Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering: is this bachelor's degree worth it?
National picture across 268 reporting college programs.
MODELED SCENARIO · Strong payoff
+$282,220 over 10 years
National scenario across reporting bachelor's degree programs, using median year-4 earnings, their institutions’ average net prices and a typical 4-year duration.
Observed earnings clearly outpace the comparison earnings and estimated education cost in this scenario.
4.7 yrsModeled economic break-even
+111%Modeled 10-year ROI
$98,640Observed earnings · year 4
Observed national outcomes
$98,640Median reported earnings · year 4
$101,124Average reported earnings · year 5
$25,000Median federal debt
93thYear-4 earnings percentile at this credential
268Reporting programs
261With year-4 earnings
The same field can produce a different equation.
Keep the federal field fixed and compare observed outcomes at every reportable credential level. These are separate graduate cohorts—not a promise that more schooling causes the difference.
OPEN PROFILE
Undergraduate Certificate or Diploma
- Year-4 earnings
- $55,333
- Federal debt
- $6,333
- Reporting programs
- 2
Associate's Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $56,769
- Federal debt
- $20,000
- Reporting programs
- 2
Bachelor's Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $98,640
- Federal debt
- $25,000
- Reporting programs
- 268
Master's Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $134,287
- Federal debt
- Not available
- Reporting programs
- 62
Doctoral Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $222,994
- Federal debt
- Not available
- Reporting programs
- 2
Graduate/Professional Certificate
- Year-4 earnings
- $138,018
- Federal debt
- Not available
- Reporting programs
- 1
Where the middle half of programs lands
Year‑4 earnings differ by college. This band shows the 25th percentile, national median and 75th percentile among reporting programs.
Median
25th percentile$94,673National median$98,64075th percentile$104,596
261 programs report year‑4 earnings.See the spread, not just the national number.
1Carnegie Mellon University$250,1682University of California, Berkeley$200,5433Massachusetts Institute of Technology$161,1184Cornell University$147,2415The University of Texas at Austin$146,0036Columbia University in the City of New York$143,3327The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art$139,0688Rice University$136,6569University of Southern California$131,53210University of California, Los Angeles$126,209Observed year-4 earnings · top displayed records are not a universal ranking
Related occupations
Official CIP–SOC links add career context without claiming that every graduate enters the same job.
Architectural and Engineering ManagersSOC 11-9041 · 4 crosswalk linksEngineering Teachers, PostsecondarySOC 25-1032 · 4 crosswalk linksElectronics Engineers, Except ComputerSOC 17-2072 · 3 crosswalk linksElectrical EngineersSOC 17-2071 · 2 crosswalk linksEngineers, All OtherSOC 17-2199 · 2 crosswalk linksAerospace EngineersSOC 17-2011 · 1 crosswalk linksComputer Hardware EngineersSOC 17-2061 · 1 crosswalk links
Same degree, different outcomes
Compare reported outcomes using the same federal field and credential. ROI uses each institution’s average net price as a scenario—not an individual aid offer.
| # | College | Location | Earnings, year 4 | Federal debt | 10-year ROI | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Carnegie Mellon UniversityBachelor's Degree | Pittsburgh, PA | $250,168 | $22,250 | +567% | Strong payoff |
| 2 | University of California, BerkeleyBachelor's Degree | Berkeley, CA | $200,543 | $14,437 | +565% | Strong payoff |
| 3 | Massachusetts Institute of TechnologyBachelor's Degree | Cambridge, MA | $161,118 | $11,935 | +346% | Strong payoff |
| 4 | Cornell UniversityBachelor's Degree | Ithaca, NY | $147,241 | $14,750 | +247% | Strong payoff |
