Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering at Texas Tech University

Texas Tech's electrical engineering program puts graduates right in the middle of the pack—both nationally (63rd percentile) and within Texas (60th percentile)—but at a fundamentally sound price point. With starting salaries around $79,500 and debt of $26,000, graduates face just four months of first-year earnings to clear their loans. That's manageable by any standard. The catch? Those top Texas programs aren't unreachable alternatives: UT Austin and Rice command a roughly $17,000 salary premium, while even public alternatives like University of Houston deliver nearly $7,000 more annually.

The 10% earnings growth from year one to year four is modest but steady, and four-year salaries approaching $88,000 suggest solid career trajectories. Texas Tech's 71% admission rate makes it more accessible than elite alternatives, which matters if your child doesn't have the profile for UT Austin or Rice. The moderate sample size means these numbers represent a real cohort of graduates, not statistical noise.

For families seeking an engineering degree at a reasonable cost with decent career outcomes, Texas Tech delivers. Your child won't command top-of-market salaries, but they'll graduate with manageable debt and legitimate engineering credentials. If they can get into one of the state's stronger programs, though, the earnings difference compounds significantly over a career.