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Electrical at Purdue University-Main Campus

West Lafayette, IN · Public · Bachelor's Degree · Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering

DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition

Optimistic

Base Case

Pessimistic

Earnings $84,300/yr (9% vs median)

AI Risk Very High (56% exposed)

Job Market Large (54,500 openings/yr)

ROI 20.8x earnings multiple (7.2x out-of-state)

Ranked #34 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	$872K	$833K	$702K
Earnings Multiple (In-State)	21.8x	20.8x	17.6x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State)	7.6x	7.2x	6.1x
Probability of Field Employment	78%	70%	48%
DegreeOutlook Score	77	76	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)

$39,968

Out-of-state: $115,176 (7.2x ROI)

4-Year Net Price (After Aid)

$55,780

-40% less than sticker · See by income

Median Debt at Graduation

$17,750

2.5 months of Year 1 earnings

Reported Earnings (5 Year)

$95,734

14% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

First-year earnings of $84,300 at Purdue University-Main Campus come in 9% above the national median of $77,516 for Electrical programs.

The 20.8x 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 $84,300 far exceeding the $17,750 median debt, the payback timeline is measured in months, not years.

Ranked #34 out of 262 programs, Purdue University-Main Campus's Electrical program lands in the top 5% — a strong signal of graduate success.

Earnings growth is modest: $84,300 to $95,734 over five years (14% gain). This field may have a lower salary ceiling than high-growth professions.

About Purdue University-Main Campus

A 50% admission rate makes Purdue University-Main Campus accessible to a wide range of qualified students, serving a student body of 39,637 in West Lafayette, IN.

See all programs and financial aid at Purdue University-Main Campus →

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 at Other Schools

Other Majors at Purdue University-Main Campus

Consider the Trade Route?

Trade programs often mean less time in school, lower student debt, and hands-on career paths that tend to be more resilient to AI disruption.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does Purdue University-Main Campus's Electrical program score?

A score of 76/100 indicates strong financial outcomes. Purdue University-Main Campus'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 Purdue University-Main Campus rank so high for Electrical?

The #34 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 →