Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering at University of California-Irvine

UC Irvine's electrical engineering program places graduates firmly in the upper-middle tier of both national and California options, with first-year earnings of $80,412 beating most programs but falling short of the state's elite. At the 60th percentile among California engineering schools, it trails powerhouses like Berkeley and Cal Poly but costs students just $19,000 in median debt—$6,000 below the state median and nearly $15,000 under what most engineering graduates nationally carry.

The debt picture here is genuinely impressive. With a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.24, graduates owe less than three months' salary, creating financial flexibility that's rare even among engineering programs. Earnings growth to $93,730 by year four shows steady progression, though the 17% increase is modest compared to some programs where early-career engineers see sharper jumps.

For families weighing value, this represents a solid middle ground: strong but not spectacular earnings combined with exceptional debt management. Your child won't match Berkeley's $137,000 starting salaries, but they also won't be managing the financial burden that often comes with elite private programs. Given the 37% Pell grant rate, UCI appears to deliver this value across income levels, making it a pragmatic choice for families who want engineering credentials without gambling on debt.