Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering at Syracuse University

Syracuse engineering graduates enter the workforce earning $84,494 in their first year—a strong figure that lands in the 94th percentile nationally for electrical engineering programs. Though debt figures here are estimated from comparable New York programs at around $24,000, that would translate to a debt-to-earnings ratio of just 0.28, meaning graduates could theoretically pay off their loans in under four months of gross income.

The earnings picture suggests Syracuse holds its own against New York's engineering heavyweights. While Cornell leads the pack at over $100,000, Syracuse graduates earn essentially the same as peers from Columbia, Rochester, and RPI—all landing in that $83,000-$85,000 range. This clustering at the 60th percentile for the state isn't weakness; it's the reality that New York hosts some of the nation's top engineering programs, and Syracuse competes effectively within that concentration.

What matters most is the combination: first-year earnings nearly $7,000 above the national median for electrical engineering, paired with estimated debt below both state and national benchmarks. If the actual debt figure for Syracuse graduates resembles the state median used here, this program delivers strong early earning power without the debt burden that often accompanies private university credentials. The engineering job market rewards these degrees quickly, and Syracuse's outcomes suggest graduates secure positions that justify the investment.