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Electrical Engineering at The University of Tennessee-Chattanooga

Chattanooga, TN · Public · Bachelor's Degree · Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering
74 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
75
Optimistic
74
Base Case
70
Pessimistic
Earnings $75,273/yr (-3% vs median)
AI Risk Very High (56% exposed)
Job Market Large (54,500 openings/yr)
ROI 20.6x earnings multiple (11.5x out-of-state)
Ranked #97 of 262 Electrical programs Top 50%

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 $874K $834K $703K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 21.5x 20.6x 17.3x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 12.0x 11.5x 9.7x
Probability of Field Employment 78% 70% 48%
DegreeOutlook Score 75 74 70

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$40,576
Out-of-state: $72,832 (11.5x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$51,268
-26% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$23,000
3.7 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$93,987
25% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

Graduates earn $75,273/yr, roughly in line with the $77,516 national median for Electrical Engineering. The value proposition here depends on cost, not earnings.

Every dollar of in-state tuition returns an estimated 20.6x 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 20% gap from the optimistic case.

With first-year pay of $75,273 far exceeding the $23,000 median debt, the payback timeline is measured in months, not years.

At #97 of 262 Electrical Engineering programs, The University of Tennessee-Chattanooga scores above the median — competitive but not a standout.

Earnings grow from $75,273 to $93,987 over five years — a 25% increase that's moderate and in line with typical career progression.

About The University of Tennessee-Chattanooga

The University of Tennessee-Chattanooga accepts 77% of applicants — an open-access institution by design, serving 9,878 students in Chattanooga, TN.

See all programs and financial aid at The University of Tennessee-Chattanooga →

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 Engineering →

Electrical Engineering 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 The University of Tennessee-Chattanooga

Mechanical Engineering ($66,517) Civil Engineering ($65,419) Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing ($65,273) Engineering-Related Fields ($60,284) Computer Science ($59,567) Chemical Engineering ($57,952) Business Administration, Management and Operations ($45,308) Design and Applied Arts ($41,968)

Consider the Trade Route?

Compare Electrical Engineering trade programs on TradeSchoolWorth →

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 The University of Tennessee-Chattanooga?
This program scores 74/100 — 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 $703,190 in decade earnings vs $873,984 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →