Electrical Engineeringat University of California-San Diego
Graduates earn $80,687/yr in their first year — about 4.0% above the national Electrical Engineering average. Base-case 10-year earnings $1,074K; scenarios range from $867K to $1,141K depending on AI disruption.
What this degree looks like at UC San Diego
First-year earnings of $80,687 track close to the $77,516 national median for Electrical Engineering programs. This is a middle-of-the-road outcome on salary alone.
With a 17.6x return on in-state tuition over ten years, the financial case for this program is compelling by virtually any measure.
The 24% difference between AI scenarios reflects partial automation exposure. Some Electrical Engineering career paths face displacement, but others in the field are more insulated.
At $20,000 in median debt against $80,687 in first-year earnings, graduates can expect to clear their loan balance in under six months of full earnings.
University of California-San Diego ranks #39 among 262 Electrical Engineering programs, placing it in the top 5% nationally by our financial outcomes measure.
A 49% earnings increase from $80,687 to $120,436 over five years is solid — not a moonshot, but evidence of normal career advancement.
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 UC San Diego'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 UC San Diego stacks up against other schools offering this major.
Other top programs at UC San Diego
Other highest-scoring programs offered at UC San Diego, 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 UC San Diego
What does a 75/100 DegreeOutlook Score mean for Electrical Engineering at University of California-San Diego?
At 75/100, this is a high-performing program. The DegreeOutlook Score combines earnings, AI resilience, and ROI — and this program delivers on all three.
Should I worry about AI if I study Electrical Engineering at University of California-San Diego?
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.
Is University of California-San Diego one of the best schools for Electrical Engineering?
Among 262 Electrical Engineering programs, University of California-San Diego's #39 position reflects consistently above-average results across earnings, ROI, and employment probability.