Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering at Texas A&M University-Texarkana

Texas A&M-Texarkana's electrical engineering program produces starting salaries that lag significantly behind what's typical in Texas. At $50,207, first-year earnings fall well short of the $78,000 state median, landing closer to what you'd expect from a two-year technical program than a four-year engineering degree. For context, comparable engineering programs at UT Austin, Rice, and even the main Texas A&M campus in College Station produce graduates earning $80,000-$97,000 in their first year—a difference of $30,000-$47,000 annually that compounds dramatically over a career.

The estimated debt of $26,000—derived from similar Texas programs at regional universities—isn't unreasonable on its own. But when paired with earnings at the 10th percentile statewide, you're looking at a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.51 that masks a deeper concern: this program isn't delivering the salary premium that typically justifies an engineering degree's rigor and opportunity cost. The school serves a majority Pell-eligible population, which makes the earnings gap particularly consequential for families counting on engineering as an economic ladder.

If your child is committed to electrical engineering and has better options in Texas—even at less prestigious schools—those are worth serious consideration. The $30,000+ annual salary difference between this program and the state median represents real money that affects everything from loan repayment timelines to homeownership prospects. This specific campus may offer convenience or fit, but the estimated earnings suggest graduates aren't competing successfully for the same engineering roles as peers from other Texas programs.