Electrical Engineering major
Electrical Engineering: courses, careers, and where to study
Electrical Engineering applies physics and math to circuits, power, and electronics, suiting students who want to design the hardware and systems behind modern technology.
Nationally, bachelor's graduates in Electrical Engineering earn a median $100,647 four years after graduating; the middle half of programs ranges from $84,635 to $122,440 (2017-19 graduates, measured 2022-23, College Scorecard). By credential and college
An Electrical Engineering (EE) major builds on a heavy math and physics core, calculus through differential equations, linear algebra, and physics with electromagnetism, then layers on circuit analysis, electronics, signals and systems, electromagnetics, and digital logic. Most EE programs are credit-heavy ABET-accredited BS degrees that culminate in a senior capstone design project and let students concentrate in areas such as power systems, control systems, communications, signal processing, microelectronics, or embedded systems.
Graduates can design analog and digital circuits, model and process signals, work with microcontrollers and embedded firmware, and analyze power and control systems. EE work spans semiconductors, telecommunications, power and energy, aerospace and defense, automotive, consumer electronics, and instrumentation. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects employment of electrical engineers to grow 7.2% from 2024 to 2034.
The bachelor's degree is the typical entry credential. Graduates working on systems that affect public safety, particularly in power, can pursue a Professional Engineer (PE) license through the Fundamentals of Engineering exam followed by supervised experience, while others continue to a master's or PhD for research and specialized design roles.
Academic classification (CIP)
In the federal Classification of Instructional Programs, Electrical Engineering maps to CIP 14.1001, Electrical and Electronics Engineering, within the ENGINEERING family. The official definition:
A program that prepares individuals to apply mathematical and scientific principles to the design, development and operational evaluation of electrical and electronic systems and their components, including electrical power generation systems; and the analysis of problems such as superconductor, wave propagation, energy storage and retrieval, and reception and amplification.
Source: U.S. Department of Education (NCES), Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP) 2020. View on nces.ed.gov
What credential Electrical Engineering is awarded as
Of the 26,070 Electrical Engineering credentials U.S. colleges reported conferring in 2024-25:
- Certificate: <1%, 142 credentials.
- Associate: <1%, 200 credentials.
- Bachelor's: 57%, 14,900 credentials.
- Graduate: 42%, 10,828 credentials.
This mix is fairly consistent nationally: across the 44 states reporting it, the certificate share moves by about 1 percentage points between the 10th and 90th percentile state, so the credential is more a property of the field than of where you study it. See the full study.
Credentials conferred in 2024-25, U.S. Department of Education IPEDS completions. A certificate is a different credential from a degree, not a lesser one, and this counts what was awarded rather than what a college currently offers.
What you'll study
- Circuit analysis and design (DC/AC, Kirchhoff's laws, network theorems)
- Analog and digital electronics (transistors, op-amps, logic gates)
- Signals and systems, Fourier and Laplace transforms, and digital signal processing
- Electromagnetics and transmission lines
- Microcontrollers, embedded systems, and firmware (C, assembly)
- Control systems and feedback theory
- Power systems, electric machines, and power electronics
- Lab instrumentation, PCB design, and senior capstone design project
Typical careers
- Electrical Engineer
- Electronics Engineer
- Power Systems Engineer
- Embedded Systems Engineer
- Hardware Design Engineer
- Controls Engineer
Typical salary range: $70,000–$95,000 early-career (BLS, 2024 electrical engineers median $111,910)Ranges are early-career estimates. Any BLS figure shown is the occupation-wide median across all experience levels, not a starting wage, and is informational only.
How much do Electrical Engineering graduates earn?
