Program Analysis
Graduates earn $72,926/yr, roughly in line with the $77,516 national median for Electrical. The value proposition here depends on cost, not earnings.
With a 15.7x return on in-state tuition over ten years, the financial case for this program is compelling by virtually any measure.
The 21% difference between AI scenarios reflects partial automation exposure. Some Electrical career paths face displacement, but others in the field are more insulated.
With first-year pay of $72,926 far exceeding the $21,129 median debt, the payback timeline is measured in months, not years.
A #141 ranking among 262 Electrical programs places University of Illinois Chicago in the lower half. Price, proximity, and personal fit become the stronger arguments.
A 38% earnings increase from $72,926 to $100,600 over five years is solid — not a moonshot, but evidence of normal career advancement.