Electrical Engineering: California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo vs Florida Atlantic University

Side-by-side ROI comparison · Bachelor's Degree
Return on Investment
10-year earnings ÷ tuition · higher is better
In-State
21.1x
$44,300 tuition
39.2x
$19,516 tuition
Out-of-State
7.5x
$123,980 tuition
11.0x
$69,296 tuition
$90,576/yr starting · Public
$76,520/yr starting · Public

Head-to-Head

California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo Florida Atlantic University
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 21.1x 39.2x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 7.5x 11.0x
4-Year Tuition (In-State) $44,300 $19,516
Year 1 Earnings $90,576 $76,520
10-Year Earnings $936K $765K
Median Debt $23,475 $18,425
Debt-to-Earnings Ratio 3.1 months 2.9 months
DegreeWorth Score (In-State) 75/100 75/100
Acceptance Rate 29.8% 73.4%

Both programs have very high AI automation risk (56% task exposure) — the same career paths apply to Electrical Engineering graduates regardless of school. See full AI analysis →

ROI Breakdown

How tuition costs translate into long-term earnings for Electrical Engineering graduates.

California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo Florida Atlantic University
4-Year Tuition (In-State) $44,300 $19,516
4-Year Tuition (Out-of-State) $123,980 $69,296
10-Year Projected Earnings $936K $765K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 21.1x 39.2x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 7.5x 11.0x
5-Year Salary Growth +29% +21%

"Earnings Multiple" = projected 10-year earnings ÷ 4-year tuition. Higher is better. Not a discounted financial ROI.

AI Disruption Scenarios

Both schools share identical AI exposure for Electrical Engineering (same career paths). The score differences below reflect how each school's earnings and ROI hold up under stress.

California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo Florida Atlantic University
Optim. Base Pessim. Optim. Base Pessim.
10-Year Earnings $1,224K $936K $635K $956K $765K $536K
Earnings Multiple (IS) 27.6x 21.1x 14.3x 49.0x 39.2x 27.5x
DegreeWorth Score 77 75 68 77 75 68

For the full AI analysis of Electrical Engineering career paths, see the California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo or Florida Atlantic University program pages.

Earnings Trajectory Comparison

Projected annual earnings for Electrical Engineering graduates. Year 1 uses actual reported data.

Tuition Gap (In-State)
$24,784
Florida Atlantic University saves you this
Year 1 Earnings Gap
$14,056/yr
California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo grads earn more
ROI Range (In-State)
21.1x / 39.2x
Out-of-state: 7.5x / 11.0x

Career Paths

Electrical Engineering graduates from both schools map to the same career paths. Differences in earnings reflect school prestige, location, and employer networks.

Career Path Wage Openings/yr Growth AI Risk
Architectural and engineering managers $167,740 14,500 +3.8% 41%
Computer hardware engineers $155,020 4,700 +7.3% 73%
Aerospace engineers $134,830 4,500 +6.1% 57%
Electronics engineers, except computer $127,590 5,700 +6.2% 67%
Engineers, all other $117,750 9,300 +2.1% 46%
Electrical engineers $111,910 11,700 +7.2% 56%
Engineering teachers, postsecondary $106,120 4,100 +8.1% 50%

Explore Each Program

More Electrical Engineering Comparisons

Electrical Engineering Overview

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is better for Electrical Engineering: California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo or Florida Atlantic University?
California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo scores 75/100 while Florida Atlantic University scores 75/100. Florida Atlantic University has significantly lower tuition, which drives its higher ROI. The best choice depends on whether you prioritize raw earnings or return on investment.
Which school has better ROI for Electrical Engineering?
California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo has an in-state earnings multiple of 21.1x vs Florida Atlantic University's 39.2x. That means Florida Atlantic University grads earn more per dollar spent on tuition. The $24,784 tuition gap is the biggest driver of this difference.
How do California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo and Florida Atlantic University compare on Electrical Engineering earnings?
Year 1 median earnings are $90,576 at California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo vs $76,520 at Florida Atlantic University. Over 10 years, the projected totals are $935,749 vs $765,185 — a difference of $170,564.
How much does Electrical Engineering cost at each school?
Four-year in-state tuition is $44,300 at California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo and $19,516 at Florida Atlantic University. Median debt at graduation is $23,475 vs $18,425. Both programs lead to the same Electrical Engineering career paths — the cost difference is the main factor in ROI.
Data: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (earnings, debt), Bureau of Labor Statistics 2024-2034 (employment projections), OpenAI GPTs-are-GPTs research (AI task exposure), Felten et al. AIOE. Scenarios use a continuous weighting function combining AI exposure and BLS job growth projections. "Earnings Multiple" is total 10-year projected earnings divided by tuition — not a discounted financial ROI. Last updated 2025.