Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering at University of Alabama at Birmingham

UAB's electrical engineering program lands squarely in the middle of Alabama's offerings—exactly at the 40th percentile statewide—with first-year earnings of $76,151 trailing the state median by about $2,500. While that might seem like a disadvantage, the program's real strength is its accessibility combined with manageable debt. At $27,000 in typical borrowing, graduates face a debt-to-earnings ratio of just 0.35, meaning they owe roughly four months of their starting salary. That's actually below the national median debt for engineering programs, giving graduates meaningful breathing room early in their careers.

The 24% earnings growth to $94,376 by year four shows solid career progression, though UAB grads start behind peers at Alabama's top engineering schools like Huntsville ($81,516) and South Alabama ($81,499). That $5,000-plus starting salary gap matters when you're making loan payments and trying to save. Still, with an 88% admission rate and one-third of students receiving Pell grants, UAB serves a different mission than its more selective competitors—it opens engineering careers to students who might not access them elsewhere.

For families weighing options, this is decent value if UAB offers in-state tuition or scholarships that other Alabama schools don't. The program won't catapult your child to the top of the earnings curve, but the combination of low debt and steady growth creates a stable financial foundation. If they're competitive for Huntsville or Alabama, those schools' higher starting salaries could be worth pursuing.