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

UC Riverside's electrical engineering program lands graduates at $66,430 initially—about $12,000 below California's median for the major—but the trajectory tells a more interesting story. By year four, earnings jump 38% to $91,614, closing much of that initial gap and reaching competitive territory with programs at USC and UCLA.

The state percentile ranking of 25th looks modest until you consider the competition: this puts UC Riverside ahead of three-quarters of California's electrical engineering programs, including many private institutions. The $19,954 median debt sits comfortably below both state and national averages, creating a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.30 that new graduates can reasonably manage. Nearly half of students receive Pell grants, suggesting the program successfully serves first-generation and lower-income students who often face the toughest post-graduation financial pressures.

The catch is that first year—if your child needs immediate high earnings for loan obligations or other financial pressures, that $66,430 start may feel tight. But for families taking a longer view, the combination of manageable debt, strong earnings growth, and the UC brand creates a solid foundation. This program works particularly well for students who can weather a modest first year knowing their earning potential accelerates quickly.