Electrical Engineering at Michigan State University

East Lansing, MI · Public · Bachelor's Degree · Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering
73 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
75
Optimistic
73
Base Case
69
Pessimistic
Earnings $83,874/yr (8% vs median)
AI Risk Very High (56% exposed)
Job Market Large (54,500 openings/yr)
ROI 14.0x earnings multiple (5.2x out-of-state)
Ranked #117 of 262 Electrical programs Top 50%

How AI Changes the Outlook

Three scenarios based on how aggressively AI disrupts the career paths available to Electrical Engineering graduates.

Optimistic
No Disruption
Base Case
Gradual AI
Pessimistic
Aggressive AI
10-Year Earnings $941K $894K $744K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 14.7x 14.0x 11.6x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 5.4x 5.2x 4.3x
Probability of Field Employment 78% 70% 48%
DegreeOutlook Score 75 73 69

10-Year Earnings Projection

*Year 1 uses actual reported earnings. Scenarios diverge as AI impact compounds over time.

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$63,952
Out-of-state: $173,488 (5.2x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$83,004
-30% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$22,500
3.2 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$102,673
22% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

At $83,874 per year, Electrical Engineering graduates from Michigan State University earn slightly above the $77,516 national median. The premium is real but not dramatic.

The 14.0x 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 — 56% task exposure — and the 21% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

The median debt load of $22,500 represents less than half a year of starting salary — among the lightest debt-to-income ratios we track.

Ranked #117 out of 262 programs, Michigan State University's Electrical Engineering offering sits in the upper half but doesn't break into the top tier.

The five-year earnings trajectory from $83,874 to $102,673 shows 22% growth, reflecting steady but unremarkable salary progression.

About Michigan State University

With 84% of applicants admitted, Michigan State University prioritizes broad access, one of the larger campuses at 40,243 students in East Lansing, MI.

See all programs and financial aid at Michigan State University →

Top Career Paths

Architectural and engineering managers $167,740/yr
Computer hardware engineers $155,020/yr
Aerospace engineers $134,830/yr
View all 7 career paths with salary ranges and AI risk →

Compare & Explore

Electrical Engineering at Other Schools

Other Majors at Michigan State University

Explore the Trade Alternative

Not every career requires a four-year degree. Trade programs in related fields can offer competitive salaries with a fraction of the student loan burden.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does Michigan State University's Electrical Engineering program score?
A score of 73/100 indicates strong financial outcomes. Michigan State University's Electrical Engineering graduates fare well on earnings, job market size, and return on investment.
How vulnerable is Electrical Engineering to AI automation?
AI won't 'replace' Electrical Engineering careers outright, but it is likely to reduce the number of job openings. We model 56% task exposure, which compresses field employment probability in our scenarios.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →