Electrical Engineeringat University of Virginia-Main Campus
Graduates earn $82,135/yr in their first year — about 6.0% above the national Electrical Engineering average. Base-case 10-year earnings $1,008K; scenarios range from $822K to $1,067K depending on AI disruption.
What this degree looks like at University of Virginia
Your engineering degree from UVA carries significant weight, reflecting the university's rigorous academic environment and the strong demand for its graduates. This robust foundation prepares you for roles that benefit from both theoretical depth and practical application, a combination highly valued by employers. The program's reputation in the Mid-Atlantic region, particularly, opens doors to major defense contractors, burgeoning tech firms in Northern Virginia, and innovative R&D roles. You'll find opportunities with companies like Northrop Grumman, Raytheon, and various government agencies, as well as emerging tech startups. While the broader field of Electrical Engineering faces significant AI-driven transformation, your UVA education equips you to lead this evolution, focusing on advanced system design, AI integration, and complex problem-solving rather than routine tasks. To truly capitalize on this, actively seek out internships that align with these high-demand areas and leverage the extensive UVA alumni network for mentorship and early career opportunities.
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 Virginia'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 Virginia stacks up against other schools offering this major.
Other top programs at University of Virginia
Other highest-scoring programs offered at University of Virginia, 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 Virginia
What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Electrical Engineering at University of Virginia-Main Campus?
This program scores 72/100 — a respectable number in isolation, but it ranks in the bottom half of Electrical Engineering programs nationally. The field is competitive, and stronger options exist.
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 $821,726 in decade earnings vs $1,067,278 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.