Best institutions to study Computer Engineering
A program that generally prepares individuals to apply mathematical and scientific principles to the design, development and operational evaluation of computer hardware and software systems and related equipment and facilities; and the analysis of specific problems of computer applications to various tasks.
303 U.S. institutions graduated 13,854 Computer Engineering students in 2024–25 (IPEDS). It is CIP 14.0901, a specialization of Computer Engineering (CIP 14.09), and leads most directly to the Computer Hardware Engineers occupation (BLS SOC 17-2061).
About Computer Engineering programs
A program that generally prepares individuals to apply mathematical and scientific principles to the design, development and operational evaluation of computer hardware and software systems and related equipment and facilities; and the analysis of specific problems of computer applications to various tasks.
See also: 11.0701 - Computer Science.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics, Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020).
The Computer Engineering program prepares students to apply mathematical and scientific principles in designing, developing, and evaluating computer hardware and software systems. This program is ideal for individuals interested in tackling complex problems in computer applications and working on innovative technology solutions.
Students will gain core skills in critical thinking, mathematics, and engineering principles. Coursework typically covers topics in computers and electronics, design, and physics, equipping graduates with the knowledge needed to excel in the rapidly evolving tech landscape.
Credentials awarded
What Computer Engineering graduates earned in 2024–25, by award level (IPEDS completions).
- Bachelor's degree9,845 graduates / yr · 278 institutions71%
- Master's degree3,424 graduates / yr · 104 institutions25%
- Doctor's degree - research/scholarship400 graduates / yr · 54 institutions2.9%
- Award of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year131 graduates / yr · 4 institutions0.9%
- Associate's degree32 graduates / yr · 9 institutions0.2%
- Postbaccalaureate certificate17 graduates / yr · 5 institutions0.1%
- Award of at least 2 but less than 4 academic years5 graduates / yr · 1 institution0.0%
Graduates over time
Computer Engineering completions reported to IPEDS each year, all award levels combined.
| Year | Graduates |
|---|---|
| 2012 | 6,534 |
| 2013 | 6,875 |
| 2014 | 7,541 |
| 2015 | 8,319 |
| 2016 | 9,899 |
| 2017 | 10,922 |
| 2018 | 11,699 |
| 2019 | 12,210 |
| 2020 | 12,725 |
| 2021 | 13,374 |
| 2022 | 12,459 |
| 2023 | 13,360 |
| 2024 | 13,394 |
| 2025 | 13,854 |
Top 50 institutions for Computer Engineering, ranked by graduates
Graduates (IPEDS completions), 2024–25. Award levels show which credentials each institution confers in this specialization.
| # | Institution | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price | Field earnings* (1 yr) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ohio State University - Main Campus Columbus, OHPublicBachelor'sMaster'sDoctoral | 571 | 88% | — | $83,342 |
| 2 | University of Illinois Urbana - Champaign Champaign, ILPublicBachelor's | 458 | 85% | — | $103,123 |
| 3 | Purdue University - Main Campus West Lafayette, INPublicBachelor's | 455 | 83% | — | $89,965 |
| 4 | New York University New York, NYPrivate not-for-profitMaster'sBachelor's | 398 | 88% | $29,023 | $82,183 |
| 5 | University of Michigan - Ann Arbor Ann Arbor, MIPublicMaster'sBachelor'sDoctoral | 369 | 93% | — | $92,501 |
| 6 | Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University Blacksburg, VAPublicBachelor'sMaster'sDoctoral | 345 | 86% | — | $86,636 |
| 7 | North Carolina State University at Raleigh Raleigh, NCPublicMaster'sBachelor'sAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearDoctoralPost-degree cert. | 337 | 85% | — | $82,997 |
| 8 | Santa Clara University Santa Clara, CAPrivate not-for-profitMaster'sBachelor'sDoctoral | 332 | 88% | $44,094 | $103,804 |
| 9 | University of California - San Diego La Jolla, CAPublicBachelor'sMaster'sDoctoral | 286 | 86% | — | $96,256 |
| 10 | Texas A&M University - College Station College Station, TXPublicBachelor'sMaster'sDoctoral | 277 | 84% | — | $86,366 |
| 11 | University of California - Irvine Irvine, CAPublicBachelor'sMaster'sDoctoral | 272 | 87% | — | $79,812 |
| 12 | Arizona State University Campus Immersion Tempe, AZPublicBachelor'sMaster'sDoctoral | 255 | 68% | — | $81,123 |
