Electrical Engineeringat Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville
Graduates earn $79,617/yr in their first year — about 3.0% above the national Electrical Engineering average. Base-case 10-year earnings $756K; scenarios range from $650K to $787K depending on AI disruption.
What this degree looks like at Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville
Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville's Electrical Engineering program produces graduates earning $79,617/yr — within striking distance of the $77,516 national average for this field.
With a 14.6x return on in-state tuition over ten years, the financial case for this program is compelling by virtually any measure.
The 17% difference between AI scenarios reflects partial automation exposure. Some Electrical Engineering career paths face displacement, but others in the field are more insulated.
Loan repayment is a non-issue here — $24,000 in median debt clears quickly against $79,617 in annual earnings.
A #157 ranking among 262 Electrical Engineering programs places Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville in the lower half. Price, proximity, and personal fit become the stronger arguments.
The limited growth from $79,617 to $85,849 over five years suggests earnings in this field plateau relatively early in one's career.
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 Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville'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 Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville stacks up against other schools offering this major.
Other top programs at Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville
Other highest-scoring programs offered at Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville, 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 Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville
What does a 71/100 DegreeOutlook Score mean for Electrical Engineering at Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville?
At 71/100, 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 Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville?
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.