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Electrical Engineering at University of Washington-Tacoma Campus

Tacoma, WA · Public · Bachelor's Degree · Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering

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

Optimistic

Base Case

Pessimistic

Earnings $81,989/yr (6% vs median)

AI Risk Very High (56% exposed)

Job Market Large (54,500 openings/yr)

ROI 18.6x earnings multiple (5.6x out-of-state)

Ranked #67 of 262 Electrical programs Top 50%

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	$1,005K	$952K	$783K
Earnings Multiple (In-State)	19.6x	18.6x	15.3x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State)	6.0x	5.6x	4.6x
Probability of Field Employment	78%	70%	48%
DegreeOutlook Score	77	75	71

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)

$51,268

Out-of-state: $168,684 (5.6x ROI)

4-Year Net Price (After Aid)

$40,068

22% less than sticker · See by income

Median Debt at Graduation

$14,000

2.0 months of Year 1 earnings

Reported Earnings (5 Year)

$108,406

32% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

First-year earnings of $81,989 at University of Washington-Tacoma Campus come in 6% above the national median of $77,516 for Electrical Engineering programs.

Every dollar of in-state tuition returns an estimated 18.6x 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.

With first-year pay of $81,989 far exceeding the $14,000 median debt, the payback timeline is measured in months, not years.

At #67 of 262 Electrical Engineering programs, University of Washington-Tacoma Campus scores above the median — competitive but not a standout.

Earnings grow from $81,989 to $108,406 over five years — a 32% increase that's moderate and in line with typical career progression.

About University of Washington-Tacoma Campus

University of Washington-Tacoma Campus accepts 83% of applicants — an open-access institution by design, with a smaller student body of 3,989 in Tacoma, WA. With 40% of students on Pell Grants, the campus draws from a broad economic spectrum.

See all programs and financial aid at University of Washington-Tacoma Campus →

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 Washington-Tacoma Campus

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

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Electrical Engineering at University of Washington-Tacoma Campus?

This program scores 75/100 — placing it among the stronger programs for Electrical Engineering nationally. The score reflects above-average earnings, manageable AI risk, and solid financial return.

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 $783,370 in decade earnings vs $1,004,729 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.

Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →