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

First, some facts. Of the Electrical Engineering graduates from Purdue 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 33 LinkedIn profiles (see below).

The verdict? Significantly above average. Overall, with an average relevance score of 83%, Electrical Engineering graduates from Purdue University have a much higher likelihood (+16%) of finding work in this field compared to the average graduate across all fields:

Average score: 83%
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, 48% 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 Purdue University and our analysis:


Relevance score: 81%

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

DEGREE INFO

Graduated in 2014 from Purdue University with a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering. Also pursued further education since (see below).

JOB HISTORY SINCE GRADUATION
RF Application Engineer
Keysight Technologies
May 2017 - Nov 2021
As an RF Application Engineer at Keysight Technologies, the individual directly applies their electrical engineering knowledge and skills daily, particularly in the fields of radio frequency and signal processing.

Engineer
Apple
Dec 2021 - Present
While the engineering position at Apple may involve some relevant skills from electrical engineering, it is generally more focused on product design and development, which may not directly utilize the specific knowledge acquired in the bachelor's program.

FURTHER DEGREES DONE SINCE GRADUATING
Master of Science
University of Florida
2014 - 2016
ABOUT

Early engineering professional with a Master of Science in electrical engineering focused in RF electronics and devices from the University of Florida.

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

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


When analyzing the types of jobs that Purdue University electrical engineering grads have taken on, it seems that a big chunk of them falls under roles that heavily involve electrical systems and technology. A lot of graduates ended up in positions like Electrical Test Engineer, Automation Engineer, and Design Engineer, which are directly related to their studies and allow them to use what they learned about circuits, systems, and electrical engineering principles on a daily basis. Many roles in aerospace, automotive, and telecommunications also frequently appear, showcasing the versatile application of their education in high-tech environments. Job titles such as Aftermarket Engineer II, Systems Performance Engineer, and Electrical Project Engineer all point to strong correlations with core electrical engineering skills.

However, there are some roles that straddle the line between engineering and other fields. For instance, many professionals ventured into business and leadership positions or jobs that touch on engineering principles but aren't strictly engineering roles, like Business Development or Research Assistant positions in finance. These jobs might require analytical skills honed in their engineering programs, but they don't leverage the electrical engineering expertise directly. It showcases that while a degree in electrical engineering provides a solid foundation, its graduates can branch out into various sectors, sometimes diminishing the direct relevance of their academic background. Overall, though many have landed jobs that align well with their studies, there's still a sizeable group taking paths that don't fully utilize their electrical engineering skills.

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 Purdue University):

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

Graduates from Purdue University's Electrical Engineering program seem to have a pretty solid career trajectory. Most of the profiles show that right after graduation, many students land roles that are closely tied to their field, like Electrical Test Engineer, RF Application Engineer, or Automation Engineer. This highlights how the degree gives them a strong entry point into relevant industries such as automotive, aerospace, and electronics. It's quite common to see graduates taking positions at big companies like Ford, GE, and Boeing, which points to the reputation Purdue has in the engineering world. It seems like many start their careers in engineering roles that align well with their studies, often working on projects that are pivotal to the companies they join.

Fast forward five or ten years into their careers, and a lot of these graduates move up into leadership roles or specialized positions. You’ll notice that many have transitioned into project management, senior engineering roles, or even strategic positions, indicating career progression within engineering and technology. A significant number remain in fields related to their degree, showing that those early jobs in engineering set a solid foundation for long-term success. While there are a few outliers who have ventured into different fields—like dance instruction or finance—most graduates stick to their roots in electrical and systems engineering. Overall, it looks like a Purdue Electrical Engineering degree really paves the way for a solid, relevant, and rewarding career path!

How hard is a Electrical Engineering degree from Purdue University?

Alright, so a Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, especially at a solid school like Purdue, is generally not a walk in the park. You’re gonna dive deep into some pretty tough stuff, like circuit analysis, signal processing, and electromagnetic fields, which can be a real brain workout. The coursework is demanding and often requires a solid grasp of math and physics, plus lots of problem-solving skills. That said, if you’re super motivated and willing to put in the time, you can totally make it through. Just be prepared for late nights studying and some serious group projects. Overall, it’s definitely on the harder side compared to many other degrees, but it can also be really rewarding if you’re into it!

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 Purdue University tend to make good money?

Looking at all these Purdue Electrical Engineering grads and their job journeys, it seems like they’ve generally landed pretty decent gigs after graduation, which is great considering the field’s reputation for solid salaries. Many of them have climbed the ranks to managerial or specialized roles in important companies, like Collins Aerospace and Ford, which usually means good money. While some of the earlier positions might not shout "big bucks," the trajectory they take often leads to higher earnings down the line. Overall, it looks like they’re doing well for themselves, with a mix of stable jobs and some impressive titles thrown into the mix!

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 Purdue 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