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Electrical at North Carolina State University at Raleigh

Raleigh, NC · Public · Bachelor's Degree · Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering
75 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
77
Optimistic
75
Base Case
72
Pessimistic
Earnings $77,687/yr (0% vs median)
AI Risk Very High (56% exposed)
Job Market Large (54,500 openings/yr)
ROI 24.3x earnings multiple (6.8x out-of-state)
Ranked #57 of 262 Electrical programs Top 25%

How AI Changes the Outlook

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

Optimistic
No Disruption		 Base Case
Gradual AI		 Pessimistic
Aggressive AI
10-Year Earnings $907K $864K $723K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 25.5x 24.3x 20.3x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 7.1x 6.8x 5.7x
Probability of Field Employment 78% 70% 48%
DegreeOutlook Score 77 75 72

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$35,580
Out-of-state: $127,068 (6.8x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$67,724
-90% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$23,500
3.6 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$97,818
26% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

Graduates earn $77,687/yr, roughly in line with the $77,516 national median for Electrical. The value proposition here depends on cost, not earnings.

The 24.3x 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 20% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

With first-year pay of $77,687 far exceeding the $23,500 median debt, the payback timeline is measured in months, not years.

Ranked #57 out of 262 programs, North Carolina State University at Raleigh's Electrical program lands in the top 5% — a strong signal of graduate success.

The five-year earnings trajectory from $77,687 to $97,818 shows 26% growth, reflecting steady but unremarkable salary progression.

About North Carolina State University at Raleigh

North Carolina State University at Raleigh accepts 40% of applicants — selective, though not ultra-competitive, one of the larger campuses at 26,389 students in Raleigh, NC.

See all programs and financial aid at North Carolina State University at Raleigh →

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

Compare this program → View all 262 schools offering Electrical →

Electrical at Other Schools

Carnegie Mellon University ($139,337) University of California-Berkeley ($137,295) Massachusetts Institute of Technology ($117,345) Cornell University ($100,516) The University of Texas at Austin ($96,997) Rice University ($96,751) National University ($93,417) Northeastern University ($92,222)

Other Majors at North Carolina State University at Raleigh

Computer Science ($85,809) Computer Engineering ($82,997) Chemical Engineering ($81,492) Industrial Engineering ($81,055) Construction Engineering ($76,574) Nuclear Engineering ($74,540) Materials Engineering ($74,058) Biomedical/Medical Engineering ($74,016)

Explore the Trade Alternative

Compare Electrical trade programs on TradeSchoolWorth →

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 North Carolina State University at Raleigh's Electrical program score?
A score of 75/100 indicates strong financial outcomes. North Carolina State University at Raleigh's Electrical graduates fare well on earnings, job market size, and return on investment.
How vulnerable is Electrical to AI automation?
AI won't 'replace' Electrical 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.
Why does North Carolina State University at Raleigh rank so high for Electrical?
The #57 ranking out of 262 programs is driven by strong financial outcomes — graduates earn well, debt is manageable relative to income, and the job market supports the field.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →