Electrical and Electronics Engineering: Program Overview, Universities, Careers & Salaries
Program Overview
Electrical and Electronics Engineering is a rigorous academic discipline focused on the design, analysis, and optimization of complex electrical and electronic systems. Students gain expertise in applying advanced mathematical and scientific principles to solve real-world challenges in power systems, signal processing, and cutting-edge technologies.
- Electrical Power Generation Systems: Study of methods and technologies used to produce electrical energy, including renewable sources, grid integration, and efficiency optimization in power plants.
- Superconductor Applications: Exploration of materials that conduct electricity with zero resistance at low temperatures, enabling high-efficiency energy transfer and advanced computing systems.
- Wave Propagation: Analysis of how electromagnetic and other waveforms travel through different media, essential for telecommunications, radar, and wireless network design.
- Energy Storage and Retrieval: Investigation into battery technologies, capacitive systems, and alternative storage methods critical for stabilizing power grids and enabling portable electronics.
- Signal Reception and Amplification: Mastery of techniques to detect, enhance, and process weak electrical signals, foundational for audio systems, medical imaging, and communication devices.
Electrical and Electronics Engineering Graduate Trends (2010-2024)
Electrical and Electronics Engineering Career Pathways & Salary Outlook
The following table presents salary data for occupations typically aligned with Electrical and Electronics Engineering degrees, including Architectural and Engineering Managers, Computer Hardware Engineers and Aerospace Engineers. These career paths represent common employment outcomes but are not guaranteed for all graduates. Salary ranges vary by location, employer, experience level, and specific role requirements. Nationally, these occupations employ approximately 677,130 professionals.
National Average Salaries
| Occupation | Median Salary | Salary Range | Total Employment | Hourly Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Architectural and Engineering Managers 11-9041 | $167,740 | $111,450 - $239,200 | 210,340 | $80.64 |
| Computer Hardware Engineers 17-2061 | $155,020 | $85,430 - $223,820 | 75,710 | $74.53 |
| Aerospace Engineers 17-2011 | $134,830 | $85,350 - $205,850 | 68,440 | $64.82 |
| Electronics Engineers, Except Computer 17-2072 | $127,590 | $79,390 - $199,060 | 93,940 | $61.34 |
| Electrical Engineers 17-2071 | $111,910 | $74,670 - $175,460 | 188,790 | $53.80 |
| Engineering Teachers, Postsecondary 25-1032 | $106,120 | $59,790 - $200,650 | 39,910 | N/A |
Electrical and Electronics Engineering Salary Map by State
Geographic location significantly impacts earning potential for these careers. Average salaries range from $102,286 in Mississippi to $158,287 in California—a 55% difference. The highest-paying states include California, District of Columbia, and Washington. Nationwide, these occupations employ over 677,130 professionals across all states. Explore the interactive map below to compare regional compensation and identify optimal markets for your career goals.
Average Salary Range:
Top Universities for Electrical and Electronics Engineering by Graduate Enrollment
Below are the top 100 institutions offering Electrical and Electronics Engineering programs for the 2023-2024 academic year (the most recent data reported as of 2025), ranked by the number of graduates. The highest graduate enrollment in Electrical and Electronics Engineering is found at University of California (UCB), Berkeley (728 graduates), Georgia Institute of Technology (Georgia Tech), Main Campus (606 graduates), Purdue University (PU), Main Campus (577 graduates), Carnegie Mellon University (CMU) (556 graduates), and Arizona State University Campus Immersion (ASU) (488 graduates). Combined, these colleges produced 18,762 graduates across all degree levels. Program availability varies by award level, including Associate, Bachelor's, Master's, and Doctoral degrees at participating universities and schools.