| 5 | The University of Texas at AustinBachelor's Degree | Austin, TX | $146,003 | $20,500 | +289% | Strong payoff |
| 6 | Columbia University in the City of New YorkBachelor's Degree | New York, NY | $143,332 | $12,000 | +269% | Strong payoff |
| 7 | The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and ArtBachelor's Degree | New York, NY | $139,068 | Not available | +304% | Strong payoff |
| 8 | Rice UniversityBachelor's Degree | Houston, TX | $136,656 | Not available | +293% | Strong payoff |
| 9 | University of Southern CaliforniaBachelor's Degree | Los Angeles, CA | $131,532 | $20,500 | +178% | Strong payoff |
| 10 | University of California, Los AngelesBachelor's Degree | Los Angeles, CA | $126,209 | $17,877 | +253% | Strong payoff |
| 11 | California Polytechnic State University-San Luis ObispoBachelor's Degree | San Luis Obispo, CA | $125,240 | $24,449 | +225% | Strong payoff |
| 12 | University of California, Santa CruzBachelor's Degree | Santa Cruz, CA | $118,290 | $17,048 | +191% | Strong payoff |
| 13 | University of California, San DiegoBachelor's Degree | La Jolla, CA | $118,150 | $20,342 | +218% | Strong payoff |
| 14 | Northeastern UniversityBachelor's Degree | Boston, MA | $118,150 | $24,835 | +141% | Strong payoff |
| 15 | New Mexico Institute of Mining and TechnologyBachelor's Degree | Socorro, NM | $117,813 | $15,981 | +232% | Strong payoff |
| 16 | University of Michigan-Ann ArborBachelor's Degree | Ann Arbor, MI | $117,610 | $18,667 | +212% | Strong payoff |
| 17 | Villanova UniversityBachelor's Degree | Villanova, PA | $117,229 | $27,000 | +103% | Strong payoff |
| 18 | University of California, Santa BarbaraBachelor's Degree | Santa Barbara, CA | $117,215 | $15,571 | +195% | Strong payoff |
| 19 | University of Washington-Seattle CampusBachelor's Degree | Seattle, WA | $116,010 | $15,000 | +200% | Strong payoff |
| 20 | University of Washington-Bothell CampusBachelor's Degree | Bothell, WA | $116,010 | $15,000 | +210% | Strong payoff |
| 21 | University of Washington-Tacoma CampusBachelor's Degree | Tacoma, WA | $116,010 | $15,000 | +222% | Strong payoff |
| 22 | Prairie View A&M UniversityBachelor's Degree | Prairie View, TX | $115,939 | $28,081 | +203% | Strong payoff |
| 23 | University of Colorado Colorado SpringsBachelor's Degree | Colorado Springs, CO | $113,627 | $25,324 | +182% | Strong payoff |
| 24 | University of Notre DameBachelor's Degree | Notre Dame, IN | $112,828 | $19,000 | +136% | Strong payoff |
| 25 | Sonoma State UniversityBachelor's Degree | Rohnert Park, CA | $112,757 | Not available | +193% | Strong payoff |
| 26 | San Francisco State UniversityBachelor's Degree | San Francisco, CA | $112,454 | $16,125 | +194% | Strong payoff |
| 27 | Stevens Institute of TechnologyBachelor's Degree | Hoboken, NJ | $112,047 | $26,490 | +94% | Positive payoff |
| 28 | University of Illinois Urbana-ChampaignBachelor's Degree | Champaign, IL | $111,783 | $21,600 | +181% | Strong payoff |
| 29 | Georgia Institute of Technology-Main CampusBachelor's Degree | Atlanta, GA | $111,655 | $27,000 | +192% | Strong payoff |
| 30 | Seattle UniversityBachelor's Degree | Seattle, WA | $111,410 | $25,000 | +108% | Strong payoff |
| 31 | University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical CampusBachelor's Degree | Denver, CO | $110,754 | $34,500 | +189% | Strong payoff |
| 32 | University of San DiegoBachelor's Degree | San Diego, CA | $110,314 | $29,276 | +117% | Strong payoff |
| 33 | Kettering UniversityBachelor's Degree | Flint, MI | $109,977 | $30,080 | +104% | Strong payoff |
| 34 | Worcester Polytechnic InstituteBachelor's Degree | Worcester, MA | $109,386 | $26,977 | +83% | Positive payoff |
| 35 | Lehigh UniversityBachelor's Degree | Bethlehem, PA | $108,503 | $22,754 | +94% | Positive payoff |
| 36 | Rutgers University-New BrunswickBachelor's Degree | New Brunswick, NJ | $108,296 | $23,679 | +128% | Strong payoff |
