at Albany (UAlbany) |
Bachelor's
|
8 | N/A | Albany, New York | Public | albany.edu |
| Central State University (CSU) |
Bachelor's
|
8 | N/A | Wilberforce, Ohio | Public | centralstate.edu |
| Rice University |
Master's
Doctorate (R)
|
8 |
SAT: 1500-1570 ACT: 34-36 |
Houston, Texas | Private | rice.edu |
| University of Miami (UM) |
Bachelor's
|
7 |
SAT: 1330-1470 ACT: 30-33 |
Coral Gables, Florida | Private | miami.edu |
| University of Massachusetts |
Master's
|
7 |
SAT: 1300-1480 ACT: 29-33 |
Amherst, Massachusetts | Public | umass.edu |
| Montana Technological University (Montana Tech) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
7 |
SAT: 1060-1250 ACT: 18-25 |
Butte, Montana | Public | mtech.edu |
| University of North Dakota (UND) |
Postbac Cert.
Master's
Doctorate (R)
|
7 | N/A | Grand Forks, North Dakota | Public | und.edu |
Frequently Asked Questions
Find answers to the most common questions about Environmental Health Engineering programs
How much can I earn with a Environmental Health Engineering degree?
Salaries for Environmental Health Engineering graduates vary by role and location. Architectural and Engineering Managers earn a median of $167,740 annually, while Health and Safety Engineers, Except Mining Safety Engineers and Inspectors earn around $109,660. Geographic location significantly impacts earnings—professionals in California average $146,005 compared to $101,668 in Mississippi. Approximately 311,420 professionals work in related occupations nationwide.
Salary data from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS program, May 2024. Earnings vary by experience, employer, and market conditions.
Which universities have the largest Environmental Health Engineering programs?
Currently 157 accredited institutions offer Environmental Health Engineering degrees across the U.S. Programs with the highest enrollment include University of Florida (UF) (96 graduates), Columbia University in the City of New York (87 graduates), and University of Colorado Boulder (CU) (86 graduates).
Program size doesn't necessarily indicate quality—consider factors like faculty expertise, production opportunities, location, and available degree levels when choosing a school.
Data based on IPEDS program completions for 2023-2024 academic year. Numbers reflect programs where students graduated.
Is enrollment in Environmental Health Engineering growing or declining?
Graduate numbers have increased over the past decade, rising from 1,441 in 2010 to 2,844 in 2023-24. This represents a 97% increase overall from 2010.
The field remains specialized with steady interest, though opportunities are most concentrated in major metropolitan areas with active arts scenes like New York, California, and Illinois.
Graduate enrollment data from IPEDS, 2010-2024 academic years. Trends reflect reported completions at participating institutions.
What career paths are available with a Environmental Health Engineering degree?
This degree prepares you for roles such as Architectural and Engineering Managers, Health and Safety Engineers, Except Mining Safety Engineers and Inspectors, and Engineering Teachers, Postsecondary. Related occupations employ approximately 311,420 professionals nationwide.
Skills in project management, creative leadership, and collaboration also transfer to event planning, arts administration, marketing, and corporate training roles. Many professionals work freelance or on a project basis across theatre, film, and live events.
Career pathways mapped using CIP-SOC crosswalk from the National Center for Education Statistics. Employment data from BLS OEWS May 2024.
Related Engineering Programs
Explore similar degree programs within the Engineering field. These programs share the same academic discipline and may offer complementary skills and career pathways.
Chemical Engineering
A program that prepares individuals to apply mathematical and scientific principles to the design, development and operational evaluation of systems employing chemical processes,...
Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering
A program that prepares individuals to apply mathematical and scientific principles to the design, development and operational evaluation of systems at the interface...
Chemical Engineering
Any instructional program in chemical engineering not listed above.
Civil Engineering
A program that generally prepares individuals to apply mathematical and scientific principles to the design, development and operational evaluation of structural, load-bearing, material...
Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engineering
A program that prepares individuals to apply geotechnical engineering methods, which deal with the analysis, design and construction of earth and earth supported...
Structural Engineering
A program that prepares individuals to apply mathematical and scientific principles to the design, development and operational evaluation of materials and systems used...
Found something useful? Help others discover it too! Share with friends, on social media, or save for later - every share helps someone find the information they need.