Best Environmental Engineering colleges in the U.S.

Environmental engineers work to solve problems like air and water pollution, waste production, and erosion to improve the health of natural habitats. For those interested in combining science, biology, and engineering to solve real-world problems, an environmental engineering degree can be the first step towards an exciting career. 

Pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Engineering typically allows students to apply to full-time entry-level roles immediately after college, though many choose to apply to internships before deciding where to pursue employment. This major combines in-class courses like mathematics and microbiology with fieldwork, which may provide a great balance for those that enjoy technical lab work and spending time outdoors. 

Students can get a degree in environmental engineering design at an in-person university or online, but many top universities provide networking opportunities that help ensure their students are recruited after graduation. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that opportunities in this field can vary depending on the sector, though job outlook continues to improve with a projected four percent in the next decade.

Best Environmental Engineering colleges in the U.S. for 2025

University of California-Berkeley offers 11 Environmental Engineering degree programs. It's a very large, public, four-year university in a midsize city. In 2023, 543 Environmental Engineering students graduated with students earning 458 Bachelor's degrees, 50 Master's degrees, and 35 Doctoral degrees.

North Carolina State University at Raleigh offers 23 Environmental Engineering degree programs. It's a very large, public, four-year university in a large city. In 2023, 320 Environmental Engineering students graduated with students earning 219 Bachelor's degrees, 71 Master's degrees, 26 Certificates, and 4 Doctoral degrees.

SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry offers 10 Environmental Engineering degree programs. It's a small, public, four-year university in a midsize city. In 2023, 138 Environmental Engineering students graduated with students earning 86 Bachelor's degrees, 22 Associate's degrees, 21 Master's degrees, and 9 Doctoral degrees.

University of Colorado Boulder offers 7 Environmental Engineering degree programs. It's a very large, public, four-year university in a midsize city. In 2023, 531 Environmental Engineering students graduated with students earning 386 Bachelor's degrees, 132 Master's degrees, and 13 Doctoral degrees.

Duke University
Durham, NC

Duke University offers 7 Environmental Engineering degree programs. It's a large, private not-for-profit, four-year university in a large city. In 2023, 254 Environmental Engineering students graduated with students earning 194 Master's degrees, 57 Bachelor's degrees, and 3 Doctoral degrees.

University of California-Santa Cruz offers 6 Environmental Engineering degree programs. It's a large, public, four-year university in a small city. In 2023, 189 Environmental Engineering students graduated with students earning 167 Bachelor's degrees, 11 Master's degrees, and 11 Doctoral degrees.

Image by @buluttyilmaz

Arizona State University Campus Immersion offers 12 Environmental Engineering degree programs. It's a very large, public, four-year university in a midsize city. In 2023, 327 Environmental Engineering students graduated with students earning 210 Bachelor's degrees, 64 Master's degrees, 47 Certificates, and 6 Doctoral degrees.

Image by @jenstarr4

University of Wisconsin-Madison offers 10 Environmental Engineering degree programs. It's a very large, public, four-year university in a large city. In 2023, 535 Environmental Engineering students graduated with students earning 307 Certificates, 173 Bachelor's degrees, 41 Master's degrees, and 14 Doctoral degrees.

Johns Hopkins University
Baltimore, MD

Johns Hopkins University offers 11 Environmental Engineering degree programs. It's a very large, private not-for-profit, four-year university in a large city. In 2023, 79 Environmental Engineering students graduated with students earning 49 Master's degrees, 22 Bachelor's degrees, 5 Doctoral degrees, and 3 Certificates.

The University of Montana offers 11 Environmental Engineering degree programs. It's a large, public, four-year university in a small city. In 2023, 97 Environmental Engineering students graduated with students earning 65 Bachelor's degrees, 26 Master's degrees, 5 Doctoral degrees, and 1 Certificate.

List of all Environmental Engineering colleges in the U.S.

School Average Tuition Student Teacher Ratio Enrolled Students
University of California-Berkeley Logo University of California-Berkeley Berkeley, CA
3/5
23 : 1 45,699
North Carolina State University at Raleigh Logo North Carolina State University at Raleigh Raleigh, NC
3/5
20 : 1 37,323
SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry Logo SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry Syracuse, NY
3/5
21 : 1 2,737
University of Colorado Boulder Logo University of Colorado Boulder Boulder, CO
4/5
26 : 1 41,432
Duke University Logo Duke University Durham, NC
5/5
12 : 1 17,112