Best colleges for Computer Engineering
Ranked by graduate earnings
The top bachelor's colleges for Computer Engineering by graduate earnings are University of Washington-Seattle Campus ($141,588), University of Virginia ($118,232) and California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo ($111,560), based on median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, among programs with at least 20 graduates a year, excluding online, degree-completion and graduate-only schools and those with a graduation rate under 30%.
- University of Washington-Seattle Campus (Seattle, WA): $141,588, 28 graduates a year
- University of Virginia (Charlottesville, VA): $118,232, 72 graduates a year
- California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo (San Luis Obispo, CA): $111,560, 112 graduates a year
- Duke University (Durham, NC): $111,145, 164 graduates a year
- Santa Clara University (Santa Clara, CA): $103,804, 370 graduates a year
Compare 373 U.S. colleges offering Computer Engineering by graduate earnings, cost, and outcomes. Federal data across 52 states.
Computer Engineering programs report median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $78,915 (College Scorecard, 2019), and map to CIP 14.09 and the Computer Hardware Engineers occupation (BLS SOC).
About Computer Engineering programs
The Computer Engineering program combines principles of computer science and engineering, focusing on the design and development of computer hardware and software systems. This program is ideal for students interested in the intersection of technology and engineering, preparing them for a dynamic field that evolves rapidly with advancements in technology.
Students in this program will develop critical skills in areas such as mathematics, electronics, and design. Coursework typically includes topics related to computer hardware, software engineering, and the integration of systems, ensuring a comprehensive understanding of both theoretical and practical aspects of computer engineering.
Top 25 bachelor's programs, ranked by graduate earnings
Ranked by median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, predominant credential. Programs with fewer than 20 graduates a year, a graduation rate under 30%, or online, degree-completion or graduate-only status rank after the rest.
| # | Institution | Starting salary (1 yr) | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of Washington-Seattle Campus Seattle, WA Public · Bachelor's degree | $141,588 | 28 | 85% | — | $16,127 |
| 2 | University of Virginia Charlottesville, VA Public · Bachelor's degree | $118,232 | 72 | 96% | — | $16,875 |
| 3 | California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo San Luis Obispo, CA Public · Bachelor's degree | $111,560 | 112 | 86% | — | $20,556 |
| 4 | Duke University Durham, NC Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $111,145 | 164 | 97% | $16,260 | $14,500 |
| 5 | Santa Clara University Santa Clara, CA Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $103,804 | 370 | 88% | $44,094 | $24,666 |
| 6 | University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Champaign, IL Public · Bachelor's degree | $103,123 | 458 | 85% | — | $20,500 |
| 7 | Columbia University New York, NY Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $102,083 | 64 | 96% | $15,315 | — |
| 8 | Northeastern University Boston, MA Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $99,499 | 1,390 | 91% | $18,925 | $25,005 |
| 9 | University of California-Davis Davis, CA Public · Bachelor's degree | $96,418 | 102 | 86% | — | $12,804 |
| 10 | University of California-San Diego La Jolla, CA Public · Bachelor's degree | $96,256 | 295 | 86% | — | $18,497 |
| 11 | University of Maryland-College Park College Park, MD Public · Bachelor's degree | $95,847 | 93 | 89% | — | $20,695 |
| 12 | Villanova University Villanova, PA Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $94,228 | 59 | 92% | $33,774 | $26,000 |
| 13 | Boston University Boston, MA Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $93,995 | 116 | 89% | $21,956 | $26,866 |
| 14 | Georgia Institute of Technology Atlanta, GA Public · Bachelor's degree | $93,629 | 132 | 94% | — | $25,399 |
| 15 | University of Michigan-Ann Arbor Ann Arbor, MI Public · Bachelor's degree | $92,501 | 369 | 93% | — | $20,500 |
| 16 | Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology Terre Haute, IN Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $92,123 | 68 | 78% | $36,775 | $24,834 |
| 17 | University of California-Santa Barbara Santa Barbara, CA Public · Bachelor's degree | $91,387 | 54 | 83% | — | $14,410 |
| 18 | Rochester Institute of Technology Rochester, NY Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $90,829 | 261 | 70% | $28,133 | $28,500 |
| 19 | Bucknell University Lewisburg, PA Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $90,171 | 35 | 86% | $30,675 | — |
| 20 | Purdue University West Lafayette, IN Public · Bachelor's degree | $89,965 | 455 | 83% | — | $23,000 |
| 21 | University of Utah Salt Lake City, UT Public · Bachelor's degree | $89,605 | 72 | 65% | — | $19,375 |
| 22 | Drexel University Philadelphia, PA Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $89,418 | 171 | 78% | $36,004 | $28,166 |
| 23 | University of Massachusetts-Amherst Amherst, MA Public · Bachelor's degree | $89,327 | 73 | 83% | — | $27,000 |
| 24 | Stevens Institute of Technology Hoboken, NJ Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $89,001 | 199 | 87% | $34,827 | $26,930 |
| 25 | Brigham Young University Provo, UT Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $88,785 | 51 | 81% | $13,712 | $10,750 |
Specializations within Computer Engineering
4 of the 4 6-digit CIP codes under CIP 14.09 have U.S. graduates (NCES CIP 2020, IPEDS 2024–25). Each links to its own page, ranked by graduates.
