Systems Engineering at University of Arkansas at Little Rock

A debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.24 suggests Systems Engineering at UALR could be financially manageable, though the numbers require some context. With comparable programs nationally pointing to first-year earnings around $79,942 and estimated debt of $19,500, graduates would theoretically face monthly loan payments of roughly $200—well within conventional affordability guidelines. That's the kind of math that makes a technical degree appealing.

The complication here is the year-four earnings figure of $69,469, which sits about $10,000 below the estimated starting salary. This reversal is unusual for engineering fields, where earnings typically climb steadily. It could reflect graduates moving into different roles, geographic factors specific to Arkansas's job market, or simply noise in a small dataset. What matters is that even at the lower figure, the debt burden remains reasonable—roughly 28% of annual income.

For parents weighing this investment, the key consideration is that you're looking at estimates from peer institutions rather than UALR's actual track record. The program is rare enough (just 33 schools nationally offer it) that outcomes data is thin. If your student is committed to systems engineering specifically and wants to stay in Arkansas, this may be the only in-state option. Just recognize you're betting on comparable results to other programs rather than proven outcomes from this particular school.