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Engineering Technology · Electrical Engineering Technology Rank #31 of 46

Electrical Engineering Technologyat Western Carolina University

Graduates earn $67,003/yr in their first year — right at the national average. Base-case 10-year earnings $630K; scenarios range from $575K to $645K depending on AI disruption.

Cullowhee, NC Public Bachelor's Degree
DegreeOutlook Score
57 SOLID
57
Optimistic
54
Pessimistic
Earnings
$67,003
1-year post-graduation
ROI
36.0x
Earnings : in-state tuition
10-yr Base
$630K
Cumulative base-case earnings
AI Risk
High
42% task exposure
Program Analysis

What this degree looks like at Western Carolina University

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.

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
$575K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score54/100
Earnings Multiple31.7x
Base Case
Moderate Integration
$630K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score57/100
Earnings Multiple34.8x
Optimistic
AI Augmentation
$645K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score57/100
Earnings Multiple35.6x
Earnings Trajectory

10 year projection

Year-by-year earnings under each scenario. Base case reflects BLS growth patterns applied to Western Carolina 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 Technology 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
Electrical and electronics repairers, powerhouse, substation, and relay
+5.5% 10-yr growth · 2,000 openings/yr
$100,940/yr
Moderate
2
Aerospace engineering and operations technologists and technicians
+8.1% 10-yr growth · 900 openings/yr
$79,830/yr
Moderate
3
Engineering technologists and technicians, except drafters, all other
+1.5% 10-yr growth · 5,700 openings/yr
$77,390/yr
Low
4
Electrical and electronic engineering technologists and technicians
+0.6% 10-yr growth · 8,400 openings/yr
$77,180/yr
Moderate
5
Electrical and electronics drafters
-5.6% 10-yr growth · 1,700 openings/yr
$73,720/yr
High
6
Electro-mechanical and mechatronics technologists and technicians
+1.1% 10-yr growth · 1,300 openings/yr
$70,760/yr
Moderate
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 Technology

How Western Carolina University stacks up against other schools offering this major.

Highest earnings
University of Arkansas Grantham
AR · Public
59
DW Score
$88K
1-yr earn
25.5x
ROI
Wayne State University
MI · Public
68
DW Score
$83K
1-yr earn
17.6x
ROI
Top score
California State University-Chico
CA · Public
69
DW Score
$78K
1-yr earn
29.3x
ROI
Metropolitan State University of Denver
CO · Public
68
DW Score
$76K
1-yr earn
20.9x
ROI
University of Houston
TX · Public
68
DW Score
$75K
1-yr earn
22.7x
ROI
Also at Western Carolina University

Other top programs at Western Carolina University

Other highest-scoring programs offered at Western Carolina University, ranked by DegreeOutlook Score.

Consider the trade route

Not sure a 4-year degree is the right path? Trade programs in Electrical Engineering Technology offer shorter timelines, lower debt, and strong AI resilience for hands-on careers.

Compare Electrical Engineering Technology trade programs on TradeSchoolOutlook →
FAQ

Frequently asked about Electrical Engineering Technology at Western Carolina University

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.