Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering at San Jose State University

A debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.23 suggests this program delivers strong economic fundamentals for engineering graduates. Based on comparable electrical and electronics engineering programs across California, students typically emerge with around $18,000 in debt against first-year earnings near $78,000—meaning graduates could theoretically pay off their loans in about three months of gross income. By year four, actual reported data shows earnings jump to $123,000, placing San Jose State grads in direct competition with California's elite engineering schools.

The real story here is trajectory and location. While UC Berkeley grads command higher starting salaries, the gap narrows significantly within a few years, and San Jose State's position in Silicon Valley's backyard provides exactly the industry proximity that accelerates engineering careers. Similar programs statewide suggest debt levels well below the national median of $25,000, which matters when you're comparing schools in one of America's most expensive states. For a program with an 80% admission rate serving a substantial population of Pell-eligible students, these outcomes are genuinely competitive.

The caveat: these figures reflect state-wide patterns rather than San Jose State's specific track record, so there's inherent uncertainty. But the combination of manageable estimated debt, strong four-year earnings data, and geographic advantage in the nation's tech capital makes this a defensible bet for students serious about electrical engineering careers.