Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering at Colorado School of Mines

Colorado School of Mines produces electrical engineering graduates who earn $80,815 in their first year—above the national median but trailing CU Boulder's $89,000. What's striking is where these graduates land four years out: $93,671, representing 16% growth that outpaces typical engineering trajectories. Among Colorado's eight electrical engineering programs, Mines sits squarely in the middle of the pack (60th percentile), but that's partly because the state's engineering schools cluster tightly around strong outcomes.

The financial picture is exceptionally clean. At $22,000 in median debt—below both state and national averages—graduates face a debt-to-earnings ratio of just 0.27. That means first-year salary covers total debt nearly four times over. For comparison, the national median debt for this program is $25,000, so Mines students are borrowing roughly $3,000 less while earning similar or better salaries.

This is solid, sustainable engineering preparation with no red flags. While Mines doesn't command the premium of CU Boulder's program, graduates enter the workforce debt-light and see healthy salary progression. For families prioritizing affordability alongside strong technical training, this delivers exactly what you'd want from an engineering degree: immediate employability and room for financial growth.