Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering at University of San Diego

University of San Diego's electrical engineering program launches graduates into solid six-figure territory within four years, but the small program size (under 30 graduates) means these numbers could shift significantly year to year. That said, the fundamentals look sound: starting at $80,073 and climbing to $97,216 represents healthy growth in a field known for strong early-career earning power. Among California's 32 electrical engineering programs, this ranks in the 60th percentile—respectable, though nowhere near the elite tier commanded by UC Berkeley ($137K) or even Cal Poly SLO ($90K).

The debt picture is genuinely impressive. At $29,276, graduates owe just over a third of their first-year salary, and the program ranks in the 5th percentile nationally for debt burden. That's about $10,000 more than the California median but still highly manageable given the earnings trajectory. For context, this is the kind of debt-to-earnings ratio that engineering programs are supposed to deliver.

The small sample size is the main wildcard here. These numbers could look quite different with next year's cohort, especially since USD isn't known as an engineering powerhouse the way the UCs are. But if these figures hold, you're looking at a program that won't bury your child in debt while delivering entry to a well-paying field. Just understand you're paying private school tuition for outcomes that strong public programs match or beat.