Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering at University of Pennsylvania

Penn's electrical engineering program carries an unusual uncertainty for a top-tier school. With both earnings and debt figures drawn from peer programs across Pennsylvania, the estimated $80,500 first-year salary and $26,500 debt look reasonable on paper—that's a manageable 0.33 debt-to-earnings ratio. But here's the complication: Carnegie Mellon, Penn's most direct competitor, reports actual outcomes showing graduates earning $139,000, nearly 75% more than the state median Penn's estimate is based on. That's a massive gap for schools of similar selectivity.

The debt estimate of $26,500 seems plausible for an Ivy League institution with substantial financial aid, sitting just below the Pennsylvania median. But without knowing whether Penn's program performs closer to Carnegie Mellon's level or simply matches the broader state average, you're making a significant financial decision with limited visibility. Other selective Pennsylvania programs like Villanova ($90,300) and Drexel ($81,900) also report outcomes above the estimate used here.

The reality is that Penn's 6% admission rate and 1545 average SAT suggest an elite program that likely produces strong outcomes, but you'd be banking on reputation rather than verified graduate data. If your child can secure admission here, push the financial aid office hard on post-graduation outcomes specific to Penn's engineering school before committing, especially given the program's premium price compared to state alternatives.