Program Analysis
First-year earnings of $83,364 at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University come in 8% above the national median of $77,516 for Electrical programs.
The 14.5x 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 21% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.
With first-year pay of $83,364 far exceeding the $23,562 median debt, the payback timeline is measured in months, not years.
Ranked #102 out of 262 programs, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University's Electrical offering sits in the upper half but doesn't break into the top tier.
The five-year earnings trajectory from $83,364 to $103,147 shows 24% growth, reflecting steady but unremarkable salary progression.