Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering at University of Massachusetts-Boston

UMass Boston's electrical engineering program posts strong first-year earnings of $82,118—beating the national median by nearly $4,500 and landing in the 80th percentile nationally. That's solid performance, especially for a program at an accessible public university where 43% of students receive Pell grants. Debt levels are reasonable at $25,874, translating to a 0.32 debt-to-earnings ratio that suggests manageable monthly payments.

The Massachusetts picture offers useful context: while UMass Boston sits at the 40th percentile within the state, that's less concerning than it sounds. Massachusetts hosts some of the nation's top engineering programs (MIT, Northeastern, WPI), which skew state comparisons dramatically. UMass Boston's graduates actually earn within $700 of the state median—essentially matching typical in-state outcomes while likely saving significant money on tuition compared to private competitors charging $60,000+ annually.

The main asterisk here is sample size: fewer than 30 recent graduates reported data, so individual outliers could swing these numbers. Still, for families seeking an affordable engineering path with solid earning potential and reasonable debt, this program delivers on the fundamentals. The accessibility (83% admission rate) combined with respectable outcomes makes this worth serious consideration, particularly for in-state students or those who'd struggle with the costs or admissions requirements at the state's elite engineering schools.