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Electrical at Purdue University Northwest

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

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

Optimistic

Base Case

Pessimistic

Earnings $79,917/yr (3% vs median)

AI Risk Very High (56% exposed)

Job Market Large (54,500 openings/yr)

ROI 23.7x earnings multiple (12.7x out-of-state)

Ranked #70 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 graduates.

	Optimistic No Disruption	Base Case Gradual AI	Pessimistic Aggressive AI
10-Year Earnings	$832K	$797K	$677K
Earnings Multiple (In-State)	24.7x	23.7x	20.1x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State)	13.3x	12.7x	10.8x
Probability of Field Employment	78%	70%	48%
DegreeOutlook Score	77	75	71

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)

$33,676

Out-of-state: $62,480 (12.7x ROI)

4-Year Net Price (After Aid)

$33,852

-1% less than sticker · See by income

Median Debt at Graduation

$25,147

3.8 months of Year 1 earnings

Reported Earnings (5 Year)

$90,673

13% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

Graduates earn $79,917/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 23.7x 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 19% gap from the optimistic case.

With first-year pay of $79,917 far exceeding the $25,147 median debt, the payback timeline is measured in months, not years.

At #70 of 262 Electrical programs, Purdue University Northwest scores above the median — competitive but not a standout.

Five-year earnings of $90,673 are relatively flat compared to the $79,917 starting salary — typical of fields with stable but capped salary bands.

About Purdue University Northwest

Purdue University Northwest accepts 71% of applicants — an open-access institution by design, with a mid-sized student body of 5,786 in Hammond, IN.

See all programs and financial aid at Purdue University Northwest →

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 Northwest

Is a Trade Program a Better Fit?

For students who prefer applied learning, trade programs can deliver strong earnings with significantly less debt and shorter time to employment.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Electrical at Purdue University Northwest?

This program scores 75/100 — placing it among the stronger programs for Electrical nationally. The score reflects above-average earnings, manageable AI risk, and solid financial return.

Will AI replace Electrical careers?

With 56% of typical job tasks exposed to AI, this is one of the higher-risk fields. Our pessimistic scenario projects $677,351 in decade earnings vs $831,850 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.

Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →