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Electrical Engineering Technology at Western Carolina University

Cullowhee, NC · Public · Bachelor's Degree · Electrical Engineering Technologies/Technicians

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

Optimistic

Base Case

Pessimistic

Earnings $67,003/yr (-0% vs median)

AI Risk High (41% exposed)

Job Market Medium (24,100 openings/yr)

ROI 34.8x earnings multiple (18.5x out-of-state)

Ranked #31 of 46 Electrical Engineering Technologies programs

How AI Changes the Outlook

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

	Optimistic No Disruption	Base Case Gradual AI	Pessimistic Aggressive AI
10-Year Earnings	$645K	$630K	$575K
Earnings Multiple (In-State)	35.6x	34.8x	31.7x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State)	18.9x	18.5x	16.9x
Probability of Field Employment	55%	50%	40%
DegreeOutlook Score	57	57	54

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)

$18,128

Out-of-state: $34,128 (18.5x ROI)

4-Year Net Price (After Aid)

$50,316

-178% less than sticker · See by income

Median Debt at Graduation

$22,457

4.0 months of Year 1 earnings

Program Analysis

First-year earnings of $67,003 track close to the $67,106 national median for Electrical Engineering Technology programs. This is a middle-of-the-road outcome on salary alone.

The 34.8x 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 — 41% task exposure — and the 11% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

At $22,457 in median debt against $67,003 in first-year earnings, graduates can expect to clear their loan balance in under six months of full earnings.

At #31 out of 46 programs, Western Carolina University's financial outcomes for Electrical Engineering Technology trail the majority of peers. The value case depends on other factors.

About Western Carolina University

Western Carolina University has a 87% acceptance rate, making it broadly accessible, with a mid-sized student body of 9,867 in Cullowhee, NC.

See all programs and financial aid at Western Carolina University →

Top Career Paths

Electrical and electronics repairers, powerhouse, substation, and relay $100,940/yr

Aerospace engineering and operations technologists and technicians $79,830/yr

Engineering technologists and technicians, except drafters, all other $77,390/yr

View all 9 career paths with salary ranges and AI risk →

Compare & Explore

Electrical Engineering Technology at Other Schools

Other Majors at Western Carolina 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 Western Carolina University's Electrical Engineering Technology program score?

A score of 57/100 reflects decent absolute metrics, but Western Carolina University trails the majority of Electrical Engineering Technology programs on relative rankings. Context matters more than the raw number.

How vulnerable is Electrical Engineering Technology to AI automation?

AI won't 'replace' Electrical Engineering Technology careers outright, but it is likely to reduce the number of job openings. We model 41% task exposure, which compresses field employment probability in our scenarios.

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