Best Schools for Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering

Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering graduates earn a median of $101,168 within four years of graduating, ranking #11 out of 283 tracked majors — 62% above the median across all fields. There are 282 colleges nationwide with tracked earnings for this major, producing 19,528 recent graduates.

Where you study matters: Carnegie Mellon University graduates earn $250,168 while Inter American University of Puerto Rico-Bayamon graduates earn $60,940 — a $189,228 difference. Factors like location, employer networks, co-op programs, and curriculum focus drive this gap. Across all fields, though, which major you pick separates earnings more than which college does.

Early career salary growth is modest: Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering graduates see an average 0% increase between year 1 and year 2 post-graduation, reflecting career advancement and skill development in the first years after college.

282
Schools
$101,168
Avg. 2yr Earnings
#11
of 283 Majors
19,528
Graduates

Public vs Private: Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering

Public (211 schools)
$99,891
avg. 2yr earnings
Private (70 schools)
$107,156
avg. 2yr earnings

Private schools produce $7,265 more in early earnings on average for Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering graduates. Factor in tuition difference to calculate which offers better ROI.

Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering by State

Also by state: Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Connecticut, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Oregon, Puerto Rico, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Utah, Virginia, Washington, Washington DC, West Virginia, Wisconsin

Top Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering Schools by Graduate Earnings

#1
Carnegie Mellon University logo

Carnegie Mellon University

Pittsburgh, PA · Private

$250,168
4yr Earnings
113 grads
2yr: $114,223 (57)
1yr: $116,935 (62)
Acceptance: 11.4%
#2
University of California-Berkeley logo

University of California-Berkeley

Berkeley, CA · Public

$200,543
4yr Earnings
188 grads
2yr: $128,868 (122)
1yr: $126,367 (182)
Acceptance: 11.7%
#3
Massachusetts Institute of Technology logo

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Cambridge, MA · Private

$161,118
4yr Earnings
109 grads
2yr: $121,226 (55)
1yr: $104,229 (90)
Acceptance: 4.7%
#4
Cornell University logo

Cornell University

Ithaca, NY · Private

$147,241
4yr Earnings
78 grads
2yr: $92,277 (40)
1yr: $88,459 (43)
Acceptance: 8.2%
#5
The University of Texas at Austin logo

The University of Texas at Austin

Austin, TX · Public

$146,003
4yr Earnings
261 grads
2yr: $80,550 (209)
1yr: $81,984 (224)
Acceptance: 29.1%
#6
Columbia University in the City of New York logo

Columbia University in the City of New York

New York, NY · Private

$143,332
4yr Earnings
16 grads · small sample
2yr: $74,953 (17)
Acceptance: 4.2%
#7
The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art logo

The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art

New York, NY · Private

$139,068
4yr Earnings
22 grads · small sample
Acceptance: 19.1%
#8
Rice University logo

Rice University

Houston, TX · Private

$136,656
4yr Earnings
20 grads · small sample
Acceptance: 7.9%
#9
University of Southern California logo

University of Southern California

Los Angeles, CA · Private

$131,532
4yr Earnings
49 grads
2yr: $80,567 (53)
1yr: $81,661 (43)
Acceptance: 10.0%
#10
University of California-Los Angeles logo

University of California-Los Angeles

Los Angeles, CA · Public

$126,209
4yr Earnings
90 grads
2yr: $83,915 (74)
1yr: $78,867 (66)
Acceptance: 8.7%
#11
California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo logo

California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo

San Luis Obispo, CA · Public

$125,240
4yr Earnings
118 grads
2yr: $79,647 (92)
1yr: $79,454 (93)
Acceptance: 29.8%
#12
University of California-Santa Cruz logo

University of California-Santa Cruz

Santa Cruz, CA · Public

$118,290
4yr Earnings
56 grads
2yr: $69,338 (34)
1yr: $66,378 (50)
Acceptance: 62.5%
#13
University of California-San Diego logo

University of California-San Diego

La Jolla, CA · Public

$118,150
4yr Earnings
186 grads
2yr: $69,606 (123)
1yr: $71,127 (205)
Acceptance: 24.5%
#14
Northeastern University logo

Northeastern University

Boston, MA · Private

$118,150
4yr Earnings
74 grads
2yr: $76,773 (57)
1yr: $77,708 (74)
Acceptance: 5.7%
#15
New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology logo

New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology

Socorro, NM · Public

$117,813
4yr Earnings
18 grads · small sample
1yr: $61,496 (23)
Acceptance: 54.0%
#16
University of Michigan-Ann Arbor logo

