Computer Engineering: is this bachelor's degree worth it?
National picture across 198 reporting college programs.
MODELED SCENARIO · Strong payoff
+$348,420 over 10 years
National scenario across reporting bachelor's degree programs, using median year-4 earnings, their institutions’ average net prices and a typical 4-year duration.
Observed earnings clearly outpace the comparison earnings and estimated education cost in this scenario.
4.3 yrsModeled economic break-even
+135%Modeled 10-year ROI
$105,640Observed earnings · year 4
Observed national outcomes
$105,640Median reported earnings · year 4
$111,232Average reported earnings · year 5
$24,500Median federal debt
96thYear-4 earnings percentile at this credential
198Reporting programs
192With year-4 earnings
The same field can produce a different equation.
Keep the federal field fixed and compare observed outcomes at every reportable credential level. These are separate graduate cohorts—not a promise that more schooling causes the difference.
OPEN PROFILE
Undergraduate Certificate or Diploma
- Year-4 earnings
- $55,001
- Federal debt
- $7,917
- Reporting programs
- 1
Associate's Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $69,873
- Federal debt
- $23,635
- Reporting programs
- 6
Bachelor's Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $105,640
- Federal debt
- $24,500
- Reporting programs
- 198
Master's Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $140,393
- Federal debt
- Not available
- Reporting programs
- 23
Where the middle half of programs lands
Year‑4 earnings differ by college. This band shows the 25th percentile, national median and 75th percentile among reporting programs.
Median
25th percentile$96,079National median$105,64075th percentile$115,181
192 programs report year‑4 earnings.See the spread, not just the national number.
1University of California, Los Angeles$228,7052Princeton University$214,2743Columbia University in the City of New York$194,3654Duke University$174,5225University of Washington-Seattle Campus$169,5706University of Washington-Bothell Campus$169,5707University of Washington-Tacoma Campus$169,5708University of Southern California$166,3699Santa Clara University$163,76510University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign$159,855Observed year-4 earnings · top displayed records are not a universal ranking
Related occupations
Official CIP–SOC links add career context without claiming that every graduate enters the same job.
Architectural and Engineering ManagersSOC 11-9041 · 4 crosswalk linksEngineering Teachers, PostsecondarySOC 25-1032 · 4 crosswalk linksComputer Hardware EngineersSOC 17-2061 · 2 crosswalk linksComputer Network ArchitectsSOC 15-1241 · 2 crosswalk linksDatabase ArchitectsSOC 15-1243 · 2 crosswalk linksSoftware DevelopersSOC 15-1252 · 2 crosswalk linksSoftware Quality Assurance Analysts and TestersSOC 15-1253 · 2 crosswalk links
Same degree, different outcomes
Compare reported outcomes using the same federal field and credential. ROI uses each institution’s average net price as a scenario—not an individual aid offer.
| # | College | Location | Earnings, year 4 | Federal debt | 10-year ROI | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of California, Los AngelesBachelor's Degree | Los Angeles, CA | $228,705 | $14,103 | +698% | Strong payoff |
| 2 | Princeton UniversityBachelor's Degree | Princeton, NJ | $214,274 | Not available | +728% | Strong payoff |
| 3 | Columbia University in the City of New YorkBachelor's Degree | New York, NY | $194,365 | Not available | +461% | Strong payoff |
| 4 | Duke UniversityBachelor's Degree | Durham, NC | $174,522 | $14,500 | +334% | Strong payoff |
| 5 | University of Washington-Seattle CampusBachelor's Degree | Seattle, WA | $169,570 | $16,127 | +427% | Strong payoff |
| 6 | University of Washington-Bothell CampusBachelor's Degree | Bothell, WA | $169,570 | $16,127 | +443% | Strong payoff |
