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Electrical Engineering at University of California-Riverside

Riverside, CA · Public · Bachelor's Degree · Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering
71 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
72
Optimistic
71
Base Case
68
Pessimistic
Earnings $66,430/yr (-14% vs median)
AI Risk Very High (56% exposed)
Job Market Large (54,500 openings/yr)
ROI 16.7x earnings multiple (5.3x out-of-state)
Ranked #154 of 262 Electrical programs

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 $998K $945K $779K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 17.6x 16.7x 13.7x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 5.5x 5.3x 4.3x
Probability of Field Employment 78% 70% 48%
DegreeOutlook Score 72 71 68

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$56,680
Out-of-state: $179,788 (5.3x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$54,828
3% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$19,250
3.5 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$102,568
54% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

First-year earnings of $66,430 track close to the $77,516 national median for Electrical Engineering programs. This is a middle-of-the-road outcome on salary alone.

Every dollar of in-state tuition returns an estimated 16.7x in decade earnings — an exceptional ratio that places this among the highest-ROI Electrical Engineering programs nationally.

Some AI exposure exists in Electrical Engineering's typical career paths, with 56% of job tasks potentially affected. The pessimistic scenario still projects solid returns, with a 22% gap from the optimistic case.

At $19,250 in median debt against $66,430 in first-year earnings, graduates can expect to clear their loan balance in under six months of full earnings.

Ranked #154 of 262 Electrical Engineering programs, University of California-Riverside falls below the median. Stronger options exist, though cost and location may compensate.

Five-year earnings of $102,568 show a 54% jump from the $66,430 starting point — strong upward trajectory suggesting real career acceleration.

About University of California-Riverside

With a 63% acceptance rate, University of California-Riverside is moderately selective, serving a student body of 22,644 in Riverside, CA. Pell Grant recipients make up 47% of the student body — a marker of economic diversity.

See all programs and financial aid at University of California-Riverside →

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

Compare this program → View all 262 schools offering Electrical Engineering →

Electrical Engineering at Other Schools

Carnegie Mellon University ($139,337) University of California-Berkeley ($137,295) Massachusetts Institute of Technology ($117,345) Cornell University ($100,516) The University of Texas at Austin ($96,997) Rice University ($96,751) National University ($93,417) Northeastern University ($92,222)

Other Majors at University of California-Riverside

Computer Science ($81,034) Information Science/Studies ($76,090) Chemical Engineering ($68,245) Computer Engineering ($65,049) Mechanical Engineering ($62,554) Biomedical/Medical Engineering ($61,342) Environmental/Environmental Health Engineering ($59,309) Business Administration, Management and Operations ($43,213)

Consider the Trade Route?

Compare Electrical Engineering trade programs on TradeSchoolWorth →

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

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Electrical Engineering at University of California-Riverside?
This program scores 71/100 — a respectable number in isolation, but it ranks in the bottom half of Electrical Engineering programs nationally. The field is competitive, and stronger options exist.
Will AI replace Electrical Engineering careers?
With 56% of typical job tasks exposed to AI, this is one of the higher-risk fields. Our pessimistic scenario projects $779,072 in decade earnings vs $997,719 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →