Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering at New York University

NYU's electrical engineering program produces graduates earning $74,220 initially—below both the national and New York state medians for this major. Among New York's 27 electrical engineering programs, this ranks in the 40th percentile, trailing not just Cornell ($100,516) but also Syracuse, Columbia, and RPI by $10,000-25,000. For a school with a 9% admission rate and 1527 average SAT, these outcomes are surprisingly modest. The $24,000 in typical debt is manageable, yielding a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.32, but that's only because NYU's engineering students keep borrowing in check—not because earnings are strong.

The 22% earnings growth to $90,244 by year four is solid, suggesting career trajectories improve with experience. However, starting $3,500 below the state median matters when many engineering employers set initial salaries by market rate. The moderate sample size means individual experiences will vary, but the pattern is clear enough: NYU's brand doesn't translate to premium engineering outcomes the way it does in some other fields.

For families paying NYU's tuition premium, this creates a challenging calculation. If your child can attend a SUNY engineering program at in-state rates or secure substantial aid at RPI or Rochester, those alternatives would deliver comparable or better starting salaries at lower cost. NYU engineering makes most sense if significant financial aid closes the price gap or if access to New York City's tech scene matters more than immediate earnings.