Computer Engineering: Program Overview, Universities, Careers & Salaries
Program Overview
Computer Engineering is an interdisciplinary field that integrates principles from electrical engineering, computer science, and applied mathematics to design, develop, and evaluate advanced computing systems. This program equips students with the technical expertise to innovate across both hardware and software domains, enabling the creation of efficient, reliable, and scalable solutions for complex computational challenges.
- Computer Architecture: Study of system-level design, including processor organization, memory hierarchy, and data path optimization to enhance performance and efficiency.
- Digital Logic Design: Development of circuit-level systems using Boolean algebra and logic gates to implement digital functions in hardware.
- Embedded Systems: Design and programming of specialized computing systems integrated into devices, machines, and real-time environments.
- Microprocessor and Microcontroller Applications: Implementation of processing units in control systems, consumer electronics, and industrial automation.
- Hardware-Software Integration: Coordination between low-level code and physical components to ensure seamless system functionality and performance.
- Computer Networks and Communication Protocols: Analysis and design of data transmission systems, including wired and wireless networks, for reliable and secure information exchange.
- Signal Processing and Embedded Computing: Techniques for acquiring, analyzing, and manipulating signals in real-world applications such as robotics, audio systems, and biomedical devices.
- System-Level Simulation and Testing: Evaluation of computational systems through modeling, validation, and performance benchmarking to ensure reliability and scalability.
Computer Engineering Graduate Trends (2010-2024)
Computer Engineering Career Pathways & Salary Outlook
The following table presents salary data for occupations typically aligned with Computer Engineering degrees, including Architectural and Engineering Managers, Computer Hardware Engineers and Database Architects. These career paths represent common employment outcomes but are not guaranteed for all graduates. Salary ranges vary by location, employer, experience level, and specific role requirements. Nationally, these occupations employ approximately 2,421,980 professionals.
National Average Salaries
| Occupation | Median Salary | Salary Range | Total Employment | Hourly Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Architectural and Engineering Managers 11-9041 | $167,740 | $111,450 - $239,200 | 210,340 | $80.64 |
| Computer Hardware Engineers 17-2061 | $155,020 | $85,430 - $223,820 | 75,710 | $74.53 |
| Database Architects 15-1243 | $135,980 | $81,630 - $209,990 | 64,770 | $65.37 |
| Software Developers 15-1252 | $133,080 | $79,850 - $211,450 | 1,654,440 | $63.98 |
| Computer Network Architects 15-1241 | $130,390 | $79,520 - $198,030 | 177,010 | $62.69 |
| Engineering Teachers, Postsecondary 25-1032 | $106,120 | $59,790 - $200,650 | 39,910 | N/A |
| Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers 15-1253 | $102,610 | $60,690 - $166,960 | 199,800 | $49.33 |
Salary Comparison
Computer Engineering Salary Map by State
Geographic location significantly impacts earning potential for these careers. Average salaries range from $94,684 in Mississippi to $158,033 in California—a 67% difference. The highest-paying states include California, Washington, and Massachusetts. Nationwide, these occupations employ over 2,421,980 professionals across all states. Explore the interactive map below to compare regional compensation and identify optimal markets for your career goals.
Average Salary Range:
Top Universities for Computer Engineering by Graduate Enrollment
Below are the top 100 institutions offering Computer Engineering programs for the 2023-2024 academic year (the most recent data reported as of 2025), ranked by the number of graduates. The highest graduate enrollment in Computer Engineering is found at Ohio State University, Main Campus (511 graduates), New York University (NYU) (510 graduates), North Carolina State University (NC State), Raleigh (417 graduates), University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (UIUC) (392 graduates), and Purdue University (PU), Main Campus (370 graduates). Combined, these colleges produced 11,146 graduates across all degree levels. Program availability varies by award level, including Associate, Bachelor's, Master's, and Doctoral degrees at participating universities and schools.
| College Name | Award Levels | Graduates | Admissions | Location | Control | Website |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ohio State University |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (R)
|
511 |
SAT: 1330-1480 ACT: 29-32 |
Columbus, Ohio | Public | osu.edu |
| New York University (NYU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
510 |
SAT: 1480-1570 ACT: 33-35 |
New York, New York | Private | nyu.edu |
| North Carolina State University (NC State) |
Bachelor's
Postbac Cert.
Master's
Doctorate (R)
Other Award
|
417 |
SAT: 1300-1460 ACT: 28-32 |
Raleigh, North Carolina | Public | ncsu.edu |
| University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (UIUC) |
Bachelor's
|
392 |
SAT: 1270-1510 ACT: 29-34 |
Champaign, Illinois | Public | illinois.edu |
| Purdue University (PU) |
Bachelor's
|
370 |
SAT: 1190-1460 ACT: 27-34 |
West Lafayette, Indiana | Public | purdue.edu |
| Santa Clara University (SCU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (R)
|
366 |
SAT: 1340-1500 ACT: 30-33 |
Santa Clara, California | Private | scu.edu |
| Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (Virginia Tech) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (R)
|
325 |
SAT: 1240-1420 ACT: 27-32 |
Blacksburg, Virginia | Public | vt.edu |
| University of Michigan (U‑M) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (R)
|
316 |
SAT: 1350-1530 ACT: 31-34 |
Ann Arbor, Michigan | Public | umich.edu |
| Texas A & M University |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (R)
|
306 |
SAT: 1140-1380 ACT: 25-31 |
College Station, Texas | Public | tamu.edu |
| University of California (UCSD) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (R)
|
274 | N/A | La Jolla, California | Public | ucsd.edu |
| University of California (UCI) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (R)
|
253 | N/A | Irvine, California | Public | uci.edu |
| Arizona State University Campus Immersion (ASU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (R)
|
231 | N/A | Tempe, Arizona | Public | asu.edu |
| Duke University |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
189 |
SAT: 1510-1570 ACT: 34-35 |
Durham, North Carolina | Private | duke.edu |
| University of California |
Bachelor's
|
184 | N/A | Merced, California | Public | ucmerced.edu |
| Georgia Institute of Technology (Georgia Tech) |
Bachelor's
|
171 |
SAT: 1330-1530 ACT: 28-34 |
Atlanta, Georgia | Public | gatech.edu |
| San Jose State University (SJSU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
160 | N/A | San Jose, California | Public | sjsu.edu |
| The University of Texas |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (R)
|
157 |
SAT: 1170-1410 ACT: 25-32 |
Richardson, Texas | Public | utdallas.edu |
| University of Louisville (UofL) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (R)
|
149 |
SAT: 1020-1250 ACT: 19-27 |
Louisville, Kentucky | Public | louisville.edu |
| Northeastern University (NU) |
Bachelor's
Doctorate (R)
|
147 |
SAT: 1460-1550 ACT: 33-35 |
Boston, Massachusetts | Private | northeastern.edu |
| Florida International University (FIU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
139 |
SAT: 1060-1250 ACT: 20-26 |
Miami, Florida | Public | fiu.edu |
| University of California (UCSC) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (R)
|
136 | N/A | Santa Cruz, California | Public | ucsc.edu |
| University of Central Florida (UCF) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (R)
|
135 |
SAT: 1190-1350 ACT: 25-29 |
Orlando, Florida | Public | ucf.edu |
| University of Southern California (USC) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (R)
|
129 |
SAT: 1440-1550 ACT: 32-35 |
Los Angeles, California | Private | usc.edu |
| University of California (UCD) |
Bachelor's
|
122 | N/A | Davis, California | Public | ucdavis.edu |
| Oklahoma Christian University (OC) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
120 |
SAT: 1000-1220 ACT: 19-27 |
Edmond, Oklahoma | Private | oc.edu |
| Stony Brook University (SBU) |
Bachelor's
Postbac Cert.
Master's
Doctorate (R)
|
118 |
SAT: 1320-1490 ACT: 28-33 |
Stony Brook, New York | Public | stonybrook.edu |
| California State Polytechnic University (CPP) |
Bachelor's
|
117 | N/A | Pomona, California | Public | cpp.edu |
| Iowa State University (ISU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (R)
|
114 |
SAT: 1110-1350 ACT: 21-28 |
Ames, Iowa | Public | iastate.edu |
| University of Connecticut (UConn) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (R)
|
112 |
SAT: 1210-1420 ACT: 29-33 |
Storrs, Connecticut | Public | uconn.edu |
| Stevens Institute of Technology |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (R)
|
108 |
SAT: 1370-1500 ACT: 31-34 |
Hoboken, New Jersey | Private | stevens.edu |
| University of Wisconsin-Madison |
Bachelor's
|
107 |
SAT: 1360-1510 ACT: 28-32 |
Madison, Wisconsin | Public | wisc.edu |
| University of California (UCLA) |
Bachelor's
|
106 | N/A | Los Angeles, California | Public | ucla.edu |
| University of Cincinnati (UC) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (R)
|
103 |
SAT: 1150-1360 ACT: 24-29 |
Cincinnati, Ohio | Public | uc.edu |
| University of California (UCR) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
99 | N/A | Riverside, California | Public | ucr.edu |
| University of Florida (UF) |
Bachelor's
Postbac Cert.
Master's
Doctorate (R)
|
99 |
SAT: 1300-1480 ACT: 28-33 |
Gainesville, Florida | Public | ufl.edu |
| University of Maryland (UMCP) |
Bachelor's
|
94 |
SAT: 1370-1520 ACT: 32-35 |
College Park, Maryland | Public | umd.edu |
| Boston University (BU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (R)
|
90 |
SAT: 1400-1520 ACT: 32-34 |
Boston, Massachusetts | Private | bu.edu |
| The University of Texas |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (R)
Other Award
|
89 |
SAT: 990-1230 ACT: 18-26 |
Arlington, Texas | Public | uta.edu |
| The University of Texas (UTSA) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
87 |
SAT: 1000-1200 ACT: 19-26 |
San Antonio, Texas | Public | utsa.edu |
| Auburn University (AU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (R)
|
84 |
SAT: 1240-1380 ACT: 25-31 |
Auburn, Alabama | Public | auburn.edu |
| University of California (UCSB) |
Bachelor's
|
81 | N/A | Santa Barbara, California | Public | ucsb.edu |
| New Jersey Institute of Technology (NJIT) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (R)
|
81 |
SAT: 1210-1470 ACT: 25-32 |
Newark, New Jersey | Public | njit.edu |
| California Polytechnic State University (Cal Poly) |
Bachelor's
|
80 | N/A | San Luis Obispo, California | Public | calpoly.edu |
| Syracuse University |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
80 |
SAT: 1260-1430 ACT: 28-32 |
Syracuse, New York | Private | syracuse.edu |
| Northwestern University |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (R)
|
79 |
SAT: 1490-1560 ACT: 33-35 |
Evanston, Illinois | Private | northwestern.edu |
| Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
77 |
SAT: 1280-1460 ACT: 29-33 |
Rochester, New York | Private | rit.edu |
| University of Massachusetts |
Bachelor's
|
76 |
SAT: 1300-1480 ACT: 29-33 |
Amherst, Massachusetts | Public | umass.edu |
| Drexel University |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
76 |
SAT: 1230-1430 ACT: 27-33 |
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania | Private | drexel.edu |
| George Mason University |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
76 |
SAT: 1140-1340 ACT: 25-30 |
Fairfax, Virginia | Public | www2.gmu.edu |
| University of Virginia (UVA) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (R)
|
75 |
SAT: 1410-1530 ACT: 32-34 |
Charlottesville, Virginia | Public | virginia.edu |
| San Diego State University (SDSU) |
Bachelor's
Doctorate (R)
|
72 | N/A | San Diego, California | Public | sdsu.edu |
| Missouri University of Science and Technology (Missouri S&T) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (R)
|
72 |
SAT: 1150-1378 ACT: 25-31 |
Rolla, Missouri | Public | mst.edu |
| University of North Carolina at Charlotte |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
71 |
SAT: 1110-1320 ACT: 21-27 |
Charlotte, North Carolina | Public | charlotte.edu |
| Pennsylvania State University |
Bachelor's
|
70 |
SAT: 1220-1400 ACT: 27-32 |
University Park, Pennsylvania | Public | psu.edu |
| University of Massachusetts |
Bachelor's
Postbac Cert.
