Electrical and Electronics Engineering at Pennsylvania State University (The) - Altoona
PA · Bachelor's Degree · CIP 14.10
Executive Summary
Graduates with a Electrical and Electronics Engineering degree from Pennsylvania State University (The) - Altoona earn a median salary of $88,861 within five years of graduation. Adjusted for the cost of living in PA, this represents a national purchasing power equivalent of $90,582. The degree typically pays for itself in 4 years.
Quick Insights
How this degree looks at a glance
A fast read on salary range, break-even speed, living-cost impact, and where graduates from this school usually land.
Salary Ranges
Starting Range
$75,063
Typical Career
$88,861
Top Performers
$107,041
Estimated break-even: 4 years.
Debt-to-Income Check
$592
Estimated comfortable monthly loan payment
Typical monthly pay is approximately $7,405. Most students can comfortably afford about a $592 monthly loan payment with this degree.
Comparison Bench
This degree earns 2.3x more than the average US high school graduate and 1.1x more than the average college graduate.
Purchasing Power Context
A dollar in Pennsylvania buys what costs $0.98 nationally.
Industry Breadcrumbs
Top industries for bachelor's graduates from this school: Health Care & Social Assistance, Educational Services, Manufacturing.
Where Bachelor's Graduates from This School Work
Institution-wide industry mix for graduates, 5 years after graduation. This is not major-specific. Source: Census PSEO Flows.
5-Year Median Salary — National Purchasing Power Equivalent
$90,582
Nominal: $88,861 in Pennsylvania (COL 98.1% of national avg) · 1.9% higher purchasing power
10-Year Earnings Curve
Break-Even Timeline
How long until cumulative earnings advantage exceeds total college investment (tuition + opportunity cost vs. entering workforce directly after high school).
Total Investment
$155,168
4yr tuition + 4yr opportunity cost
HS Graduate Baseline
$38,792/yr
BLS 2023 median, HS diploma
View Raw Data: Median Earnings by Year
| Timeframe | 25th Pct. | Median (50th) | 75th Pct. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Year After Graduation | $55,741 | $70,575 | $85,702 |
| 5 Years After Graduation | $75,063 | $88,861 | $107,041 |
| 10 Years After Graduation | $85,775 | $104,232 | $127,912 |
Source: US Census Bureau Post-Secondary Employment Outcomes (PSEO), 2025 release. Earnings shown for Bachelor's degree graduates (all cohorts combined).
How We Calculate Purchasing Power
The median salary of $88,861 is reported by the US Census Bureau's Post-Secondary Employment Outcomes (PSEO) dataset for graduates working in PA, which has a cost-of-living index of 98.1% of the national average.
Formula: Adjusted Salary = Nominal × (1.0 ÷ COL Index)
= $88,861 × (1.0 ÷ 0.9810)
= $90,582 National Average equivalent.
COL index source: BLS Regional Consumer Price Index & MIT Living Wage Project, 2023. Full methodology →
Career Verdict
The top industries for graduates indicate a diverse range of opportunities, with 24.5% entering Health Care & Social Assistance, 12.8% in Educational Services, and 11.2% in Manufacturing. The estimated break-even point compared to a high-school-only path is around four years, suggesting a favorable return on investment for those pursuing this degree. Overall, the combination of strong earnings potential and varied industry entry points supports a positive outlook for graduates in this field.
Compare with Another School
See how the Electrical and Electronics Engineering degree at Pennsylvania State University (The) - Altoona stacks up against another institution side-by-side.
Ready to apply?
Start your application for Electrical and Electronics Engineering at Pennsylvania State University (The) - Altoona.
Explore More
Other Degrees at Pennsylvania State University (The) - Altoona
Data sources: US Census Bureau Post-Secondary Employment Outcomes (PSEO). Cost-of-living index: BLS Regional CPI & MIT Living Wage Project. Cost of attendance: IPEDS. For informational use only; data may be suppressed for small cohort sizes.