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

UT Dallas's electrical engineering program lands squarely in the middle of the pack—literally. While first-year earnings of $77,928 match the national median almost exactly, the program ranks in just the 40th percentile among Texas schools, trailing in-state options like UT Austin ($97K), Rice ($97K), and even University of Houston ($86K) by significant margins. For a student who could gain admission to these alternatives (UT Dallas's 65% acceptance rate and 1300 average SAT suggest it's more accessible), that $9,000-$18,000 annual gap compounds quickly over a career.

The debt situation is reasonable—$25,500 sits near both state and national medians—and the 0.33 debt-to-earnings ratio means graduates can realistically manage payments. Earnings do grow to $89K by year four, a respectable 14% increase that suggests career progression. But here's the reality: electrical engineering is valuable enough that even an average program produces solid outcomes. The question isn't whether this degree pays off, but whether paying UT Dallas tuition makes sense when other Texas public universities deliver notably stronger returns.

For families prioritizing Dallas-area connections or finding UT Dallas's admission profile more realistic, this program offers a safe path into a lucrative field. But students who can compete for spots at UT Austin, Rice, or University of Houston should seriously consider those options—the earnings premium is too substantial to ignore.