Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering at University of Missouri-St Louis

University of Missouri-St Louis produces electrical engineering graduates who start at nearly $79,000 and reach $88,000 by year four—solid outcomes that slightly edge out the national median. The debt picture is particularly attractive: at $27,500, graduates borrow about $3,500 more than the typical engineering student nationally, but still maintain a manageable 0.35 debt-to-earnings ratio. That means most graduates could theoretically pay off their loans in under five months of gross income, a favorable position for a technical degree.

The complication lies in the Missouri context. Among the state's eight engineering programs, UMSL ranks in the 40th percentile for earnings, trailing both Mizzou's Columbia campus (which starts grads at $85,400) and Missouri S&T (the state's engineering powerhouse at $81,200). For Missouri families who can access these alternatives—particularly in-state—the difference amounts to roughly $3,000 to $7,000 in starting salary. Over a career, that gap compounds significantly.

Still, UMSL delivers what matters most: graduates enter a high-demand field with manageable debt and five-figure salaries from day one. The 12% earnings growth over four years suggests steady career progression. If location in St. Louis matters for your family, or if UMSL's admission profile better matches your student's credentials, this program offers a reliable path to an engineering career without the debt burden that often accompanies it.