University of Arkansas (my experience was not typical). Anyway, I was so thankful to have that 19K job I probably would have stayed there a good while, but they annoyed me with their low raises, so I went and found a job with a state gov't (regulating drinking water) for about 34K. I've moved on from there, but still in the environmental field. Plan to get my P.E. one of these days, as I've already satisfied the experience & EIT requirements.
"Plan to get my P.E. one of these days"
Do it sooner, not later. Never hurts to professionalize.
Do it sooner rather than later. I'm glad I was single, and not dating, at the time I was reviewing for the exam.