Electrical Engineering Technologies/Technicians at DeVry University-Texas

DeVry University-Texas charges roughly double what most Texas community colleges do for their electrical engineering technology programs, yet graduates actually earn *less* than the state median—$58,056 versus $58,556—and see their earnings drop 10% within four years. While the debt load isn't catastrophic at about half of first-year earnings, this is still nearly $9,000 more than the Texas median for this degree. Compare that to Dallas College grads who start at similar salaries but carry far less debt, or Victoria College students who out-earn DeVry grads by nearly $6,000 while likely paying community college tuition.

The earnings decline tells an important story: DeVry grads start strong but fall behind as their careers progress, dropping from above the state median to below it within just a few years. This suggests either weaker industry connections for advancement or that employers value the community college credentials similarly but at lower cost. The 40th percentile state ranking confirms this isn't a Texas standout program—half of similar programs in the state deliver better outcomes.

For families comparing options, the math is clear: unless financial aid significantly closes the gap, Texas community colleges offer essentially the same starting salary with half the debt burden. That difference—potentially $8,000 to $10,000 in avoided loans—matters enormously when earnings are already trending downward instead of growing through the mid-career years.