Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering at University of Illinois Chicago

UIC's electrical engineering program sits in an uncomfortable middle ground—not quite keeping pace with Illinois' stronger programs while carrying slightly above-average debt. Graduates earn $72,926 their first year, falling $4,800 short of the state median and landing in just the 23rd percentile nationally. When UIUC engineering grads are starting at $86,000 and even regional options like Southern Illinois Edwardsville hit $79,000, that gap adds up quickly. The 18% earnings growth to $86,000 by year four is solid, but it takes four years to reach where top Illinois programs start.

The financial picture isn't disastrous—$23,500 in debt represents about 3.9 months of first-year salary, well within manageable territory. However, serving a student body where half receive Pell grants, UIC's engineering program should arguably deliver stronger income mobility given the debt burden. The 40th percentile ranking among Illinois programs suggests this is a typical outcome for the state, but "typical" may not be sufficient when better-funded alternatives are accessible in-state.

For families choosing between Illinois engineering schools, the question is whether UIC's Chicago location and more accessible admissions (79% acceptance rate versus UIUC's selectivity) justify accepting $13,500 less in starting salary. That's real money—it compounds career-long and affects everything from apartment choices to loan payoff timelines.