Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering at Purdue University Fort Wayne

The small sample size here is crucial—with under 30 graduates, these numbers could swing dramatically year to year. That said, the data suggests Fort Wayne's electrical engineering program lags significantly behind both state and national benchmarks. Starting at $67,236 puts graduates about $10,000 below Indiana's median and roughly $17,000 behind what graduates earn at Purdue's main campus just two hours south. Within Indiana's electrical engineering programs, this ranks in the 40th percentile—middle of the pack for the state, but remember Indiana itself performs below the national median.

The positive story is debt: $17,550 is substantially lower than both state and national medians. That 0.26 debt-to-earnings ratio means graduates need less than four months of gross income to cover their loans, which is manageable. The question is whether that debt advantage compensates for potentially earning $10,000+ less annually than peers at other Indiana engineering schools.

For families considering Fort Wayne versus other options, the calculation is straightforward: if your child can get into Purdue-Main Campus, Rose-Hulman, or even Purdue Northwest, the earnings premium likely justifies any additional debt within reason. If Fort Wayne offers significant merit aid or allows your student to live at home, the lower debt could make sense—but understand they're likely starting their career at a meaningful earnings disadvantage compared to Indiana engineering graduates elsewhere.