Electrical Engineeringat University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Graduates earn $86,483/yr in their first year — about 12.0% above the national Electrical Engineering average. Base-case 10-year earnings $893K; scenarios range from $743K to $939K depending on AI disruption.
What this degree looks like at UIUC
First-year earnings of $86,483 at University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign come in 12% above the national median of $77,516 for Electrical Engineering programs.
Every dollar of in-state tuition returns an estimated 13.9x 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 21% gap from the optimistic case.
With first-year pay of $86,483 far exceeding the $21,500 median debt, the payback timeline is measured in months, not years.
At #113 of 262 Electrical Engineering programs, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign scores above the median — competitive but not a standout.
Five-year earnings of $103,028 are relatively flat compared to the $86,483 starting salary — typical of fields with stable but capped salary bands.
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 UIUC'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 UIUC stacks up against other schools offering this major.
Other top programs at UIUC
Other highest-scoring programs offered at UIUC, 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 UIUC
What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Electrical Engineering at University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign?
This program scores 73/100 — 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 $743,010 in decade earnings vs $938,921 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.