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Electrical at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute

Troy, NY · Private nonprofit · Bachelor's Degree · Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering
64 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case)
65
Optimistic
64
Base Case
60
Pessimistic
Earnings $83,412/yr (8% vs median)
AI Risk Very High (56% exposed)
Job Market Large (54,500 openings/yr)
ROI 4.1x earnings multiple
Ranked #195 of 262 Electrical programs

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 $1,082K $1,021K $831K
Earnings Multiple 4.4x 4.1x 3.4x
Probability of Field Employment 78% 70% 48%
DegreeOutlook Score 65 64 60

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition (Sticker)
$247,536
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$132,556
46% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$23,250
3.3 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$116,079
39% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute's Electrical graduates start at $83,412/yr — above the $77,516 national average, though not by a wide margin.

At 4.1x tuition cost in decade earnings, the ROI is moderate. This program pays for itself, but it's not a financial slam-dunk.

The 23% difference between AI scenarios reflects partial automation exposure. Some Electrical career paths face displacement, but others in the field are more insulated.

Loan repayment is a non-issue here — $23,250 in median debt clears quickly against $83,412 in annual earnings.

A #195 ranking among 262 Electrical programs places Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in the lower half. Price, proximity, and personal fit become the stronger arguments.

A 39% earnings increase from $83,412 to $116,079 over five years is solid — not a moonshot, but evidence of normal career advancement.

About Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute

Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute's 58% acceptance rate reflects moderate selectivity, serving 5,909 students in Troy, NY. After financial aid, the average student pays $132,556 over four years — 46% below sticker price.

See all programs and financial aid at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute →

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

Compare this program → View all 262 schools offering Electrical →

Electrical at Other Schools

Carnegie Mellon University ($139,337) University of California-Berkeley ($137,295) Massachusetts Institute of Technology ($117,345) Cornell University ($100,516) The University of Texas at Austin ($96,997) Rice University ($96,751) National University ($93,417) Northeastern University ($92,222)

Other Majors at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute

Computer Science ($104,943) Computer Engineering Technologies/Technicians ($94,722) Computer and Information Sciences, General ($85,172) Mathematics ($80,196) Chemical Engineering ($78,263) Nuclear Engineering ($77,014) Industrial Engineering ($74,787) Biomedical/Medical Engineering ($74,427)

Explore the Trade Alternative

Compare Electrical trade programs on TradeSchoolWorth →

Not every career requires a four-year degree. Trade programs in related fields can offer competitive salaries with a fraction of the student loan burden.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does a 64/100 DegreeOutlook Score mean for Electrical at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute?
At 64/100, the score looks reasonable — but Electrical 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 at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute?
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.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →