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 |
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 | Location | Control | Website |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ohio State University |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
511 | Columbus, Ohio | Public | osu.edu |
| New York University (NYU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
510 | New York, New York | Private | nyu.edu |
| North Carolina State University (NC State) |
Bachelor's
Postbac Cert.
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
Other Award
|
417 | Raleigh, North Carolina | Public | ncsu.edu |
| University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (UIUC) |
Bachelor's
|
392 | Champaign, Illinois | Public | illinois.edu |
| Purdue University (PU) |
Bachelor's
|
370 | West Lafayette, Indiana | Public | purdue.edu |
| Santa Clara University (SCU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
366 | Santa Clara, California | Private | scu.edu |
| Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (Virginia Tech) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
325 | Blacksburg, Virginia | Public | vt.edu |
| University of Michigan (U‑M) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
316 | Ann Arbor, Michigan | Public | umich.edu |
| Texas A & M University |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
306 | College Station, Texas | Public | tamu.edu |
| University of California (UCSD) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
274 | La Jolla, California | Public | ucsd.edu |
| University of California (UCI) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
253 | Irvine, California | Public | uci.edu |
| Arizona State University Campus Immersion (ASU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
231 | Tempe, Arizona | Public | asu.edu |
| Duke University |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
189 | Durham, North Carolina | Private | duke.edu |
| University of California |
Bachelor's
|
184 | Merced, California | Public | ucmerced.edu |
| Georgia Institute of Technology (Georgia Tech) |
Bachelor's
|
171 | Atlanta, Georgia | Public | gatech.edu |
| San Jose State University (SJSU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
160 | San Jose, California | Public | sjsu.edu |
| The University of Texas |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
157 | Richardson, Texas | Public | utdallas.edu |
| University of Louisville (UofL) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
149 | Louisville, Kentucky | Public | louisville.edu |
| Northeastern University (NU) |
Bachelor's
Doctorate (Research)
|
147 | Boston, Massachusetts | Private | northeastern.edu |
| Florida International University (FIU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
139 | Miami, Florida | Public | fiu.edu |
| University of California (UCSC) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
136 | Santa Cruz, California | Public | ucsc.edu |
| University of Central Florida (UCF) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
135 | Orlando, Florida | Public | ucf.edu |
| University of Southern California (USC) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
129 | Los Angeles, California | Private | usc.edu |
| University of California (UCD) |
Bachelor's
|
122 | Davis, California | Public | ucdavis.edu |
| Oklahoma Christian University (OC) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
120 | Edmond, Oklahoma | Private | oc.edu |
| Stony Brook University (SBU) |
Bachelor's
Postbac Cert.
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
118 | Stony Brook, New York | Public | stonybrook.edu |
| California State Polytechnic University (CPP) |
Bachelor's
|
117 | Pomona, California | Public | cpp.edu |
| Iowa State University (ISU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
114 | Ames, Iowa | Public | iastate.edu |
| University of Connecticut (UConn) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
112 | Storrs, Connecticut | Public | uconn.edu |
| Stevens Institute of Technology |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
108 | Hoboken, New Jersey | Private | stevens.edu |
| University of Wisconsin-Madison |
Bachelor's
|
107 | Madison, Wisconsin | Public | wisc.edu |
| University of California (UCLA) |
Bachelor's
|
106 | Los Angeles, California | Public | ucla.edu |
| University of Cincinnati (UC) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
103 | Cincinnati, Ohio | Public | uc.edu |
| University of California (UCR) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
99 | Riverside, California | Public | ucr.edu |
| University of Florida (UF) |
Bachelor's
Postbac Cert.
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
99 | Gainesville, Florida | Public | ufl.edu |
| University of Maryland (UMCP) |
Bachelor's
|
94 | College Park, Maryland | Public | umd.edu |
| Boston University (BU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
90 | Boston, Massachusetts | Private | bu.edu |
| The University of Texas |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
Other Award
|
89 | Arlington, Texas | Public | uta.edu |
| The University of Texas (UTSA) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
87 | San Antonio, Texas | Public | utsa.edu |
| Auburn University (AU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
84 | Auburn, Alabama | Public | auburn.edu |
| University of California (UCSB) |
Bachelor's
|
81 | Santa Barbara, California | Public | ucsb.edu |
| New Jersey Institute of Technology (NJIT) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
81 | Newark, New Jersey | Public | njit.edu |
| California Polytechnic State University (Cal Poly) |
Bachelor's
|
80 | San Luis Obispo, California | Public | calpoly.edu |
| Syracuse University |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
80 | Syracuse, New York | Private | syracuse.edu |
| Northwestern University |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
79 | Evanston, Illinois | Private | northwestern.edu |
| Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
77 | Rochester, New York | Private | rit.edu |
| University of Massachusetts |
Bachelor's
|
76 | Amherst, Massachusetts | Public | umass.edu |
| Drexel University |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
76 | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania | Private | drexel.edu |
| George Mason University |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
76 | Fairfax, Virginia | Public | www2.gmu.edu |
| University of Virginia (UVA) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
75 | Charlottesville, Virginia | Public | virginia.edu |
| San Diego State University (SDSU) |
Bachelor's
Doctorate (Research)
|
72 | San Diego, California | Public | sdsu.edu |
| Missouri University of Science and Technology (Missouri S&T) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
72 | Rolla, Missouri | Public | mst.edu |
| University of North Carolina at Charlotte |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
71 | Charlotte, North Carolina | Public | charlotte.edu |
| Pennsylvania State University |
Bachelor's
|
70 | University Park, Pennsylvania | Public | psu.edu |
| University of Massachusetts |
Bachelor's
Postbac Cert.
