Bright outlook
Management
Architectural and Engineering Managers
- Median pay
- $171,270
- Outlook
- Faster than average
Bachelor's degree
- Reading Comprehension
- Active Listening
- Complex Problem Solving
Computer Engineering
CIP14.09
367 colleges offer Computer Engineering. See what it covers, which degree levels are available and what graduates earn and borrow.
Data verified Nov 2026 · CollegesRef 2026–27 edition
- Colleges offering it
- 367
- at its most common level
- Bachelor's earnings
- $104,785
- median, 4 years after
- Bachelor's debt
- $21,499
- median federal loans
Colleges offering it, by degree level
- Certificate
- 22
- Associate's
- 31
- Bachelor's
- 367
- Master's
- 159
- Post-baccalaureate certificate
- 5
- Doctoral
- 64
- First professional
- 1
- Graduate/professional certificate
- 42
What it covers
About 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.
Definition: National Center for Education Statistics, Classification of Instructional Programs 2020, code 14.09.
Programs in this field
Colleges report these specific programs under CIP 14.09.
- Computer Engineering, General
- Computer Hardware Engineering
- Computer Software Engineering
By degree level
Earnings and debt by degree level
Medians across colleges of each college's own program median. Earnings are for graduates who received federal aid and were working.
| Degree level | Colleges | Median earnings | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Certificate | 22 | $64,1901 yr after · 3 colleges | $17,3437 colleges |
| Associate's | 31 | $69,8734 yrs after · 6 colleges | $22,4308 colleges |
| Bachelor's | 367 | $104,7854 yrs after · 175 colleges | $21,499150 colleges |
| Master's | 159 | $134,3404 yrs after · 20 colleges | $33,8888 colleges |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 5 | $90,6321 yr after · 1 college | Not reported |
| Doctoral | 64 | Not reported | Not reported |
| First professional | 1 | Not reported | Not reported |
| Graduate/professional certificate | 42 | Not reported | Not reported |
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard field-of-study data, 2025. Colleges with too few graduates have their earnings and debt suppressed, so the number of colleges reporting is smaller than the number offering the program.
Bachelor's programs
Where Computer Engineering graduates earn the most
Median earnings four years after finishing, among programs with at least 10 graduates in the latest year. Earnings are one measure; cost and graduation rate matter too.
- 1
University of California-Los Angeles
Los Angeles, CA · Public · 106 graduates
$228,705
debt $17,731
- 2
Columbia University in the City of New York
New York, NY · Private nonprofit · 25 graduates
$194,365
debt not reported
- 3
Durham, NC · Private nonprofit · 100 graduates
$174,522
debt $12,000
- 4
University of Washington-Bothell Campus
Bothell, WA · Public · 25 graduates
$169,570
debt $13,570
- 5
University of Washington-Seattle
Seattle, WA · Public · 30 graduates
$169,570
debt $13,570
- 6
University of Washington-Tacoma Campus
Tacoma, WA · Public · 12 graduates
$169,570
debt $13,570
- 7
University of Southern California
Los Angeles, CA · Private nonprofit · 36 graduates
$166,369
debt not reported
- 8
Santa Clara, CA · Private nonprofit · 98 graduates
$163,765
debt $24,500
- 9
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Champaign, IL · Public · 392 graduates
$159,855
debt $18,593
- 10
Lewisburg, PA · Private nonprofit · 20 graduates
$156,885
debt not reported
Careers
Careers this program leads to
Occupations linked to Computer Engineering by the NCES CIP–SOC crosswalk, highest national median pay first. Pay and outlook are BLS figures for each occupation.
- Bright outlook
Management
Biofuels/Biodiesel Technology and Product Development Managers
- Median pay
- $171,270
- Outlook
- Faster than average
Bachelor's degree
- Complex Problem Solving
- Critical Thinking
- Judgment and Decision Making
- Bright outlook
Architecture and engineering
Computer Hardware Engineers
- Median pay
- $161,740
- Outlook
- Much faster than average
Bachelor's degree
- Critical Thinking
- Reading Comprehension
- Active Listening
- Bright outlook
Computers and math
Data Warehousing Specialists
- Median pay
- $139,500
- Outlook
- Much faster than average
Bachelor's degree
- Critical Thinking
- Reading Comprehension
- Programming
- Bright outlook
Computers and math
Database Architects
- Median pay
- $139,500
- Outlook
- Much faster than average
Bachelor's degree
- Complex Problem Solving
- Critical Thinking
- Judgment and Decision Making
- Bright outlook
Computers and math
Software Developers
- Median pay
- $135,980
- Outlook
- Much faster than average
Bachelor's degree
- Programming
- Critical Thinking
- Judgment and Decision Making
- Bright outlook
Computers and math
Computer Network Architects
- Median pay
- $134,050
- Outlook
- Faster than average
Bachelor's degree
- Critical Thinking
- Reading Comprehension
- Complex Problem Solving
- Bright outlook
Computers and math
Telecommunications Engineering Specialists
- Median pay
- $134,050
- Outlook
- Faster than average
Bachelor's degree
- Critical Thinking
- Reading Comprehension
- Active Listening
More in Engineering
Other programs in the same area of study, by how many colleges offer them.
Every program in this area- Engineering, General452 colleges
- Mechanical Engineering395 colleges
- Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering387 colleges
- Civil Engineering300 colleges
- Biomedical/Medical Engineering200 colleges
- Chemical Engineering182 colleges
- Environmental/Environmental Health Engineering130 colleges
- Industrial Engineering128 colleges
Questions about Computer Engineering
How many colleges offer Computer Engineering?
Published colleges on CollegesRef report Computer Engineering at these degree levels: certificate (22 colleges), associate's (31 colleges), bachelor's (367 colleges), master's (159 colleges), post-baccalaureate certificate (5 colleges), doctoral (64 colleges), first professional (1 college), graduate/professional certificate (42 colleges). Counts are from College Scorecard field-of-study data (2025).
What do Computer Engineering graduates earn?
At the median college, bachelor's graduates in Computer Engineering earn $104,785 a year four years after finishing, across 175 colleges that report earnings. Figures cover graduates who received federal aid.
Where do Computer Engineering graduates earn the most?
University of California-Los Angeles reports the highest median earnings for bachelor's graduates in Computer Engineering: $228,705 four years after finishing, among programs with at least 10 graduates.