Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering at The University of Texas at Arlington

UTA's electrical engineering program delivers exactly what you'd expect from a large, accessible state university—solid middle-of-the-pack outcomes without the premium price tag. Graduates start at $75,116, which trails the Texas median by about $3,000 and lands in the 40th percentile among the state's 27 programs. To be clear: UT Austin and Rice graduates are commanding $20,000+ more right out of school, and even nearby University of Houston beats this by $11,000. That gap matters when comparing job prospects in the competitive Dallas-Fort Worth engineering market.

The manageable debt load ($25,990) keeps this program viable despite the lower starting salary. Your child would owe roughly what graduates across the state owe, meaning the debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.35 is reasonable—they'd need about four months of pre-tax income to cover the total debt. Earnings also grow respectably to $87,605 by year four, a 17% increase that suggests the degree opens doors even if it doesn't lead to the highest-paying ones immediately.

For families prioritizing accessibility and cost control, this works. UTA accepts 81% of applicants and serves a substantial number of Pell-eligible students, making it attainable for students who might not get into or afford the top-tier programs. Just understand you're trading some earning potential for that accessibility—this is a functional engineering degree that gets you employed, not one that maximizes your starting position.