What can you do with a Electrical Engineering degree from California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo?

First, some facts. Of the Electrical Engineering graduates from California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo we've analyzed , here's how many have used (or NOT used) their degree in their career:


These are estimates based on AI analysis of 10 LinkedIn profiles (see below).

The verdict? On par with the average. Overall, with an average relevance score of 67%, Electrical Engineering graduates from California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo have about the same likelihood of finding work in this field as the average graduate across all fields:

Average score: 67%
Average relevance score across all fields: 67%

And for comparison, here's the chart for all profiles we've looked at across all degrees.

× Chart

Also, after graduating, 50% of these graduates have pursued further education other than another Bachelor's degree (such as a Masters degree or other), compared to the average across all profiles of 35%. This suggests you may need more than just a Bachelors degree to be competitive as a Electrical Engineering graduate.

See the details:

View a random Electrical Engineering graduate from California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo and our analysis:


Relevance score: 12%

We think this person has NOT gone into a career related to their degree.

DEGREE INFO

Graduated in 2017 from California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo with a Bachelors Degree in Electrical Engineering. Also pursued further education since (see below).

JOB HISTORY SINCE GRADUATION
Associate Test Engineer
KYOCERA Document Solutions Development America, Inc.
Jan 2018 - Sep 2019
As an Associate Test Engineer, some analytical and engineering skills from the Electrical Engineering degree may be applicable, but the core qualifications for the role do not directly require extensive knowledge of electrical engineering principles.

UX/UI Designer
KYOCERA Document Solutions Development America, Inc.
Oct 2019 - Mar 2022
The role of a UX/UI Designer primarily focuses on design and user experience principles, which are not directly related to the core skills acquired in an Electrical Engineering degree.

Senior UX/UI Designer
KYOCERA Document Solutions Development America, Inc.
Apr 2022 - Present
The position of Senior UX/UI Designer emphasizes design and user experience, which lacks direct relevance to the qualifications and specific technical knowledge gained in Electrical Engineering.

FURTHER DEGREES DONE SINCE GRADUATING
Certificate
UCLA Extension
2018 - 2020
ABOUT

No information provided.

What jobs can you get with a Electrical Engineering degree from California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo?

The top 10 most common jobs done by the graduates we've analyzed (ranked most common to least) are:


When looking at the jobs held by graduates from California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo with degrees in Electrical Engineering, a lot of them found their way into roles that are pretty aligned with their studies. Many of these graduates work in positions like reliability engineers, product engineers, and test engineers, where they use their technical skills and knowledge on a daily basis. For example, jobs at companies like OmniVision, Intel, and Northrop Grumman allow these individuals to apply core electrical engineering principles directly, making their work highly relevant to their education. Positions like NAND Product Development Engineer may touch on engineering but often lean more towards product management, so they're not as directly linked to the degree.

However, not all paths taken by these graduates have stayed strictly within the engineering realm. Some have ventured into roles like corporate recruiters or UX/UI designers, which are completely unrelated to electrical engineering. These positions mainly focus on skills outside of core engineering principles, showcasing that a degree in electrical engineering can sometimes lead to a variety of job types—not all of which utilize the technical knowledge learned in school. Overall, while there are certainly graduates who are directly applying their electrical engineering degree, there are also quite a few who have taken a detour into unrelated fields, highlighting the versatility of their education.

Here is a visual representation of the most common words in job titles for Electrical Engineering graduates (this is across all Electrical Engineering graduates we've analyzed, not just those who went to California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo):

What kind of career trajectories do Electrical Engineering graduates from California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo have? What do they do 1, 5 or 10 years out?

So, looking at the career paths of graduates from California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo with degrees in Electrical Engineering, it seems like many of them have started off in pretty solid engineering roles right after graduation. For instance, some of the alumni began their careers as Failure Analysis Engineers, Test Engineers, and New Product Introduction Engineers, which shows that they’re diving into technical work where they can apply their skills right out of school. It’s encouraging to see that most have remained in relevant engineering sectors—many working for big names like Intel, Northrop Grumman, and Texas Instruments. This suggests that a degree from Cal Poly gives you access to good job opportunities in the electrical engineering field.

