Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering at Trinity College

Trinity College's electrical engineering program carries an estimated $26,000 in debt—close to the national median—while similar Connecticut programs suggest first-year earnings around $77,400. That debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.34 is solid for any engineering degree, meaning graduates would owe roughly four months of their annual salary. The math works, assuming you're actually getting the market-rate engineering education this suggests.

The challenge here is visibility. With so few graduates that the Department of Education can't publish actual outcomes, you're betting on a small program at a liberal arts college known more for its well-rounded education than its engineering pipeline. The University of New Haven reports higher earnings ($85,600) for its engineering graduates, though whether that's program quality or career support differences is unclear. Trinity's 34% admission rate and 1396 average SAT suggest you're surrounded by strong students, but the 15% Pell rate hints at limited economic diversity—something worth considering when evaluating real-world career networks.

If your child thrives in smaller classroom settings and wants the liberal arts college experience alongside engineering credentials, this could work financially. But you're paying for a distinctive educational environment, not a cost advantage—and you won't know if Trinity's specific career outcomes match state trends until more data emerges. Make sure the campus culture and support systems justify choosing a program with this much uncertainty over larger Connecticut engineering schools with proven track records.