Electrical at Auburn University

Auburn, AL · Public · Bachelor's Degree · Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering
73 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
75
Optimistic
73
Base Case
69
Pessimistic
Earnings $78,680/yr (2% vs median)
AI Risk Very High (56% exposed)
Job Market Large (54,500 openings/yr)
ROI 16.6x earnings multiple (6.1x out-of-state)
Ranked #106 of 262 Electrical programs Top 50%

How AI Changes the Outlook

Three scenarios based on how aggressively AI disrupts the career paths available to Electrical graduates.

Optimistic
No Disruption
Base Case
Gradual AI
Pessimistic
Aggressive AI
10-Year Earnings $870K $831K $701K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 17.4x 16.6x 14.0x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 6.4x 6.1x 5.2x
Probability of Field Employment 78% 70% 48%
DegreeOutlook Score 75 73 69

10-Year Earnings Projection

*Year 1 uses actual reported earnings. Scenarios diverge as AI impact compounds over time.

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$50,144
Out-of-state: $135,776 (6.1x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$95,588
-91% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$22,500
3.4 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$94,383
20% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

Graduates earn $78,680/yr, roughly in line with the $77,516 national median for Electrical. The value proposition here depends on cost, not earnings.

The 16.6x earnings multiple means ten-year projected earnings exceed tuition cost by an order of magnitude. By pure financial math, this is a standout.

AI risk is moderate — 56% task exposure — and the 19% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

With first-year pay of $78,680 far exceeding the $22,500 median debt, the payback timeline is measured in months, not years.

Ranked #106 out of 262 programs, Auburn University's Electrical offering sits in the upper half but doesn't break into the top tier.

Earnings growth is modest: $78,680 to $94,383 over five years (20% gain). This field may have a lower salary ceiling than high-growth professions.

About Auburn University

A 50% admission rate makes Auburn University accessible to a wide range of qualified students, serving a student body of 25,732 in Auburn, AL.

See all programs and financial aid at Auburn University →

Top Career Paths

Architectural and engineering managers $167,740/yr
Computer hardware engineers $155,020/yr
Aerospace engineers $134,830/yr
View all 7 career paths with salary ranges and AI risk →

Compare & Explore

Electrical at Other Schools

Other Majors at Auburn University

Consider the Trade Route?

Trade programs often mean less time in school, lower student debt, and hands-on career paths that tend to be more resilient to AI disruption.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does Auburn University's Electrical program score?
A score of 73/100 indicates strong financial outcomes. Auburn University's Electrical graduates fare well on earnings, job market size, and return on investment.
How vulnerable is Electrical to AI automation?
AI won't 'replace' Electrical careers outright, but it is likely to reduce the number of job openings. We model 56% task exposure, which compresses field employment probability in our scenarios.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →