Computer Engineering
Offered at 596 college programs that reported results. Here is what graduates earn and owe at each credential level, and which programs pay best.
By credential level
| Credential | Programs | Typical earnings, 1 yr | Typical earnings, 5 yrs | Typical debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Certificate | 16 | $64,190 | — | $20,821 |
| Associate | 24 | $53,528 | $74,526 | $24,083 |
| Bachelor's | 335 | $81,533 | $115,326 | $21,666 |
| Post-bacc certificate | 1 | — | — | — |
| Master's | 143 | $113,725 | $156,780 | — |
| Doctoral | 62 | — | — | — |
| Graduate certificate | 15 | — | — | — |
"Typical" is the median across programs of each program's median, counting only programs with unsuppressed data (at least three). It describes a typical program, not a national median for all graduates. Certificate figures include certificates earned at four-year colleges, often alongside a bachelor's; see degrees vs. certificates for a cleaner comparison. Source: College Scorecard field of study data.
One year after finishing, a typical certificate program in this field reports median earnings of $64,190, versus $81,533 for a typical bachelor's program.
Highest-earning certificate programs
| # | College | State | Earnings, 1 yr | Earnings, 5 yrs | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Boise State University | ID | $82,550 | — | $27,028 |
| 2 | University of Missouri-Columbia | MO | $64,190 | — | — |
| 3 | Full Sail University | FL | $37,939 | — | $17,931 |
Ranked by 5-year median earnings, or 1-year where 5-year is not reported.
Highest-earning associate programs
| # | College | State | Earnings, 1 yr | Earnings, 5 yrs | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rasmussen University-Florida | FL | $53,528 | $74,526 | $24,083 |
| 2 | Rasmussen University-Minnesota | MN | $53,528 | $74,526 | $24,083 |
| 3 | Rasmussen University-North Dakota | ND | $53,528 | $74,526 | $24,083 |
| 4 | Rasmussen University-Illinois | IL | $53,528 | $74,526 | $24,083 |
| 5 | Rasmussen University-Wisconsin | WI | $53,528 | $74,526 | $24,083 |
| 6 | Rasmussen University-Kansas | KS | $53,528 | $74,526 | $24,083 |
| 7 | Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology | PA | $38,485 | — | $12,000 |
Ranked by 5-year median earnings, or 1-year where 5-year is not reported.
Highest-earning bachelor's programs
| # | College | State | Earnings, 1 yr | Earnings, 5 yrs | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of California-Los Angeles | CA | $137,925 | $213,702 | $17,731 |
| 2 | Duke University | NC | $149,622 | $193,134 | $12,000 |
| 3 | University of Washington-Seattle Campus | WA | $147,670 | $190,701 | $13,634 |
| 4 | University of Washington-Bothell Campus | WA | $147,670 | $190,701 | $13,634 |
| 5 | University of Washington-Tacoma Campus | WA | $147,670 | $190,701 | $13,634 |
| 6 | University of Maryland-College Park | MD | $94,957 | $183,653 | $20,000 |
| 7 | Santa Clara University | CA | $93,450 | $181,034 | $24,500 |
| 8 | University of Southern California | CA | $155,416 | $178,143 | — |
| 9 | University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign | IL | $121,140 | $172,623 | $18,335 |
| 10 | University of Virginia-Main Campus | VA | $96,639 | $167,726 | $15,500 |
| 11 | Bucknell University | PA | $97,180 | $167,700 | — |
| 12 | University of Notre Dame | IN | — | $163,644 | — |
| 13 | University of Wisconsin-Madison | WI | $90,524 | $163,185 | $15,000 |
| 14 | California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo | CA | $114,472 | $162,720 | $17,178 |
| 15 | San Jose State University | CA | — | $159,053 | $9,125 |
Ranked by 5-year median earnings, or 1-year where 5-year is not reported.
Highest-earning post-bacc certificate programs
| # | College | State | Earnings, 1 yr | Earnings, 5 yrs | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | North Carolina State University at Raleigh | NC | $90,632 | — | $20,999 |
Ranked by 5-year median earnings, or 1-year where 5-year is not reported.
Highest-earning master's programs
| # | College | State | Earnings, 1 yr | Earnings, 5 yrs | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of Michigan-Ann Arbor | MI | $174,031 | $220,352 | — |
| 2 | Santa Clara University | CA | $149,078 | $204,457 | — |
| 3 | University of New Haven | CT | — | $201,717 | — |
| 4 | Drexel University | PA | $101,464 | $199,094 | — |
| 5 | Carnegie Mellon University | PA | — | $198,216 | — |
| 6 | San Jose State University | CA | — | $197,757 | — |
| 7 | Harvard University | MA | $142,155 | $193,037 | — |
| 8 | Southern Methodist University | TX | — | $180,875 | — |
| 9 | University of California-San Diego | CA | $157,175 | $171,581 | — |
| 10 | Villanova University | PA | $121,469 | $168,929 | — |
| 11 | The University of Texas at Dallas | TX | $114,875 | $168,262 | — |
| 12 | University of Minnesota-Twin Cities | MN | — | $165,618 | — |
| 13 | George Mason University | VA | $123,274 | $158,746 | — |
| 14 | Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Great Valley | PA | $131,945 | $154,814 | — |
| 15 | Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus | PA | $131,945 | $154,814 | — |
Ranked by 5-year median earnings, or 1-year where 5-year is not reported.
Related fields
Quick answers
- How much do computer engineering graduates earn?
- One year after finishing, a typical bachelor's program in computer engineering reports median earnings of $81,533. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field of study data.
