There is a saying that goes, ‘what is worth doing is worth being excellent at’. In this context, it is not just enough to become an electrical engineer without going through the right process and obtaining the right qualifications. Here, an extra effort is needed by you obtaining the qualifications and trainings needed for your success from one of the best undergraduate electrical engineering schools anywhere in the world.
You know, when extra effort is put into something, you are satisfied with the outcome in the end. Therefore, regarding the fact that engineering is a wide field, and electrical engineers are open to a lot of opportunities, you may want to know more about these schools.
In considering what undergraduate electrical engineering school stands out as the best, you should consider the number of programs it offers, the cost of tuition, and a host of other factors. Check out the table of contents below for the highlights.
Table of contents
- What Is Electrical Engineering?
- Who Is An Electrical Engineer?
- Why Study Electrical Engineering?
- What Can I Do With An Electrical Engineering Degree?
- How Much Does It Cost To Become An Electrical Engineer?
- What Are The Best Electrical Engineering Schools In The World?
- #1 Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)
- #2 University of California Berkeley
- #3 Stanford University
- #4 Harvard University
- #5 Georgia Institute of Technology
- #6 California Institute of Technology
- #7 University of Illinois-Urbana-Champaign
- #8 University of Michigan-Ann Arbor
- #9 Carnegie Mellon University
- #10 Purdue University-West Lafayette
- #11 ETH Zurich – Swiss Federal Institute of Technology
- #12 Imperial College London
- #13 Columbia University
- #14 Drexel University
- #15 Duke University
- Frequently Asked Questions
- References
- Recommendations
What Is Electrical Engineering?
According to Times Higher Education, electrical engineering is the building, design, and maintenance of electrical control systems, machinery, and equipment. Electrical engineering is somehow pegged on mechanical and civil engineering.
Electrical engineering does not exclude electronics engineering. However, their work focus differs. So, these undergraduate schools include components of both electrical and electronics engineering.
There are different branches of electrical engineering and they are as follows:
- Computer engineering
- Control engineering
- Microelectronics
- Signal processing
- Telecommunications engineering
- Instrumentation engineering
- Power engineering
- Radio-frequency engineering
- Electronic engineering
Who Is An Electrical Engineer?
This electrical engineer is one who is so talented in the development and designs of electrical systems. He also has the intelligence to spot and resolve issues relating to electrical and electronics.
Also, an electrical engineer examines and oversees electrical equipment manufacturing such as circuit breakers, transformers, electric switchboards, and some travel systems.
Why Study Electrical Engineering?
If you are reading this article, you could be one of the electrical engineers needed in our contemporary. Therefore, the following are the reasons why you study electrical engineering.
You Won’t Be Limited To Just Electric Power
In studying electrical engineering, you won’t have to be limited to just dealing with electric circuits. Therefore, there are other areas of specialization. This makes the tentacle spread an easy one and in turn, makes you a pro in some other areas.
After Graduation, You Can Work Anywhere In The World
Being an electrical engineer opens you up to a lot of job opportunities in other countries all around the world. Because the laws of physics and math are mundane, you bag of knowledge isn’t just limited to the country where you studied.
While being excellent at your chosen career field, be assured that international organizations are willing to employ you with additional incentives.
READ ALSO: Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) Scholarships
Getting Your First Electrical Engineering Job Won’t Be a Hard Task
Electrical engineering graduates find it easy to attach themselves with firms who lookout for young minds with a reliable foundation. By this, they are able to fashion you to their specifications and make you a pro.
This is essentially the reason why electrical engineers are on a high demand.
There Are Amazing Techniques You Can Learn In Doing It Yourself
DIY as it is fondly called is one of the intriguing reasons why you should study electrical engineering. If you know the basic rules involved, you will be motivated to invent your own system and devices.
Being able to cope with difficult issues serves as a pick-up line to do even more.
Enroll In The Best Engineering shools
To do well in this field, you have to learn the rudiment from topnotch professors and from schools renowned for the best technology. This will help you develop your engineering skills to the next level.
What Can I Do With An Electrical Engineering Degree?
Do you know you can create your own job as an electrical engineer? See the list of places where you can function having a degree in electrical engineering.
- Renewable energy
- Global Positioning System (GPS) technologies
- Mobile networking
- Banking
- Finance
- Arts
- Management
- Consulting
How Much Does It Cost To Become An Electrical Engineer?
Do not let the cost of obtaining a degree in electrical engineering deter you from pursuing that dream of yours. Rather, focus more on how it will be turn out a rewarding and worthy investment eventually.
So, with the data from the US Department of education, the average annual cost for a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering is $168,668. This calculation is an estimate for the four-year degree.
READ ALSO: Best Accredited Electrical Engineering Schools in Texas | 2024
What Are The Best Electrical Engineering Schools In The World?
Here is a compilation of the world’s 15 best undergraduate electrical engineering schools. I hope you go through the programs they offer and apply to the school which really fits into your educational need.
Our ranking factors are accreditation, the average income for graduates, the number of electrical engineering programs offered by the schools. Note that each of the schools listed below has been duly certified by the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET).
- Massachusetts Institute of Technology
- University of California Berkeley
- Stanford University
- Harvard University
- Georgia Institute of Technology
- California Institute of Technology
- University of Illinois–Urbana-Champaign
- University of Michigan–Ann Arbor
- Carnegie Mellon University
- Purdue University–West Lafayette
- ETH Zurich (Swiss Federal Institute of Technology)
- Imperial College London
- Columbia University
- Drexel University
- Duke University
#1 Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)
The major why it looks like the MIT tops the lists in almost all sites where you search for the best undergraduate electrical engineering schools in the world is because it has a relatively small student-faculty ratio which in turn, allows the students establish a strong relationship with their lecturers and their student folks.
More so, the department of electrical engineering is the largest undergraduate program you will see at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. The students in this department are privileged to be open to opportunities to obtain practical knowledge for exceptional technological discovery.
If you want the best for you in your chosen career as an electrical engineer, you can put MIT in your list of schools because the tuition cost is $48,452.
READ ALSO: 13 Best Civil Engineering Schools in the World
#2 University of California Berkeley
The acceptance rate for this institution is 17% which makes it a very competitive school for undergraduate electrical engineering programs. The electrical engineering department offers a wide academic course outline giving the students an edge to renowned technological organizations.
Furthermore, graduates from this school are highly sought after by major industries and organizations. This is because they are well equipped in areas such as digital electronics, designing information devices and systems, and electronics for things that deal with electronics.
#3 Stanford University
The undergraduate electrical engineering program in Stanford University has over the years put this school amongst the first 5 best electrical engineering undergraduate schools because it has equipped the students with better chances and has continually done so.
The electrical engineering program at Stanford has 7(seven) students per faculty. This enables the students to have a better chance of getting personal coaching lectures. The department will equip you with the necessary scientific knowledge and skills you need to contribute to society.
Need I tell you that the electrical engineering department offers hardware and software systems, physical technology, information systems and science programs?
#4 Harvard University
Established in 1636, Harvard is a private research university ranked #4 in the list of best schools for electrical engineering undergraduate programs in the 2024 edition of Best Colleges and National Universities. The tuition cost at this school is $51,925.
The school’s electrical engineering department highlights subfields, including signals and systems theory, control systems, and robotics.
#5 Georgia Institute of Technology
Located in Atlanta, Georgia, this public research university focuses on technology and offers one of the best undergraduate engineering programs. According to the U.S. News and World Report, the undergraduate electrical engineering program at Georgia Institute Of Technology ranks in the top 10.
Here, students are offered research opportunities as the ECE’s Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program.
#6 California Institute of Technology
Factors like having a total enrollment of 948 students and a tuition cost of $54,600, Caltech has emerged as one of the best electrical engineering undergraduate schools. Also, the electrical engineering department has a state-of-the-art setting that allows an equilibrium of lectures and design experience.
#7 University of Illinois-Urbana-Champaign
Founded in 1867, the University of Illinois-Urbana’s undergraduate electrical engineering program ensures to impart its students with a quality teaching experience. The students also are given access to the Senior Design Project Laboratoty.
The tuition cost at this institution is $16,210 for resident students and $33,352 for non-resident students.
#8 University of Michigan-Ann Arbor
The undergraduate electrical engineering program at the University of Michigan touches almost all engineering areas and engages the students with research activities giving them a worthwhile experience during their period of study at Michigan.
It is was established in 1817 ans as such, referred to as the oldest Institution in Michigan.
#9 Carnegie Mellon University
Having a modernized placement, this research institution makes use of an academic calendar that is semester-based. Therefore, its students have the privilege of being involved in research.
Also, the tuition cost at Carnegie Mellon University is $57,119.
#10 Purdue University-West Lafayette
In the 2024 edition of the best electrical engineering undergraduate schools, Purdue University was established in 1869. the type of academic calendar it uses is one that is semester-based. Also, the tuition cost is $9, 992 for resident students and $28,794 for non-resident students.
#11 ETH Zurich – Swiss Federal Institute of Technology
ETH Zurich happens to be one of the renowned universities because of its wave in research and creativity. There are notable alumni who graduated from the school of which the great Albert Einstein is among.
The university when translated to English as the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology, Zurich organizes research in specific areas, especially with regard to engineering.
Here, the main language used for undergraduate teaching is German.
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#12 Imperial College London
Focusing mainly on science and engineering, this undergraduate electrical engineering school offers a research-led education which in turn, exposes the students to real-world experiences.
One of the most notable factors of this Imperial College London education is that the engineering students meet a community of world-class researchers and that is what it is renowned for. It is believed that the high level of synergy makes the school’s research an effective one.
#13 Columbia University
Columbia University (Fu Foundation) ranks #13 in the best undergraduate schools for electrical engineering. This research university is considered to be one of the top universities in the United States with its BSc in electrical engineering having no exception.
This arm of engineering extensively prepares students for the task ahead in the electrical engineering field.
#14 Drexel University
As against the semester-based academic calendar, Drexel university makes use of a quarter-based academic calendar. The tuition cost at this school is about $54,516.
However, it is important to note that Drexel University offers top-notch programs through its College of Engineering.
#15 Duke University
This private university ranks as one of the best electrical engineering undergraduate schools because it has a considerable amount of tuition at the rate of $58,198. Also, Duke University uses a semester-based academic calendar.
Frequently Asked Questions
Electrical engineers can work in IT firms, manufacturing industries, and different organizations. They are likely to be employed by companies that produce navigation systems.
The maximum time needed to obtain a bachelor’s degree is about 4-5 years.
The various branches of electrical engineering are as follows:
1. Computer engineering
2. Control engineering
3. Microelectronics
4. Signal processing
5. Telecommunications engineering
6. Instrumentation engineering
7. Power engineering
8. Radio-frequency engineering
9. Electronic engineering
References
Recommendations