| 37 | California State University, FresnoBachelor's Degree | Fresno, CA | $108,038 | $25,875 | +203% | Strong payoff |
| 38 | University of Maryland-College ParkBachelor's Degree | College Park, MD | $107,834 | $23,804 | +159% | Strong payoff |
| 39 | SUNY Maritime CollegeBachelor's Degree | Throggs Neck, NY | $107,749 | $25,500 | +133% | Strong payoff |
| 40 | University of FloridaBachelor's Degree | Gainesville, FL | $107,543 | $21,544 | +203% | Strong payoff |
| 41 | Virginia Commonwealth UniversityBachelor's Degree | Richmond, VA | $107,487 | $24,000 | +128% | Strong payoff |
| 42 | University of HoustonBachelor's Degree | Houston, TX | $107,399 | $25,692 | +163% | Strong payoff |
| 43 | New York UniversityBachelor's Degree | New York, NY | $107,348 | $24,000 | +90% | Positive payoff |
| 44 | Western Washington UniversityBachelor's Degree | Bellingham, WA | $107,131 | $25,500 | +135% | Strong payoff |
| 45 | Texas Tech UniversityBachelor's Degree | Lubbock, TX | $107,110 | $26,000 | +142% | Strong payoff |
| 46 | University of California, IrvineBachelor's Degree | Irvine, CA | $106,871 | $19,000 | +161% | Strong payoff |
| 47 | Marquette UniversityBachelor's Degree | Milwaukee, WI | $106,686 | $26,750 | +102% | Strong payoff |
| 48 | San Diego State UniversityBachelor's Degree | San Diego, CA | $106,416 | $18,165 | +154% | Strong payoff |
| 49 | University of North DakotaBachelor's Degree | Grand Forks, ND | $106,162 | $27,000 | +141% | Strong payoff |
| 50 | Gonzaga UniversityBachelor's Degree | Spokane, WA | $106,155 | Not available | +91% | Positive payoff |
| 51 | University of Rhode IslandBachelor's Degree | Kingston, RI | $106,153 | $25,000 | +130% | Strong payoff |
| 52 | Mississippi State UniversityBachelor's Degree | Mississippi State, MS | $106,039 | $26,750 | +144% | Strong payoff |
| 53 | Colorado School of MinesBachelor's Degree | Golden, CO | $106,012 | $22,000 | +107% | Strong payoff |
| 54 | University of PortlandBachelor's Degree | Portland, OR | $105,859 | $20,875 | +108% | Strong payoff |
| 55 | University of ArizonaBachelor's Degree | Tucson, AZ | $105,839 | $21,000 | +147% | Strong payoff |
| 56 | University of Michigan-DearbornBachelor's Degree | Dearborn, MI | $105,446 | $21,853 | +177% | Strong payoff |
| 57 | Purdue University-Main CampusBachelor's Degree | West Lafayette, IN | $105,396 | $19,000 | +153% | Strong payoff |
| 58 | Oregon State UniversityBachelor's Degree | Corvallis, OR | $105,359 | $24,167 | +134% | Strong payoff |
| 59 | Oregon State University-Cascades CampusBachelor's Degree | Bend, OR | $105,359 | $24,167 | +139% | Strong payoff |
| 60 | University of RochesterBachelor's Degree | Rochester, NY | $105,183 | $18,750 | +103% | Strong payoff |
| 61 | Rochester Institute of TechnologyBachelor's Degree | Rochester, NY | $105,068 | $29,000 | +88% | Positive payoff |
| 62 | University of Missouri-ColumbiaBachelor's Degree | Columbia, MO | $105,034 | $22,499 | +130% | Strong payoff |
| 63 | Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State UniversityBachelor's Degree | Blacksburg, VA | $104,839 | $25,849 | +114% | Strong payoff |
| 64 | Arizona State University Campus ImmersionBachelor's Degree | Tempe, AZ | $104,757 | $25,500 | +149% | Strong payoff |
| 65 | Arizona State University Digital ImmersionBachelor's Degree | Scottsdale, AZ | $104,757 | $25,500 | WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive | Not available |
| 66 | Rensselaer Polytechnic InstituteBachelor's Degree | Troy, NY | $104,596 | $24,625 | +83% | Positive payoff |
| 67 | The University of Texas at DallasBachelor's Degree | Richardson, TX | $104,448 | $25,500 | +135% | Strong payoff |
| 68 | Washington State UniversityBachelor's Degree | Pullman, WA | $104,354 | $21,030 | +147% | Strong payoff |
| 69 | Rowan UniversityBachelor's Degree | Glassboro, NJ | $104,215 | $23,250 | +120% | Strong payoff |
| 70 | University of New Hampshire-Main CampusBachelor's Degree | Durham, NH | $104,067 | $27,000 | +115% | Strong payoff |