| 7 | University of Washington-Tacoma CampusBachelor's Degree | Tacoma, WA | $169,570 | $16,127 | +465% | Strong payoff |
| 8 | University of Southern CaliforniaBachelor's Degree | Los Angeles, CA | $166,369 | $9,500 | +290% | Strong payoff |
| 9 | Santa Clara UniversityBachelor's Degree | Santa Clara, CA | $163,765 | $24,666 | +212% | Strong payoff |
| 10 | University of Illinois Urbana-ChampaignBachelor's Degree | Champaign, IL | $159,855 | $20,500 | +384% | Strong payoff |
| 11 | Bucknell UniversityBachelor's Degree | Lewisburg, PA | $156,885 | Not available | +226% | Strong payoff |
| 12 | University of Maryland-College ParkBachelor's Degree | College Park, MD | $152,422 | $20,695 | +343% | Strong payoff |
| 13 | University of California, San DiegoBachelor's Degree | La Jolla, CA | $149,139 | $18,497 | +353% | Strong payoff |
| 14 | California Polytechnic State University-San Luis ObispoBachelor's Degree | San Luis Obispo, CA | $148,950 | $20,556 | +321% | Strong payoff |
| 15 | University of Virginia-Main CampusBachelor's Degree | Charlottesville, VA | $148,175 | $16,875 | +287% | Strong payoff |
| 16 | University of California, DavisBachelor's Degree | Davis, CA | $145,422 | $12,804 | +320% | Strong payoff |
| 17 | University of California, Santa BarbaraBachelor's Degree | Santa Barbara, CA | $144,703 | $14,410 | +308% | Strong payoff |
| 18 | University of Michigan-Ann ArborBachelor's Degree | Ann Arbor, MI | $142,071 | $20,500 | +317% | Strong payoff |
| 19 | Northeastern UniversityBachelor's Degree | Boston, MA | $135,416 | $25,005 | +198% | Strong payoff |
| 20 | Boston UniversityBachelor's Degree | Boston, MA | $135,394 | $26,866 | +226% | Strong payoff |
| 21 | Brigham Young UniversityBachelor's Degree | Provo, UT | $133,111 | $10,750 | +264% | Strong payoff |
| 22 | University of California, IrvineBachelor's Degree | Irvine, CA | $132,357 | $19,233 | +269% | Strong payoff |
| 23 | Georgia Institute of Technology-Main CampusBachelor's Degree | Atlanta, GA | $128,497 | $25,399 | +265% | Strong payoff |
| 24 | University of FloridaBachelor's Degree | Gainesville, FL | $128,140 | $22,562 | +303% | Strong payoff |
| 25 | Stony Brook UniversityBachelor's Degree | Stony Brook, NY | $128,038 | $22,990 | +225% | Strong payoff |
| 26 | New York UniversityBachelor's Degree | New York, NY | $127,201 | $19,000 | +150% | Strong payoff |
| 27 | Texas A&M University-College StationBachelor's Degree | College Station, TX | $127,042 | $22,816 | +209% | Strong payoff |
| 28 | University of New Mexico-Main CampusBachelor's Degree | Albuquerque, NM | $126,356 | Not available | +236% | Strong payoff |
| 29 | University of California, Santa CruzBachelor's Degree | Santa Cruz, CA | $124,641 | $23,392 | +217% | Strong payoff |
| 30 | Stevens Institute of TechnologyBachelor's Degree | Hoboken, NJ | $124,037 | $26,930 | +129% | Strong payoff |
| 31 | Ohio State University-Main CampusBachelor's Degree | Columbus, OH | $123,731 | $20,247 | +216% | Strong payoff |
| 32 | Rochester Institute of TechnologyBachelor's Degree | Rochester, NY | $123,027 | $28,500 | +144% | Strong payoff |
| 33 | Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State UniversityBachelor's Degree | Blacksburg, VA | $122,026 | $26,000 | +175% | Strong payoff |
| 34 | University of Colorado Colorado SpringsBachelor's Degree | Colorado Springs, CO | $121,678 | $25,075 | +215% | Strong payoff |
| 35 | Utah Valley UniversityBachelor's Degree | Orem, UT | $121,466 | $14,563 | +272% | Strong payoff |
| 36 | Purdue University-Main CampusBachelor's Degree | West Lafayette, IN | $121,462 | $23,000 | +221% | Strong payoff |
| 37 | Kettering UniversityBachelor's Degree | Flint, MI | $120,531 | $29,984 | +137% | Strong payoff |
| 38 | University of Wisconsin-MadisonBachelor's Degree | Madison, WI | $120,068 | Not available | +201% | Strong payoff |
