What can you do with a Electrical Engineering degree from Penn State University?

First, some facts. Of the Electrical Engineering graduates from Penn State University 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 34 LinkedIn profiles (see below).

The verdict? Significantly above average. Overall, with an average relevance score of 85%, Electrical Engineering graduates from Penn State University have a much higher likelihood (+18%) of finding work in this field compared to the average graduate across all fields:

Average score: 85%
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, 41% 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 Penn State University and our analysis:


Relevance score: 96%

We think this person has gone into a career highly relevant to their degree.

DEGREE INFO

Graduated in 2019 from Penn State University with a Bachelor of Science - BS in Electrical Engineering. No other secondary education since.

JOB HISTORY SINCE GRADUATION
Power Engineering Intern
API Technologies Corp.
Jan 2019 - May 2019
The Power Engineering Intern role involves some engineering principles relevant to electrical engineering, but may not fully utilize the core qualifications specific to the degree on a daily basis.

Associate Specialist, Engineering
Merck
Dec 2019 - Jul 2022
The Associate Specialist, Engineering position at Merck directly applies engineering principles that are foundational in electrical engineering, making it highly relevant.

Specialist, Engineering
Merck
Jul 2022 - Apr 2024
As a Specialist, Engineering at Merck, the position utilizes specific skills and knowledge from the electrical engineering degree, maintaining high relevance in daily work.

Senior Specialist, Engineering
Merck
Apr 2024 - Present
The Senior Specialist, Engineering role at Merck requires advanced engineering expertise, likely leveraging core knowledge from the electrical engineering degree, thus being fully relevant.

ABOUT

No information provided.

What jobs can you get with a Electrical Engineering degree from Penn State University?

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 Penn State’s Electrical Engineering program, it seems like a good number of them have landed roles that are firmly tied to their degree. Common positions include Electrical Engineers, Electronic Engineers, and Automation Technicians, which directly apply the technical skills learned during their studies. Many of these jobs require a solid grasp of electrical engineering principles, making them quite relevant to what they studied. There’s also a trend where graduates take on roles like Project Managers or various engineering roles in the energy sector, which still hinge on their foundational engineering knowledge.

However, not every job listed has maintained that relevance. Some grads moved into roles that, while technical, stray away from directly using electrical engineering skills. Positions in software engineering and project management, for example, might still cover some engineering ground, but aren’t strictly electrical engineering jobs. Similarly, some graduates have taken on roles in military or non-engineering specific fields, which dilutes the direct connection to their electrical engineering education. Overall, while many graduates are utilizing their degrees well, there’s a sizable number who have diversified into fields that either utilize a portion of their technical skills or have moved into areas that lack a direct link to electrical engineering altogether.

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 Penn State University):

What kind of career trajectories do Electrical Engineering graduates from Penn State University have? What do they do 1, 5 or 10 years out?

Graduates from Penn State University with degrees in Electrical Engineering generally follow a solid career trajectory that aligns well with their field of study. Many of them tend to land jobs in engineering-related roles soon after graduation, often stepping into positions such as project engineers, software engineers, or various technician roles. For instance, those who graduated in the early 2010s started out in positions like Development Technician or Automation Technician before moving up the ladder to project management or specialized engineering roles. By five to ten years after graduation, many have climbed into senior management or leadership positions, showcasing not only their technical skills but also their ability to oversee projects and teams effectively.

It’s also interesting to note that while most graduates remain within the realm of electrical engineering and related fields, some have branched into different areas, like software engineering or project management, which might not directly require an electrical engineering focus but still leverage their analytical and problem-solving skills. On the whole, it looks like most graduates are doing well, finding meaningful and relevant careers in engineering. This is a promising sign for anyone considering pursuing this path! So if you're thinking about studying Electrical Engineering at Penn State, it seems like a great choice for a bright career ahead!

How hard is a Electrical Engineering degree from Penn State University?

Getting a Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, whether at Penn State or anywhere else, can be pretty challenging. You’ll dive into tough subjects like circuit analysis, electromagnetism, and control systems, and it can feel like a mountain of math and science. It's definitely not a walk in the park—there will be late nights spent studying and tackling complex projects. That said, if you have a solid interest in how things work and you're willing to put in the effort, it can be really rewarding. Plus, you'll have tons of resources and support along the way. Overall, it's on the harder side compared to many other majors, but a lot of students find it worth the grind!

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 Penn State University tend to make good money?

Looking at the job paths of these Electrical Engineering grads from Penn State, it seems like they generally landed some pretty solid gigs that likely pay well. Many started with internships or technician roles, which is totally normal, but they quickly moved up to positions like project managers, associate directors, and even CTO roles—definitely signs of successful careers! Companies like Merck and Lockheed Martin typically offer great salaries, and roles in emerging tech fields like autonomy and software engineering are usually on the higher end of the pay scale too. Overall, it appears they're doing alright financially, especially with the potential for even better salaries as they gain more experience. So, if you're considering a career in engineering, it's looking like a good bet!

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 Penn State University). 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