Best colleges for Electrical in Virginia
Ranked by graduate earnings
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, George Mason University and University of Virginia are the top bachelor's Electrical programs in Virginia by graduate earnings. Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University leads with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $83,364, College Scorecard. Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, George Mason University and University of Virginia award the most Electrical degrees in Virginia: 203, 86 and 69 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 9 Virginia colleges offer Electrical and award 499 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 6 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 | Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University Blacksburg Public · Bachelor's degree | $83,364 | 203 | 86% | — | $25,849 |
| 2 | George Mason University Fairfax Public · Bachelor's degree | $82,175 | 86 | 68% | — | $26,725 |
| 3 | University of Virginia Charlottesville Public · Bachelor's degree | $82,135 | 69 | 96% | — | — |
| 4 | Virginia Commonwealth University Richmond Public · Bachelor's degree | $77,938 | 38 | 63% | — | $24,000 |
| 5 | Old Dominion University Norfolk Public · Bachelor's degree | $73,418 | 39 | 46% | — | $27,580 |
| 6 | Liberty University Lynchburg Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree Small program | $76,127 | 9 | 65% | $28,911 | $26,899 |
Colleges awarding the most Electrical degrees in Virginia
Top 9 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 | Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University Blacksburg Public | 203 | $83,364 |
| 2 | George Mason University Fairfax Public | 86 | $82,175 |
| 3 | University of Virginia Charlottesville Public | 69 | $82,135 |
| 4 | Old Dominion University Norfolk Public | 39 | $73,418 |
| 5 | Virginia Commonwealth University Richmond Public | 38 | $77,938 |
| 6 | Norfolk State University Norfolk Public | 30 | Not reported |
| 7 | Christopher Newport University Newport News Public | 13 | Not reported |
| 8 | Virginia Military Institute Lexington Public | 12 | Not reported |
| 9 | Liberty University Lynchburg Private not-for-profit | 9 | $76,127 |
Career outlook
What this program leads to: Electrical Engineers (SOC 17-2071).
Top skills
What Electrical Engineers earn in Virginia
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing Electrical programs in Virginia.
Which Virginia colleges award the most Electrical degrees?+
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (203 graduates a year), George Mason University (86 graduates a year) and University of Virginia (69 graduates a year) award the most Electrical degrees in Virginia, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 9 Virginia colleges offer Electrical.
What is the best college for Electrical in Virginia?+
By graduate earnings, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University leads among bachelor's Electrical programs in Virginia, with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $83,364, College Scorecard. George Mason University and University of Virginia follow. By degrees awarded, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University is the largest, with 203 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25).
Which Electrical program in Virginia has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University tops the list at $83,364. Compare it against graduates a year, graduation rate, cost, and debt in the ranked table above.
How much do Electrical Engineers earn in Virginia?+
The average annual wage for Electrical Engineers in Virginia is $123,830 (median $119,030), across about 7,260 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.
Explore every U.S. college in one conversation
Clema turns plain-language questions into sourced answers across every U.S. institution — earnings, aid, acceptance, graduation, safety, and athletics from IPEDS, College Scorecard, and 10+ federal datasets, built in.
Free for teams up to 3 · No credit card