Computer Engineering

Salary data, best schools, and honest ROI assessment

Avg Earnings (4yr)

$82,781

Median Earnings

$105,871

Schools Offering

192

ROI Grade

A+

Earnings Range (4 Years After Graduation)

25th: $97,109Median: $105,87175th: $116,356

Best Schools for Computer Engineering by Earnings

#	School	ROI	4yr Earnings	Net Price	Major Debt	Grade
1	University of California-Los Angeles CA · Public	96	$228,705	$12,548	$14,103	A
2	Princeton University NJ · Private	94	$214,274	$6,128	N/A	-
3	Columbia University in the City of New York NY · Private	96	$194,365	$21,590	N/A	-
4	Duke University NC · Private	96	$174,522	$29,612	$14,500	A
5	University of Washington-Seattle Campus WA · Public	94	$169,570	$14,091	$16,127	A
6	University of Washington-Bothell Campus WA · Public	91	$169,570	$12,319	$16,127	A
7	University of Washington-Tacoma Campus WA · Public	91	$169,570	$10,163	$16,127	A
8	University of Southern California CA · Private	91	$166,369	$32,740	$9,500	A
9	Santa Clara University CA · Private	90	$163,765	$50,062	$24,666	A
10	University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign IL · Public	93	$159,855	$14,355	$20,500	A
11	Bucknell University PA · Private	87	$156,885	$40,766	N/A	-
12	University of Maryland-College Park MD · Public	94	$152,422	$15,678	$20,695	A
13	University of California-San Diego CA · Public	96	$149,139	$12,470	$18,497	A
14	California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo CA · Public	96	$148,950	$16,665	$20,556	A
15	University of Virginia-Main Campus VA · Public	95	$148,175	$21,565	$16,875	A
16	University of California-Davis CA · Public	95	$145,422	$14,741	$12,804	A
17	University of California-Santa Barbara CA · Public	90	$144,703	$16,109	$14,410	A
18	University of Michigan-Ann Arbor MI · Public	95	$142,071	$13,138	$20,500	A
19	Northeastern University MA · Private	91	$135,416	$30,915	$25,005	B+
20	Boston University MA · Private	90	$135,394	$24,402	$26,866	B+
21	Brigham Young University UT · Private	94	$133,111	$15,564	$10,750	A
22	University of California-Irvine CA · Public	94	$132,357	$14,251	$19,233	A
23	Georgia Institute of Technology-Main Campus GA · Public	97	$128,497	$12,116	$25,399	B+
24	University of Florida FL · Public	92	$128,140	$6,541	$22,562	B+
25	Stony Brook University NY · Public	87	$128,038	$18,784	$22,990	B+
26	New York University NY · Private	84	$127,201	$37,050	$19,000	A
27	Texas A&M University-College Station TX · Public	89	$127,042	$21,315	$22,816	B+
28	University of New Mexico-Main Campus NM · Public	38	$126,356	$15,489	N/A	-
29	University of California-Santa Cruz CA · Public	85	$124,641	$17,890	$23,392	B+
30	Stevens Institute of Technology NJ · Private	92	$124,037	$41,346	$26,930	B+
31	Ohio State University-Main Campus OH · Public	77	$123,731	$17,339	$20,247	A
32	Rochester Institute of Technology NY · Private	75	$123,027	$34,906	$28,500	B+
33	Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University VA · Public	89	$122,026	$24,953	$26,000	B+
34	University of Colorado Colorado Springs CO · Public	59	$121,678	$15,788	$25,075	B+
35	Purdue University-Main Campus IN · Public	91	$121,462	$14,600	$23,000	B+
36	Kettering University MI · Private	88	$120,531	$34,660	$29,984	B
37	University of Wisconsin-Madison WI · Public	91	$120,068	$17,354	N/A	-
38	University of Minnesota-Twin Cities MN · Public	88	$119,781	$16,778	$23,000	B+
39	Villanova University PA · Private	89	$119,137	$43,756	$26,000	B+
40	Virginia Commonwealth University VA · Public	55	$118,273	$23,433	$23,813	B+
41	George Mason University VA · Public	86	$117,942	$17,915	$26,697	B+
42	Binghamton University NY · Public	89	$117,721	$21,620	$23,945	B+
43	Drexel University PA · Private	82	$117,537	$38,509	$28,166	B+
44	CUNY City College NY · Public	82	$117,131	$3,776	N/A	-
45	San Diego State University CA · Public	84	$116,842	$15,364	$16,248	A
46	University of Dayton OH · Private	83	$116,356	$29,533	$26,090	A
47	Lehigh University PA · Private	93	$116,214	$36,931	$24,625	B+
48	University of Colorado Boulder CO · Public	80	$115,181	$25,346	$23,000	B+
49	University of Connecticut CT · Public	85	$115,117	$25,097	$20,108	A
50	University of Connecticut-Waterbury Campus CT · Public	85	$115,117	$10,875	$20,108	A

School-by-school analysis: Computer Engineering

Editorial breakdowns of how computer engineering graduates fare at the top-earning programs in our dataset.

Duke University

NC · Private · $174,522 4yr earnings · $14,500 median debt

Computer Engineering (110 graduates) earns $111,145 at year one and $174,522 at year four. Debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.130 (ROI grade A) with median debt of $14,500. Duke CompE graduates go into hardware design, systems engineering, robotics, and software roles where the engineering-and-CS combined training is valued. The year-four figure of $174k reflects progression in roles that blend software and hardware depth. Duke's Pratt School of Engineering produces a consistent output in CompE that feeds technology and defense contractors, as well as the tech sector broadly.

Santa Clara University

CA · Private · $163,765 4yr earnings · $24,666 median debt

Computer Engineering is SCU's highest-earning program: 83 graduates, $103,804 year-one, $163,765 four-year, debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.238 (ROI grade A). Median debt of $24,666 against $103k year-one earnings produces an immediate positive cash flow after graduation. The four-year trajectory to $163,765 reflects the Silicon Valley senior engineer and staff engineer salary curve. At any net price under $60,000 per year, SCU Computer Engineering is among the highest-ROI degrees available in the United States.

University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

IL · Public · $159,855 4yr earnings · $20,500 median debt

Computer Engineering (396 graduates) earns $103,123 year-one and $159,855 at year four (A grade, debt-to-earnings 0.199, median debt $20,500). Volume of 396 graduates with A-grade outcomes is exceptional. Year-one earnings above $103k reflect hardware and systems engineering placement at major technology and defense employers. Four-year trajectory to $160k is strong. At $20,500 median debt, this is one of the strongest debt-to-outcome ratios in engineering nationally.

Exceptional Value

Is Computer Engineering Worth It?

The Numbers Support This Major

Computer Engineering is one of the strongest financial bets in higher education. With average graduate earnings of $82,781 four years after graduation, this field consistently outperforms the median across all majors. The return on investment is clear.

192 schools offer this major, giving you reasonable options. Compare net prices and graduate earnings at your specific target schools - the range between the best and worst ROI within this field is substantial.

The top school for this major by earnings is University of California-Los Angeles, where graduates earn $228,705 four years out. But averages hide a wide range - where you attend and what you do with the degree matter as much as the major itself.

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