Electrical Engineeringat Carnegie Mellon University
Graduates earn $139,337/yr in their first year — about 80.0% above the national Electrical Engineering average. Base-case 10-year earnings $1,511K; scenarios range from $1,166K to $1,629K depending on AI disruption.
What this degree looks like at Carnegie Mellon University
Your investment in Carnegie Mellon's Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering program positions you at the forefront of innovation. The university's global reputation, particularly in computing and engineering, means employers worldwide actively seek out its graduates. You'll gain a rigorous foundation in everything from circuit design to machine learning, preparing you for complex roles in areas like AI hardware, autonomous systems, and advanced communications.
Graduates frequently land coveted positions at leading tech firms, defense contractors, and specialized R&D companies, often in high-impact design or managerial capacities. While the field faces significant AI disruption, your CMU education equips you to *develop* those very technologies, not just be replaced by them. Focus on interdisciplinary learning, especially in AI and software, to ensure your skills remain invaluable as the industry evolves.
Three scenarios, ten years out
Each scenario is a different assumption about how AI reshapes the career paths this major feeds into. Earnings projections stack the full 10-year cumulative trajectory; scores use the same 0–100 metric as the hero, recomputed under that scenario's assumptions.
10 year projection
Year-by-year earnings under each scenario. Base case reflects BLS growth patterns applied to Carnegie Mellon University's starting earnings; optimistic and pessimistic adjust for AI's effect on each career path this major feeds into.
Common career destinations for this program's graduates, weighted by the school's specific occupation mix. Salary is BLS national median; AI risk is per-role task-exposure research.
Peer schools offering Electrical Engineering
How Carnegie Mellon University stacks up against other schools offering this major.
Other top programs at Carnegie Mellon University
Other highest-scoring programs offered at Carnegie Mellon University, ranked by DegreeOutlook Score.
Consider the trade route
Not sure a 4-year degree is the right path? Trade programs in Electrical Engineering offer shorter timelines, lower debt, and strong AI resilience for hands-on careers.
Compare Electrical Engineering trade programs on TradeSchoolOutlook →Frequently asked about Electrical Engineering at Carnegie Mellon University
What does a 67/100 DegreeOutlook Score mean for Electrical Engineering at Carnegie Mellon University?
At 67/100, the score looks reasonable — but Electrical Engineering is a high-scoring field overall. Compared to peers, this program's earnings and ROI fall below the median.
Should I worry about AI if I study Electrical Engineering at Carnegie Mellon University?
The 56% AI task exposure score is above average. Our model shows this affecting job availability more than salaries — graduates may face stiffer competition for fewer positions.
What do students actually pay for Electrical Engineering at Carnegie Mellon University?
The 50% gap between sticker price and net cost means most students pay far less than $255,316. At a net cost of $126,684, the earnings multiple improves substantially.