Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering at Eastern Washington University

Eastern Washington's electrical engineering program puts graduates $15,000 behind the typical Washington engineering grad in first-year earnings—a significant gap in a state known for its tech industry. At $66,443, new graduates earn less than most of their peers at all ten Washington schools offering this degree, landing at just the 25th percentile statewide. While the debt load of $29,875 is relatively manageable (0.45 ratio to first-year earnings), that's higher than Washington's median for engineering programs and doesn't offset the earnings disadvantage.

The 16% earnings growth to $77,350 by year four helps close the gap somewhat, bringing graduates closer to national norms. However, they're still trailing University of Washington and Gonzaga graduates by about $4,600 annually. For context, the UW schools and Gonzaga all show first-year earnings above $81,000—meaning their graduates start where Eastern Washington's finish after four years. Given that Eastern Washington serves a substantial population of Pell grant recipients (35%) and maintains an accessible admission rate, it provides engineering access to students who might not get into more selective programs. But the financial trade-off is real: you'll likely start your career at a lower salary tier than most Washington engineering grads, even as you carry slightly more debt than the state average.