Electrical Engineeringat University of South Carolina-Columbia
Graduates earn $77,161/yr in their first year — right at the national average. Base-case 10-year earnings $874K; scenarios range from $730K to $918K depending on AI disruption.
What this degree looks like at University of South Carolina
First-year earnings of $77,161 track close to the $77,516 national median for Electrical Engineering programs. This is a middle-of-the-road outcome on salary alone.
The 17.2x earnings multiple means ten-year projected earnings exceed tuition cost by an order of magnitude. By pure financial math, this is a standout.
AI risk is moderate — 56% task exposure — and the 20% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.
At $27,000 in median debt against $77,161 in first-year earnings, graduates can expect to clear their loan balance in under six months of full earnings.
Ranked #96 out of 262 programs, University of South Carolina-Columbia's Electrical Engineering offering sits in the upper half but doesn't break into the top tier.
The five-year earnings trajectory from $77,161 to $98,758 shows 28% growth, reflecting steady but unremarkable salary progression.
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 University of South Carolina'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 University of South Carolina stacks up against other schools offering this major.
Other top programs at University of South Carolina
Other highest-scoring programs offered at University of South Carolina, 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 University of South Carolina
How does University of South Carolina-Columbia's Electrical Engineering program score?
A score of 74/100 indicates strong financial outcomes. University of South Carolina-Columbia's Electrical Engineering graduates fare well on earnings, job market size, and return on investment.
How vulnerable is Electrical Engineering to AI automation?
AI won't 'replace' Electrical Engineering careers outright, but it is likely to reduce the number of job openings. We model 56% task exposure, which compresses field employment probability in our scenarios.