Nationally, bachelor's graduates in Electrical Engineering earn a median $100,647 four years after graduating; the middle half of programs ranges from $84,635 to $122,440 (2017-19 graduates, measured 2022-23, College Scorecard).
| Credential | National median | Middle half of programs |
|---|---|---|
| Bachelor's | $100,647 | $84,635 to $122,440 |
| Associate's | $65,477 | $33,950 to $88,077 |
| Master's | $133,654 | $107,420 to $171,817 |
Compare Electrical Engineering programs in your state
Highest-earning bachelor's Electrical Engineering programs
- Carnegie Mellon University (PA): $250,168, median federal debt $22,224
- University of California, Berkeley (CA): $200,543, median federal debt $13,674
- Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MA): $161,118, median federal debt $10,967
- Cornell University (NY): $147,241, median federal debt $14,725
- The University of Texas at Austin (TX): $146,003, median federal debt $20,480
- University of Southern California (CA): $131,532, median federal debt $18,497
- University of California, Los Angeles (CA): $126,209, median federal debt $16,979
- California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo (CA): $125,240, median federal debt $23,475
- University of California-Santa Cruz (CA): $118,290, median federal debt $16,796
- University of California-San Diego (CA): $118,150, median federal debt $20,000
Ordered by median earnings: one federal measure, not a ranking of program quality. Federal program group: Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering. Earnings: graduates of 2017-18 and 2018-19, earnings measured in 2022 and 2023, in 2024 dollars, for graduates who received federal aid, worked and were not enrolled. Programs need at least 30 graduates in the earnings cohort to be listed; multi-state systems whose figures pool campuses are not listed. Source: U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard, 10 June 2026. How much the college matters, by major. Graduate programs over the new federal loan caps.
Related occupations
Occupations the federal CIP–SOC crosswalk associates with Electrical Engineering, with what each one pays and how many openings it is projected to average each year. Ordered by projected annual openings, largest first. Linked titles open the full CampusPin career page.
| Occupation | Median pay | Openings / yr | Projected change | Most entrants hold |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Architectural and Engineering Managers | $167,740 | 14,500 | +3.8% | Bachelor's degree |
| Electrical Engineers | $111,910 | 11,700 | +7.2% | Bachelor's degree |
| Electronics Engineers, Except Computer | $127,590 | 5,700 | +6.2% | Bachelor's degree |
| Computer Hardware Engineers | $155,020 | 4,700 | +7.3% | Bachelor's degree |
| Aerospace Engineers | $134,830 | 4,500 | +6.1% | Bachelor's degree |
| Engineering Teachers, Postsecondary | $106,120 | 4,100 | +8.1% | Doctoral or professional degree |
Crosswalk: U.S. Department of Education (NCES), CIP 2020 to SOC 2018. Pay, openings and projections: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (2024 wages, Employment Projections). 6 of these 6 occupations report a median wage.
“Most entrants hold” is what BLS observes about people already working in the occupation. It is not a legal requirement, not an admission rule, and not a guarantee of entry. Studying Electrical Engineering does not guarantee any specific occupation, and many of these roles are entered from several different fields. Projected openings are a projection, not jobs promised.
Before you commit to a Electrical Engineering major
CampusPin does not rank programs. Use these prompts to pressure-test whether a specific Electrical Engineering program fits your goals, they are decision questions, not claims about any school.
Ask the Electrical Engineering department
- Which concentrations or specializations are offered, and which faculty lead them?
- What does the typical course sequence look like, and how much is required vs. elective?
- What labs, studios, clinical placements, or research opportunities are available to undergraduates?
- Is there a capstone, thesis, internship, or co-op requirement?
Ask current students & check the curriculum
- How heavy is the workload, and how accessible is the faculty?
- What internships or co-ops did you do, and where do recent graduates end up?
- Does the required curriculum actually match the careers listed above?
- How easy is it to add a minor, double major, or switch tracks later?
Find a Electrical Engineering program
CampusPin lists U.S. universities and community colleges by state, tuition, school size, acceptance rate, and campus setting, no account required.
Colleges that awarded the most Electrical Engineering credentials
Largest by credentials conferred in 2024-25. This measures the size of the graduating class, not quality, and it is not a ranking.
