Easiest Electrical Engineering Degree Programs for 2025

Electrical engineering is a field of engineering focused on the study, design, and application of equipment, devices, and systems that use electricity, electronics, and electromagnetism.

These degrees can be difficult, but some options are easier than others. Keep reading to learn more about the easiest electrical engineering degrees.

What Are the Easiest Electrical Engineering Degrees?

There are several degree levels available for electrical engineering, but the easiest type of degree to earn is an associate degree.

Associate degrees are two-year degrees that usually require about 60 semester credit hours. There are a few reasons these degrees are easiest:

• They take two years to complete instead of the minimum four years required by other types of degrees
• They're often meant for those without previous experience in the field, meaning students get an introduction and then build on that introduction
• They're offered by community and technical colleges, which usually have lower tuition costs and higher acceptance rates.

At the associate level, students can earn degrees in electrical engineering or electrical engineering technology.

Electrical engineering technology focuses on a more hands-on approach, while electrical engineering focuses more on theory and design.

Electrical engineering degrees at the associate's level are generally designed for transfer into a four-year program, while electrical engineering technology degrees can be transferred, but students can also go directly into the workforce.

As a result, electrical engineering associate degrees will include general education courses and introductory electrical engineering courses, while electrical engineering technology programs cover topics like:

• Communications electronics
• Digital systems
• Electrical circuits
• Linear electronics
• Microprocessors
• Semiconductors

The course load for electrical engineering associate degrees may be easier for some because they are meant to be foundational. However, students will be able to enter the workforce sooner with an associate in electrical engineering technology.

What Schools Offer Associate Degrees in Electrical Engineering Technology?

Several colleges and universities across the United States offer associate degrees in electrical engineering technology, including:

• Bismarck State College in Bismarck, North Dakota: Associate in Applied Science in electronics/telecommunications technology
• Fox Valley Technical College in Appleton, Wisconsin: Associate of Applied Science in electrical engineering technology
• Hennepin Technical College in Brooklyn Park, Minnesota: Associate of Applied Science in electronics engineering technology
• Idaho State University in Pocatello, Idaho: Associate of Applied Science in energy systems electrical engineering technology
• Indiana Tech in Fort Wayne, Indiana: Associate of Science in electrical engineering technology, available online
• Lorain County Community College in Elyria, Ohio: Associate of Applied Science in electronic engineering technology, multiple concentrations available, available online
• Portland Community College in Portland, Oregon: Associate of Science in electrical engineering technology, multiple concentrations available
• University of Massachusetts Lowell in Lowell, Massachusetts: Associate of Science in electronic engineering technology, available in a hybrid format
• Valencia College in Orlando Florida: Associate of Science in electrical and computer engineering technology, multiple concentrations available
• Victoria College in Victoria, Texas: Associate of Applied Science in electrical technology

Electrical engineering technology degrees are primarily offered on campus, but some colleges and universities offer them online.

What Can You Do With an Associate Degree in Electrical Engineering Technology?

Many people with associate degrees in electrical engineering technology go on to have careers as electronics technicians. Other career fields include:

• Electronics tester
• Field technician
• System technician
• Support technician

Because nearly every type of industry uses electronics in some capacity, electrical technicians and other technicians who work on electronics are often in high demand.

Other Electrical Engineering Degrees

Electrical engineering degrees are also offered at the bachelor's, master's, and doctoral levels. These degrees require more years of study than an associate degree.

Bachelor's Degree in Electrical Engineering

Bachelor's degrees are also undergraduate degrees, like associate degrees, but they require around 120 semester credit hours and usually take about four years of full-time study to complete.

A Bachelor of Science in electrical engineering usually begins with fundamental courses focused on advanced math, science, and the engineering design process.

Then, students progress to courses that cover topics like electromagnetic fields, microprocessors, solid-state electronics, hardware design, circuits, photovoltaic cells, energy systems, and more.

A bachelor's degree can lead to roles in designing, developing, and testing electrical equipment and systems.

Like with associate degrees, bachelor's degrees in electrical engineering are primarily offered on campus, but some schools offer them online.

Master's Degree in Electrical Engineering

Master's degrees are the first type of graduate degree. They usually require around 30 credits and can take one to three years to complete depending on the program. Students usually need a bachelor's degree first.

Master's degrees in electrical engineering are usually more industry-oriented and career-focused, designed for those who want to advance their careers in electrical engineering.

These programs often have areas of concentration so students can grow their careers within their particular field. Common concentrations include:

• Bioengineering
• Biomedical imaging
• Communications and signal processing
• Computer engineering and embedded system design
• Electromagnetics and microwaves
• Energy and power systems
• Microelectronics and photonics

Master's degrees in electrical engineering can be found both on campus and online.

Doctoral Degree in Electrical Engineering

Doctoral degrees are also graduate degrees, and these are the highest type of degree you can get in a field. As a result, they're also the most difficult and can take three to five years to complete.

Doctoral degrees in electrical engineering are typically offered as Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degrees, a type of research degree. Doctor of Engineering Science degrees are less common but also available.

Both types of degrees include in-depth instruction and research in an electrical engineering specialty and prepare the graduate to contribute scholarly work in the field. These are primarily for those who want to be researchers or work in academia.

Find Easy Electrical Engineering Degrees

The easiest electrical engineering degree to earn is an associate degree. Those who complete an electrical engineering technology degree will be able to go right into the field without additional education.

To learn more about electrical engineering degrees or for help choosing the right program for you, explore Learn.org today.