Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering at Trevecca Nazarene University

Based on comparable engineering programs in Tennessee, this bachelor's degree appears positioned near the state median, with estimated first-year earnings around $74,363—slightly below the national benchmark of $77,710 but consistent with other Tennessee schools. The estimated $26,000 debt load translates to a manageable 0.35 debt-to-earnings ratio, meaning roughly four months of gross income to cover total student loans. That's a reasonable trade-off for a technical degree, though it's worth noting this debt figure is derived from similar private institutions nationally rather than Trevecca's actual engineering graduates.

The challenge here is the uncertainty: with only four reportable engineering programs statewide, and Trevecca's own graduate sample too small to publish, you're investing based on how peer programs perform rather than this school's track record. Tennessee's flagship universities in Knoxville and Chattanooga show graduates earning in the $75,000 range—suggesting the state estimate is realistic—but there's no way to verify whether Trevecca's curriculum and industry connections produce similar outcomes. The 70% admission rate and modest test scores indicate this isn't competing directly with Tennessee Tech or UT for the strongest engineering students.

For a family comfortable with moderate financial risk, the projected debt-to-earnings picture looks workable. But if minimizing uncertainty matters—particularly given the private school premium—programs with actual reported outcomes would let you invest with eyes wide open rather than relying on statistical proxies.