| College Name | Award Levels | Graduates | Location | Control | Website |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| University of California (UCB) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
728 | Berkeley, California | Public | berkeley.edu |
| Georgia Institute of Technology (Georgia Tech) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
606 | Atlanta, Georgia | Public | gatech.edu |
| Purdue University (PU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
577 | West Lafayette, Indiana | Public | purdue.edu |
| Carnegie Mellon University (CMU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
556 | Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania | Private | cmu.edu |
| Arizona State University Campus Immersion (ASU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
488 | Tempe, Arizona | Public | asu.edu |
| Texas A & M University |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
431 | College Station, Texas | Public | tamu.edu |
| University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (UIUC) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
425 | Champaign, Illinois | Public | illinois.edu |
| University of California (UCLA) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Post-Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
406 | Los Angeles, California | Public | ucla.edu |
| University of Southern California (USC) |
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
Doctorate (Other)
|
397 | Los Angeles, California | Private | usc.edu |
| University of Florida (UF) |
Bachelor's
Postbac Cert.
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
384 | Gainesville, Florida | Public | ufl.edu |
| North Carolina State University (NC State) |
Bachelor's
Postbac Cert.
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
367 | Raleigh, North Carolina | Public | ncsu.edu |
| Ohio State University |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
Other Award
|
359 | Columbus, Ohio | Public | osu.edu |
| University of Washington (UW) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
351 | Seattle, Washington | Public | washington.edu |
| Rutgers University |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
317 | New Brunswick, New Jersey | Public | newbrunswick.rutgers.edu |
| The University of Texas |
Bachelor's
|
312 | Austin, Texas | Public | utexas.edu |
| Northeastern University (NU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
308 | Boston, Massachusetts | Private | northeastern.edu |
| Columbia University in the City of New York |
Bachelor's
Master's
Post-Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
285 | New York, New York | Private | columbia.edu |
| University of California (UCSD) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
283 | La Jolla, California | Public | ucsd.edu |
| Johns Hopkins University (JHU) |
Bachelor's
Postbac Cert.
Master's
Post-Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
264 | Baltimore, Maryland | Private | jhu.edu |
| Cornell University |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
255 | Ithaca, New York | Private | cornell.edu |
| University of Wisconsin-Madison |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
245 | Madison, Wisconsin | Public | wisc.edu |
| Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
230 | Cambridge, Massachusetts | Private | web.mit.edu |
| Stanford University |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
230 | Stanford, California | Private | stanford.edu |
| The University of Texas |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
223 | Richardson, Texas | Public | utdallas.edu |
| Arizona State University |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
222 | Scottsdale, Arizona | Public | asu.edu |
| San Jose State University (SJSU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
220 | San Jose, California | Public | sjsu.edu |
| University of Colorado Boulder (CU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
214 | Boulder, Colorado | Public | colorado.edu |
| Pennsylvania State University |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
209 | University Park, Pennsylvania | Public | psu.edu |
| Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (Virginia Tech) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
202 | Blacksburg, Virginia | Public | vt.edu |
| University of California (UCD) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
189 | Davis, California | Public | ucdavis.edu |
| Florida International University (FIU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
189 | Miami, Florida | Public | fiu.edu |
| University of South Florida (USF) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
184 | Tampa, Florida | Public | usf.edu |
| University of Pennsylvania (Penn) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
184 | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania | Private | upenn.edu |
| Electrical and HVAC/R Training Center |
Other Award
|
181 | Copiague, New York | Private | electricaltrainingcenter.edu |
| Southern Technical College (STC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
179 | Fort Myers, Florida | Private | southerntech.edu |
| California State Polytechnic University (CPP) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
177 | Pomona, California | Public | cpp.edu |
| Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI) |
Bachelor's
Postbac Cert.
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
175 | Worcester, Massachusetts | Private | wpi.edu |
| Oregon State University (OSU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
175 | Corvallis, Oregon | Public | oregonstate.edu |
| University of Central Florida (UCF) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
174 | Orlando, Florida | Public | ucf.edu |
| University of Michigan |
Bachelor's
Postbac Cert.
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
171 | Dearborn, Michigan | Public | umdearborn.edu |
| University of Maryland (UMCP) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
169 | College Park, Maryland | Public | umd.edu |
| University of Minnesota (UMN) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
167 | Minneapolis, Minnesota | Public | twin-cities.umn.edu |
| Boston University (BU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
161 | Boston, Massachusetts | Private | bu.edu |
| Michigan State University (MSU) |
Bachelor's
Postbac Cert.