University of Michigan-Ann Arbor

Ann Arbor, MI · Public

$117,610
4yr Earnings
89 grads
2yr: $82,123 (66)
1yr: $78,393 (69)
Acceptance: 17.9%
#17
Villanova University logo

Villanova University

Villanova, PA · Private

$117,229
4yr Earnings
16 grads · small sample
2yr: $74,576 (20)
1yr: $71,115 (23)
Acceptance: 25.1%
#18
University of California-Santa Barbara logo

University of California-Santa Barbara

Santa Barbara, CA · Public

$117,215
4yr Earnings
54 grads
2yr: $72,134 (51)
1yr: $70,445 (44)
Acceptance: 27.8%
#19
University of Washington-Seattle Campus logo

University of Washington-Seattle Campus

Seattle, WA · Public

$116,010
4yr Earnings
169 grads
2yr: $70,961 (175)
1yr: $73,856 (181)
Acceptance: 42.5%
#20
University of Washington-Bothell Campus logo

University of Washington-Bothell Campus

Bothell, WA · Public

$116,010
4yr Earnings
169 grads
2yr: $70,961 (175)
1yr: $73,856 (181)
Acceptance: 91.8%
#21
University of Washington-Tacoma Campus logo

University of Washington-Tacoma Campus

Tacoma, WA · Public

$116,010
4yr Earnings
169 grads
2yr: $70,961 (175)
1yr: $73,856 (181)
Acceptance: 83.0%
#22
Prairie View A & M University logo

Prairie View A & M University

Prairie View, TX · Public

$115,939
4yr Earnings
28 grads · small sample
2yr: $70,009 (37)
1yr: $72,240 (31)
Acceptance: 75.3%
#23
University of Colorado Colorado Springs logo

University of Colorado Colorado Springs

Colorado Springs, CO · Public

$113,627
4yr Earnings
44 grads
2yr: $69,338 (25)
1yr: $68,511 (34)
Acceptance: 96.6%
#24
University of Notre Dame logo

University of Notre Dame

Notre Dame, IN · Private

$112,828
4yr Earnings
25 grads · small sample
2yr: $75,518 (29)
1yr: $75,696 (31)
Acceptance: 12.4%
#25
Sonoma State University logo

Sonoma State University

Rohnert Park, CA · Public

$112,757
4yr Earnings
21 grads · small sample
2yr: $54,713 (15)
1yr: $76,907 (21)
Acceptance: 94.7%
#26
San Francisco State University logo

San Francisco State University

San Francisco, CA · Public

$112,454
4yr Earnings
50 grads
2yr: $66,171 (22)
1yr: $58,942 (51)
Acceptance: 96.2%
#27
Stevens Institute of Technology logo

Stevens Institute of Technology

Hoboken, NJ · Private

$112,047
4yr Earnings
45 grads
2yr: $77,213 (26)
1yr: $73,943 (27)
Acceptance: 43.4%
#28
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign logo

University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

Champaign, IL · Public

$111,783
4yr Earnings
135 grads
2yr: $73,707 (125)
1yr: $74,981 (130)
Acceptance: 43.7%
#29
Georgia Institute of Technology-Main Campus logo

Georgia Institute of Technology-Main Campus

Atlanta, GA · Public

$111,655
4yr Earnings
169 grads
2yr: $73,992 (176)
1yr: $74,050 (166)
Acceptance: 16.5%
#30
Seattle University logo

Seattle University

Seattle, WA · Private

$111,410
4yr Earnings
38 grads
2yr: $71,473 (44)
1yr: $71,641 (51)
Acceptance: 76.0%
#31
University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus logo

University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus

Denver, CO · Public

$110,754
4yr Earnings
44 grads
2yr: $69,338 (34)
1yr: $70,065 (41)
Acceptance: 77.8%
#32
University of San Diego logo

University of San Diego

San Diego, CA · Private

$110,314
4yr Earnings
18 grads · small sample
2yr: $75,706 (20)
1yr: $72,417 (18)
Acceptance: 46.8%
#33
Kettering University logo

Kettering University

Flint, MI · Private

$109,977
4yr Earnings
42 grads
2yr: $78,612 (25)
1yr: $74,900 (40)
Acceptance: 79.1%
#34
Worcester Polytechnic Institute logo

Worcester Polytechnic Institute

Worcester, MA · Private

$109,386
4yr Earnings
98 grads
2yr: $72,507 (89)
1yr: $74,310 (104)
Acceptance: 58.5%
#35
Lehigh University logo

