Program directoryPROGRAM-CATEGORY PAYOFF

Computer Engineering bachelor's degree outcomes at Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus

University Park, PA · Public · Federal field 1409

Data scope

Federal records group outcomes by college, four-digit field and credential level. A record may cover several catalog programs or concentrations.

The short version

Reported earnings are close to the same-degree benchmark.

$3,254 above the national median for the same field and credential.

Debt pressure
23.8% of annual earnings
Positive-payoff price ceiling
$123,173 / year
10-year scenario
+116% · Strong payoff
Price evidence
College-wide context only
PRICE SENSITIVITY

The price can change the verdict.

Hold observed earnings constant and see how the modeled ten-year payoff changes as annual price rises.

What stays fixed$112,269 observed annual earnings · 4 years of study · $45,000 alternative annual earnings · ten-year horizonThe marked price is this college’s institution-wide average net price, not the exact price of this program category. This is a sensitivity test, not a tuition quote or earnings forecast.
OUTCOME SIGNALS

Graduate outcomes from several angles.

Follow earnings over time and inspect the cohort behind each federal measure.

+29%Earnings growth, year 1 → 5$85,446$110,493
Not availableEarn above high-school thresholdGraduate count in the year-4 cohort
60Working in the college’s stateGraduate count in the year-4 cohort
110Year-5 earnings observationsCohort behind the year-5 median
145Borrowers representedCohort behind the debt median
$38,008Awarding-school debtDebt attributed to the college granting the credential
Not availableRecent awardsIPEDS 2023–24 first-major completions in this field and credential
NEW FEDERAL PROGRAM CONTEXT

Size, aid and an earnings floor.

The Department of Education’s 2026 informational preview adds current program participation and a preliminary earnings comparison. It does not make a final eligibility determination.

445Students receiving federal aid2024–25 Title IV enrollment
86Federal-aid completers2024–25 program completers
173Pell Grant recipients2024–25 program count
280Federal loan borrowers2024–25 unduplicated count
Preliminary federal earnings benchmark$35,274Informational preview, not a final accountability result
Observed year-4 earnings$112,269$76,995 above the preliminary benchmark

Additional borrowing reported for this category: 42 Parent PLUS borrowers.

Source: U.S. Department of Education PPD:2026 informational preview. Program categories use OPEID, four-digit field and credential level; federal-aid counts do not represent every enrolled student.

01 · PRICE CONTEXT$32,875

Institution-wide annual average net price, not this program’s price.

02 · BORROWING$26,708

Median federal debt across schools attended at this academic level.

03 · EARNINGS$112,269

Observed median earnings four full years after completion.

04 · REPAYMENT$283/mo

Estimated standard 10-year federal payment.

WHAT WILL IT COST?

Published college costs provide the starting point.

Your exact offering, aid, residency and time to finish determine the price you actually pay.

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AVERAGE NET PRICE$32,875Institution-wide annual figure
COST OF ATTENDANCE$39,694Institution-wide annual budget
ADMISSION RATE60.6%Institution context
COMPLETION RATE86.1%Institution-wide completion rate
WHAT DO GRADUATES EARN?

Reported earnings after completion.

Each point may represent a different federal cohort. A missing bar means the figure was unavailable or suppressed.

$85,446Year 1
$112,269Year 4
$110,493Year 5
CAN THE EARNINGS SUPPORT THE DEBT?

3.0% of gross monthly earnings

Estimated monthly payment divided by observed gross monthly earnings. This excludes taxes, other debts and income-driven repayment.

Gross monthly earnings$9,356
Estimated loan payment$283
145borrowers represented where reported
HOW DOES IT COMPARE?

$112,269 vs. $109,015

$3,254 above the national median for the same field and credential.

Same-field national median
WHAT WORK CAN IT LEAD TO?

Related occupations, wages and outlook.

Official CIP–SOC links show careers the curriculum may prepare students for, not observed jobs held by this school’s graduates. BLS wages describe everyone working in an occupation.

BLS May 2025 wage estimates and 2025–35 employment projections.
Architectural and Engineering Managers$164,690 median wagePA estimate · 9,640 jobs · 11-9041+5.5% projected U.S. growth · 14.9k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeEngineering Teachers, Postsecondary$82,070 median wagePA estimate · 2,990 jobs · 25-1032+7.8% projected U.S. growth · 3.9k openings/yrTypical entry: Doctoral or professional degreeComputer Hardware Engineers$161,740 median wageU.S. estimate · 1,610 jobs · 17-2061+9.1% projected U.S. growth · 4.1k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeDatabase Architects$139,500 median wageU.S. estimate · 2,840 jobs · 15-1243+9.4% projected U.S. growth · 3.9k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeComputer Network Architects$131,840 median wagePA estimate · 6,080 jobs · 15-1241+7.7% projected U.S. growth · 9.6k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeSoftware Developers$126,550 median wagePA estimate · 55,920 jobs · 15-1252+10.2% projected U.S. growth · 95.3k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeSoftware Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers$93,030 median wagePA estimate · 4,530 jobs · 15-1253+5.7% projected U.S. growth · 10.7k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degree
Possible alternatives

Same degree, stronger on at least one reported measure.

Every option below reports higher earnings, lower federal debt or a lower college-wide net price. Same-state options appear first.

Villanova, PA

Villanova University

$6,868 higher earnings · $708 less debt

Earnings
$119,137
Debt
$26,000
Annual net price
$43,756
View outcomes →
Bethlehem, PA

Lehigh University

$3,945 higher earnings · $2,083 less debt

Earnings
$116,214
Debt
$24,625
Annual net price
$36,931
View outcomes →
Lewisburg, PA

Bucknell University

$44,616 higher earnings

Earnings
$156,885
Debt
Not available
Annual net price
$40,766
View outcomes →
Philadelphia, PA

Drexel University

$5,268 higher earnings

Earnings
$117,537
Debt
$28,166
Annual net price
$38,509
View outcomes →
Compare these programs →
DATA QUALITY

Check the evidence behind the estimate.

110 observations in the earnings cohort

June 10, 2026 College Scorecard release

Observed, estimated and contextual figures are labeled separately throughout this page

IS IT WORTH IT AT YOUR PRICE?

Your price and current earnings determine the result.

Add your grants, borrowing and current salary to estimate payment pressure, break-even time and ten-year payoff.

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