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Engineering · Electrical Engineering Rank #103 of 262

Electrical Engineeringat Washington State University

Graduates earn $79,874/yr in their first year — about 3.0% above the national Electrical Engineering average. Base-case 10-year earnings $881K; scenarios range from $735K to $926K depending on AI disruption.

Pullman, WA Public Bachelor's Degree
DegreeOutlook Score
74 STRONG
76
Optimistic
70
Pessimistic
Earnings
$79,874
1-year post-graduation
ROI
18.3x
Earnings : in-state tuition
10-yr Base
$881K
Cumulative base-case earnings
AI Risk
Very High
58% task exposure
Program Analysis

What this degree looks like at Washington State University

At $79,874/yr, Electrical Engineering graduates from Washington State University land near the $77,516 national average — neither a standout nor a red flag.

With a 17.0x 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 $18,546 represents less than half a year of starting salary — among the lightest debt-to-income ratios we track.

A #103 ranking among 262 Electrical Engineering programs places Washington State University in the middle-to-upper range. Solid, not exceptional.

A 26% earnings increase from $79,874 to $100,264 over five years is solid — not a moonshot, but evidence of normal career advancement.

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
$735K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score70/100
Earnings Multiple14.1x
Base Case
Moderate Integration
$881K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score74/100
Earnings Multiple17.0x
Optimistic
AI Augmentation
$926K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score76/100
Earnings Multiple17.8x
Earnings Trajectory

10 year projection

Year-by-year earnings under each scenario. Base case reflects BLS growth patterns applied to Washington State University'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 Washington State University 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 Washington State University

Other top programs at Washington State University

Other highest-scoring programs offered at Washington State University, 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 Washington State University

What does a 74/100 DegreeOutlook Score mean for Electrical Engineering at Washington State University?

At 74/100, this is a high-performing program. The DegreeOutlook Score combines earnings, AI resilience, and ROI — and this program delivers on all three.

Should I worry about AI if I study Electrical Engineering at Washington State University?

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.