What can you do with a Electrical Engineering degree from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute?

First, some facts. Of the Electrical Engineering graduates from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute 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 16 LinkedIn profiles (see below).

The verdict? Great! Overall, with an average relevance score of 90%, Electrical Engineering graduates from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute have a substantially higher likelihood (+23%) of finding work in this field compared to the average graduate across all fields:

Average score: 90%
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, 43% 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 Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and our analysis:


Relevance score: 100%

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

DEGREE INFO

Graduated in 2023 from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute with a Bachelor of Science - BS E.E. in Electrical Engineering. No other secondary education since.

JOB HISTORY SINCE GRADUATION
Instrumentation and Controls Engineer
Atlas Copco
Jun 2023 - Present
As an Instrumentation and Controls Engineer, this position directly applies the electrical engineering principles and technical skills learned during the Bachelor's degree, requiring relevant knowledge on a daily basis.

ABOUT

An electrical engineer with a background in control systems design and semiconductor technology. Currently employed at Atlas Copco, where I assist in the design and implementation of control and monitoring systems on large scale, multi-stage centrifugal gas compressors.

What jobs can you get with a Electrical Engineering degree from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute?

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


When looking at the job profiles of graduates from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute with degrees in Electrical Engineering, it's clear that many end up in positions that are closely related to their field. Common roles include Electrical Engineers, Product Development Managers, and various engineering positions at organizations like Pepco, ASML, and Raytheon. These jobs typically require a strong application of electrical engineering principles and emphasize the technical skills acquired during their academic training. For instance, many graduates have been involved in positions where they designed, tested, or managed electrical systems, which clearly aligns with their studies.

However, not all graduates find themselves fully using their electrical engineering skills in their jobs. Some take on roles in software engineering or management positions, where while they may draw on tech knowledge, they don't necessarily apply their electrical engineering background on a daily basis. Roles like Software Engineer or Product Marketing Engineer don't always require an in-depth understanding of electrical systems. Overall, while many graduates are successfully working in jobs relevant to electrical engineering, there's a noticeable trend of diversification into roles that might only partially relate to their degree. That said, a significant number still maintain a strong connection to the principles of electrical engineering, showcasing the versatility and foundation their education provides.

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 Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute):

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

So, if we're looking at graduates from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute who studied Electrical Engineering, there's a pretty clear pattern in their career trajectories. Right after graduating, many students land their first jobs in engineering roles, often starting out as interns or entry-level engineers at reputable companies. For instance, recent graduates have taken on positions in companies like Raytheon, Atlas Copco, and General Dynamics, which shows a strong alignment with their field of study. This initial focus on engineering roles suggests that the skills they've gained during their degree have effectively prepared them for the industry, placing them in technical roles that are relevant to Electrical Engineering.

Fast forward five to ten years down the line, and it seems like many of these graduates continue to advance in their careers, often moving up the ranks within the same company or transitioning to other companies in similar roles. For example, those who started in positions like support engineers or application engineers often make their way into managerial roles, such as product managers or directors. Notably, some individuals have even gone on to hold senior engineering positions. So overall, it looks like a lot of RPI Electrical Engineering graduates are not just getting jobs but are thriving and finding relevant opportunities in their field. Of course, as with any degree, there are some who may vary from this path, but generally speaking, it seems like they're doing quite well in their careers!

How hard is a Electrical Engineering degree from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute?

Getting a Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, especially at a place like Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, is definitely on the challenging side. The courses are heavy on math and physics, and you'll find yourself dealing with complex concepts like circuit theory, signal processing, and control systems. RPI has a strong reputation, so you can expect rigorous coursework and projects that really push you to think critically and apply what you've learned. That said, if you're passionate about the subject and willing to put in the effort, you can totally handle it! Just be prepared to work hard and manage your time well, because it won’t be a walk in the park.

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 Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute tend to make good money?

From what I can see, it looks like a lot of these Electrical Engineering graduates from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute have found some solid job opportunities and are likely making decent money. For instance, graduates who started their careers in roles like Electrical Engineer or Software Engineer seem to have progressed to higher positions over time, like Product Managers or Directors, which generally come with better salaries. Even the more recent graduates are landing roles at reputable companies where engineering typically pays well. Overall, while some may have started with more entry-level positions, many seem to have moved up the ladder fairly quickly, so it’s fair to say they’re doing pretty well financially!

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 Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute). 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