| 71 | California State University, NorthridgeBachelor's Degree | Northridge, CA | $104,065 | $17,440 | +184% | Strong payoff |
| 72 | California State Polytechnic University-PomonaBachelor's Degree | Pomona, CA | $103,924 | $18,812 | +161% | Strong payoff |
| 73 | Texas A&M University-College StationBachelor's Degree | College Station, TX | $103,789 | $22,482 | +122% | Strong payoff |
| 74 | California State University, SacramentoBachelor's Degree | Sacramento, CA | $103,512 | $19,430 | +169% | Strong payoff |
| 75 | York College of PennsylvaniaBachelor's Degree | York, PA | $103,354 | Not available | +130% | Strong payoff |
| 76 | California State University, Long BeachBachelor's Degree | Long Beach, CA | $103,075 | $19,750 | +162% | Strong payoff |
| 77 | George Mason UniversityBachelor's Degree | Fairfax, VA | $103,074 | $26,725 | +131% | Strong payoff |
| 78 | Lamar UniversityBachelor's Degree | Beaumont, TX | $103,037 | $18,000 | +167% | Strong payoff |
| 79 | South Dakota State UniversityBachelor's Degree | Brookings, SD | $103,018 | Not available | +124% | Strong payoff |
| 80 | Drexel UniversityBachelor's Degree | Philadelphia, PA | $102,978 | $29,986 | +74% | Positive payoff |
| 81 | University of California, RiversideBachelor's Degree | Riverside, CA | $102,630 | $19,954 | +143% | Strong payoff |
| 82 | University of Pittsburgh-JohnstownBachelor's Degree | Johnstown, PA | $102,572 | $27,000 | +128% | Strong payoff |
| 83 | University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh CampusBachelor's Degree | Pittsburgh, PA | $102,572 | $27,000 | +91% | Positive payoff |
| 84 | University of South FloridaBachelor's Degree | Tampa, FL | $102,275 | $24,000 | +161% | Strong payoff |
| 85 | North Carolina State University at RaleighBachelor's Degree | Raleigh, NC | $102,178 | $24,250 | +129% | Strong payoff |
| 86 | Portland State UniversityBachelor's Degree | Portland, OR | $101,905 | $29,593 | +161% | Strong payoff |
| 87 | Oregon Institute of TechnologyBachelor's Degree | Klamath Falls, OR | $101,534 | $27,000 | +133% | Strong payoff |
| 88 | University of Massachusetts-AmherstBachelor's Degree | Amherst, MA | $101,091 | $27,000 | +108% | Strong payoff |
| 89 | University of Massachusetts-LowellBachelor's Degree | Lowell, MA | $101,054 | $27,000 | +125% | Strong payoff |
| 90 | University of Nebraska-LincolnBachelor's Degree | Lincoln, NE | $100,972 | $19,750 | +123% | Strong payoff |
| 91 | Wayne State UniversityBachelor's Degree | Detroit, MI | $100,944 | $25,350 | +142% | Strong payoff |
| 92 | University of Massachusetts-BostonBachelor's Degree | Boston, MA | $100,902 | $25,874 | +123% | Strong payoff |
| 93 | Manhattan UniversityBachelor's Degree | Riverdale, NY | $100,884 | $22,750 | +93% | Positive payoff |
| 94 | University of Nevada-Las VegasBachelor's Degree | Las Vegas, NV | $100,765 | $19,000 | +152% | Strong payoff |
| 95 | National UniversityBachelor's Degree | San Diego, CA | $100,721 | Not available | +105% | Strong payoff |
| 96 | Boise State UniversityBachelor's Degree | Boise, ID | $100,680 | $35,463 | +109% | Strong payoff |
| 97 | University of Colorado BoulderBachelor's Degree | Boulder, CO | $100,631 | $20,414 | +98% | Positive payoff |
| 98 | University of MaineBachelor's Degree | Orono, ME | $100,593 | $26,445 | +122% | Strong payoff |
| 99 | Michigan State UniversityBachelor's Degree | East Lansing, MI | $100,481 | $22,500 | +114% | Strong payoff |
| 100 | Grand Valley State UniversityBachelor's Degree | Allendale, MI | $100,456 | $29,172 | +126% | Strong payoff |
This page keeps the field and credential level fixed. Federal categories can still combine multiple catalog programs or concentrations. Automated ROI is limited to associate and bachelor’s degrees because institution-wide annual net price is not a reliable proxy for short certificate prices. ROI is an illustrative scenario, not a federal determination.