Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering at Central Connecticut State University

Drawing on similar Connecticut engineering programs, this bachelor's degree appears to track right at the state median—$77,411 in first-year earnings against an estimated $27,000 in debt. That 0.35 debt-to-earnings ratio is manageable by engineering standards, though it's worth noting the debt figure runs slightly above the national median for electrical engineering programs ($24,989). For a state school with a 76% admission rate, these are solid fundamentals.

The challenge is understanding how Central Connecticut specifically prepares graduates compared to peers. University of New Haven engineering grads pull in $85,618—about $8,000 more annually—while UConn's various campuses cluster right where Central Connecticut's estimates land. Without program-specific outcomes, you're essentially betting that Central Connecticut delivers results consistent with the broader Connecticut engineering landscape, where programs vary considerably in their industry connections and co-op opportunities.

The estimated numbers suggest this could work financially—engineering degrees generally justify their debt loads—but you're making that decision with less visibility than ideal. Visit the campus, talk to current students about internship placement, and ask the department directly about their employment outcomes. If they're hitting that $77,000 mark with strong industry partnerships in the Hartford manufacturing corridor, this becomes a reasonable in-state option. If outcomes lag the state median, that debt starts looking less comfortable.