Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering at University of Georgia

University of Georgia's electrical engineering program lands squarely in the middle of Georgia's offerings—above Kennesaw State but notably behind Georgia Tech's $86,865 starting salary and even trailing Georgia Southern by about $2,500. At $73,307 first-year earnings, graduates earn less than the national median for this major while carrying typical debt loads around $24,000.

The 24th percentile national ranking reveals the challenge: UGA attracts strong students (SAT scores around 1300) but produces electrical engineering outcomes that trail three-quarters of comparable programs nationwide. Within Georgia's limited pool of four engineering schools, this sits at the 40th percentile—essentially third place. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.33 means graduates can manage their loans, but they're starting from a lower earnings baseline than peers at Georgia Tech or even Georgia Southern.

For families weighing in-state engineering options, this creates a straightforward decision tree. If your child can get into Georgia Tech, the $13,000 higher starting salary makes the choice clear. If not, Georgia Southern offers similar or slightly better outcomes at likely lower cost, while UGA provides the flagship university experience with serviceable—but not exceptional—engineering earnings. The degree pays for itself reasonably well, but don't expect it to outperform the typical electrical engineering graduate nationally.