Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering at Union College

Union College's electrical engineering program sits in an awkward middle ground. While comparable programs in New York suggest first-year earnings around $78,000 with roughly $24,000 in debt—a solid 0.31 ratio that beats the national median—those same state benchmarks reveal a concerning pattern. Nearby Cornell graduates start at over $100,000, and even peer institutions like RPI and Syracuse place their engineering graduates $5,000-$6,000 higher. For a selective school with a 1410 average SAT, Union's positioning near the state median rather than in the top tier raises questions about whether students are getting the return their credentials should command.

The debt picture appears manageable based on similar programs in New York, representing just four months of estimated first-year salary. But context matters: Union draws from a relatively affluent student body (only 13% receive Pell grants), suggesting many families will pay beyond the estimated median debt. When engineering programs at comparable schools are launching graduates into careers with 25-30% higher starting salaries, the value proposition becomes less clear. Engineering typically rewards prestige and connections, and Union's outcomes—to the extent we can estimate them from peer schools—don't reflect the premium you'd expect from its selectivity or location in New York's tech corridor.

The core issue is uncertainty paired with underperformance relative to obvious alternatives. If your child has the profile to get into Union, they likely have options at schools with demonstrated track records of stronger engineering placements.