Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering
Offered at 846 college programs that reported results. Here is what graduates earn and owe at each credential level, and which programs pay best.
By credential level
| Credential | Programs | Typical earnings, 1 yr | Typical earnings, 5 yrs | Typical debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Certificate | 12 | — | $56,111 | — |
| Associate | 41 | — | $88,505 | — |
| Bachelor's | 388 | $81,706 | $104,754 | $22,500 |
| Master's | 225 | $112,640 | $143,618 | — |
| Doctoral | 143 | $144,305 | $189,688 | — |
| Graduate certificate | 37 | — | — | — |
"Typical" is the median across programs of each program's median, counting only programs with unsuppressed data (at least three). It describes a typical program, not a national median for all graduates. Certificate figures include certificates earned at four-year colleges, often alongside a bachelor's; see degrees vs. certificates for a cleaner comparison. Source: College Scorecard field of study data.
Highest-earning certificate programs
| # | College | State | Earnings, 1 yr | Earnings, 5 yrs | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Michigan Technological University | MI | — | $102,303 | — |
| 2 | Electrical and HVAC/R Training Center | NY | $41,274 | $56,111 | $3,666 |
| 3 | Fresno City College | CA | — | $54,933 | — |
| 4 | Southern Technical College | FL | $38,598 | — | $9,500 |
Ranked by 5-year median earnings, or 1-year where 5-year is not reported.
Highest-earning associate programs
| # | College | State | Earnings, 1 yr | Earnings, 5 yrs | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Chemeketa Community College | OR | — | $92,891 | — |
| 2 | Clark College | WA | — | $91,696 | — |
| 3 | CUNY LaGuardia Community College | NY | — | $88,505 | — |
| 4 | CUNY Hostos Community College | NY | — | $64,082 | — |
| 5 | Southern Technical College | FL | $35,899 | $45,995 | $19,350 |
Ranked by 5-year median earnings, or 1-year where 5-year is not reported.
Highest-earning bachelor's programs
| # | College | State | Earnings, 1 yr | Earnings, 5 yrs | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of California-Berkeley | CA | $154,713 | $224,040 | $13,608 |
| 2 | Carnegie Mellon University | PA | $150,074 | $194,896 | $19,500 |
| 3 | Massachusetts Institute of Technology | MA | $150,863 | $181,287 | $15,000 |
| 4 | Stanford University | CA | — | $173,254 | — |
| 5 | Cornell University | NY | $110,607 | $166,324 | $13,000 |
| 6 | Franklin W Olin College of Engineering | MA | — | $163,124 | — |
| 7 | Santa Clara University | CA | — | $162,477 | — |
| 8 | The University of Texas at Austin | TX | $111,942 | $147,084 | $18,236 |
| 9 | University of California-Santa Barbara | CA | $87,938 | $144,784 | $12,500 |
| 10 | University of Southern California | CA | $98,335 | $139,754 | — |
| 11 | University of California-Los Angeles | CA | $89,318 | $139,474 | $14,661 |
| 12 | San Jose State University | CA | — | $138,397 | — |
| 13 | Johns Hopkins University | MD | — | $136,489 | — |
| 14 | Lafayette College | PA | — | $130,908 | — |
| 15 | University of North Dakota | ND | $81,770 | $129,644 | $31,000 |
Ranked by 5-year median earnings, or 1-year where 5-year is not reported.
Highest-earning master's programs
| # | College | State | Earnings, 1 yr | Earnings, 5 yrs | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Stanford University | CA | $170,593 | $243,697 | — |
| 2 | Santa Clara University | CA | — | $227,451 | — |
| 3 | Massachusetts Institute of Technology | MA | $173,300 | $198,050 | — |
| 4 | The University of Texas at Austin | TX | — | $194,286 | — |
| 5 | University of California-Los Angeles | CA | $145,687 | $190,660 | — |
| 6 | Carnegie Mellon University | PA | $157,567 | $188,555 | — |
| 7 | University of California-San Diego | CA | $125,176 | $178,583 | — |
| 8 | University of Washington-Seattle Campus | WA | $134,073 | $174,134 | — |
| 9 | University of Washington-Bothell Campus | WA | $134,073 | $174,134 | — |
| 10 | San Jose State University | CA | — | $172,382 | — |
| 11 | University of Southern California | CA | $143,987 | $170,101 | — |
| 12 | Northeastern University | MA | $124,342 | $168,152 | — |
| 13 | The University of Texas at Dallas | TX | $106,030 | $168,098 | — |
| 14 | University of California-Berkeley | CA | $162,352 | — | — |
| 15 | California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo | CA | $135,173 | $160,264 | — |
Ranked by 5-year median earnings, or 1-year where 5-year is not reported.
Highest-earning doctoral programs
| # | College | State | Earnings, 1 yr | Earnings, 5 yrs | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Stanford University | CA | $219,213 | $232,272 | — |
| 2 | Massachusetts Institute of Technology | MA | $144,305 | $217,797 | — |
| 3 | University of Florida | FL | $138,148 | $161,580 | — |
| 4 | University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign | IL | — | $143,383 | — |
Ranked by 5-year median earnings, or 1-year where 5-year is not reported.
Highest-earning graduate certificate programs
| # | College | State | Earnings, 1 yr | Earnings, 5 yrs | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Northeastern University | MA | — | $148,642 | — |
| 2 | Clarkson University | NY | $137,384 | — | — |
Ranked by 5-year median earnings, or 1-year where 5-year is not reported.
Related fields
Quick answers
- How much do electrical, electronics, and communications engineering graduates earn?
- One year after finishing, a typical bachelor's program in electrical, electronics, and communications engineering reports median earnings of $81,706. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field of study data.
