What can you do with a Electrical Engineering degree from Virginia Tech?

First, some facts. Of the Electrical Engineering graduates from Virginia Tech 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? Great! Overall, with an average relevance score of 94%, Electrical Engineering graduates from Virginia Tech have a substantially higher likelihood (+27%) of finding work in this field compared to the average graduate across all fields:

Average score: 94%
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, 60% 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 Virginia Tech and our analysis:


Relevance score: 100%

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

DEGREE INFO

Graduated in 2014 from Virginia Tech with a Bachelor of Science - BS in Electrical Engineering. Also pursued further education since (see below).

JOB HISTORY SINCE GRADUATION
Electrical System & Design Engineer
Boeing
Jun 2014 - Nov 2018
The role of Electrical System & Design Engineer directly utilizes the specialized knowledge and skills obtained from a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering, involving daily application of engineering principles.

Integrated Product Team Lead
Boeing
Mar 2016 - Nov 2018
As Integrated Product Team Lead, the position leverages significant electrical engineering expertise, requiring both core qualifications and practical knowledge from the Bachelor's degree on a regular basis.

Electrical Design & Analysis Engineer
Boeing
Nov 2018 - Jan 2021
The Electrical Design & Analysis Engineer role necessitates the direct application of electrical engineering concepts and methodologies learned during the Bachelor's program, making it highly relevant.

System Engineer
Boeing
Jan 2021 - Feb 2022
As a System Engineer, this job involves critical systems engineering skills that align directly with the principles of electrical engineering studied in the Bachelor's program, utilizing that knowledge daily.

Senior System Engineer
Northrop Grumman
Feb 2022 - Present
The Senior System Engineer position at Northrop Grumman requires advanced understanding of electrical systems and design, directly stemming from the knowledge acquired in the Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering.

FURTHER DEGREES DONE SINCE GRADUATING
Master of Science - MS
Washington University in St. Louis
2015 - 2018
ABOUT

No information provided.

What jobs can you get with a Electrical Engineering degree from Virginia Tech?

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


From the analysis of LinkedIn profiles of Virginia Tech Electrical Engineering graduates, it’s pretty clear that many of them have landed jobs that are quite directly related to their degree. The most common roles seem to cluster around major companies like Boeing and Northrop Grumman, where graduates hold roles with titles like Electrical Engineer, Systems Engineer, and even Associate Electrical Engineer. These positions demand a solid grasp of electrical engineering principles, whether it's in designing electrical systems for ships or developing advanced technologies like quantum computing. So, if you’re following this path, there are definitely plenty of opportunities to apply what you learn in class in the real world!

However, not every job listed was a perfect match to the Electrical Engineering field. For instance, some roles like the Bus & Technology Delivery Analyst at Accenture Federal Services and a Graduate Research Assistant position leaned more towards lighter engineering applications or research-focused tasks rather than hands-on electrical engineering work. Overall, while most graduates are able to secure jobs that are highly relevant to their studies, there are a few exceptions where the connection is a bit weaker. Still, if you’re passionate about electrical engineering, Virginia Tech seems to equip you pretty well for the career path ahead!

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 Virginia Tech):

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

From the looks of it, graduates from Virginia Tech with an Electrical Engineering degree tend to have pretty solid career trajectories. Many of them kick off their careers with engineering roles that align closely with their degree. For instance, graduates from 2012 and 2014 have landed jobs at major companies like Boeing and Northrop Grumman, quickly working their way up into senior positions in just a few years. Most of these graduates seem to stick with high-tech industries or engineering firms, which is awesome because it means they're likely applying what they studied in school right in the real world.

Fast forward five or ten years, and you can see a trend of advancement in their careers. Several people who graduated in the last few years have already made significant moves into roles that are not only higher up but also involve new and emerging technologies, like quantum computing or advanced systems engineering. While there are a few who took on internships or short-term roles initially, most transitioned into full-time positions that clearly reflect their engineering background. Overall, it looks like if you graduate from Virginia Tech with an Electrical Engineering degree, you’re setting yourself up for a promising career in a relevant field.

How hard is a Electrical Engineering degree from Virginia Tech?

Getting a Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering at Virginia Tech, like most places, can be pretty challenging, especially if you’re not super into math and science. You'll dive into complex topics like circuit design, signal processing, and firmware programming, and the coursework can be pretty intense at times, with heavy problem sets and lab work. It's definitely not a walk in the park—students often say it's one of the tougher engineering disciplines. But if you have a knack for the subject and are willing to put in the effort, it can also be really rewarding. Just be ready to buckle down and study hard, because it tends to be harder than average compared to other majors.

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 Virginia Tech tend to make good money?

From what I've seen in these LinkedIn profiles, it looks like the Virginia Tech Electrical Engineering grads have generally landed some pretty solid jobs, especially the ones who graduated a bit earlier. For example, the 2012 grad has been climbing the ranks at Newport News Shipbuilding for over a decade, which usually means they’re making good money. The 2014 grad has been with Boeing, moving up through several roles, and Northrop Grumman is known for good salaries as well. Even the more recent graduates from 2020 and 2021 are snagging jobs with reputable companies right away, which is a good sign for their paychecks. Although some of the newer grads are still starting out, overall, it seems like these Electrical Engineering majors are on a decent financial path, especially when you consider the industry they’re in!

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 Virginia Tech). 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