Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering at Saint Cloud State University

The small sample size here is crucial context—with fewer than 30 graduates tracked, these numbers could shift dramatically with just a few data points. That said, the picture shows a program that underperforms nationally but holds its own within Minnesota, sitting right at the state's 40th percentile. Graduates start at $69,943, roughly $7,800 below the national median for electrical engineering programs, though only slightly below Minnesota's $71,676 median.

The debt burden tells a more encouraging story. At $30,088, it's higher than both state and national medians but still translates to a manageable 0.43 debt-to-earnings ratio—meaning graduates owe less than half their first-year salary. By year four, earnings climb to $83,539, representing solid 19% growth that brings graduates much closer to competitive compensation levels. Saint Cloud State's 95% admission rate and modest SAT scores suggest this serves a different student population than Minnesota's flagship programs, yet its engineering graduates achieve respectable career trajectories.

For families weighing this against alternatives like Minnesota State University-Mankato (similar outcomes) or stretching for U of M-Twin Cities ($10,000 higher starting salaries), the decision hinges on access and fit. The small cohort size means one year's outcomes might not predict the next, so verify current program strength before committing. If your student needs an accessible entry point to engineering with reasonable debt, this works—just know they'll start slightly behind the typical engineering graduate.