Electrical Engineeringat North Carolina State University at Raleigh
Graduates earn $77,687/yr in their first year — right at the national average. Base-case 10-year earnings $864K; scenarios range from $723K to $907K depending on AI disruption.
What this degree looks like at NC State
Graduates earn $77,687/yr, roughly in line with the $77,516 national median for Electrical Engineering. The value proposition here depends on cost, not earnings.
The 24.3x 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 20% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.
With first-year pay of $77,687 far exceeding the $23,500 median debt, the payback timeline is measured in months, not years.
Ranked #57 out of 262 programs, North Carolina State University at Raleigh's Electrical Engineering program lands in the top 5% — a strong signal of graduate success.
The five-year earnings trajectory from $77,687 to $97,818 shows 26% growth, reflecting steady but unremarkable salary progression.
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 NC State'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 NC State stacks up against other schools offering this major.
Other top programs at NC State
Other highest-scoring programs offered at NC State, 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 NC State
How does North Carolina State University at Raleigh's Electrical Engineering program score?
A score of 75/100 indicates strong financial outcomes. North Carolina State University at Raleigh's Electrical Engineering graduates fare well on earnings, job market size, and return on investment.
How vulnerable is Electrical Engineering to AI automation?
AI won't 'replace' Electrical Engineering 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.
Why does North Carolina State University at Raleigh rank so high for Electrical Engineering?
The #57 ranking out of 262 programs is driven by strong financial outcomes — graduates earn well, debt is manageable relative to income, and the job market supports the field.