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
157 | East Lansing, Michigan | Public | msu.edu |
| California State University (CSULB) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
150 | Long Beach, California | Public | csulb.edu |
| University of Cincinnati (UC) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
147 | Cincinnati, Ohio | Public | uc.edu |
| University of Massachusetts |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
145 | Lowell, Massachusetts | Public | uml.edu |
| The University of Texas |
Bachelor's
Postbac Cert.
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
145 | Arlington, Texas | Public | uta.edu |
| University of California (UCI) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
142 | Irvine, California | Public | uci.edu |
| Duke University |
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
140 | Durham, North Carolina | Private | duke.edu |
| San Diego State University (SDSU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
137 | San Diego, California | Public | sdsu.edu |
| University at Buffalo (UB) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
137 | Buffalo, New York | Public | buffalo.edu |
| University of Houston (UH) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
136 | Houston, Texas | Public | uh.edu |
| University of Massachusetts |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
133 | Amherst, Massachusetts | Public | umass.edu |
| New York University (NYU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
131 | New York, New York | Private | nyu.edu |
| University of Utah (U of U) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
129 | Salt Lake City, Utah | Public | utah.edu |
| Princeton University |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
128 | Princeton, New Jersey | Private | princeton.edu |
| California State University |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
127 | Sacramento, California | Public | csus.edu |
| Wayne State University (WSU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
125 | Detroit, Michigan | Public | wayne.edu |
| University of California (UCR) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
124 | Riverside, California | Public | ucr.edu |
| Oakland University (OU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
123 | Rochester Hills, Michigan | Public | oakland.edu |
| Texas Tech University (TTU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
122 | Lubbock, Texas | Public | ttu.edu |
| Mississippi State University (MSU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
119 | Mississippi State, Mississippi | Public | msstate.edu |
| University of California (UCSB) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
117 | Santa Barbara, California | Public | ucsb.edu |
| Missouri University of Science and Technology (Missouri S&T) |
Bachelor's
Postbac Cert.
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
115 | Rolla, Missouri | Public | mst.edu |
| Washington State University (WSU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
115 | Pullman, Washington | Public | wsu.edu |
| University of Illinois Chicago (UIC) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
110 | Chicago, Illinois | Public | uic.edu |
| Stony Brook University (SBU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
109 | Stony Brook, New York | Public | stonybrook.edu |
| University of Dayton (UD) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
109 | Dayton, Ohio | Private | udayton.edu |
| University of Oklahoma (OU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
106 | Norman, Oklahoma | Public | ou.edu |
| The University of Texas (UTSA) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
106 | San Antonio, Texas | Public | utsa.edu |
| Clemson University |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
Other Award
|
105 | Clemson, South Carolina | Public | clemson.edu |
| The University of Texas (UTEP) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
105 | El Paso, Texas | Public | utep.edu |
| Auburn University (AU) |
Bachelor's
Postbac Cert.
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
103 | Auburn, Alabama | Public | auburn.edu |
| Colorado School of Mines |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
101 | Golden, Colorado | Public | mines.edu |
| University of Michigan (U‑M) |
Bachelor's
Post-Master's
|
101 | Ann Arbor, Michigan | Public | umich.edu |
| University of North Texas (UNT) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
101 | Denton, Texas | Public | unt.edu |
| University of North Carolina at Charlotte |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
100 | Charlotte, North Carolina | Public | charlotte.edu |
| University of Pittsburgh |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
100 | Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania | Public | pitt.edu |
| Kennesaw State University (KSU) |
Bachelor's
|
99 | Kennesaw, Georgia | Public | kennesaw.edu |
| Iowa State University (ISU) |
Bachelor's
|
98 | Ames, Iowa | Public | iastate.edu |
| Stevens Institute of Technology |
Bachelor's
Postbac Cert.
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
94 | Hoboken, New Jersey | Private | stevens.edu |
| University of Puerto Rico (UPRM) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
94 | Mayaguez, Puerto Rico | Public | uprm.edu |
| New Jersey Institute of Technology (NJIT) |
Bachelor's
Postbac Cert.