- Computer EngineeringCIP 14.090113,854 graduates / yr303 institutions52 states
- Computer Software EngineeringCIP 14.09036,640 graduates / yr142 institutions38 states
- Computer EngineeringCIP 14.0999566 graduates / yr21 institutions13 states
- Computer Hardware EngineeringCIP 14.0902partial data119 graduates / yr7 institutions5 states
Offered across 52 states & territories
The same program, compared state by state. Pick a state for in-state earnings and institutions.
Careers & outlook
The payoff after graduation: occupation 17-2061, Computer Hardware Engineers, and its national outlook.
Graduates of the Computer Engineering program can expect a promising career outlook, with a projected growth rate of 7.3% and approximately 4,700 annual job openings. The median wage for professionals in this field is around $155,020, and a typical educational requirement is a Bachelor's degree.
Top-paying metros
Related careers
CIP-to-SOC crosswalk for Computer Engineering
The SOC occupations NCES officially maps to CIP 14.09.
Under the NCES CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk, CIP 14.09 (Computer Engineering) maps to 7 Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) occupations, the jobs the U.S. Department of Labor links to this field of study.
| SOC code | Occupation |
|---|---|
| 11-9041 | Architectural and Engineering Managers |
| 15-1241 | Computer Network Architects |
| 15-1243 | Database Architects |
| 15-1252 | Software Developers |
| 15-1253 | Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers |
| 17-2061 | Computer Hardware Engineersprimary |
| 25-1032 | Engineering Teachers, Postsecondary |
Source: National Center for Education Statistics, CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 Crosswalk.
Skills & knowledge in Computer Engineering programs
From the U.S. Dept. of Labor for the occupation this program most leads to.
Skills you'll build
Knowledge areas
What graduates do on the job
- Update knowledge and skills to keep up with rapid advancements in computer technology.
- Design and develop computer hardware and support peripherals, including central processing units (CPUs), support logic, microprocessors, custom integrated circuits, and printers and disk drives.
- Confer with engineering staff and consult specifications to evaluate interface between hardware and software and operational and performance requirements of overall system.
- Build, test, and modify product prototypes, using working models or theoretical models constructed with computer simulation.
- Write detailed functional specifications that document the hardware development process and support hardware introduction.
- Test and verify hardware and support peripherals to ensure that they meet specifications and requirements, by recording and analyzing test data.
Common questions
What is Computer Engineering?+
Computer Engineering is a field that merges computer science and engineering, focusing on the design and development of computer systems.
What skills will I learn?+
You will learn critical thinking, mathematics, electronics, design, and effective communication skills.
What are the job prospects?+
The job outlook is strong, with a growth rate of 7.3% and around 4,700 openings annually.
What is the average salary?+
The median wage for computer engineering professionals is approximately $155,020.
How much do Computer Engineering graduates earn?+
Computer Engineering graduates report median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $78,915, College Scorecard (2019); the Computer Hardware Engineers occupation pays about $162,670 on average nationally (BLS OEWS May 2025).
What is the CIP code for Computer Engineering?+
Computer Engineering maps to CIP 14.09 in the Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP), the U.S. Department of Education taxonomy used for College Scorecard Field of Study earnings and IPEDS completions.
About the data on this page
Every figure comes from an official federal or public source. Here is each one and the release it is currently on.
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