Electrical & Computer Engineering graduates pursue 4 occupations, with top roles paying $171,270/yr or more. The career cards below break down wages, daily tasks, and 10-year job growth projections for each.
Electrical & Computer Engineering is a focused area of study within Engineering. The program is available at 42 colleges across the U.S., from community colleges to research universities. About 1,988 students complete this program each year, most earning a master's. Coursework leans technical and quantitative, with lab or project work common.
Colleges Offering
42
Graduates / Year
1,988
Avg Net Price / yr
$19,765
Who Studies This? Credential Breakdown
Of the 1,988 students who complete Electrical & Computer Engineering programs each year, the majority (59%) earn a master's degree.
The breakdown below shows the full credential distribution.
32%59%
Master's59%
Bachelor's32%
Doctorate9%
What Can You Do With an Electrical & Computer Engineering Degree?
Electrical & Computer Engineering connects to 4 occupations in the job market. Architectural & Engineering Manager leads at $171,270/yr median. Expand any card to see daily responsibilities, in-demand skills, and 10-year growth projections.
Reading ComprehensionCritical ThinkingComplex Problem SolvingActive ListeningWriting
Day-to-day responsibilities
Research, design, develop, or test computer or computer-related equipment for commercial, industrial, military, or scientific use. May supervise the manufacturing and installation of computer or computer-related equipment and components.
Update knowledge and skills to keep up with rapid advancements in computer technology.
Design and develop computer hardware and support peripherals, including central processing units (CPUs), support logic, microprocessors, custom integrated circuits, and printers and disk drives.
Confer with engineering staff and consult specifications to evaluate interface between hardware and software and operational and performance requirements of overall system.
WritingReading ComprehensionCritical ThinkingComplex Problem SolvingActive Learning
Day-to-day responsibilities
Research, design, develop, test, or supervise the manufacturing and installation of electrical equipment, components, or systems for commercial, industrial, military, or scientific use.
Design, implement, maintain, or improve electrical instruments, equipment, facilities, components, products, or systems for commercial, industrial, or domestic purposes.
Oversee project production efforts to assure projects are completed on time and within budget.
Direct or coordinate manufacturing, construction, installation, maintenance, support, documentation, or testing activities to ensure compliance with specifications, codes, or customer requirements.
Teach courses pertaining to the application of physical laws and principles of engineering for the development of machines, materials, instruments, processes, and services. Includes teachers of subjects such as chemical, civil, electrical, industrial, mechanical, mineral, and petroleum engineering. Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching and those who do a combination of teaching and research.
Conduct research in a particular field of knowledge and publish findings in professional journals, books, or electronic media.
Prepare course materials, such as syllabi, homework assignments, and handouts.
Evaluate and grade students' class work, laboratory work, assignments, and papers.
Top Colleges for Electrical & Computer Engineering
The 20 colleges below are ranked by how many Electrical & Computer Engineering students they graduate each year. Scroll right to compare acceptance rate, net price, and median earnings side by side.
Ranked by Electrical & Computer Engineering graduate volume. Scroll right to compare key stats.
Read our methodology →
Related Engineering Programs
Electrical & Computer Engineering is one of 38 specializations within Engineering. The comparison below shows where this program ranks by 4-year median earnings.
Decide with data, not guesswork. These tools turn the numbers on this page
into a personal plan. Estimate the real cost of a Electrical & Computer Engineering program, compare colleges side-by-side, weigh the long-term payoff, and find
schools that match your profile.
The data on Electrical & Computer Engineering shows 2 measurable strengths and 2 real trade-offs. All points are sourced from College Scorecard earnings, BLS projections, and IPEDS graduate counts.
PROS
Fast-growing fieldRelated careers are projected to grow up to +8.1% over the next decade, with Engineering Teachers among the fastest-growing roles.
Strong hiring volumeRelated occupations generate more than 35,000 job openings per year combined, creating consistent demand for graduates.
CONS
Advanced degree often expectedTop roles in this field typically expect a master's degree or higher. A bachelor's may be a starting point rather than a terminal credential for the most competitive positions.
Limited program availabilityOnly 42 colleges offer this program nationally, which may limit geographic flexibility when choosing a school.
What jobs can you get with a Electrical & Computer Engineering degree?
Electrical & Computer Engineering degree holders pursue careers including Architectural & Engineering Manager, which pays a median of $171,270/yr. Scroll down to the Career Paths section to see wages and job growth projections for every related occupation.
How long does a Electrical & Computer Engineering program take?
While a bachelor's in this area takes four years, many Electrical & Computer Engineering students continue to a master's degree, adding one to two years. Some schools offer accelerated 5-year combined programs.
How many colleges offer Electrical & Computer Engineering?
42 colleges and universities in the United States offer Electrical & Computer Engineering programs. Options range from community colleges with certificates and associate degrees to research universities with doctoral tracks.
What is the difference between Electrical & Computer Engineering and Engineering?
Electrical & Computer Engineering is a focused concentration within the broader Engineering field. The Engineering major covers the full discipline; this program narrows the curriculum to Electrical & Computer Engineering-specific courses, skills, and career tracks. If you already know this is the direction you want, the specialized program gives you a more targeted credential.
What skills do employers look for in Electrical & Computer Engineering graduates?
Employers hiring Electrical & Computer Engineering graduates consistently prioritize analytical thinking, technical proficiency, and data interpretation. Employers typically prioritize candidates who can demonstrate hands-on project or internship experience alongside their coursework.
Is graduate school worth it for Electrical & Computer Engineering graduates?
In STEM fields, a master's degree can accelerate advancement into research, leadership, or senior engineering roles and often adds $15,000 to $40,000 in long-term earning potential, depending on specialization. The right answer depends on your career goals, program cost, and whether your target role explicitly rewards an advanced credential.
What is the job outlook for Electrical & Computer Engineering graduates?
The job outlook for Electrical & Computer Engineering graduates is moderate overall. Related occupations project an average of +6.6% job growth over the next 10 years. Engineering Teachers is among the strongest-growth roles at +8.1%. Growth varies by role and location, so check the Career Paths section for projections on each specific occupation.
Related Engineering Programs
Other programs in Engineering. Compare earnings, credentials, and career paths before committing to a specialization.
Free, data-backed guides to help you decide, built on the same federal data as this profile.
H
How to Choose a Major Pillar
A decision framework for picking a college major using your interests, aptitudes, and federal earnings data to reach a defensible choice before applying.
The real cost of a second major, when it pays back and when it doesn't, and why a focused single major with a relevant minor often beats a double major.
Why the 10-year job-growth outlook often matters more than today's salary, what the BLS projections measure, and how to use them to weigh the future of a field, not just its present.
Original data analyses built on the same federal data as this profile. Rankings, outliers, and patterns, no opinions.
All 38 Majors, Ranked by What Graduates Earn
The highest-earning college major out-pays the lowest by a factor of two and a half. The full ranking of all 38 fields by median graduate earnings, with job growth alongside.
Major earnings
Highest paying majors
Job growth
STEM
Field of study
Does Engineering Tech Out-Earn Engineering? The Data Says No
A popular claim holds that the applied engineering-tech degree pays more than the theoretical one. Across every program, engineering wins by about $10,000.
Engineering tech
Engineering
Program earnings
Applied degree
Technician careers
STEM Is Not One Thing: The Pay Gap Within STEM
Across 88 STEM programs the top one out-earns the bottom by $65,000 a year. Operations research pays $122,531; environmental design pays $57,461.
STEM earnings
Engineering pay
Computer science
Program earnings
Major choice
Continue Exploring
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