Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering at Walla Walla University

Similar engineering programs across Washington State suggest first-year earnings around $81,000 for electrical engineering graduates, which aligns closely with what top programs like UW and Gonzaga report. That's solid for a bachelor's degree and typical for the field nationally. The estimated $26,000 in debt puts the debt-to-earnings ratio at 0.32—meaning graduates would owe roughly four months of their first-year salary, a manageable starting point for an engineering career.

What's worth noting is that peer programs at Washington's public universities typically show lower debt loads (closer to $21,000), suggesting Walla Walla's private school pricing adds some cost. Still, the debt burden remains reasonable for the earning potential, especially compared to many other fields where graduates carry similar debt for half the salary. The real question is whether the small-program environment and any unique aspects of Walla Walla's engineering curriculum justify that premium over state schools.

The bottom line: if earnings track with comparable Washington programs, graduates should be in good financial shape to handle the debt. But given that both figures are estimates based on peer schools rather than Walla Walla's actual outcomes, it's particularly important to ask the school directly about job placement rates and where recent grads are working.