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
69 | Lowell, Massachusetts | Public | uml.edu |
| Clemson University |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
69 | Clemson, South Carolina | Public | clemson.edu |
| University of South Florida (USF) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
68 | Tampa, Florida | Public | usf.edu |
| California State University (CSUF) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
67 | Fullerton, California | Public | fullerton.edu |
| University of Toledo (UToledo) |
Bachelor's
|
63 | Toledo, Ohio | Public | utoledo.edu |
| Columbia University in the City of New York |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
61 | New York, New York | Private | columbia.edu |
| University of North Texas (UNT) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
61 | Denton, Texas | Public | unt.edu |
| University of Alabama (UAH) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
60 | Huntsville, Alabama | Public | uah.edu |
| University of Notre Dame (ND) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
60 | Notre Dame, Indiana | Private | nd.edu |
| Harvard University |
Master's
|
60 | Cambridge, Massachusetts | Private | harvard.edu |
| University of Houston (UHCL) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
60 | Houston, Texas | Public | uhcl.edu |
| Brigham Young University (BYU–I) |
Bachelor's
Other Award
|
58 | Rexburg, Idaho | Private | byui.edu |
| University of Iowa |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
58 | Iowa City, Iowa | Public | uiowa.edu |
| The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV) |
Bachelor's
|
58 | Edinburg, Texas | Public | utrgv.edu |
| University of Minnesota (UMN) |
Bachelor's
|
57 | Minneapolis, Minnesota | Public | twin-cities.umn.edu |
| California State University |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
55 | Sacramento, California | Public | csus.edu |
| Boise State University (BBU) |
Other Award
|
55 | Boise, Idaho | Public | boisestate.edu |
| Villanova University |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
55 | Villanova, Pennsylvania | Private | villanova.edu |
| California State University (CSULB) |
Bachelor's
|
54 | Long Beach, California | Public | csulb.edu |
| University of Illinois Chicago (UIC) |
Bachelor's
|
54 | Chicago, Illinois | Public | uic.edu |
| Florida Atlantic University (FAU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
52 | Boca Raton, Florida | Public | fau.edu |
| University of Pittsburgh |
Bachelor's
|
52 | Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania | Public | pitt.edu |
| California State University (CSUN) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
50 | Northridge, California | Public | csun.edu |
| University of New Mexico (UNM) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
50 | Albuquerque, New Mexico | Public | unm.edu |
| University of Michigan |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
49 | Dearborn, Michigan | Public | umdearborn.edu |
| Texas Tech University (TTU) |
Bachelor's
|
49 | Lubbock, Texas | Public | ttu.edu |
| Michigan State University (MSU) |
Bachelor's
|
48 | East Lansing, Michigan | Public | msu.edu |
| Binghamton University |
Bachelor's
|
48 | Vestal, New York | Public | binghamton.edu |
| San Francisco State University (SFSU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
46 | San Francisco, California | Public | sfsu.edu |
| University of Houston (UH) |
Bachelor's
Doctorate (Research)
|
46 | Houston, Texas | Public | uh.edu |
| Pennsylvania State University |
Master's
|
45 | University Park, Pennsylvania | Public | worldcampus.psu.edu |
| University of Dayton (UD) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
44 | Dayton, Ohio | Private | udayton.edu |
| Kennesaw State University (KSU) |
Bachelor's
|
44 | Kennesaw, Georgia | Public | kennesaw.edu |
| Illinois Institute of Technology (Illinois Tech) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
43 | Chicago, Illinois | Private | iit.edu |
| Michigan Technological University (MTU) |
Bachelor's
|
42 | Houghton, Michigan | Public | mtu.edu |
| CUNY City College (CCNY) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
42 | New York, New York | Public | ccny.cuny.edu |
| University of Delaware (UD) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
41 | Newark, Delaware | Public | udel.edu |
| University of South Carolina (USC) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
41 | Columbia, South Carolina | Public | sc.edu |
| California State University (CSUSB) |
Bachelor's
|
40 | San Bernardino, California | Public | csusb.edu |
| Oakland University (OU) |
Bachelor's
|
40 | Rochester Hills, Michigan | Public | oakland.edu |
| University of Kentucky (UK) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
39 | Lexington, Kentucky | Public | uky.edu |
| Universidad Ana G. Mendez (UAGM Gurabo) |
Bachelor's
|
39 | Gurabo, Puerto Rico | Private | uagm.edu |
| Colorado State University (CSU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
38 | Fort Collins, Colorado | Public | colostate.edu |
| Florida State University (FSU) |
Bachelor's
|
38 | Tallahassee, Florida | Public | fsu.edu |
| University of Nevada (UNLV) |
Bachelor's
|
38 | Las Vegas, Nevada | Public | unlv.edu |
| The University of Tennessee |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
38 | 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.
Related Engineering Programs
Explore similar degree programs within the Engineering field. These programs share the same academic discipline and may offer complementary skills and career pathways.
Metallurgical Engineering
A program that prepares individuals to apply mathematical and metallurgical principles to the design, development and operational evaluation of metal components of structural,...
Mining and Mineral Engineering
A program that prepares individuals to apply mathematical and scientific principles to the design, development and operational evaluation of mineral extraction, processing and...
Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering
A program that prepares individuals to apply mathematical and scientific principles to the design, development and operational evaluation of self-propelled, stationary, or towed...
Nuclear Engineering
A program that prepares individuals to apply mathematical and scientific principles to the design, development and operational evaluation of systems for controlling and...
Ocean Engineering
A program that prepares individuals to apply mathematical and scientific principles to the design, development and operational evaluation of systems to monitor, control,...
Petroleum Engineering
A program that prepares individuals to apply mathematical and scientific principles to the design, development and operational evaluation of systems for locating, extracting,...