Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering at University of North Florida

UNF's electrical engineering program sits in an unusual position—graduates carry some of the lowest debt loads in the field (just $17,601, well below both state and national medians), yet earn about $6,000 less than Florida's median for this degree. At $68,285 starting out, alumni make roughly 10% less than their counterparts at larger state schools like UF or USF, though earnings climb to $80,759 by year four. Among Florida's 15 electrical engineering programs, this lands solidly in the middle of the pack at the 40th percentile.

The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.26 is genuinely excellent—graduates owe less than three months' salary, which provides real financial breathing room early in their careers. The concern is whether starting $10,000 behind the national average creates a compounding disadvantage over time. Strong earnings growth of 18% suggests graduates do gain traction, but that still leaves them trailing peers from comparable programs.

For cost-conscious Florida families, this represents a workable path into electrical engineering without the debt burden that often accompanies the degree. The tradeoff is accepting lower initial earnings than you'd find at UF or even UCF. If your student is admitted to multiple Florida engineering programs, those higher-earning alternatives merit serious consideration—but if financial aid makes UNF significantly cheaper, the low debt burden keeps this program viable.