Electrical engineering
Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering
Ignite your spark for engineering
Develop more reliable power systems. Design faster bullet trains. Build the next-generation minicomputer. These are just a few examples of the exciting projects you could lead as an electrical engineer.
In this program, you will learn how to design and test electrical circuits and systems for many different types of applications. You can explore solutions for the storage and transmission of power, investigate the workings of cell phones, computers and MP3 players, study control systems in cars and planes and much more.
Students in this program have special opportunities to work with the U.S. Navy designing autonomous submarines, fabricating next generation microelectronics that can be used in the newest computing technology and spending summers at the NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory.
Overview
Related Topics
Turn ideas into energy
Degree fit
This program will be a good fit if you:
- Are naturally curious about how things work
- Enjoy both math and science
- Have a strong work ethic
- Like to tinker with electronics
- Have good problem-solving skills
Career outcomes
Current job openings
586 in ID, WA, OR, MT and HIPotential careers and starting salaries
- Electrical Engineers
$79,363 - Microsystems Engineers • Nanosystems Engineers • Solar Energy Systems Engineers
$67,828 - Electronics Engineers
$77,775 - Electro-Mechanical Technicians
$54,045
* Career data provided by
Financial aid and scholarship opportunities
Financial aid
Paying for college can feel overwhelming, but U of I’s Financial Aid Office is here to help. Our experienced financial aid counselors can assist you in exploring financial aid options, making informed financial decisions and addressing common concerns.
To maximize aid and scholarship possibilities, be sure to complete your FAFSA. For information on FAFSA deadlines and answers to common questions, visit the ÷ÈÓ°Ö±²¥ FAFSA website.
Plan ahead — estimate your cost of attendance with U of I’s Cost Calculator.
Scholarships
Unlock scholarship opportunities at ÷ÈÓ°Ö±²¥. When you apply to U of I, you're automatically considered for scholarships. We also offer a variety of scholarships based on experience, background and academic programs that student can apply for to help pay for college.
Program specific scholarships
- Cooperative Education Program (Co-op) — Get paid up to $20,000 for a six-month session working with Micron, HP, BorgWarner or Pacific Northwest National Laboratory between your junior and senior years.
- — Earn a nationally- competitive wage during a 10- to 16-week internship at the nation’s leading center for nuclear energy research and development. For students pursuing STEM fields.
- — Mentor-directed, career-related internship programs that contribute to NASA’s mission. Sessions are held in fall, spring and summer and are open to full-time undergraduate and graduate students.
- Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF) — Receive a $4,000 student fellowship and $1,000 stipend to work on full-time, faculty-mentored projects in any field of study.
- — RISE Germany offers undergraduate students the opportunity to complete a summer research internship at top German universities and research institutions.
Clubs and involvement opportunities
Hands-on learning
All U of I College of Engineering students, especially undergraduates, participate in hands-on activities through:
- Idaho’s only Grand Challenge Scholars Program — Preparing undergraduates to solve the biggest challenges facing society in the 21st century.
- Nationally-ranked Senior Capstone Design Program — Emphasizing the design process and the creation of a thoughtfully engineered, tested and validated outcome or prototype. Interdisciplinary teams showcase their work at our annual Engineering Design EXPO.
Clubs and organizations
Our college offers 20+ clubs and organizations tied to international and national engineering organizations, including national competition teams.
Learn about clubs related to your major:
- Association for Computer Machinery (ACM)
- Humanitarian Engineering Corps (HEC)
- Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE)
- International Microelectronics And Packaging Society (IMAPS)
- National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE)
- Power and Energy Society (PES)
- Robotics Club
- Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE)
- Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers (SHPE)
- Society of Women Engineers (SWE)
- Tau Beta Pi - Engineering Honor Society (TBP)
- Vandal Atmospheric Science Team (VAST)
Application information
Undergraduate applications open each September and admissions are processed on a rolling basis. Qualified students are admitted and considered for scholarships and financial aid as applications are received.