Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering at Oregon Institute of Technology

Oregon Institute of Technology's electrical engineering program sits squarely in the middle of the pack—both nationally (45th percentile) and within Oregon (40th percentile). Graduates start at $76,780, trailing Portland State by about $6,000 and falling slightly below the state median of $77,636. The gap widens as careers progress: while earnings reach $93,024 by year four, that 21% growth doesn't close the competitive distance. For context, Oregon State and University of Portland both produce graduates who start ahead of where Oregon Tech students land after four years.

The upside here is debt management. At $27,000, graduating students carry just slightly more than the state average, resulting in a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.35—meaning the typical graduate could theoretically pay off their loans in about four months of gross income. That's manageable and puts less pressure on those mid-tier starting salaries to perform miracles.

The bottom line: this program won't position your child at the top of Oregon's engineering salary ladder, but it offers solid middle-class earnings without crushing debt. If cost and accessibility matter (the 92% admission rate makes this attainable for most students), Oregon Tech delivers reasonable value. Just recognize you're paying for stability rather than standout earning power—Portland State or Oregon State might be worth the stretch if your child can get in.