Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering at Southern California Institute of Technology

Southern California Institute of Technology's engineering graduates earn roughly $20,000 less annually than the typical California engineer—placing this program in the bottom quarter of the state's 32 electrical engineering programs. While the $59,259 starting salary isn't terrible in absolute terms, it's concerning when California's median for this degree is $78,247 and top state programs like UC Berkeley produce graduates earning well over $100,000. You're paying above-national-average debt ($35,989 vs. $24,989 nationally) for below-average outcomes.

The 13% earnings growth to $66,863 by year four suggests modest career progression, but graduates remain significantly behind their California peers. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.61 is manageable but not impressive for an engineering degree, which typically offers stronger financial returns. With an 88% admission rate and 71% of students on Pell grants, this institution serves an accessible mission, but that openness doesn't translate to competitive graduate outcomes in California's robust tech market.

If your child can gain admission to a UC campus or Cal Poly SLO, the earnings difference would likely justify any additional effort or modest cost increase. For students who specifically need the accessibility this school offers, understand you're accepting a significant earnings discount compared to other California engineering programs—potentially $200,000+ less over the first decade of their career.