Electrical Engineering at University of Kentucky

Lexington, KY · Public · Bachelor's Degree · Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering
72 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
73
Optimistic
72
Base Case
68
Pessimistic
Earnings $78,006/yr (1% vs median)
AI Risk Very High (56% exposed)
Job Market Large (54,500 openings/yr)
ROI 14.8x earnings multiple (5.9x out-of-state)
Ranked #142 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 $817K $783K $668K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 15.5x 14.8x 12.6x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 6.1x 5.9x 5.0x
Probability of Field Employment 78% 70% 48%
DegreeOutlook Score 73 72 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)
$52,848
Out-of-state: $133,624 (5.9x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$68,872
-30% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$23,485
3.6 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$88,742
14% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

University of Kentucky's Electrical Engineering program produces graduates earning $78,006/yr — within striking distance of the $77,516 national average for this field.

The 14.8x 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 18% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

Loan repayment is a non-issue here — $23,485 in median debt clears quickly against $78,006 in annual earnings.

At #142 out of 262 programs, University of Kentucky's financial outcomes for Electrical Engineering trail the majority of peers. The value case depends on other factors.

Earnings growth is modest: $78,006 to $88,742 over five years (14% gain). This field may have a lower salary ceiling than high-growth professions.

About University of Kentucky

A 92% acceptance rate means University of Kentucky is accessible to most applicants, serving a student body of 23,189 in Lexington, KY.

See all programs and financial aid at University of Kentucky →

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 Engineering at Other Schools

Other Majors at University of Kentucky

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 University of Kentucky's Electrical Engineering program score?
A score of 72/100 reflects decent absolute metrics, but University of Kentucky trails the majority of Electrical Engineering programs on relative rankings. Context matters more than the raw number.
How vulnerable is Electrical Engineering to AI automation?
AI won't 'replace' Electrical Engineering 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.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →