Electrical Engineering

Electrical Engineering is a major within the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering (ECE). The major involves technology found in all aspects of life, whether it's wires, devices, space, the human body, or other mediums. It has applications in electrical power, communications, information technology, nanotechnology, and biotechnology. This major may be for you if you enjoy tinkering and dream of making something new.

Career options include communications and wireless networks, electromagnetics, optics, and remote sensing; lasers, biomedical sensing and probing, and acoustics; nanotechnology and quantum devices; networking and information security; operating systems and software; robotics and control systems; semiconductor materials and integrated circuits; and signal, image, and speech processing.

Visit Department Website →

Highlights

  • Our electrical engineering program is ranked #5 by U.S. News & World Report.
  • 84% of students reported having an internship or co-op during their degree program.
  • 94% of students reported securing their first choice destination upon graduation.
  • The average starting salary for an electrical engineering graduate is $87,276 with an average signing bonus of $9,554.

Discover your power. Become a Grainger Engineer.

Your path to Grainger Engineering starts with connecting your passion and interests with the opportunities available in one of our 15 top-ranked major programs. Explore your options and gather the information you need to take the next step and apply.

Request More Information

Begin Your Application

We solve problems first.

What You'll Study

You will take courses that stress the fundamental electrical engineering concepts and basic laboratory techniques that encompass the common intellectual understanding of the field. As an electrical engineering student you gain first-hand experience in the activities of a professional electrical engineer. This means you are better able to make the important decision as to whether you have chosen the major best suited to you.

The rich set of ECE elective courses permits you to select from collections of courses in the seven areas of electrical and computer engineering: bioengineering, acoustics, and magnetic resonance engineering; circuits and signal processing; communication and control; computer engineering; electromagnetics, optics, and remote sensing; microelectronics and quantum electronics; power and energy systems. Your involvement in the electrical engineering discipline increases during each year of the program.

View Curriculum Map

Minor in Computer Science

The CS Minor is offered for students seeking significant knowledge of digital computing without the more complete treatment of a major in computer science. This minor may be taken by any student except majors in the Computer Science degree programs and in Computer Engineering.

Learn more about the CS Minor

 

Voices of Grainger Engineering

 

  • Women
  • Experiences
  • Advice

Student Becomes the Teacher

Blog

Post-Graduation Success

The electrical engineering curriculum prepares you to develop innovations that will define the future of our industry. Graduates pursue careers in communications and wireless network, electromagnetics, optics, and remote sensing, lasers, biomedical sensing and probing, and acoustics, nanotechnology and quantum devices, networking and information security, operating systems and software, robotics and control systems, semiconductor materials and integrated circuits,signal, image, and speech processing.

The average salary between for electrical engineering graduates from 2021-2022 was reported as $87,267 with an average signing bonus of $9,554.

Visit Department Website

94%
employed or continuing education

54%
employed after graduation

40%
attending graduate school

$87,267
average starting annual income

Sample employer destinations: Texas Instruments, Northrop Grumman, Intel View All

Sample grad school destinations: University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Stanford University, University of California, San Diego View All

*Post-graduate data was collected through the Illini Success initiative, which primarily relies on self-reported survey data sources. Statistics reported are from 2021-2022. Please note that total compensation may be greater than annual salary as other forms of compensation (e.g., signing bonus, commission, benefits) are not included. For more information on Illini Success data and methods, please visit the Illini Success website.

Upcoming Events

 

Two female undergraduate students demonstrate a smart mirror at the Electrical and Computer Engineering building during the Engineering Open House.

Plan Your Visit

Planning to visit the department? Please let us know of your plans, we‘ll make sure you get the most out of your visit. 

Prospective Student Visit →

Take a Tour

Want to see the Electrical and Computer Engineering Building?Complete the form below, or, to take a self-guided tour, pick up a tour booklet near the ECE Office of Advancement in the northeast corner of the building’s first floor. 

Tour Request Form →

Virtual Tour →

Your future starts here.

Applying to The Grainger College of Engineering opens the door to your future as a successful engineer. Get started by scheduling a visit, requesting information, or submitting your application.