Columbia, SC (population: 130,246) has one environmental engineering school within its city limits. Benedict College has a total student population of 2,983. It is the 4789th highest ranked school in the USA and the 58th highest in the state of South Carolina (#1 is Clemson University).
Environmental Engineering students from Columbia 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 Columbia area alone, there are 230 employed environmental scientists and specialists, including health earning an average salary of $51,160. Environmental engineers in this area earn $55,480/yr and there are 280 employed.
Columbia lies in Richland county, which is one of the 27 counties in South Carolina. Overall, the Columbia area has 334,600 total employed workers according to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, with a 0.9% unemployment rate, $18.76/hr average worker wage, and a $39,020 average annual salary. Thus, about 0.828 out of every 1000 jobs in Columbia are held by environmental engineers, and 0.692/1000 are held by environmental scientists and specialists, including health.
After taking into account tuition, living expenses, and financial aid, Benedict College ends up costing a student $13,633/yr.
| Name | State | Population | # of Schools | Avg School Rank | Total Programs | Distance from Columbia |
| Denmark | SC | - | 2 | 12.8531 | 54 | 51.7 miles |
| Hartsville | SC | - | 2 | 23.3042 | 83 | 52.1 miles |
| Graniteville | SC | - | 1 | 8.50122 | 49 | 62.2 miles |
| Rock Hill | SC | 72,341 | 5 | 30.0256 | 144 | 62.8 miles |
| North Augusta | SC | - | 1 | 27.4739 | 4 | 72.2 miles |
| Augusta | GA | - | 8 | 15.8236 | 215 | 75.4 miles |
| Martinez | GA | - | 2 | 23.4797 | 14 | 77.2 miles |
| Charlotte | NC | 723,514 | 18 | 27.5295 | 455 | 80.3 miles |
| Belmont | NC | - | 2 | 36.2771 | 82 | 83.6 miles |
| Gastonia | NC | 75,340 | 1 | 28.6194 | 5 | 85.2 miles |
| Spartanburg | SC | 40,665 | 7 | 35.0859 | 216 | 86.0 miles |
| North Charleston | SC | 99,930 | 3 | 24.6487 | 24 | 92.3 miles |
| Laurinburg | NC | - | 1 | 18.8047 | 40 | 96.0 miles |