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

UT-Knoxville's electrical engineering program lands squarely in the middle tier nationally but performs notably better within Tennessee—ranking at the 60th percentile among the state's 11 engineering schools. Starting salaries of $75,316 trail the national median by about $2,400, yet graduates carry less debt than average ($21,630 versus nearly $25,000 nationally). This combination yields a manageable debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.29, meaning graduates could theoretically pay off loans in under four months of gross pay. By year four, earnings climb to $88,535, representing solid 18% growth that outpaces inflation.

The program's positioning makes practical sense for Tennessee families: it's the second-highest earning option in the state after UT-Chattanooga (which edges it out by just $43 in starting pay), and it carries the flagship university's reputation at a lower debt burden than the national norm. The 46% admission rate suggests reasonable accessibility, though the moderate sample size means individual outcomes may vary more than at larger programs.

For in-state students considering engineering, this represents a value play—you're getting top-tier Tennessee outcomes without excessive debt. Out-of-state students paying premium tuition should weigh whether the below-national-median starting salary justifies their higher cost, particularly when comparable programs elsewhere deliver stronger initial earnings.