Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering at Marquette University

Marquette's electrical engineering program launches graduates into strong starting salaries—$81,797 beats both the Wisconsin median ($77,405) and national average ($77,710). While this ranks 60th percentile in Wisconsin (slightly above average among the state's five programs), it compares more favorably nationally at the 78th percentile. The debt load of $26,750 is reasonable for engineering, creating a debt-to-earnings ratio of just 0.33. That means graduates could theoretically pay off their loans in about four months of gross income, a manageable burden by any standard.

The concerning detail here is the earnings trajectory: median salary actually dips slightly to $80,469 by year four. However, the small sample size—fewer than 30 graduates tracked—makes it hard to know if this represents a real trend or statistical noise. For comparison, UW-Madison engineering grads start at $82,018, giving Marquette graduates essentially comparable early-career outcomes to the state's flagship program, but with a more accessible admission process (87% acceptance rate).

For families comfortable with a modest debt load and prioritizing quick entry into a solid career, this delivers. The numbers suggest Marquette engineering graduates enter the workforce ready to command competitive salaries from day one. Just recognize that these figures come from a small graduate cohort, so individual outcomes may vary more than at larger programs.