Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Prescott

Embry-Riddle's Prescott campus charges a premium price for an electrical engineering degree that trails most Arizona competitors. While the $78,016 starting salary looks reasonable on paper—slightly above the national median—it falls notably short of what students earn at Arizona State ($84,706) and University of Arizona ($82,864). In a state with only six programs, landing in the 40th percentile suggests this specialized aviation-focused university may not deliver the same industry connections or curriculum strength as the state's flagship engineering schools.

The debt load of $25,000 is manageable, translating to a 0.32 debt-to-earnings ratio that shouldn't strain most graduates. That said, you're paying similar amounts for outcomes that lag the state median by over $2,400 annually. The program serves fewer than 30 graduates per year, which means these numbers could swing considerably with the next cohort—small samples make it harder to trust the data as truly representative.

If your child is drawn to Embry-Riddle's aviation industry focus and wants to work in aerospace electronics specifically, the campus location and specialized connections might justify the choice. For general electrical engineering careers, Arizona's public universities offer stronger earning outcomes at comparable or lower debt levels, making them the safer financial bet.