Des Moines, IA (population: 200,202) has one environmental engineering school within its city limits. Drake University has a total student population of 5,653. It is the 1239th highest ranked school in the USA and the 20th highest in the state of Iowa (#1 is Luther College).
Environmental Engineering students from Des Moines schools who go on to become environmental engineers, environmental scientists, environmental specialists, environmental protection specialists, etc. have a good chance at finding employment. For example, there are 50,610 people working as environmental engineers alone in the US, and their average annual salary is $80,750. Also, Environmental scientists and specialists, including health make on average $67,360 per year and there are about 83,530 of them employed in the US today. In fact, in the Des Moines-West Des Moines area alone, there are 120 employed environmental scientists and specialists, including health earning an average salary of $65,610. Environmental engineers in this area earn $72,810/yr and there are 90 employed.
Des Moines lies in Polk county, which is one of the 52 counties in Iowa. Overall, the Des Moines-West Des Moines area has 322,000 total employed workers according to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, with a 1% unemployment rate, $20/hr average worker wage, and a $42,120 average annual salary. Thus, about 0 out of every 1000 jobs in Des Moines are held by environmental engineers, and 0/1000 are held by environmental scientists and specialists, including health.
After taking into account tuition, living expenses, and financial aid, Drake University ends up costing a student $23,091/yr.
| Name | State | Population | # of Schools | Avg School Rank | Total Programs | Distance from Des Moines |
| Urbandale | IA | - | 1 | 15.697 | 16 | 5.8 miles |
| West Des Moines | IA | 57,065 | 1 | 4.37611 | 3 | 6.8 miles |
| Ankeny | IA | 45,142 | 2 | 40.688 | 102 | 9.7 miles |
| Ames | IA | 58,120 | 1 | 34.322 | 6 | 30.4 miles |
| Fort Dodge | IA | - | 2 | 25.3587 | 65 | 69.4 miles |
| Cedar Falls | IA | - | 3 | 27.7287 | 174 | 88.8 miles |
| Waterloo | IA | 67,011 | 3 | 23.0675 | 66 | 90.7 miles |