Lehigh University

Bethlehem, PA · Private

$108,503
4yr Earnings
18 grads · small sample
2yr: $72,168 (26)
1yr: $74,161 (26)
Acceptance: 29.3%
#36
Rutgers University-New Brunswick logo

Rutgers University-New Brunswick

New Brunswick, NJ · Public

$108,296
4yr Earnings
230 grads
2yr: $74,063 (68)
1yr: $70,205 (205)
Acceptance: 65.3%
#37
California State University-Fresno logo

California State University-Fresno

Fresno, CA · Public

$108,038
4yr Earnings
33 grads
2yr: $70,009 (29)
1yr: $69,361 (40)
Acceptance: 96.4%
#38
University of Maryland-College Park logo

University of Maryland-College Park

College Park, MD · Public

$107,834
4yr Earnings
103 grads
2yr: $71,761 (75)
1yr: $74,798 (117)
Acceptance: 44.8%
#39
SUNY Maritime College logo

SUNY Maritime College

Throggs Neck, NY · Public

$107,749
4yr Earnings
29 grads · small sample
2yr: $68,219 (31)
1yr: $74,563 (30)
Acceptance: 78.5%
#40
University of Florida logo

University of Florida

Gainesville, FL · Public

$107,543
4yr Earnings
128 grads
2yr: $75,405 (107)
1yr: $72,430 (135)
Acceptance: 24.0%
#41
Virginia Commonwealth University logo

Virginia Commonwealth University

Richmond, VA · Public

$107,487
4yr Earnings
47 grads
2yr: $69,338 (29)
1yr: $70,920 (49)
Acceptance: 93.1%
#42
University of Houston logo

University of Houston

Houston, TX · Public

$107,399
4yr Earnings
75 grads
2yr: $74,576 (56)
1yr: $75,967 (84)
Acceptance: 69.5%
#43
New York University logo

New York University

New York, NY · Private

$107,348
4yr Earnings
52 grads
2yr: $61,516 (41)
1yr: $63,125 (56)
Acceptance: 9.4%
#44
Western Washington University logo

Western Washington University

Bellingham, WA · Public

$107,131
4yr Earnings
27 grads · small sample
1yr: $68,568 (24)
Acceptance: 91.3%
#45
Texas Tech University logo

Texas Tech University

Lubbock, TX · Public

$107,110
4yr Earnings
72 grads
2yr: $73,530 (50)
1yr: $73,975 (64)
Acceptance: 70.9%
#46
University of California-Irvine logo

University of California-Irvine

Irvine, CA · Public

$106,871
4yr Earnings
100 grads
2yr: $65,387 (38)
1yr: $67,396 (88)
Acceptance: 25.6%
#47
Marquette University logo

Marquette University

Milwaukee, WI · Private

$106,686
4yr Earnings
20 grads · small sample
2yr: $68,592 (32)
1yr: $70,220 (23)
Acceptance: 87.4%
#48
San Diego State University logo

San Diego State University

San Diego, CA · Public

$106,416
4yr Earnings
119 grads
2yr: $69,757 (42)
1yr: $72,385 (107)
Acceptance: 34.4%
#49
University of North Dakota logo

University of North Dakota

Grand Forks, ND · Public

$106,162
4yr Earnings
48 grads
2yr: $76,460 (35)
1yr: $76,521 (41)
Acceptance: 77.1%
#50
Gonzaga University logo

Gonzaga University

Spokane, WA · Private

$106,155
4yr Earnings
17 grads · small sample
2yr: $69,338 (26)
1yr: $64,158 (28)
Acceptance: 76.0%

Showing top 50 of 282 schools. View all or filter by state above.

Majors with Similar Earnings

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best school for Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering?
Carnegie Mellon University ranks #1 for Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering with median graduate earnings of $250,168 within four years of graduating. There are 282 schools nationwide offering this major with tracked earnings data.
How much do Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering graduates earn?
Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering graduates earn an average of $101,168 within four years of graduating. This is 62% above the median across all majors. Earnings range from $60,940 to $250,168 depending on the school.
How hard is it to get into a top Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering program?
The average acceptance rate across Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering programs is 69.0%. The most selective program is at Stanford University with a 3.9% acceptance rate. Competitive programs value strong math/analytical skills and relevant coursework.
Is a public or private school better for Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering?
Private Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering programs average $107,156 in early earnings vs $99,891 at public schools. Private schools lead in earnings, but cost significantly more — calculate net price before deciding.

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Earnings are median 2 years after graduation for bachelor's degree holders, from the field-of-study file last updated June 2026. Institution-level figures elsewhere on the site come from the June 2026 release — Scorecard publishes the two separately.

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