Home › West Virginia University › Electrical

Electrical at West Virginia University

Morgantown, WV · Public · Bachelor's Degree · Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering

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

Optimistic

Base Case

Pessimistic

Earnings $79,662/yr (3% vs median)

AI Risk Very High (56% exposed)

Job Market Large (54,500 openings/yr)

ROI 22.7x earnings multiple (8.0x out-of-state)

Ranked #33 of 262 Electrical programs Top 25%

How AI Changes the Outlook

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

	Optimistic No Disruption	Base Case Gradual AI	Pessimistic Aggressive AI
10-Year Earnings	$922K	$878K	$733K
Earnings Multiple (In-State)	23.9x	22.7x	19.0x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State)	8.4x	8.0x	6.7x
Probability of Field Employment	78%	70%	48%
DegreeOutlook Score	77	76	72

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)

$38,592

Out-of-state: $109,440 (8.0x ROI)

4-Year Net Price (After Aid)

$51,988

-35% less than sticker · See by income

Median Debt at Graduation

$22,221

3.3 months of Year 1 earnings

Reported Earnings (5 Year)

$99,815

25% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

At $79,662/yr, Electrical graduates from West Virginia University land near the $77,516 national average — neither a standout nor a red flag.

The 22.7x 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 21% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

The median debt load of $22,221 represents less than half a year of starting salary — among the lightest debt-to-income ratios we track.

Ranked #33 out of 262 programs, West Virginia University's Electrical program lands in the top 5% — a strong signal of graduate success.

The five-year earnings trajectory from $79,662 to $99,815 shows 25% growth, reflecting steady but unremarkable salary progression.

About West Virginia University

With 86% of applicants admitted, West Virginia University prioritizes broad access, with a mid-sized student body of 17,705 in Morgantown, WV.

See all programs and financial aid at West Virginia 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 at Other Schools

Other Majors at West Virginia University

Is a Trade Program a Better Fit?

For students who prefer applied learning, trade programs can deliver strong earnings with significantly less debt and shorter time to employment.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does West Virginia University's Electrical program score?

A score of 76/100 indicates strong financial outcomes. West Virginia University's Electrical graduates fare well on earnings, job market size, and return on investment.

How vulnerable is Electrical to AI automation?

AI won't 'replace' Electrical 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.

Why does West Virginia University rank so high for Electrical?

The #33 ranking out of 262 programs is driven by strong financial outcomes — graduates earn well, debt is manageable relative to income, and the job market supports the field.

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