by our College Data Analytics TeamElectricity serves a vital function in our modern world. As Electrical Engineer works with electricity every day, designing new systems and making repairs to old applications in order to keep our world electrified. As an Electrical Engineering major, you will study how electricity works, how it is generated, and how it is used. Who knows, you may even be revered as the next Thomas Edison in this field. You will work on developing and designing all types of electronic equipment which includes broadcast and communication systems, MP3 players, GPS systems, and the electrical systems of automobiles and aircrafts. Computer hardware is also part of this field.
Courses that you will come across in this major can include: statistics, calculus, circuit analysis and design, physics, digital systems, electrodynamics, statistics, physics, technical writing for engineering, semiconductor technology, and electric components.
Concentrations in this major include: Laser Optics, Telecommunication, and Electronics and Communications.
Electrical Engineering was the 39th most popular major in the 2021-2022 school year. Colleges in the United States reported awarding 26,528 degrees in this year alone. This year's Best Electrical Engineering Schools ranking compares 281 of them to identify the best overall programs in the country. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of ee programs later in this article.
Students should be prepared to be continuously learning in this field, even after graduation. As technology changes so will the approach you take to solving problems. College courses will be heavy with math and science. Be prepared to use many advanced principles in mathematics to analyze and deign your work.
This major appeals to students who love learning how things work and enjoy taking things apart and putting them back together. If you work hard to learn the basics, you will get the satisfaction of seeing your ideas become a reality.
Most electrical engineers will work in groups, making teamwork an important skill. You should be reliable and pull your weight, while helping others and keeping an open mind about the way they approach a problem. Hone your communication skills to build good relationships with peers, professors, and other professionals. In your course-work as well as your future career, you will often need to explain your designs and your reasoning behind them. Learn to take constructive criticism and use it to improve your work.
electrical engineering degree applicants generally need have finished high school or their GED. Many schools may also have GPA and SAT/ACT score minimums that must be met. Specific ee careers may require a certain level of degree attainment or additional certifications beyond that.
There are many different ee degree levels. You can get anything from a in electrical engineering to the highest ee degree, a . Depending on the electrical engineering degree you choose, obtaining your diploma can take anwhere from 1 to 4+ years.
| Degree | Credit Requirements | Typical Program Length |
|---|---|---|
| Associate Degree | 60-70 credits | 2 years |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 120 credits | 4 years |
| Master’s Degree | 50-70 credits | 1-3 years |
| Doctorate | Program required coursework including thesis or dissertation | At least 4 years |
A bachelor's degree is the most common level of education achieved by those in careers related to ee, with approximately 61.1% of workers getting one. Find out other typical degree levels for ee workers below.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Bachelor’s Degree | 62.7% |
| Master’s Degree | 17.4% |
| Doctoral Degree | 6.8% |
| Associate’s Degree (or other 2-year degree) | 4.6% |
| Post-Secondary Certificate | 2.4% |
91.6% of ee workers have at least a bachelor's. See the chart below for the most common degree level workers in electrical engineering have received.
This of course varies depending on which ee career you choose.
Upon graduation you will be prepared to work as an Electrical Engineer for an engineering firm or as an independent contractor. Electrical Engineers are found working in power stations, designing electrical systems for buildings and communities, or creating wireless and portable devices. As technology continues to advance rapidly, there should be a demand for electrical engineers in both research and development.
Want a job when you graduate with your ee degree? Electrical Engineering careers are expected to grow 6.7% between 2016 and 2026.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to electrical engineering.
| Occupation Name | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical Engineers | 204,500 | 8.6% |
| Architectural and Engineering Managers | 190,000 | 5.5% |
| Electronics Engineers | 141,300 | 3.7% |
| Engineers | 141,000 | 6.4% |
| Aerospace Engineers | 73,800 | 6.0% |
Electrical Engineering graduates between <nil> reported earning an average of $81,913 in the <nil> timeframe. Earnings can range from as low as $28,086 to as high as $197,300. As you might expect, salaries for ee graduates vary depending on the level of education that was acquired.
Salaries for electrical engineering graduates can vary widely by the occupation you choose as well. The following table shows the top highest paying careers ee grads often go into.
| Occupation Name | Median Average Salary |
|---|---|
| Architectural and Engineering Managers | $148,970 |
| Aerospace Engineers | $117,100 |
| Engineering Professors | $113,680 |
| Electronics Engineers | $107,930 |
| Electrical Engineers | $101,600 |
With over 1,005 different ee degree programs to choose from, finding the best fit for you can be a challenge. Fortunately you have come to the right place. We have analyzed all of these schools to come up with hundreds of unbiased ee school rankings to help you with this.
One of 41 majors within the Engineering area of study, Electrical Engineering has other similar majors worth exploring.
| Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Electrical Engineering | 25,951 |
| Other Electrical Engineering | 376 |
| Optical Enginering | 138 |
| Telecommunications Engineering | 63 |
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Mechanical Engineering | 44,794 |
| Civil Engineering | 20,655 |
| Computer Engineering | 16,954 |
| Biomedical Engineering | 13,222 |
| Chemical Engineering | 12,248 |
