Best colleges for Electrical in Pennsylvania
Ranked by graduate earnings
Carnegie Mellon University, Villanova University and Drexel University are the top bachelor's Electrical programs in Pennsylvania by graduate earnings. Carnegie Mellon University leads with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $139,337, College Scorecard. Carnegie Mellon University, University of Pennsylvania and Pennsylvania State University award the most Electrical degrees in Pennsylvania: 663, 208 and 184 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 28 Pennsylvania colleges offer Electrical and award 1,538 degrees and certificates a year in all.
The Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering program focuses on the principles and applications of electricity, electronics, and communication systems. This program is designed for students interested in the technological…
Top 8 bachelor's programs, ranked by graduate earnings
Ranked by median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard. Programs with fewer than 20 graduates a year, a graduation rate under 30%, or online, degree-completion or graduate-only status rank after the rest.
| # | Institution | Starting salary (1 yr) | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Carnegie Mellon University Pittsburgh Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $139,337 | 663 | 94% | $23,803 | $22,250 |
| 2 | Villanova University Villanova Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $90,302 | 40 | 92% | $33,774 | $27,000 |
| 3 | Drexel University Philadelphia Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $81,904 | 52 | 78% | $36,004 | $29,986 |
| 4 | Lehigh University Bethlehem Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $79,119 | 40 | 88% | $26,912 | $22,754 |
| 5 | University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus Pittsburgh Public · Bachelor's degree | $76,853 | 103 | 85% | — | $27,000 |
| 6 | Pennsylvania State University University Park Public · Bachelor's degree | $74,958 | 184 | 86% | — | $27,000 |
| 7 | Widener University Chester Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree Small program | $82,611 | 15 | 68% | $29,049 | $26,500 |
| 8 | Temple University Philadelphia Public · Bachelor's degree Small program | $75,148 | 18 | 75% | — | $27,000 |
Colleges awarding the most Electrical degrees in Pennsylvania
Top 10 by graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25 completions). Certificate and associate programs, online, degree-completion and graduate-only schools, and schools with a graduation rate under 30% are listed in full below.
| # | Institution | Graduates / yr | Starting salary (1 yr) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Carnegie Mellon University Pittsburgh Private not-for-profit | 663 | $139,337 |
| 2 | University of Pennsylvania Philadelphia Private not-for-profit | 208 | Not reported |
| 3 | Pennsylvania State University University Park Public | 184 | $74,958 |
| 4 | University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus Pittsburgh Public | 103 | $76,853 |
| 5 | Drexel University Philadelphia Private not-for-profit | 52 | $81,904 |
| 6 | Lehigh University Bethlehem Private not-for-profit | 40 | $79,119 |
| 7 | Villanova University Villanova Private not-for-profit | 40 | $90,302 |
| 8 | Pennsylvania State University - Penn State Erie-Behrend College Erie Public | 24 | Not reported |
| 9 | Temple University Philadelphia Public | 18 | $75,148 |
| 10 | Bucknell University Lewisburg Private not-for-profit | 17 | Not reported |
ShowHide the other 18 Pennsylvania colleges offering Electrical
| Institution | City | Control | Graduates / yr |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pennsylvania State University - Penn State Harrisburg | Middletown | Public | 32 |
| Pennsylvania State University - World Campus (Online) | University Park | Public | 19 |
| Lafayette College | Easton | Private not-for-profit | 17 |
| Widener University | Chester | Private not-for-profit | 15 |
| York College of Pennsylvania | York | Private not-for-profit | 15 |
| Grove City College | Grove City | Private not-for-profit | 14 |
| Gannon University | Erie | Private not-for-profit | 13 |
| Montgomery County Community College | Blue Bell | Public | 12 |
| Messiah University | Mechanicsburg | Private not-for-profit | 10 |
| Wilkes University | Wilkes-Barre | Private not-for-profit | 9 |
| University of Pittsburgh-Johnstown | Johnstown | Public | 6 |
| University of Scranton | Scranton | Private not-for-profit | 5 |
| Commonwealth University of Pennsylvania | Bloomsburg | Public | 5 |
| Alvernia University | Reading | Private not-for-profit | 4 |
| Pennsylvania State University - Penn State Wilkes-Barre | Dallas | Public | 4 |
| Point Park University | Pittsburgh | Private not-for-profit | 4 |
| Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania | Shippensburg | Public | 4 |
| Westminster College | New Wilmington | Private not-for-profit | 1 |
Career outlook
What this program leads to: Electrical Engineers (SOC 17-2071).
Top skills
What Electrical Engineers earn in Pennsylvania
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing Electrical programs in Pennsylvania.
Which Pennsylvania colleges award the most Electrical degrees?+
Carnegie Mellon University (663 graduates a year), University of Pennsylvania (208 graduates a year) and Pennsylvania State University (184 graduates a year) award the most Electrical degrees in Pennsylvania, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 28 Pennsylvania colleges offer Electrical.
What is the best college for Electrical in Pennsylvania?+
By graduate earnings, Carnegie Mellon University leads among bachelor's Electrical programs in Pennsylvania, with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $139,337, College Scorecard. Villanova University and Drexel University follow. By degrees awarded, Carnegie Mellon University is the largest, with 663 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25).
Which Electrical program in Pennsylvania has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, Carnegie Mellon University tops the list at $139,337. Compare it against graduates a year, graduation rate, cost, and debt in the ranked table above.
How much do Electrical Engineers earn in Pennsylvania?+
The average annual wage for Electrical Engineers in Pennsylvania is $118,310 (median $110,820), across about 6,970 jobs. Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025.
What is the focus of the Electrical program?+
The Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering program focuses on the principles and applications of electricity, electronics, and communication systems. This program is designed for students interested in the technological…
What skills will I develop in this program?+
You will develop writing, critical thinking, reading comprehension, active listening, and related professional skills.
What is the job outlook for Electrical Engineers?+
The national job outlook is about +7.2% growth with around 11,700 annual openings (BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034).
What is the typical education requirement?+
A Bachelor's degree is the typical entry-level education for this field (BLS).
About the data on this page
Every figure comes from an official federal or public source. Here is each one and the release it is currently on.
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