- University of California-Berkeley, CA · 720 credentials
- Georgia Institute of Technology-Main Campus, GA · 689 credentials
- Purdue University-Main Campus, IN · 671 credentials
- Carnegie Mellon University, PA · 663 credentials
- Texas A & M University-College Station, TX · 503 credentials
- University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, IL · 484 credentials
- Ohio State University-Main Campus, OH · 398 credentials
- Arizona State University Campus Immersion, AZ · 385 credentials
- The University of Texas at Austin, TX · 365 credentials
- University of California-Los Angeles, CA · 362 credentials
- North Carolina State University at Raleigh, NC · 336 credentials
- University of Southern California, CA · 331 credentials
Based on credentials this institution reported conferring in the federal IPEDS completions collection for 2024-25. It confirms the field was awarded that year, not that the program currently accepts students, and it covers only the fields CampusPin tracks. Confirm current offerings with the institution.
Where Electrical Engineering credentials were awarded
One state has a distinct enough set of Electrical Engineering colleges to be worth its own page.
Electrical Engineering by state
- Electrical Engineering in California
- Electrical Engineering in Florida
- Electrical Engineering in Georgia
- Electrical Engineering in Illinois
- Electrical Engineering in Maryland
- Electrical Engineering in Massachusetts
- Electrical Engineering in New York
- Electrical Engineering in North Carolina
- Electrical Engineering in Pennsylvania
- Electrical Engineering in Texas
Every Electrical Engineering program with its own CampusPin page
113 programs in 38 states, A to Z by state and then by college. Each page gives what the program's graduates earned four years after finishing, what they borrowed in federal loans, the monthly payment, and how the program compares with others in its state and the nation. The figure beside each college is the median for its largest credential with at least 30 graduates (U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard, 2017-19 graduates, measured 2022-23). The list is alphabetical; it is not a ranking.
Electrical Engineering programs in Alabama, 4 programs
- Auburn University Bachelor's, $99,799
- The University of Alabama Bachelor's, $98,943
- University of Alabama at Birmingham Bachelor's, $90,089
- University of Alabama in Huntsville Bachelor's, $100,296
Electrical Engineering programs in Arizona, 2 programs
- Arizona State University Campus Immersion Bachelor's, $104,757
- Northern Arizona University Bachelor's, $95,388
Electrical Engineering programs in Arkansas, 1 program
- University of Arkansas Bachelor's, $97,516
Electrical Engineering programs in California, 17 programs
- California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo Bachelor's, $125,240
- California State Polytechnic University-Pomona Bachelor's, $103,924
- California State University-Fullerton Bachelor's, $92,618
- California State University-Long Beach Bachelor's, $103,075
- California State University-Los Angeles Bachelor's, $96,014
- California State University-Northridge Bachelor's, $104,065
- California State University-Sacramento Bachelor's, $103,512
- San Diego State University Bachelor's, $106,416
- San Francisco State University Bachelor's, $112,454
- Southern California Institute of Technology Bachelor's, $84,440
- University of California-Irvine Bachelor's, $106,871
- University of California-Riverside Bachelor's, $102,630
- University of California-San Diego Bachelor's, $118,150
- University of California-Santa Barbara Bachelor's, $117,215
- University of California-Santa Cruz Bachelor's, $118,290
- University of California, Berkeley Bachelor's, $200,543
- University of California, Los Angeles Master's, $174,798
Electrical Engineering programs in Colorado, 1 program
- Colorado School of Mines Bachelor's, $106,012
Electrical Engineering programs in Connecticut, 1 program
- University of Connecticut Bachelor's, $94,722
Electrical Engineering programs in Delaware, 1 program
- University of Delaware Bachelor's, $97,567
Electrical Engineering programs in Florida, 4 programs
- Florida Atlantic University Bachelor's, $93,561
- Florida International University Bachelor's, $98,697
- University of Central Florida Bachelor's, $99,442
- University of South Florida Bachelor's, $102,275
Electrical Engineering programs in Georgia, 2 programs
- Georgia Southern University Bachelor's, $95,467
- Kennesaw State University Bachelor's, $96,935