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
90 | Newark, New Jersey | Public | njit.edu |
| CUNY City College (CCNY) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
90 | New York, New York | Public | ccny.cuny.edu |
| George Washington University (GW) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
89 | Washington, District of Columbia | Private | gwu.edu |
| George Mason University |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
89 | Fairfax, Virginia | Public | www2.gmu.edu |
| University of California (UCSC) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
87 | Santa Cruz, California | Public | ucsc.edu |
| California Polytechnic State University (Cal Poly) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
86 | San Luis Obispo, California | Public | calpoly.edu |
| Northern Illinois University (NIU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
84 | Dekalb, Illinois | Public | niu.edu |
| Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
84 | Troy, New York | Private | rpi.edu |
| Michigan Technological University (MTU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
83 | Houghton, Michigan | Public | mtu.edu |
| Clarkson University (Clarkson) |
Bachelor's
Postbac Cert.
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
83 | Potsdam, New York | Private | clarkson.edu |
| Drexel University |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
80 | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania | Private | drexel.edu |
| California State University (CSUN) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
79 | Northridge, California | Public | csun.edu |
| Oklahoma State University (OSU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
79 | Stillwater, Oklahoma | Public | okstate.edu |
| Washington University in St Louis (WashU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
78 | Saint Louis, Missouri | Private | wustl.edu |
| Rowan University |
Bachelor's
Postbac Cert.
Other Award
|
76 | Glassboro, New Jersey | Public | rowan.edu |
| The University of Tennessee |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
76 | Knoxville, Tennessee | Public | utk.edu |
| Indiana University (IU Indianapolis) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
75 | Indianapolis, Indiana | Public | indianapolis.iu.edu |
Frequently Asked Questions
Find answers to the most common questions about Electrical and Electronics Engineering programs
How much can I earn with a Electrical and Electronics Engineering degree?
Salaries for Electrical and Electronics Engineering graduates vary by role and location. Architectural and Engineering Managers earn a median of $167,740 annually, while Computer Hardware Engineers earn around $155,020. Geographic location significantly impacts earnings—professionals in California average $158,287 compared to $102,286 in Mississippi. Approximately 677,130 professionals work in related occupations nationwide.
Salary data from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS program, May 2024. Earnings vary by experience, employer, and market conditions.
Which universities have the largest Electrical and Electronics Engineering programs?
Currently 419 accredited institutions offer Electrical and Electronics Engineering degrees across the U.S. Programs with the highest enrollment include University of California (UCB), Berkeley (728 graduates), Georgia Institute of Technology (Georgia Tech), Main Campus (606 graduates), and Purdue University (PU), Main Campus (577 graduates).
Program size doesn't necessarily indicate quality—consider factors like faculty expertise, production opportunities, location, and available degree levels when choosing a school.
Data based on IPEDS program completions for 2023-2024 academic year. Numbers reflect programs where students graduated.
Is enrollment in Electrical and Electronics Engineering growing or declining?
Graduate numbers have increased over the past decade, rising from 23,033 in 2010 to a peak of 29,890 in 2020, before declining slightly to 25,975 in 2023-24. This represents a 13% increase overall from 2010.
The field remains specialized with steady interest, though opportunities are most concentrated in major metropolitan areas with active arts scenes like New York, California, and Illinois.
Graduate enrollment data from IPEDS, 2010-2024 academic years. Trends reflect reported completions at participating institutions.
What career paths are available with a Electrical and Electronics Engineering degree?
This degree prepares you for roles such as Architectural and Engineering Managers, Computer Hardware Engineers, and Aerospace Engineers. Related occupations employ approximately 677,130 professionals nationwide.
Skills in project management, creative leadership, and collaboration also transfer to event planning, arts administration, marketing, and corporate training roles. Many professionals work freelance or on a project basis across theatre, film, and live events.
Career pathways mapped using CIP-SOC crosswalk from the National Center for Education Statistics. Employment data from BLS OEWS May 2024.
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