Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering at The Catholic University of America

Engineering programs typically command strong starting salaries, and based on national benchmarks, this electrical engineering degree appears positioned to deliver around $77,710 in first-year earnings—a solid foundation for a technical career in the DC metro area's robust defense, consulting, and tech sectors. The estimated $26,000 in debt translates to a manageable 0.33 debt-to-earnings ratio, meaning graduates would owe roughly four months of their first-year salary. That's a financial profile many families would consider reasonable for an engineering credential.

The challenge here is visibility. Catholic University's small graduate cohort in this program means we're working entirely with estimates drawn from peer institutions nationally, not actual outcomes from this specific school. While the national median provides useful context—and DC's concentration of government contractors and engineering firms certainly creates demand—you're essentially betting on Catholic University's program performing at the national average. With 401 schools offering this degree nationwide, there's considerable variation in outcomes that these estimates can't capture.

For parents weighing this investment, the fundamentals look sound: engineering degrees generally justify their cost, and the projected debt load is modest. But given the lack of program-specific data, you'll want to dig into Catholic University's engineering department directly—placement rates, internship partnerships, and alumni connections in DC's engineering market—to confirm this program actually delivers what comparable programs suggest.