Master's
Doctorate (R)
|
69 |
SAT: 1180-1350 ACT: 26-30 |
Lowell, Massachusetts | Public | uml.edu |
| Clemson University |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (R)
|
69 |
SAT: 1230-1390 ACT: 28-32 |
Clemson, South Carolina | Public | clemson.edu |
| University of South Florida (USF) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (R)
|
68 |
SAT: 1140-1330 ACT: 24-29 |
Tampa, Florida | Public | usf.edu |
| California State University (CSUF) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
67 | N/A | Fullerton, California | Public | fullerton.edu |
| University of Toledo (UToledo) |
Bachelor's
|
63 |
SAT: 1050-1300 ACT: 22-28 |
Toledo, Ohio | Public | utoledo.edu |
| Columbia University in the City of New York |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
61 |
SAT: 1490-1570 ACT: 34-35 |
New York, New York | Private | columbia.edu |
| University of North Texas (UNT) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
61 |
SAT: 980-1230 ACT: 19-27 |
Denton, Texas | Public | unt.edu |
| University of Alabama (UAH) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (R)
|
60 |
SAT: 1195-1440 ACT: 25-31 |
Huntsville, Alabama | Public | uah.edu |
| University of Notre Dame (ND) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (R)
|
60 |
SAT: 1440-1540 ACT: 33-35 |
Notre Dame, Indiana | Private | nd.edu |
| Harvard University |
Master's
|
60 |
SAT: 1500-1580 ACT: 34-36 |
Cambridge, Massachusetts | Private | harvard.edu |
| University of Houston (UHCL) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
60 |
SAT: 990-1170 ACT: 18-23 |
Houston, Texas | Public | uhcl.edu |
| Brigham Young University (BYU–I) |
Bachelor's
Other Award
|
58 |
SAT: 980-1200 ACT: 20-26 |
Rexburg, Idaho | Private | byui.edu |
| University of Iowa |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (R)
|
58 |
SAT: 1130-1320 ACT: 22-28 |
Iowa City, Iowa | Public | uiowa.edu |
| The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV) |
Bachelor's
|
58 |
SAT: 910-1110 ACT: 16-22 |
Edinburg, Texas | Public | utrgv.edu |
| University of Minnesota (UMN) |
Bachelor's
|
57 |
SAT: 1310-1480 ACT: 27-31 |
Minneapolis, Minnesota | Public | twin-cities.umn.edu |
| California State University |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
55 | N/A | Sacramento, California | Public | csus.edu |
| Boise State University (BBU) |
Other Award
|
55 | N/A | Boise, Idaho | Public | boisestate.edu |
| Villanova University |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
55 |
SAT: 1400-1510 ACT: 32-34 |
Villanova, Pennsylvania | Private | villanova.edu |
| California State University (CSULB) |
Bachelor's
|
54 | N/A | Long Beach, California | Public | csulb.edu |
| University of Illinois Chicago (UIC) |
Bachelor's
|
54 |
SAT: 1120-1340 ACT: 25-32 |
Chicago, Illinois | Public | uic.edu |
| Florida Atlantic University (FAU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (R)
|
52 |
SAT: 1040-1210 ACT: 20-26 |
Boca Raton, Florida | Public | fau.edu |
| University of Pittsburgh |
Bachelor's
|
52 |
SAT: 1270-1450 ACT: 29-33 |
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania | Public | pitt.edu |
| California State University (CSUN) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
50 | N/A | Northridge, California | Public | csun.edu |
| University of New Mexico (UNM) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
50 |
SAT: 900-1160 ACT: 19-26 |
Albuquerque, New Mexico | Public | unm.edu |
| University of Michigan |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
49 |
SAT: 990-1260 ACT: 23-30 |
Dearborn, Michigan | Public | umdearborn.edu |
| Texas Tech University (TTU) |
Bachelor's
|
49 |
SAT: 1090-1270 ACT: 22-28 |
Lubbock, Texas | Public | ttu.edu |
| Michigan State University (MSU) |
Bachelor's
|
48 |
SAT: 1150-1350 ACT: 26-31 |
East Lansing, Michigan | Public | msu.edu |
| Binghamton University |
Bachelor's
|
48 |
SAT: 1320-1490 ACT: 29-34 |
Vestal, New York | Public | binghamton.edu |
| San Francisco State University (SFSU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
46 | N/A | San Francisco, California | Public | sfsu.edu |
| University of Houston (UH) |
Bachelor's
Doctorate (R)
|
46 |
SAT: 1150-1330 ACT: 23-28 |
Houston, Texas | Public | uh.edu |
| Pennsylvania State University |
Master's
|
45 |
SAT: 1100-1340 ACT: 18-30 |
University Park, Pennsylvania | Public | worldcampus.psu.edu |
| University of Dayton (UD) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
44 |
SAT: 1195-1370 ACT: 26-31 |
Dayton, Ohio | Private | udayton.edu |
| Kennesaw State University (KSU) |
