Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering at The University of Tennessee-Chattanooga

UT-Chattanooga's electrical engineering program delivers a straightforward value proposition: graduates carry slightly more debt than average but earn solidly above the Tennessee median, ranking in the 60th percentile statewide. First-year earnings of $75,273 trail the national median by about $2,500, but they're competitive with UT-Knoxville—the flagship campus that typically commands higher starting salaries. With debt at $28,375, graduates owe roughly one-third of their first year's income, a manageable burden that most can handle with standard loan repayment schedules.

The program's real strength lies in its accessibility combined with respectable outcomes. At a 77% admission rate, this isn't a highly selective program, yet graduates still see 18% earnings growth by year four and outperform most Tennessee engineering programs. That debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.38 sits comfortably below the threshold where student loans typically become problematic. For Tennessee families, this offers a practical path into electrical engineering without the pressure of ultra-competitive admissions or the debt loads common at private institutions.

If your child can gain admission to UT-Knoxville, that's marginally better for starting salary, but the $1,800 difference won't meaningfully change their financial trajectory. UT-Chattanooga offers solid engineering training at reasonable cost—exactly what an in-state public university should deliver.