Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering at San Francisco State University

San Francisco State's electrical engineering program starts graduates well behind the pack—at just $67,345 first-year, they're earning nearly $11,000 less than the California median and rank in only the 40th percentile statewide. That's a significant gap when competing programs at Cal Poly SLO and USC are launching graduates at $90,000+. However, the debt picture offers some relief: at $16,125, graduates carry about $3,000 less than the state median and dramatically less than the national typical burden.

The key question is whether strong earnings growth makes up for the slow start. Four years out, graduates reach $87,877—a solid 31% jump that closes much of the gap with state peers. For the 41% of students here on Pell grants, that low debt load combined with eventual strong earnings could make this a viable path into a lucrative field, even if the starting salary disappoints.

The bottom line: This works best for cost-conscious students who can weather lower initial earnings and wait for the catch-up. If your child has options at Cal Poly or the UCs with similar net costs, those programs deliver stronger immediate returns. But if SF State comes significantly cheaper after aid, the combination of manageable debt and eventual solid earnings makes the slower trajectory tolerable.