Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering at Loyola University Maryland

A bachelor's in electrical engineering typically launches careers with solid earning potential, and comparable programs in Maryland suggest first-year earnings around $79,600—right at the state median and slightly above the national benchmark of $77,700. With an estimated $26,000 in debt, this translates to a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.33, meaning you'd owe roughly four months' salary. That's a manageable starting point for an engineering career, where compensation generally grows as technical skills develop.

The caveat here is meaningful: these figures come from just three peer programs in Maryland because Loyola's graduating class was too small to report separately. You're essentially betting on a program without its own track record, at least in the federal data. The nearby comparison points range from Morgan State's $78,000 to Maryland-College Park's $85,500, showing some variance even within the same state. Loyola's 76% admission rate and middle-tier SAT scores suggest it's drawing a different student body than Maryland's flagship program, which could matter for recruiting pipelines and employer relationships in a field where internships and co-ops often lead directly to job offers.

For parents, this comes down to whether you're comfortable paying a premium for Loyola's smaller environment without concrete proof of outcomes. The estimated numbers suggest reasonable value, but you're making that judgment based on neighboring schools rather than demonstrated results from this specific program.