Now, looking five to ten years out, it seems like a mix of those who continue to climb the corporate ladder in engineering and some who venture into roles that might not directly relate to their degree. For example, one graduate transitioned from being an Associate Test Engineer to a Senior UX/UI Designer, which shows that some folks might shift towards the design or user experience side of technology. There are also a few taking on management roles, like the Manager of Electronics Engineering at Northrop Grumman, which indicates that career growth is definitely possible for those who stick with it. Overall, while there's a handful that diverges into unrelated fields, many seem to be enjoying successful, fulfilling careers in their original domain. So, if you're considering a path in Electrical Engineering at Cal Poly, it looks like you'll have a solid shot at a great career.

How hard is a Electrical Engineering degree from California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo?

Getting a Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo is definitely on the challenging side, but it’s also super rewarding if you’re into it! The program is known for being rigorous with a heavy focus on hands-on experience, which means you’ll be spending a good chunk of time not just in lectures but also working on projects and labs. You’ll dive deep into complex subjects like circuits, systems, and signals, which can definitely be tough, especially if math and physics aren’t your strong suits. A lot of students find the workload to be quite heavy, but those who are motivated and interested in the subject usually find the process manageable—and even enjoyable in the end! So, if you’re ready to hit the books and tackle some tough concepts, it can be a great experience.

How long does it take?

Most commonly, in the LinkedIn profiles we've looked at, it takes people 4 years to finish a Bachelor degree in Electrical Engineering.

Do Electrical Engineering graduates from California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo tend to make good money?

Looking at the job trajectories of these Electrical Engineering grads from Cal Poly, it seems like a solid number of them are doing pretty well in terms of earnings. The ones who jumped into big tech companies like Intel and Cisco right after graduation or moved up the ranks in reliable firms like Northrop Grumman are likely pulling in decent salaries, especially with their experience over the years. Even the more recent grads have snagged roles at reputable companies, which usually means a nice paycheck. However, there are a couple who have bounced around in different roles, and their pathways look a bit less stable, so their earnings might not be as high. Overall, the trend suggests that most of these folks are likely making good money in their careers, especially compared to the average entry-level positions.

What buzzwords do Electrical Engineering graduates use to describe themselves?

Here is a visual representation of the most common words seen in the "about" section of LinkedIn profiles who have a Bachelor degree in Electrical Engineering (this is across all Electrical Engineering graduates we've analyzed, not just those who went to California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo). This may or may not be useful:

What are the best colleges for Electrical Engineering?

Here are all colleges offering a Bachelor degree in Electrical Engineering (ordered by the average relevance score of their Electrical Engineering graduates, best to worst) where we have analyzed at least 10 of their graduates:

College Score Count
Virginia Tech 94 10
University of South Florida 90 10
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute 90 16
Texas A&M University 89 29
Brigham Young University 89 14
Georgia Institute of Technology 89 13
Rochester Institute of Technology 89 13
Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology 89 19
Missouri University of Science and Technology 88 10
University of Massachusetts Lowell 86 11
Penn State University 85 34
San Jose State University 85 12
California State Polytechnic University-Pomona 85 19
The University of Texas at Austin 84 13
North Carolina State University 84 13
The University of Texas at Dallas 84 19
University of Central Florida 83 17
Purdue University 83 33
University at Buffalo 83 15
Birla Institute of Technology and Science, Pilani 81 13
PES University 81 12
University of California, Davis 80 15
The University of Texas at Arlington 80 13
University of Washington 79 20
Sharif University of Technology 79 10
University of California, Los Angeles 77 10
Arizona State University 75 25
Clemson University 75 13
University of Illinois at Chicago 74 13
ECPI University 74 11
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign 71 16
Florida International University 70 10
Temple University 70 11
The Ohio State University 69 10
KL University 68 15
California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo 67 10
SRM University 66 20
Vellore Institute of Technology 66 26
Sreenidhi Institute of Science and Technology 66 10
Anna University 65 27
DeVry University 64 12
Visvesvaraya Technological University 64 30
Jawaharlal Nehru Technological University, Kakinada 63 16
Jawaharlal Nehru Technological University 60 50
University of Mumbai 54 17
JNTUH College of Engineering Hyderabad 48 22