Electrical Engineering at Northern Arizona University

Flagstaff, AZ · Public · Bachelor's Degree · Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering
74 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
75
Optimistic
74
Base Case
70
Pessimistic
Earnings $71,370/yr (-8% vs median)
AI Risk Very High (56% exposed)
Job Market Large (54,500 openings/yr)
ROI 19.3x earnings multiple (8.5x out-of-state)
Ranked #72 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 $1,034K $978K $802K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 20.4x 19.3x 15.8x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 8.9x 8.5x 6.9x
Probability of Field Employment 78% 70% 48%
DegreeOutlook Score 75 74 70

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$50,608
Out-of-state: $115,600 (8.5x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$59,688
-18% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$19,500
3.3 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$107,634
51% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

Graduates earn $71,370/yr, roughly in line with the $77,516 national median for Electrical Engineering. The value proposition here depends on cost, not earnings.

The 19.3x 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 23% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

With first-year pay of $71,370 far exceeding the $19,500 median debt, the payback timeline is measured in months, not years.

Ranked #72 out of 262 programs, Northern Arizona University's Electrical Engineering offering sits in the upper half but doesn't break into the top tier.

Earnings growth from $71,370 to $107,634 over five years (51% increase) indicates that graduates in this field see meaningful salary progression.

About Northern Arizona University

Northern Arizona University accepts 91% of applicants — an open-access institution by design, one of the larger campuses at 23,041 students in Flagstaff, AZ.

See all programs and financial aid at Northern Arizona 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 Northern Arizona 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 Northern Arizona University's Electrical Engineering program score?
A score of 74/100 indicates strong financial outcomes. Northern Arizona 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 →