Bachelor's
|
44 |
SAT: 1020-1220 ACT: 19-25 |
Kennesaw, Georgia | Public | kennesaw.edu |
| Illinois Institute of Technology (Illinois Tech) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (R)
|
43 |
SAT: 1180-1410 ACT: 25-31 |
Chicago, Illinois | Private | iit.edu |
| Michigan Technological University (MTU) |
Bachelor's
|
42 |
SAT: 1120-1330 ACT: 25-31 |
Houghton, Michigan | Public | mtu.edu |
| CUNY City College (CCNY) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
42 | SAT: 1220-1460 | New York, New York | Public | ccny.cuny.edu |
| University of Delaware (UD) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (R)
|
41 |
SAT: 1200-1360 ACT: 27-31 |
Newark, Delaware | Public | udel.edu |
| University of South Carolina (USC) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (R)
|
41 |
SAT: 1180-1380 ACT: 26-32 |
Columbia, South Carolina | Public | sc.edu |
| California State University (CSUSB) |
Bachelor's
|
40 | N/A | San Bernardino, California | Public | csusb.edu |
| Oakland University (OU) |
Bachelor's
|
40 | SAT: 995-1185 | Rochester Hills, Michigan | Public | oakland.edu |
| University of Kentucky (UK) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
39 |
SAT: 1080-1290 ACT: 21-28 |
Lexington, Kentucky | Public | uky.edu |
| Universidad Ana G. Mendez (UAGM Gurabo) |
Bachelor's
|
39 | N/A | Gurabo, Puerto Rico | Private | uagm.edu |
| Colorado State University (CSU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (R)
|
38 | N/A | Fort Collins, Colorado | Public | colostate.edu |
| Florida State University (FSU) |
Bachelor's
|
38 |
SAT: 1240-1390 ACT: 27-31 |
Tallahassee, Florida | Public | fsu.edu |
| University of Nevada (UNLV) |
Bachelor's
|
38 |
SAT: 980-1230 ACT: 18-24 |
Las Vegas, Nevada | Public | unlv.edu |
| The University of Tennessee |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (R)
|
38 |
SAT: 1190-1340 ACT: 25-31 |
Knoxville, Tennessee | Public | utk.edu |
Frequently Asked Questions
Find answers to the most common questions about Computer Engineering programs
How much can I earn with a Computer Engineering degree?
Salaries for Computer Engineering graduates vary by role and location. Architectural and Engineering Managers earn a median of $167,740 annually, while Computer Hardware Engineers earn around $155,020. Geographic location significantly impacts earnings—professionals in California average $158,033 compared to $94,684 in Mississippi. Approximately 2,421,980 professionals work in related occupations nationwide.
Salary data from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS program, May 2024. Earnings vary by experience, employer, and market conditions.
Which universities have the largest Computer Engineering programs?
Currently 303 accredited institutions offer Computer Engineering degrees across the U.S. Programs with the highest enrollment include Ohio State University, Main Campus (511 graduates), New York University (NYU) (510 graduates), and North Carolina State University (NC State), Raleigh (417 graduates).
Program size doesn't necessarily indicate quality—consider factors like faculty expertise, production opportunities, location, and available degree levels when choosing a school.
Data based on IPEDS program completions for 2023-2024 academic year. Numbers reflect programs where students graduated.
Is enrollment in Computer Engineering growing or declining?
Graduate numbers have increased over the past decade, rising from 5,896 in 2010 to 13,508 in 2023-24. This represents a 129% increase overall from 2010.
The field remains specialized with steady interest, though opportunities are most concentrated in major metropolitan areas with active arts scenes like New York, California, and Illinois.
Graduate enrollment data from IPEDS, 2010-2024 academic years. Trends reflect reported completions at participating institutions.
What career paths are available with a Computer Engineering degree?
This degree prepares you for roles such as Architectural and Engineering Managers, Computer Hardware Engineers, and Database Architects. Related occupations employ approximately 2,421,980 professionals nationwide.
Skills in project management, creative leadership, and collaboration also transfer to event planning, arts administration, marketing, and corporate training roles. Many professionals work freelance or on a project basis across theatre, film, and live events.
Career pathways mapped using CIP-SOC crosswalk from the National Center for Education Statistics. Employment data from BLS OEWS May 2024.
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