Home › Iowa State University › Electrical Engineering

Electrical Engineering at Iowa State University

Ames, IA · Public · Bachelor's Degree · Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering

DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition

Optimistic

Base Case

Pessimistic

Earnings $84,913/yr (10% vs median)

AI Risk Very High (56% exposed)

Job Market Large (54,500 openings/yr)

ROI 22.3x earnings multiple (8.4x out-of-state)

Ranked #6 of 262 Electrical programs Top 5%

How AI Changes the Outlook

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

	Optimistic No Disruption	Base Case Gradual AI	Pessimistic Aggressive AI
10-Year Earnings	$986K	$934K	$772K
Earnings Multiple (In-State)	23.5x	22.3x	18.4x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State)	8.9x	8.4x	7.0x
Probability of Field Employment	78%	70%	48%
DegreeOutlook Score	78	77	73

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)

$41,988

Out-of-state: $110,732 (8.4x ROI)

4-Year Net Price (After Aid)

$72,660

-73% less than sticker · See by income

Median Debt at Graduation

$25,020

3.5 months of Year 1 earnings

Reported Earnings (5 Year)

$107,338

26% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

First-year earnings of $84,913 at Iowa State University come in 10% above the national median of $77,516 for Electrical Engineering programs.

Every dollar of in-state tuition returns an estimated 22.3x in decade earnings — an exceptional ratio that places this among the highest-ROI Electrical Engineering programs nationally.

Some AI exposure exists in Electrical Engineering's typical career paths, with 56% of job tasks potentially affected. The pessimistic scenario still projects solid returns, with a 22% gap from the optimistic case.

With first-year pay of $84,913 far exceeding the $25,020 median debt, the payback timeline is measured in months, not years.

At #6 of 262 nationally, this is a top-5% Electrical Engineering program. Financial outcomes consistently outperform the vast majority of peers.

Earnings grow from $84,913 to $107,338 over five years — a 26% increase that's moderate and in line with typical career progression.

About Iowa State University

Iowa State University accepts 89% of applicants — an open-access institution by design, one of the larger campuses at 25,033 students in Ames, IA.

See all programs and financial aid at Iowa State 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 Engineering at Other Schools

Other Majors at Iowa State 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

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Electrical Engineering at Iowa State University?

This program scores 77/100 — placing it among the stronger programs for Electrical Engineering nationally. The score reflects above-average earnings, manageable AI risk, and solid financial return.

Will AI replace Electrical Engineering careers?

With 56% of typical job tasks exposed to AI, this is one of the higher-risk fields. Our pessimistic scenario projects $771,687 in decade earnings vs $985,679 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.

What makes Iowa State University's Electrical Engineering program stand out?

Ranked #6 of 262 programs nationally, Iowa State University lands in the top 5%. The ranking reflects a combination of graduate earnings, return on investment, and job market alignment.

Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →