Rankings / HBCU
Best HBCUs for Electrical Engineering
- 11
- Schools
- $45,909
- Avg. Earnings
- 42%
- Avg. Graduation
- $21,247
- Avg. Net Price
- $28,043
- Avg. Debt
CollegeRanker Research
What Surprised Us Most
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Median graduate earnings across these 11 schools run from $38,262 to $63,066, a 1.6× gap. The category label alone says little about payoff.
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North Carolina A & T State University delivers the most for the money: roughly $44,440 in median earnings against $10,846 a year in net price, the strongest earnings-to-cost ratio on the list.
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The most affordable option, North Carolina A & T State University ($10,846 net price), still posts $44,440 in earnings, at or above the list average. Paying more does not guarantee a better outcome.
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Howard University graduates 69% of its students, versus a 42% average across the list. Completion, more than selectivity, signals whether a degree actually gets finished.
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Howard University carries the healthiest debt load, with graduates owing just 0.39× their annual earnings.
Surprising Comparisons
- #1 North Carolina A & T State University ($44,440 earnings) outranks the list's highest earner, Howard University ($63,066), because it does more on mobility and cost.
- North Carolina A & T State University costs $10,846 a year and Howard University costs $50,539. Yet their graduates earn $44,440 and $63,066, nowhere near the $39,693 price gap.
- On value, North Carolina A & T State University beats Howard University: comparable career payoff at a fraction of the net price.
The Takeaway
A consistent pattern: the schools that finish at the top get there by delivering strong earnings, manageable debt, and real mobility rather than by charging more or rejecting more applicants. Those outcomes are what define educational value.
What This Means for Students
For students evaluating these schools, begin with North Carolina A & T State University and Howard University. Look past sticker price: pull each school's net price for your income level, compare it against projected earnings, and let the data guide the decision instead of the brand.
Why this ranking matters
Engineering is one of the higher-return fields in the economy, but the payoff depends heavily on where you study it. Graduates of these programs earn a median of about $44K within a decade, and electrical engineer roles are projected to grow 5%. We rank programs by the outcomes they produce for graduates, not by reputation.
How we measure this — full methodology →How we rank · 4 pillars
Federal-source data only. Build your own weighting →
Data Behind This Page Updated 2026-07-13
Source datasets
Methodology
Schools are scored on the CollegeRanker 4-Pillar Algorithm: Economic Outcomes (30%), Social Mobility (25–35%), Academic Quality (15–20%), and Value (20–25%). Every weight is published and every figure traces to a public dataset.
See the full methodology and weights →Confidence notes
- Earnings, completion, and debt figures come from federal administrative records — tax data and student-aid filings — not surveys or self-reports, the highest-confidence tier of education data available.
- Social-mobility estimates are drawn from de-identified tax records covering more than 30 million students (Opportunity Insights).
- Where an institution is missing a metric, it is excluded from that metric rather than imputed, so averages are never inflated by guesses.
Limitations
- Federal earnings data primarily cover students who received federal financial aid; outcomes for non-aided students may differ.
- Earnings are measured roughly ten years after enrollment, so they describe how earlier cohorts fared — historical outcomes, not guarantees of future results.
- An institution's field-of-study mix affects raw earnings; scores reflect measured outcomes and are not fully major-adjusted unless explicitly noted.
- Net price is an average; the actual cost a given student pays varies widely by family income.
At a Glance
How the Top Schools Compare
| School | Earnings | Net Price | Graduation | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 North Carolina A & T State University #1 overall | $44,440 ▼ -3% vs avg | $10,846 | 56% | 71 |
| 2 Tuskegee University #2 overall | $49,641 ▲ +8% vs avg | $35,013 | 56% | 66 |
| 3 Tennessee State University #3 overall | $42,730 ▼ -7% vs avg | $15,796 | 33% | 64 |
| $63,066 ▲ +37% vs avg | $50,539 | 69% | 63 | |
| $45,411 ▼ -1% vs avg | $13,570 | 43% | 62 |
Score uses our 4-pillar methodology. Earnings % is vs. this list's average.
See full ranking →Executive Summary
Best HBCUs for Electrical Engineering
This analysis ranks 11 institutions on graduate earnings, social mobility, completion, and cost. Across the list, alumni earn a median of $45,909 ten years after enrolling, against an average graduation rate of 42% and an average net price of $21,247.
Key takeaways
- Strongest Earnings-to-Cost Ratio: North Carolina A & T State University — Net Price: $10,846 | Graduation Rate: 56%
- Strongest Completion Outcomes: Howard University — 69% completion rate
- Highest Earnings Generator: Howard University — Median alumni earnings: $63,066
Research Note
The most expensive quartile of colleges costs 373% more than the most affordable — but their graduates earn just 34% more.
Engineering Talent Analysis
What does this ranking tell us about America’s engineering talent pipeline?
$44,440
Median earnings (10yr)
41%
Median graduation rate
$17,621
Median net price
3.0%
Avg. mobility rate
Engineering programs supply the people who build the physical economy: infrastructure, energy, manufacturing, and the reshoring of advanced production. Earnings are high and unusually stable. ABET accreditation and licensure structure the field, and demand is being pulled forward by infrastructure spending and a wave of retirements.