| 13 | University of California - Merced Merced, CAPublicBachelor's | 201 | 69% | — | $58,835 |
| 14 | University of Central Florida Orlando, FLPublicBachelor'sMaster'sDoctoral | 182 | 78% | — | $76,819 |
| 15 | Duke University Durham, NCPrivate not-for-profitBachelor'sMaster's | 164 | 97% | $16,260 | $111,145 |
| 16 | The University of Texas at Dallas Richardson, TXPublicBachelor'sMaster'sDoctoral | 158 | 76% | — | $77,609 |
| 17 | University of Southern California Los Angeles, CAPrivate not-for-profitMaster'sBachelor'sDoctoral | 150 | 92% | $26,873 | — |
| 18 | University of California - Santa Cruz Santa Cruz, CAPublicBachelor'sDoctoralMaster's | 149 | 75% | — | $79,969 |
| 19 | University of Louisville Louisville, KYPublicMaster'sBachelor'sDoctoral | 146 | 61% | — | $72,710 |
| 20 | Florida International University Miami, FLPublicBachelor'sMaster's | 139 | 74% | — | $75,210 |
| 21 | University of Florida Gainesville, FLPublicBachelor'sPost-degree cert.Master's | 139 | 91% | — | $87,949 |
| 22 | Northeastern University Boston, MAPrivate not-for-profitBachelor'sDoctoral | 139 | 91% | $18,925 | $99,499 |
| 23 | San Jose State University San Jose, CAPublicBachelor'sMaster's | 134 | 69% | — | — |
| 24 | Georgia Institute of Technology - Main Campus Atlanta, GAPublicBachelor's | 132 | 94% | — | $93,629 |
| 25 | Iowa State University Ames, IAPublicBachelor'sMaster'sDoctoral | 131 | 75% | — | $79,182 |
| 26 | Oklahoma Christian University Edmond, OKPrivate not-for-profitMaster'sBachelor's | 129 | 56% | $21,964 | — |
| 27 | Stony Brook University Stony Brook, NYPublicMaster'sBachelor'sPost-degree cert.Doctoral | 126 | 76% | — | $73,820 |
| 28 | California State Polytechnic University - Pomona Pomona, CAPublicBachelor's | 118 | 68% | — | $70,768 |
| 29 | University of Connecticut Storrs, CTPublicBachelor'sMaster'sDoctoral | 116 | 83% | — | $82,924 |
| 30 | Boston University Boston, MAPrivate not-for-profitBachelor'sDoctoralMaster's | 116 | 89% | $21,956 | $93,995 |
| 31 | University of California - Davis Davis, CAPublicBachelor's | 102 | 86% | — | $96,418 |
| 32 | George Mason University Fairfax, VAPublicBachelor'sMaster's | 100 | 68% | — | $87,466 |
| 33 | Stevens Institute of Technology Hoboken, NJPrivate not-for-profitBachelor'sMaster'sDoctoral | 96 | 87% | $34,827 | $89,001 |
| 34 | The University of Texas at Arlington Arlington, TXPublicBachelor'sAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearMaster'sDoctoralPost-degree cert. | 96 | 54% | — | $81,226 |
| 35 | University of Cincinnati - Main Campus Cincinnati, OHPublicBachelor'sMaster'sDoctoral | 95 | 75% | — | $83,489 |
| 36 | University of California - Riverside Riverside, CAPublicBachelor'sMaster's | 93 | 76% | — | $65,049 |
| 37 | Pennsylvania State University - Main Campus University Park, PAPublicBachelor's | 93 | 86% | — | $85,446 |
| 38 | Auburn University Auburn, ALPublicMaster'sBachelor'sDoctoral | 89 | 82% | — | $80,067 |
| 39 | California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo San Luis Obispo, CAPublicBachelor's | 89 | 86% | — | $111,560 |
| 40 | University of Notre Dame Notre Dame, INPrivate not-for-profitMaster'sDoctoralBachelor's | 88 | 95% | $19,452 | — |
| 41 | University of Maryland - College Park College Park, MDPublicBachelor's | 88 | 89% | — | $95,847 |
| 42 | University of California - Los Angeles Los Angeles, CAPublicBachelor's | 87 | 93% | — | — |
| 43 | Northwestern University Evanston, ILPrivate not-for-profitMaster'sBachelor'sDoctoral | 86 | 95% | $14,799 | — |
| 44 | California State University - Fullerton Fullerton, CAPublicBachelor'sMaster's | 82 | 70% | — | $55,093 |
| 45 | University of New Mexico - Main Campus Albuquerque, NMPublicMaster'sBachelor's | 82 | 55% | — | — |
| 46 | Rochester Institute of Technology Rochester, NYPrivate not-for-profitBachelor'sMaster's | 82 | 70% | $28,133 | $90,829 |
| 47 | University of Wisconsin - Madison Madison, WIPublicBachelor's | 82 | 90% | — | — |
| 48 | California State University - Northridge Northridge, CAPublicMaster'sBachelor's | 81 | 57% | — | $75,692 |
| 49 | Binghamton University Vestal, NYPublicBachelor's | 80 | 82% | — | $86,938 |
| 50 | New Jersey Institute of Technology Newark, NJPublicBachelor'sMaster'sDoctoral | 78 | 73% | — | $67,640 |
* Median earnings 1 year after graduation for the broader Computer Engineering field (CIP 14.09) at these institutions; College Scorecard does not publish earnings at the 6-digit level.
Offered in 52 states & territories
Where Computer Engineering graduates come from. Each state links to all Computer Engineering programs offered there.
Careers & outlook
The payoff after graduation: occupation 17-2061, Computer Hardware Engineers, and its national outlook.
Graduates of the Computer Engineering program can pursue careers as Computer Hardware Engineers, Software Developers, and more. The job outlook is promising, with a growth rate of 7.3% and approximately 4,700 annual openings. The median wage for professionals in this field is $155,020, typically requiring a Bachelor's degree.
Top-paying metros
Career pathways for CIP 14.0901
The occupations the NCES crosswalk maps this 6-digit code to, with BLS pay and 10-year outlook.
| Occupation | US median pay | Growth | Openings / yr | Typical entry education |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Computer Hardware Engineersprimary SOC 17-2061 | $161,740 | +7.3% Faster than average | ~4,700 | Bachelor's degree |
Software Developers SOC 15-1252 | $135,980 | +15.8% Much faster than average | ~115,200 | Bachelor's degree |
Architectural and Engineering Managers SOC 11-9041 | $171,270 | +3.8% About as fast as average | ~14,500 | Bachelor's degree |
Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers SOC 15-1253 | $104,300 | +10.0% Much faster than average | ~14,000 | Bachelor's degree |
Computer Network Architects SOC 15-1241 | $134,050 | +11.9% Much faster than average | ~11,200 | Bachelor's degree |
Engineering Teachers, Postsecondary SOC 25-1032 | $109,270 | +8.1% Much faster than average | ~4,100 | Doctoral or professional degree |
Database Architects SOC 15-1243 | $139,500 | +8.7% Much faster than average | ~4,000 | Bachelor's degree |
Job Zone Four: Considerable Preparation Needed
- Education
- Most of these occupations require a four-year bachelor's degree, but some do not.
- Experience
- A considerable amount of work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is needed for these occupations. For example, an accountant must complete four years of college and work for several years in accounting to be considered qualified.
- Training
- Employees in these occupations usually need several years of work-related experience, on-the-job training, and/or vocational training.
Related careers
Skills & knowledge in Computer Engineering programs
From the U.S. Dept. of Labor for the occupation this specialization most leads to.
Skills you'll build
Knowledge areas
Abilities that matter most
Day-to-day work activities
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.
Tools and technology used
Other Computer Engineering specializations
The 3 other 6-digit CIP codes under Computer Engineering (CIP 14.09).
Common questions
What degrees can I earn in this program?+
You can earn a Bachelor's, Master's, or Doctor's degree in Computer Engineering.
What skills will I develop?+
You will develop skills in critical thinking, mathematics, and active learning.
What careers can I pursue after graduation?+
You can work as a Computer Hardware Engineer, Software Developer, or in various engineering management roles.
What is the job outlook for this field?+
The job outlook is faster than average, with a growth rate of 7.3% and about 4,700 annual job openings.
What is the CIP code for Computer Engineering?+
Computer Engineering is CIP 14.0901 in the NCES Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020), a 6-digit specialization within Computer Engineering (CIP 14.09). NCES defines it as: A program that generally prepares individuals to apply mathematical and scientific principles to the design, development and operational evaluation of computer hardware and software systems and related equipment and facilities; and the analysis of specific problems of computer applications to various tasks.
How many institutions offer Computer Engineering programs?+
303 U.S. institutions reported Computer Engineering graduates in IPEDS 2024–25, across 52 states & territories, awarding 13,854 credentials in the year. That is 65.4% of all Computer Engineering graduates.
How much do Computer Engineering graduates earn?+
Earnings are not published at the 6-digit CIP level by any federal source. The Computer Hardware Engineers occupation, which Computer Engineering most directly leads to, pays a median of $161,740 a year nationally (BLS OEWS May 2025), and graduates of the broader Computer Engineering field report median earnings of $79,022 one year after graduation (College Scorecard).
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.
Program definitions are from the NCES Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020). Skills, knowledge, abilities, work activities, tools, and job zones are from the O*NET database by the U.S. Department of Labor, used under the CC BY 4.0 license.
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