Electrical Engineering programs in Hawaii, 1 program
- University of Hawaii at Manoa Bachelor's, $88,869
Electrical Engineering programs in Illinois, 3 programs
- Northern Illinois University Bachelor's, $93,962
- University of Illinois Chicago Bachelor's, $92,002
- University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Bachelor's, $111,783
Electrical Engineering programs in Indiana, 1 program
- Purdue University-Main Campus Bachelor's, $105,396
Electrical Engineering programs in Iowa, 2 programs
- Iowa State University Bachelor's, $99,705
- University of Iowa Bachelor's, $97,208
Electrical Engineering programs in Kentucky, 2 programs
- University of Kentucky Bachelor's, $96,913
- University of Louisville Bachelor's, $93,968
Electrical Engineering programs in Louisiana, 1 program
- Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College Bachelor's, $97,208
Electrical Engineering programs in Maryland, 2 programs
- Morgan State University Bachelor's, $98,640
- University of Maryland, College Park Bachelor's, $107,834
Electrical Engineering programs in Massachusetts, 4 programs
- Massachusetts Institute of Technology Bachelor's, $161,118
- University of Massachusetts Lowell Bachelor's, $101,054
- Wentworth Institute of Technology Bachelor's, $96,673
- Worcester Polytechnic Institute Bachelor's, $109,386
Electrical Engineering programs in Michigan, 7 programs
- Michigan State University Bachelor's, $100,481
- Michigan Technological University Bachelor's, $99,848
- Oakland University Bachelor's, $99,967
- University of Michigan-Ann Arbor Bachelor's, $117,610
- University of Michigan-Dearborn Bachelor's, $105,446
- Wayne State University Bachelor's, $100,944
- Western Michigan University Bachelor's, $95,469
Electrical Engineering programs in Minnesota, 2 programs
- University of Minnesota Twin Cities Bachelor's, $97,575
- University of Minnesota-Duluth Bachelor's, $88,305
Electrical Engineering programs in Mississippi, 1 program
- Mississippi State University Bachelor's, $106,039
Electrical Engineering programs in Missouri, 2 programs
- Missouri University of Science and Technology Bachelor's, $98,264
- University of Missouri-Kansas City Bachelor's, $91,326
Electrical Engineering programs in Montana, 1 program
- Montana State University Bachelor's, $98,331
Electrical Engineering programs in New Jersey, 3 programs
- New Jersey Institute of Technology Bachelor's, $97,718
- Rowan University Bachelor's, $104,215
- Rutgers University-New Brunswick Bachelor's, $108,296
Electrical Engineering programs in New York, 7 programs
- Binghamton University Bachelor's, $99,397
- Clarkson University Bachelor's, $97,750
- New York Institute of Technology Bachelor's, $99,480
- New York University Bachelor's, $107,348
- Rochester Institute of Technology Bachelor's, $105,068
- Stony Brook University Bachelor's, $98,573
- University at Buffalo Bachelor's, $95,209
Electrical Engineering programs in North Carolina, 2 programs
- North Carolina State University at Raleigh Bachelor's, $102,178
- University of North Carolina at Charlotte Bachelor's, $93,953
Electrical Engineering programs in North Dakota, 1 program
- North Dakota State University-Main Campus Bachelor's, $94,510
Electrical Engineering programs in Ohio, 4 programs
- Ohio State University-Main Campus Bachelor's, $99,400
- University of Akron Main Campus Bachelor's, $97,875
- University of Cincinnati-Main Campus Bachelor's, $98,364
- Wright State University-Main Campus Bachelor's, $89,391
Electrical Engineering programs in Oklahoma, 2 programs
- Oklahoma State University-Main Campus Bachelor's, $96,447
- University of Oklahoma-Norman Campus Bachelor's, $91,833
Electrical Engineering programs in Oregon, 3 programs
- Oregon Institute of Technology Bachelor's, $101,534
- Oregon State University Bachelor's, $105,359
- Portland State University Bachelor's, $101,905
Electrical Engineering programs in Pennsylvania, 4 programs
- Drexel University Bachelor's, $102,978
- Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus Bachelor's, $93,277
- Temple University Bachelor's, $97,839
- University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus Bachelor's, $102,572
Electrical Engineering programs in South Carolina, 1 program
- Clemson University Bachelor's, $96,446
Electrical Engineering programs in Tennessee, 2 programs
- Tennessee Technological University Bachelor's, $94,179
- The University of Tennessee-Knoxville Bachelor's, $93,642
Electrical Engineering programs in Texas, 11 programs
- Texas A & M University-College Station Bachelor's, $103,789