| 39 | University of Minnesota-Twin CitiesBachelor's Degree | Minneapolis, MN | $119,781 | $23,000 | +203% | Strong payoff |
| 40 | Villanova UniversityBachelor's Degree | Villanova, PA | $119,137 | $26,000 | +109% | Strong payoff |
| 41 | Virginia Commonwealth UniversityBachelor's Degree | Richmond, VA | $118,273 | $23,813 | +168% | Strong payoff |
| 42 | George Mason UniversityBachelor's Degree | Fairfax, VA | $117,942 | $26,697 | +190% | Strong payoff |
| 43 | Binghamton UniversityBachelor's Degree | Vestal, NY | $117,721 | $23,945 | +173% | Strong payoff |
| 44 | Drexel UniversityBachelor's Degree | Philadelphia, PA | $117,537 | $28,166 | +117% | Strong payoff |
| 45 | CUNY City CollegeBachelor's Degree | New York, NY | $117,131 | Not available | +270% | Strong payoff |
| 46 | San Diego State UniversityBachelor's Degree | San Diego, CA | $116,842 | $16,248 | +198% | Strong payoff |
| 47 | University of DaytonBachelor's Degree | Dayton, OH | $116,356 | $26,090 | +139% | Strong payoff |
| 48 | Lehigh UniversityBachelor's Degree | Bethlehem, PA | $116,214 | $24,625 | +117% | Strong payoff |
| 49 | University of Colorado BoulderBachelor's Degree | Boulder, CO | $115,181 | $23,000 | +149% | Strong payoff |
| 50 | University of ConnecticutBachelor's Degree | Storrs, CT | $115,117 | $20,108 | +150% | Strong payoff |
| 51 | University of Connecticut-Waterbury CampusBachelor's Degree | Waterbury, CT | $115,117 | $20,108 | +214% | Strong payoff |
| 52 | University of Connecticut-Avery PointBachelor's Degree | Groton, CT | $115,117 | $20,108 | +198% | Strong payoff |
| 53 | University of Connecticut-StamfordBachelor's Degree | Stamford, CT | $115,117 | $20,108 | +184% | Strong payoff |
| 54 | University of Connecticut-Hartford CampusBachelor's Degree | Hartford, CT | $115,117 | $20,108 | +185% | Strong payoff |
| 55 | Illinois Institute of TechnologyBachelor's Degree | Chicago, IL | $114,930 | $26,500 | +176% | Strong payoff |
| 56 | Florida State UniversityBachelor's Degree | Tallahassee, FL | $114,802 | $23,346 | +210% | Strong payoff |
| 57 | Washington State UniversityBachelor's Degree | Pullman, WA | $114,635 | $21,750 | +190% | Strong payoff |
| 58 | University of UtahBachelor's Degree | Salt Lake City, UT | $114,197 | $19,375 | +183% | Strong payoff |
| 59 | University of KansasBachelor's Degree | Lawrence, KS | $113,339 | Not available | +171% | Strong payoff |
| 60 | University of Maryland-Baltimore CountyBachelor's Degree | Baltimore, MD | $113,299 | $19,988 | +178% | Strong payoff |
| 61 | University of Massachusetts-AmherstBachelor's Degree | Amherst, MA | $113,083 | $27,000 | +153% | Strong payoff |
| 62 | University of Missouri-ColumbiaBachelor's Degree | Columbia, MO | $112,696 | $19,500 | +159% | Strong payoff |
| 63 | The University of Texas at DallasBachelor's Degree | Richardson, TX | $112,666 | $21,000 | +167% | Strong payoff |
| 64 | Arizona State University Campus ImmersionBachelor's Degree | Tempe, AZ | $112,543 | $26,972 | +182% | Strong payoff |
| 65 | Arizona State University Digital ImmersionBachelor's Degree | Scottsdale, AZ | $112,543 | $26,972 | WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive | Not available |
| 66 | Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Erie-Behrend CollegeBachelor's Degree | Erie, PA | $112,269 | $26,708 | +142% | Strong payoff |
| 67 | Pennsylvania State University-Penn State HarrisburgBachelor's Degree | Middletown, PA | $112,269 | $26,708 | +146% | Strong payoff |
| 68 | Pennsylvania State University-Penn State BrandywineBachelor's Degree | Media, PA | $112,269 | $26,708 | +149% | Strong payoff |
| 69 | Pennsylvania State University-Main CampusBachelor's Degree | University Park, PA | $112,269 | $26,708 | +116% | Strong payoff |
| 70 | Pennsylvania State University-World CampusBachelor's Degree | University Park, PA | $112,269 | $26,708 | +161% | Strong payoff |
| 71 | University of Michigan-DearbornBachelor's Degree | Dearborn, MI | $111,740 | $25,327 | +206% | Strong payoff |
