Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering at Polytechnic University of Puerto Rico-Orlando

Similar engineering programs in Florida suggest first-year earnings around $74,000 for this degree, but the actual four-year earnings data for this program—$64,548—tells a different story. That's a surprising dip rather than the typical career progression you'd expect in engineering, raising questions about whether graduates are finding work in their field or whether this smaller program struggles with employer recognition compared to established state universities.

The estimated debt of $26,000 translates to manageable monthly payments if graduates actually command those initial $74,000 salaries. But paired with that lower four-year figure, the financial picture becomes murkier. For context, University of Central Florida graduates in this field earn $75,500 right out of school and presumably climb from there, while this program's graduates appear to be earning less four years in than comparable programs report initially.

With 59% of students on Pell grants, this school serves families who need engineering to deliver on its earning potential. The disconnect between estimated early earnings based on peer programs and the actual reported four-year outcomes is the critical unknown here. Before committing, your child should talk to recent alumni about where they're working and whether the degree opens doors at major engineering employers in the Orlando area—that reality check matters more than any projection.