Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering at University of Evansville

With estimated debt around $26,581 and first-year earnings of $73,549, University of Evansville's engineering program produces a manageable debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.36—roughly a third of that first paycheck, which is reasonable for an engineering degree. The debt figure is based on other bachelor's programs at the university, so it reflects the school's typical financial aid patterns rather than this specific cohort's outcomes. That said, the earnings picture places this program below most of its Indiana competitors and in the bottom quarter nationally.

The gap is meaningful: Notre Dame and Purdue graduates start around $84,000-$86,000, while Evansville's engineers earn about $10,000 less out of the gate. Even regional options like Purdue Northwest and Trine match or exceed these figures. Whether that difference stems from employer preferences, curriculum focus, or graduate career choices isn't clear from the data, but parents should recognize they're paying for an outcome that lags behind the state's flagship engineering schools.

The debt burden itself won't cripple anyone—$26,000 is manageable on a $73,000 salary. But given Indiana's competitive engineering landscape, it's worth asking whether Evansville offers something distinctive (smaller classes, specific industry connections, campus fit) that justifies accepting lower starting pay. If the appeal is primarily the 78% admission rate making it more accessible than Purdue, understand that accessibility comes with a financial trade-off in early career earnings.