- Texas State University Bachelor's, $94,780
- Texas Tech University Bachelor's, $107,110
- The University of Texas at Arlington Bachelor's, $99,993
- The University of Texas at Austin Bachelor's, $146,003
- The University of Texas at Dallas Bachelor's, $104,448
- The University of Texas at El Paso Bachelor's, $94,122
- The University of Texas at San Antonio Bachelor's, $90,846
- The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley Bachelor's, $85,971
- University of Houston Bachelor's, $107,399
- University of North Texas Bachelor's, $95,294
Electrical Engineering programs in Utah, 1 program
- Brigham Young University Bachelor's, $99,774
Electrical Engineering programs in Virginia, 3 programs
- George Mason University Bachelor's, $103,074
- Old Dominion University Bachelor's, $96,427
- Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University Bachelor's, $104,839
Electrical Engineering programs in Washington, 2 programs
- University of Washington-Seattle Campus Bachelor's, $116,010
- Washington State University Bachelor's, $104,354
Electrical Engineering programs in West Virginia, 1 program
- West Virginia University Bachelor's, $99,542
Electrical Engineering programs in Wisconsin, 4 programs
- Milwaukee School of Engineering Bachelor's, $93,201
- University of Wisconsin-Madison Bachelor's, $95,059
- University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Bachelor's, $91,955
- University of Wisconsin-Platteville Bachelor's, $92,443
Related majors
Mechanical Engineering
Mechanical Engineering applies physics, materials, and design to machines and mechanical systems, suiting students who want to build, analyze, and test physical hardware.
Computer Science
Computer Science combines the mathematical foundations of computation with practical software engineering, preparing graduates for careers in software, AI/ML, security, data, and research.
Physics
Physics studies the fundamental laws of matter, energy, and motion, a foundational major for engineering, computing, finance, and graduate research.
Engineering
Engineering majors apply math, physics, and design to build the physical and digital systems that power society, from bridges and chips to medical devices and aircraft.
Civil Engineering
Civil Engineering applies physics, mechanics, and design to the built environment, roads, bridges, water systems, and buildings, suiting students who want to plan and build public infrastructure.
Still deciding between Electrical Engineering and something else?
These guides put Electrical Engineering side by side with the major it is most often confused with, using the federal CIP–SOC crosswalk to show where the two actually lead.
Put this major in context
The salary above is an occupation-wide median from federal data, not a starting wage or a guarantee. These CampusPin guides and reports help you read it well, see where a Electrical Engineering degree can lead, and weigh it against cost and program quality.
Explore Engineering & Architecture careers
Median pay, job outlook, and the occupations this field covers.
Explore Management careers
Median pay, job outlook, and the occupations this field covers.
How one major leads to many careers
Why a single Electrical Engineering degree can open more than one path, and how to read the occupations above.
Why a median wage is not a starting salary
How to read a BLS median, and why early-career pay usually sits below it.
When accreditation and licensure matter
How program accreditation and state licensure can shape a Electrical Engineering path before you enroll.
Does a pricier college pay off?
How college cost lines up with graduation and earnings, an association, not a ranking.
Does picking a major narrow your college list?
Across the federal completions data, most fields barely change which colleges are on the table. Which ones genuinely do.
Certificate or degree?
What credential a field is usually awarded as is mostly set by the field itself, not by the state, with a short list of exceptions.
How this guide is sourced
This is an editorial guide from the CampusPin Editorial Team. Career and wage figures are from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, occupation-wide medians across all experience levels, not starting wages, and link to each career page. Program availability comes from CampusPin's free institution search; CampusPin does not assert that any specific school offers this exact major until that program data is verified. Last reviewed 2026-06-15. How CampusPin sources data · Report a correction.