Electrical Engineering at Seattle University

Seattle, WA · Private nonprofit · Bachelor's Degree · Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering
62 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case)
63
Optimistic
62
Base Case
58
Pessimistic
Earnings $79,073/yr (2% vs median)
AI Risk Very High (56% exposed)
Job Market Large (54,500 openings/yr)
ROI 4.1x earnings multiple
Ranked #217 of 262 Electrical programs

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 $948K $901K $749K
Earnings Multiple 4.4x 4.1x 3.4x
Probability of Field Employment 78% 70% 48%
DegreeOutlook Score 63 62 58

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition (Sticker)
$217,140
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$139,208
36% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$20,465
3.1 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$102,211
29% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

Graduates earn $79,073/yr, roughly in line with the $77,516 national median for Electrical Engineering. The value proposition here depends on cost, not earnings.

The 4.1x return on tuition is positive but not overwhelming. Financial outcomes depend on keeping costs close to in-state rates.

AI risk is moderate — 56% task exposure — and the 21% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

With first-year pay of $79,073 far exceeding the $20,465 median debt, the payback timeline is measured in months, not years.

At #217 out of 262 programs, Seattle University's financial outcomes for Electrical Engineering trail the majority of peers. The value case depends on other factors.

The five-year earnings trajectory from $79,073 to $102,211 shows 29% growth, reflecting steady but unremarkable salary progression.

About Seattle University

Seattle University accepts 76% of applicants — an open-access institution by design, with a smaller student body of 4,117 in Seattle, WA. Financial aid reduces the effective four-year cost to $139,208 — 36% less than the list price.

See all programs and financial aid at Seattle 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 Seattle University

Is a Trade Program a Better Fit?

For students who prefer applied learning, trade programs can deliver strong earnings with significantly less debt and shorter time to employment.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does Seattle University's Electrical Engineering program score?
A score of 62/100 reflects decent absolute metrics, but Seattle University trails the majority of Electrical Engineering programs on relative rankings. Context matters more than the raw number.
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.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →