Electrical Engineering Technologies/Technicians at University of Akron Main Campus

In Ohio, electrical engineering technology programs show dramatic variation in outcomes—from nearly $110,000 at Stark State to under $48,000 at Zane State. Akron's program falls somewhere in the middle, with similar programs across the state suggesting first-year earnings around $58,000, climbing to nearly $64,000 by year four. That initial estimate puts this program right at Ohio's median for the field and slightly above the national benchmark of $54,852.

The $20,500 debt load sits above both state and national medians for this credential, though it's not alarming given the technical nature of the program. With a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.35, graduates from comparable programs would owe roughly four months of their first-year salary—manageable if those earnings projections hold. The bigger question is why this program's outcomes appear middling when another state school (Stark State) produces graduates earning nearly double. Location matters in technical fields, and Akron's position in a declining industrial region versus stronger manufacturing hubs could explain some of that gap.

The uncertainty here cuts both ways. Akron might outperform these estimates if its industry connections are strong, or underperform if the comparison to peer programs proves optimistic. Before committing, get specific placement data from the department: where do graduates actually work, and what are they earning? In a field where outcomes vary this widely within the same state, the school's track record with local employers matters more than statewide averages.