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Electrical at San Diego State University

San Diego, CA · Public · Bachelor's Degree · Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering

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

Optimistic

Base Case

Pessimistic

Earnings $75,061/yr (-3% vs median)

AI Risk Very High (56% exposed)

Job Market Large (54,500 openings/yr)

ROI 26.9x earnings multiple (11.1x out-of-state)

Ranked #41 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	$939K	$892K	$743K
Earnings Multiple (In-State)	28.3x	26.9x	22.4x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State)	11.6x	11.1x	9.2x
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)

$33,160

Out-of-state: $80,680 (11.1x ROI)

4-Year Net Price (After Aid)

$64,696

-95% less than sticker · See by income

Median Debt at Graduation

$17,999

2.9 months of Year 1 earnings

Reported Earnings (5 Year)

$100,171

33% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

First-year earnings of $75,061 track close to the $77,516 national median for Electrical programs. This is a middle-of-the-road outcome on salary alone.

The 26.9x 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 21% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

At $17,999 in median debt against $75,061 in first-year earnings, graduates can expect to clear their loan balance in under six months of full earnings.

Ranked #41 out of 262 programs, San Diego State University's Electrical program lands in the top 5% — a strong signal of graduate success.

The five-year earnings trajectory from $75,061 to $100,171 shows 33% growth, reflecting steady but unremarkable salary progression.

About San Diego State University

San Diego State University admits 34% of applicants, placing it among selective institutions, serving a student body of 33,654 in San Diego, CA.

See all programs and financial aid at San Diego State 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 at Other Schools

Other Majors at San Diego State University

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 San Diego State University's Electrical program score?

A score of 75/100 indicates strong financial outcomes. San Diego State University'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 San Diego State University rank so high for Electrical?

The #41 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 →