Electrical Engineering Degree in Bend, OR — Salary & ROI 2026
Electrical Engineering degree analysis for Bend, OR. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$86K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$123K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
2.4 yrs
in Bend
Cost of Living
107
index (100 = avg)
Electrical Engineering in Bend, OR Overview
While Bend has a smaller college scene with 2 institutions, Electrical Engineering students benefit from lower tuition costs. Room and board averages $16,767/year, and the car-friendly layout shapes the student experience. Electrical Engineering enrollment is stable nationwide, with steady demand for graduates skilled in Circuit Design and Signal Processing. The adjusted starting salary in Bend is approximately $85,600.
Category
Engineering
Local Colleges
2
Public Tuition
$11,580/yr
Private Tuition
$54,584/yr
Room & Board
$16,767/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$7,503/yr
Unemployment
7%
Graduation Rate
49%
Electrical Engineering Salary in Bend (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Bend's cost of living index of 107 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Electrical Engineering salary: $80,000 starting, $115,000 mid-career, $142,000 senior level.Bend adjustment factor: 1.07x based on the local cost of living index.
Electrical Engineering ROI Calculator for Bend
Estimate your return on investment for a Electrical Engineering degree using local Bend tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $11,580 | Private avg: $54,584
Bend avg aid: $7,503/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$113,388
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$48,150
vs HS diploma in Bend
ROI Payback Period
2.4 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Bend
$956,612
Lifetime earnings premium ($1,070,000) minus total education cost ($113,388)
Student Loan Payoff for Electrical Engineering in Bend
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Bend for Electrical Engineering
Oregon State University-Cascades
public
$11,580/yr
$46,320 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Central Oregon Community College
$4,536/yr
Top Employers for Electrical Engineering in Bend
Bend offers opportunities in Engineering firms, Manufacturing, Defense contractors for Electrical Engineering graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Bend Hiring Sectors for Engineering
Engineering firms
Manufacturing
Defense contractors
Energy companies
Construction firms
Common Electrical Engineering Job Titles
Electrical Engineering in Nearby Oregon Cities
Portland, OR
$90K starting · COL 112
24 colleges
Eugene, OR
$104K starting · COL 130
14 colleges
Salem, OR
$96K starting · COL 120
14 colleges
Gresham, OR
$88K starting · COL 110.2
5 colleges
Hillsboro, OR
$92K starting · COL 115.5
5 colleges
Beaverton, OR
$85K starting · COL 105.9
4 colleges
Medford, OR
$89K starting · COL 111
4 colleges
Springfield, OR
$96K starting · COL 120.3
3 colleges
Other Engineering Majors in Bend
Petroleum Engineering
$54K starting · 2.5 yr ROI
Computer Engineering
$54K starting · 3 yr ROI
Chemical Engineering
$88K starting · 3.2 yr ROI
Nuclear Engineering
$54K starting · 3.3 yr ROI
Aerospace Engineering
$86K starting · 3.5 yr ROI
Mechanical Engineering
$83K starting · 3.5 yr ROI
Mining Engineering
$54K starting · 3 yr ROI
Materials Science & Engineering
$54K starting · 3.8 yr ROI
Electrical Engineering Degree in Bend — FAQ
Data Sources: Salary data from BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook. Cost of living from BLS Regional Data. College data from NCES/IPEDS. Updated March 2026.
Explore More
Compare Electrical Engineering ROI in other cities, or explore other majors in Bend.