Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering at Old Dominion University

Old Dominion's electrical engineering program lands squarely in the middle of Virginia's offerings—literally the 40th percentile among state programs—but that middle position comes with notably lower debt than most alternatives. At $27,580, graduates carry less than what peers at Virginia Tech ($30,750) or UVA ($31,000) typically face, while the 0.38 debt-to-earnings ratio remains well below concerning thresholds. The first-year salary of $73,418 trails Virginia's median by about $6,600 and sits $10,000 behind the state's top programs, but the 14% earnings growth to $83,776 by year four shows graduates catch up somewhat over time.

The real question is whether the $6,000-10,000 annual salary gap justifies choosing ODU over Virginia's higher-ranked engineering schools. For families prioritizing lower debt and a more accessible admissions path (91% acceptance rate versus Tech's 57%), this program delivers solid engineering outcomes without the financial strain. Students focused on maximizing starting salary might find the premium at Virginia's top-tier programs worth the extra cost, but ODU serves students well who need a reliable path into engineering without gambling on selective admissions or shouldering heavier debt loads. The moderate sample size suggests stable outcomes, and the low national debt percentile (14th) confirms this program's value proposition: respectable engineering credentials at a more manageable price point.