by our College Data Analytics TeamA major in Electrical Engineering involves the study of Electrical And Electronics Engineering. A Program That Prepares Individuals To Apply Mathematical And Scientific Principles To The Design, Development And Operational Evaluation Of Electrical And Electronic Systems And Their Components, Including Electrical Power Generation Systems; And The Analysis Of Problems Such As Superconductor, Wave Propagation, Energy Storage And Retrieval, And Reception And Amplification. Examples: [Electrical Engineering], [Total Ship Systems Engineering], [Electrodynamic Engineering]. Continue reading for the essential details every electrical engineering student should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering electrical engineering programs.
Nationwide, electrical engineering is a popular field of study, with 25,975 degrees awarded annually.
Our 2026 Best Electrical Engineering Schools ranking analyzes these 419 schools to determine the best overall colleges for electrical engineering students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of electrical engineering programs later in this article.
Programs in Electrical Engineering build a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations electrical engineering graduates commonly enter.
Skills developed in a electrical engineering program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
Based on O*NET data, a electrical engineering major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
There are several electrical engineering degree levels. The table below shows the typical length of the most common levels, and how many graduates earn each one.
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate | Varies | 179 |
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 263 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 14,769 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 8,704 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 2,060 |
People currently working in careers related to electrical engineering tend to have obtained the following education levels.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Bachelor’s degree | 30.9% |
| Doctoral degree | 29.2% |
| Master’s degree | 15.5% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 9.1% |
| Post-doctoral training | 8.5% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 2.7% |
| First professional degree | 1.3% |
| Some college courses | 0.9% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 0.7% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 0.7% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 0.4% |
See the chart below to get an idea of what level of education most of those in electrical engineering careers hold.
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
A degree in electrical engineering opens doors to a variety of career paths. Here are some of the most common occupations related to electrical engineering.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to electrical engineering.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Engineering Teachers, Postsecondary | 1,297,204 | -2.0% |
| Biofuels/Biodiesel Technology and Product Development Managers | 440,884 | 8.0% |
| Computer Hardware Engineers | 412,134 | 11.3% |
| Architectural and Engineering Managers | 207,139 | 9.0% |
| Electrical Engineers | 201,088 | 13.6% |
| Aerospace Engineers | 138,496 | 5.1% |
| Radio Frequency Identification Device Specialists | 90,668 | 0.3% |
| Electronics Engineers, Except Computer | 84,547 | 13.8% |
Federal data tracks median earnings of electrical engineering graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. These numbers tend to grow as graduates gain experience.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $82,923 |
| 4 years | $94,702 |
| 5 years | $107,414 |
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study earnings tracker.
Salaries for electrical engineering graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers electrical engineering grads often go into.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Electrical Engineers | $127,814 |
| Electronics Engineers, Except Computer | $122,969 |
| Architectural and Engineering Managers | $101,277 |
| Biofuels/Biodiesel Technology and Product Development Managers | $89,263 |
| Engineering Teachers, Postsecondary | $79,889 |
| Computer Hardware Engineers | $63,909 |
| Aerospace Engineers | $63,328 |
| Radio Frequency Identification Device Specialists | $52,230 |
With 419 different electrical engineering programs to choose from, finding the best fit can be a challenge. We have analyzed these schools to produce unbiased electrical engineering school rankings to help you.
Those considering electrical engineering, you may also want to explore other closely related fields of study within the same broad area.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering, Other | 434 |
| Telecommunications Engineering | 194 |
| Laser and Optical Engineering | 157 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
