Electrical Engineering at University of Massachusetts-Amherst

Amherst, MA · Public · Bachelor's Degree · Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering
71 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
73
Optimistic
71
Base Case
67
Pessimistic
Earnings $79,414/yr (2% vs median)
AI Risk Very High (56% exposed)
Job Market Large (54,500 openings/yr)
ROI 12.6x earnings multiple (5.6x out-of-state)
Ranked #159 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 $917K $873K $729K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 13.2x 12.6x 10.5x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 5.8x 5.6x 4.6x
Probability of Field Employment 78% 70% 48%
DegreeOutlook Score 73 71 67

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$69,428
Out-of-state: $157,172 (5.6x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$94,764
-36% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$27,000
4.1 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$99,215
25% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

Graduates earn $79,414/yr, roughly in line with the $77,516 national median for Electrical Engineering. The value proposition here depends on cost, not earnings.

The 12.6x 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 20% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

With first-year pay of $79,414 far exceeding the $27,000 median debt, the payback timeline is measured in months, not years.

At #159 out of 262 programs, University of Massachusetts-Amherst's financial outcomes for Electrical Engineering trail the majority of peers. The value case depends on other factors.

The five-year earnings trajectory from $79,414 to $99,215 shows 25% growth, reflecting steady but unremarkable salary progression.

About University of Massachusetts-Amherst

A 58% admission rate makes University of Massachusetts-Amherst accessible to a wide range of qualified students, one of the larger campuses at 23,694 students in Amherst, MA.

See all programs and financial aid at University of Massachusetts-Amherst →

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 Massachusetts-Amherst

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

How does University of Massachusetts-Amherst's Electrical Engineering program score?
A score of 71/100 reflects decent absolute metrics, but University of Massachusetts-Amherst 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 →