Start with the medians across these 11 schools. Graduates earn a median of $44,440 ten years after enrollment. The median graduation rate is 41%, and the typical net price (what students pay after grants) runs $17,621 a year with about $27,000 in federal debt. Pell grants reach 59% of students on average, and the average mobility rate, the share of students lifted from the bottom income quintile to the top, is 3.0%.
What we’re seeing: ABET-accredited, co-op-heavy programs convert strong starting pay into durable careers, and reshoring keeps widening demand. Median earnings of $44,440 sit well above most fields. Engineering remains one of the most dependable returns in higher education.
The podium
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Full rankings
Greensboro, NC · 50% accepted · $10,846 net
Why it ranks #1
North Carolina A & T State University lands at #1 with a 71/100 composite, led by social mobility (81/100) and pulled down by academic quality (54/100). Graduates earn a median $44,440 a decade after enrolling, 3% below this list's average, and net price runs $10,846 a year, well under the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what puts it near the top, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #2
Tuskegee University lands at #2 with a 66/100 composite, led by social mobility (83/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (29/100). Graduates earn a median $49,641 a decade after enrolling, 8% above this list's average, and net price runs $35,013 a year, above the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what puts it near the top.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #3
Tennessee State University lands at #3 with a 64/100 composite, led by social mobility (80/100) and pulled down by academic quality (43/100). Graduates earn a median $42,730 a decade after enrolling, 7% below this list's average, and net price runs $15,796 a year, well under the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what puts it near the top, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #4
Howard University lands at #4 with a 63/100 composite, led by social mobility (83/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (22/100). Graduates earn a median $63,066 a decade after enrolling, 37% above this list's average, and net price runs $50,539 a year, above the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what puts it near the top.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #5
Prairie View A & M University lands at #5 with a 62/100 composite, led by social mobility (68/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (55/100). Graduates earn a median $45,411 a decade after enrolling, 1% below this list's average, and net price runs $13,570 a year, well under the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what puts it near the top, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #6
South Carolina State University lands at #6 with a 61/100 composite, led by social mobility (82/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (46/100). Graduates earn a median $38,262 a decade after enrolling, 17% below this list's average, and net price runs $18,097 a year, well under the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what puts it near the top, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #7
Morgan State University lands at #7 with a 60/100 composite, led by social mobility (62/100) and pulled down by academic quality (56/100). Graduates earn a median $50,698 a decade after enrolling, 10% above this list's average, and net price runs $14,985 a year, well under the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what puts it near the top.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #8
Jackson State University lands at #8 with a 60/100 composite, led by social mobility (82/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (35/100). Graduates earn a median $39,060 a decade after enrolling, 15% below this list's average, and net price runs $23,836 a year, above the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what puts it near the top, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Princess Anne, MD · 96% accepted · $13,338 net
Why it ranks #9
University of Maryland Eastern Shore lands at #9 with a 57/100 composite, led by social mobility (62/100) and pulled down by academic quality (53/100). Graduates earn a median $47,697 a decade after enrolling, 4% above this list's average, and net price runs $13,338 a year, well under the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what puts it near the top.
Pillar breakdown
Baton Rouge, LA · 35% accepted · $20,077 net
Why it ranks #10
Southern University and A & M College lands at #10 with a 54/100 composite, led by social mobility (62/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (43/100). Graduates earn a median $43,371 a decade after enrolling, 6% below this list's average, and net price runs $20,077 a year. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what puts it near the top, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #11
Alabama A & M University lands at #11 with a 53/100 composite, led by social mobility (54/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (45/100). Graduates earn a median $40,628 a decade after enrolling, 12% below this list's average, and net price runs $17,621 a year, well under the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what carries it up the list, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Cut it by what you care about
The same 11 schools, re-ranked by the outcome that matters to you.
Where the programs — and the jobs are
Top states on this list
Where these graduates work
Graduates of these programs most often become Electrical Engineers and related roles — a field with $108,170 median pay and 5% projected growth.
See the Electrical Engineer career guide →When considering a degree in electrical engineering, historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs) offer unique opportunities. These schools share a commitment to diversity and access, providing pathways for students to enter a vital field where they can make an impact.
The strongest programs stand out through a combination of key metrics: earnings after graduation, graduation rates, student debt, and overall mobility. These factors illustrate not just how well students perform academically, but also how prepared they are for the workforce and financial stability after college. The list below ranks HBCUs based on these outcomes, giving families a clearer picture of what to expect.
For example, North Carolina A & T State University leads this list, with earnings of $44,440 and a graduation rate of 56%. In contrast, Morgan State University has higher earnings at $50,698 but a lower graduation rate of 41%. This highlights a common trade-off: while some schools may yield higher salaries, they may also present challenges in completing the degree.
The story behind the ranking
A ranking gives you an order; these charts give you the shape. They show how this group of schools spreads across the four things that decide whether a degree pays off — what graduates earn, whether they finish, how far they move up, and what it costs. Look for the standouts, the outliers, and the trade-offs the list alone can't show.
Earnings Outcomes
What graduates earn 10 years after enrolling. Data from College Scorecard.
Distribution of Median Earnings
Earnings vs. Net Price
Top-left = best value. Top-ranked schools are highlighted.
Completion & Access
Graduation rates and who gets in. Data from College Scorecard & IPEDS.
Graduation Rates
Pell Grant Rate vs. Graduation Rate
Right = more low-income students. Higher = more graduate.
What the Mobility Data Says
Social mobility carries the heaviest weight in this ranking, and the measure comes from Raj Chetty's Mobility Report Card, built from more than 30 million anonymized tax records. Across the 6 schools here with that data, the average mobility rate is 3%. That figure is the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top. Tuskegee University leads the group at 5.2%, with Howard University (4%) and Jackson State University (3%) close behind.
Access varies widely. On average, 15.3% of students at these schools come from families in the bottom income quintile. Jackson State University enrolls the most, at 30.5%, a sign it is reaching the students mobility is meant to lift. A high mobility rate paired with strong access is the combination that changes a generation's trajectory.
For the low-income students who do enroll, the success rate (the odds of reaching the top quintile) averages 23.5% across the list, peaking at 37.1% at Howard University.
These campuses can also be measured on social capital: the cross-class friendships Opportunity Insights links to long-run economic outcomes. Economic connectedness here averages 1.15, where about 1.0 is the national norm, and Howard University is highest at 1.62.
Mobility, access, and social-capital figures from Raj Chetty's Mobility Report Card & the Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas.
Cost & Debt
What families actually pay and what students owe. Data from College Scorecard.
Median Debt at Graduation
Where These Schools Are Located
North Carolina A & T State University and Morgan State University provide a clear example of varying outcomes in this ranking. While North Carolina A & T has a graduation rate of 56% and earnings of $44,440, Morgan State offers higher earnings of $50,698 but only graduates 41% of its students. This suggests that while earnings are important, completion rates also play a significant role in a student's long-term success.
As you sift through these options, consider your priorities. Are you looking for a school with a higher graduation rate, or is potential earnings your main concern? Additionally, think about factors like location and campus culture. These elements can greatly influence your experience and satisfaction during college.
Ultimately, this data reflects broader trends about stability and success after graduation. Families face a pivotal decision when choosing a college, and understanding these metrics can help guide that choice. The path from college to a secure future requires careful thought, and the right HBCU can set students on the right trajectory.
Data Sources
U.S. Dept of Education College Scorecard
Opportunity Insights Mobility Report Card
Social Capital Atlas
Times Higher Education World Rankings
NCES IPEDS
Frequently Asked Questions
Best HBCUs for Electrical Engineering: Your Questions, Answered
What is the #1 school in the Best HBCUs for Electrical Engineering ranking? +
North Carolina A & T State University in Greensboro, NC ranks #1 in our 2026 Best HBCUs for Electrical Engineering ranking. It earns the top spot on the strength of a median $44,440 in graduate earnings ten years after enrollment and a 56% graduation rate. Our score is built entirely from federal data on graduation rates, graduate earnings, debt, and social mobility. Reputation surveys play no part.
Which school has the highest graduate earnings? +
Howard University posts the highest median earnings on this list: $63,066 ten years after enrollment, well above the $45,909 average across the 11 ranked schools with earnings data. Earnings that outpace cost are what separate a degree that pays off from one that does not.
Which school offers the best value? +
On a pure return-on-cost basis, North Carolina A & T State University leads: graduates earn a median $44,440 against net price of about $10,846 a year, the strongest earnings-to-cost ratio in the ranking. Applicants should weigh that payback against sticker price rather than prestige.
Which school has the highest graduation rate? +
Howard University has the highest graduation rate in this ranking at 69%, compared with a 42% average across the list. Completion matters because the students who finish are the ones who actually capture the earnings and mobility gains a degree promises.
How much does it cost to attend these schools? +
The average net price, meaning what students actually pay after grants and scholarships, is about $21,247 a year across the 11 ranked schools with cost data. North Carolina A & T State University is among the most affordable at roughly $10,846. Net price is a far better guide to affordability than the published sticker price.
How is the Best HBCUs for Electrical Engineering ranking calculated? +
We score every school on a four-pillar algorithm: economic outcomes (graduate earnings and debt), social mobility (Raj Chetty's Mobility Report Card, built on more than 30 million anonymized tax records), academic quality (graduation and retention), and value (net price and loan burden). Social mobility carries the heaviest weight, so schools that lift low-income students into higher earnings rank above those that simply admit wealthy students. Every input comes from federal data, and schools that withhold their numbers are scored lower for it.
How many schools are ranked and where does the data come from? +
This ranking evaluates 11 institutions using the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard, the Opportunity Insights Mobility Report Card and Social Capital Atlas, Times Higher Education, and NCES IPEDS. There are no opinion surveys or paid placements. The order is determined by the data alone and refreshed as new federal figures are released.
Sources & Citations
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