| 72 | Utah State UniversityBachelor's Degree | Logan, UT | $111,527 | Not available | +177% | Strong payoff |
| 73 | Monmouth UniversityBachelor's Degree | West Long Branch, NJ | $111,422 | Not available | +119% | Strong payoff |
| 74 | University of DelawareBachelor's Degree | Newark, DE | $111,388 | $26,679 | +164% | Strong payoff |
| 75 | Syracuse UniversityBachelor's Degree | Syracuse, NY | $110,988 | Not available | +97% | Positive payoff |
| 76 | Auburn UniversityBachelor's Degree | Auburn, AL | $110,927 | $22,125 | +138% | Strong payoff |
| 77 | University of Pittsburgh-JohnstownBachelor's Degree | Johnstown, PA | $110,417 | $26,837 | +159% | Strong payoff |
| 78 | University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh CampusBachelor's Degree | Pittsburgh, PA | $110,417 | $26,837 | +117% | Strong payoff |
| 79 | North Carolina State University at RaleighBachelor's Degree | Raleigh, NC | $110,416 | $24,250 | +162% | Strong payoff |
| 80 | University at BuffaloBachelor's Degree | Buffalo, NY | $109,221 | $22,500 | +143% | Strong payoff |
| 81 | Rose-Hulman Institute of TechnologyBachelor's Degree | Terre Haute, IN | $109,164 | $24,834 | +83% | Positive payoff |
| 82 | University of North TexasBachelor's Degree | Denton, TX | $109,151 | $23,235 | +164% | Strong payoff |
| 83 | University of South Carolina-ColumbiaBachelor's Degree | Columbia, SC | $109,116 | $27,000 | +136% | Strong payoff |
| 84 | University of South FloridaBachelor's Degree | Tampa, FL | $109,054 | $27,250 | +192% | Strong payoff |
| 85 | Clarkson UniversityBachelor's Degree | Potsdam, NY | $107,790 | $27,000 | +108% | Strong payoff |
| 86 | University of Wisconsin-OshkoshBachelor's Degree | Oshkosh, WI | $107,771 | Not available | +165% | Strong payoff |
| 87 | University of HoustonBachelor's Degree | Houston, TX | $107,283 | $21,582 | +163% | Strong payoff |
| 88 | University of California, RiversideBachelor's Degree | Riverside, CA | $107,193 | $25,083 | +162% | Strong payoff |
| 89 | Saint Cloud State UniversityBachelor's Degree | Saint Cloud, MN | $107,133 | $27,000 | +165% | Strong payoff |
| 90 | Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical CollegeBachelor's Degree | Baton Rouge, LA | $106,897 | Not available | +141% | Strong payoff |
| 91 | University of Central FloridaBachelor's Degree | Orlando, FL | $106,680 | $23,000 | +178% | Strong payoff |
| 92 | Florida Institute of TechnologyBachelor's Degree | Melbourne, FL | $106,431 | $25,125 | +90% | Positive payoff |
| 93 | University of Alabama in HuntsvilleBachelor's Degree | Huntsville, AL | $105,920 | $26,825 | +139% | Strong payoff |
| 94 | The University of Texas at ArlingtonBachelor's Degree | Arlington, TX | $105,871 | $20,833 | +158% | Strong payoff |
| 95 | The University of Tennessee-KnoxvilleBachelor's Degree | Knoxville, TN | $105,834 | $26,000 | +138% | Strong payoff |
| 96 | Iowa State UniversityBachelor's Degree | Ames, IA | $105,753 | $24,337 | +139% | Strong payoff |
| 97 | Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-PrescottBachelor's Degree | Prescott, AZ | $105,527 | $26,146 | +77% | Positive payoff |
| 98 | Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Daytona BeachBachelor's Degree | Daytona Beach, FL | $105,527 | $26,146 | +75% | Positive payoff |
| 99 | University of Oklahoma-Norman CampusBachelor's Degree | Norman, OK | $105,525 | $22,767 | +151% | Strong payoff |
| 100 | University of MaineBachelor's Degree | Orono, ME | $104,785 | Not available | +139% | Strong payoff |
This page keeps the field and credential level fixed. Federal categories can still combine multiple catalog programs or concentrations. Automated ROI is limited to associate and bachelor’s degrees because institution-wide annual net price is not a reliable proxy for short certificate prices. ROI is an illustrative scenario, not a federal determination.