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Engineering · Electrical Engineering Rank #9 of 262

Electrical Engineeringat University of South Alabama

Graduates earn $81,499/yr in their first year — about 5.0% above the national Electrical Engineering average. Base-case 10-year earnings $933K; scenarios range from $771K to $984K depending on AI disruption.

Mobile, AL Public Bachelor's Degree
DegreeOutlook Score
76 STRONG
78
Optimistic
72
Pessimistic
Earnings
$81,499
1-year post-graduation
ROI
26.5x
Earnings : in-state tuition
10-yr Base
$933K
Cumulative base-case earnings
AI Risk
Very High
58% task exposure
Program Analysis

What this degree looks like at University of South Alabama

Your strong outcomes in Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering from the University of South Alabama reflect the robust industrial demand in the Gulf Coast region. Mobile's significant aerospace, defense, and advanced manufacturing sectors – with major players like Airbus, Austal USA, and various government contractors – create a consistent pipeline for ECE graduates. You’ll find opportunities designing embedded systems, developing communications infrastructure, and contributing to automation in these industries.

While the "Very High" AI risk for this field might seem daunting, it underscores a critical evolution, not obsolescence. Your skills will increasingly shift towards developing, integrating, and managing AI-powered systems, rather than performing tasks AI can automate. To thrive, focus on internships with local companies to gain practical experience and consider specializing in areas like robotics, machine learning applications, or smart systems within your ECE curriculum. This proactive approach will prepare you for the future of the field.

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
$771K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score72/100
Earnings Multiple19.9x
Base Case
Moderate Integration
$933K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score76/100
Earnings Multiple24.1x
Optimistic
AI Augmentation
$984K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score78/100
Earnings Multiple25.4x
Earnings Trajectory

10 year projection

Year-by-year earnings under each scenario. Base case reflects BLS growth patterns applied to University of South Alabama'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 South Alabama 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 South Alabama

Other top programs at University of South Alabama

Other highest-scoring programs offered at University of South Alabama, 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 South Alabama

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Electrical Engineering at University of South Alabama?

This program scores 76/100 — 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 $770,600 in decade earnings vs $983,904 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.

What makes University of South Alabama's Electrical Engineering program stand out?

Ranked #9 of 262 programs nationally, University of South Alabama lands in the top 5%. The ranking reflects a combination of graduate earnings, return on investment, and job market alignment.