by our College Data Analytics TeamIn the latest year, 14 U.S. colleges awarded 165 degrees and certificates in Telecommunications Engineering. Master’s degrees are the most popular award, at 54% of graduates. College Factual ranks 5 schools in its 2027 Best Telecommunications Engineering Schools ranking and compares their cost in a Best Value ranking. Graduates earn a median $82,517 one year after completing, rising to $107,328 after four years.
Studying Telecommunications Engineering explores Telecommunications Engineering. A Program That Prepares Individuals To Apply Mathematical And Scientific Principles To The Design, Development, And Maintenance Of Telecommunications Technology, Networks, And Systems. Includes Instruction In Telecommunications, Computer Networking, Communications Networks And Systems, Signals, Circuits, Fiber Optics, And Wireless Systems And Technology. Examples: [Communications Systems Engineering].
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; BLS; O*NET; College Factual rankings 2027. Data as of: July 2026.
Across the country, telecommunications engineering is a widely-pursued major, with 165 degrees awarded annually. 14 colleges award telecommunications engineering degrees, an average of 12 graduates per school; the largest program awarded 55.
By level, the 165 awards include 89 master’s degrees and 1 doctorates.
Women earned 18% of telecommunications engineering degrees and certificates in the latest year (29 of 165). The largest groups of graduates by race and ethnicity are White (43) and Hispanic or Latino (42), and international students earned 36.
College Factual ranks 5 schools in its 2027 Best Telecommunications Engineering Schools ranking, including 3 for master’s degrees. It also ranks telecommunications engineering schools within 3 states. In all, 14 colleges offer telecommunications engineering programs; compare them by degree level below or in the Best Value Telecommunications Engineering Colleges ranking, which weighs quality against cost.
The most common telecommunications engineering credential is the master’s degree: 89 of the 165 awarded in the latest year. Jobs related to telecommunications engineering call most for Reading Comprehension, Critical Thinking and Speaking, and for knowledge of Engineering and Technology, Mathematics and Design, according to O*NET. The most important abilities are Written Comprehension, Oral Expression and Oral Comprehension.
Top skills, rated 0–5:
Top knowledge areas, rated 0–5:
How long a telecommunications engineering degree takes:
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 89 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 1 |
Bachelor’s degree is the most common level of education among workers in jobs related to telecommunications engineering, at 31.9%.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Bachelor’s degree | 31.9% |
| Doctoral degree | 29.2% |
| Master’s degree | 11.5% |
| Post-doctoral training | 7.7% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 7.1% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 3.3% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 3.2% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 2.0% |
| Some college courses | 1.6% |
| First professional degree | 1.4% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 0.8% |
| Less than a high school diploma | 0.2% |
Source: O*NET Online.
14 occupations are related to Telecommunications Engineering, with an average median salary of $91,794; the strongest outlook belongs to Solar Energy Systems Engineers, at 14.5% projected job growth. Typical job titles include Engineer, Engineering Instructor, Drafting Teacher and Surveying Teacher.
The occupation related to telecommunications engineering with the most projected jobs is Engineering Teachers, Postsecondary, at 1,297,204.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Engineering Teachers, Postsecondary | 1,297,204 | -2.0% |
| Biofuels/Biodiesel Technology and Product Development Managers | 440,884 | 8.0% |
| Nanosystems Engineers | 358,781 | -2.9% |
| Wind Energy Engineers | 353,305 | 12.7% |
| Engineers, All Other | 292,948 | -4.3% |
| Solar Energy Systems Engineers | 266,797 | 14.5% |
| Energy Engineers, Except Wind and Solar | 227,778 | 6.7% |
| Architectural and Engineering Managers | 207,139 | 9.0% |
Telecommunications Engineering graduates earn a median $82,517 one year after completing their program, $107,328 after four years and $106,226 after five years, according to the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $82,517 |
| 4 years | $107,328 |
| 5 years | $106,226 |
Source: College Scorecard.
The highest-paying occupation related to telecommunications engineering is Engineers, All Other, with a median salary of $136,628.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Engineers, All Other | $136,628 |
| Electronics Engineers, Except Computer | $122,969 |
| Solar Energy Systems Engineers | $116,775 |
| Mechatronics Engineers | $115,569 |
| Microsystems Engineers | $104,558 |
| Architectural and Engineering Managers | $101,277 |
| Wind Energy Engineers | $98,460 |
| Biofuels/Biodiesel Technology and Product Development Managers | $89,263 |
Telecommunications Engineering has 3 similar majors in the Engineering field, which together award 27,348 degrees a year; the largest are Electrical and Electronics Engineering (26,795), Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering, Other (437) and Laser and Optical Engineering (116). Browse all Engineering majors or the full list of college majors.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Electrical and Electronics Engineering | 26,795 |
| Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering, Other | 437 |
| Laser and Optical Engineering | 116 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
