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Electrical Engineering at Virginia Commonwealth University

Richmond, VA · Public · Bachelor's Degree · Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering

DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition

Optimistic

Base Case

Pessimistic

Earnings $77,938/yr (1% vs median)

AI Risk Very High (56% exposed)

Job Market Large (54,500 openings/yr)

ROI 13.3x earnings multiple (5.6x out-of-state)

Ranked #167 of 262 Electrical programs

How AI Changes the Outlook

Three scenarios based on how aggressively AI disrupts the career paths available to Electrical Engineering graduates.

	Optimistic No Disruption	Base Case Gradual AI	Pessimistic Aggressive AI
10-Year Earnings	$923K	$879K	$733K
Earnings Multiple (In-State)	14.0x	13.3x	11.1x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State)	5.9x	5.6x	4.7x
Probability of Field Employment	78%	70%	48%
DegreeOutlook Score	73	71	68

10-Year Earnings Projection

*Year 1 uses actual reported earnings. Scenarios diverge as AI impact compounds over time.

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)

$65,832

Out-of-state: $156,168 (5.6x ROI)

4-Year Net Price (After Aid)

$77,808

-18% less than sticker · See by income

Median Debt at Graduation

$22,550

3.5 months of Year 1 earnings

Reported Earnings (5 Year)

$99,480

28% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

First-year earnings of $77,938 track close to the $77,516 national median for Electrical Engineering programs. This is a middle-of-the-road outcome on salary alone.

Every dollar of in-state tuition returns an estimated 13.3x 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.

At $22,550 in median debt against $77,938 in first-year earnings, graduates can expect to clear their loan balance in under six months of full earnings.

Ranked #167 of 262 Electrical Engineering programs, Virginia Commonwealth University falls below the median. Stronger options exist, though cost and location may compensate.

Earnings grow from $77,938 to $99,480 over five years — a 28% increase that's moderate and in line with typical career progression.

About Virginia Commonwealth University

Virginia Commonwealth University has a 93% acceptance rate, making it broadly accessible, with 20,797 students enrolled in Richmond, VA.

See all programs and financial aid at Virginia Commonwealth University →

Top Career Paths

Architectural and engineering managers $167,740/yr

Computer hardware engineers $155,020/yr

Aerospace engineers $134,830/yr

View all 7 career paths with salary ranges and AI risk →

Compare & Explore

Electrical Engineering at Other Schools

Other Majors at Virginia Commonwealth University

Explore the Trade Alternative

Not every career requires a four-year degree. Trade programs in related fields can offer competitive salaries with a fraction of the student loan burden.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Electrical Engineering at Virginia Commonwealth University?

This program scores 71/100 — 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 $733,400 in decade earnings vs $923,246 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.

Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →