Home Schools University of Nevada-Reno Electrical Engineering
Engineering · Electrical Engineering Rank #146 of 262

Electrical Engineeringat University of Nevada-Reno

Graduates earn $60,223/yr in their first year — about 22.0% below the national Electrical Engineering average. Base-case 10-year earnings $911K; scenarios range from $756K to $960K depending on AI disruption.

Reno, NV Public Bachelor's Degree
DegreeOutlook Score
72 STRONG
73
Optimistic
69
Pessimistic
Earnings
$60,223
1-year post-graduation
ROI
25.9x
Earnings : in-state tuition
10-yr Base
$911K
Cumulative base-case earnings
AI Risk
Very High
58% task exposure
Program Analysis

What this degree looks like at University of Nevada-Reno

At $60,223 per year, Electrical Engineering graduates from University of Nevada-Reno earn below the $77,516 national average. Lower costs or geographic factors may offset the earnings gap.

With a 25.3x return on in-state tuition over ten years, the financial case for this program is compelling by virtually any measure.

The 21% difference between AI scenarios reflects partial automation exposure. Some Electrical Engineering career paths face displacement, but others in the field are more insulated.

The median debt load of $17,250 represents less than half a year of starting salary — among the lightest debt-to-income ratios we track.

A #146 ranking among 262 Electrical Engineering programs places University of Nevada-Reno in the lower half. Price, proximity, and personal fit become the stronger arguments.

The $60,223-to-$96,796 earnings arc over five years reflects a 61% gain — well above average career growth for recent graduates.

AI Outlook Integration

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.

Pessimistic
Mass Automation
$756K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score69/100
Earnings Multiple21.0x
Base Case
Moderate Integration
$911K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score72/100
Earnings Multiple25.3x
Optimistic
AI Augmentation
$960K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score73/100
Earnings Multiple26.7x
Earnings Trajectory

10 year projection

Year-by-year earnings under each scenario. Base case reflects BLS growth patterns applied to University of Nevada-Reno's starting earnings; optimistic and pessimistic adjust for AI's effect on each career path this major feeds into.

Career Paths

Where Electrical Engineering graduates typically work

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.

1
Architectural and engineering managers
+3.8% 10-yr growth · 14,500 openings/yr
$167,740/yr
Moderate
2
Computer hardware engineers
+7.3% 10-yr growth · 4,700 openings/yr
$155,020/yr
Very High
3
Aerospace engineers
+6.1% 10-yr growth · 4,500 openings/yr
$134,830/yr
High
4
Electronics engineers, except computer
+6.2% 10-yr growth · 5,700 openings/yr
$127,590/yr
High
5
Engineers, all other
+2.1% 10-yr growth · 9,300 openings/yr
$117,750/yr
Moderate
6
Electrical engineers
+7.2% 10-yr growth · 11,700 openings/yr
$111,910/yr
High
Source: BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics, May 2024. AI exposure from OpenAI GPTs-are-GPTs and Felten AIOE research.
Compare & Explore

Peer schools offering Electrical Engineering

How University of Nevada-Reno stacks up against other schools offering this major.

Highest earnings
Carnegie Mellon University
PA · Private nonprofit
67
DW Score
$139K
1-yr earn
6.2x
ROI
Top score
University of California-Berkeley
CA · Public
79
DW Score
$137K
1-yr earn
39.5x
ROI
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
MA · Private nonprofit
68
DW Score
$117K
1-yr earn
6.9x
ROI
Cornell University
NY · Private nonprofit
65
DW Score
$101K
1-yr earn
4.0x
ROI
The University of Texas at Austin
TX · Public
77
DW Score
$97K
1-yr earn
25.4x
ROI
Also at University of Nevada-Reno

Other top programs at University of Nevada-Reno

Other highest-scoring programs offered at University of Nevada-Reno, 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 →
FAQ

Frequently asked about Electrical Engineering at University of Nevada-Reno

What does a 72/100 DegreeOutlook Score mean for Electrical Engineering at University of Nevada-Reno?

At 72/100, 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 University of Nevada-Reno?

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 Nevada-Reno a good choice for Electrical Engineering despite lower starting pay?

Starting salary is one data point. If University of Nevada-Reno's tuition is significantly below average, the ROI calculation can still work — lower earnings paired with lower costs can be a reasonable trade.