Program Analysis
Graduates earn $74,442/yr, roughly in line with the $77,516 national median for Electrical. The value proposition here depends on cost, not earnings.
Every dollar of in-state tuition returns an estimated 15.1x in decade earnings — an exceptional ratio that places this among the highest-ROI Electrical programs nationally.
Some AI exposure exists in Electrical's typical career paths, with 56% of job tasks potentially affected. The pessimistic scenario still projects solid returns, with a 18% gap from the optimistic case.
With first-year pay of $74,442 far exceeding the $22,500 median debt, the payback timeline is measured in months, not years.
Ranked #155 of 262 Electrical programs, Northern Illinois University falls below the median. Stronger options exist, though cost and location may compensate.
Five-year earnings of $86,449 are relatively flat compared to the $74,442 starting salary — typical of fields with stable but capped salary bands.