Computer Engineering major
Computer Engineering: courses, careers, and where to study
Computer Engineering blends electrical engineering and computer science to design the hardware and embedded systems that run modern devices, suiting students who enjoy both circuits and code.
Nationally, bachelor's graduates in Computer Engineering earn a median $109,015 four years after graduating; the middle half of programs ranges from $86,299 to $145,170 (2017-19 graduates, measured 2022-23, College Scorecard). By credential and college
A Computer Engineering major sits at the boundary of electrical engineering and computer science, focusing on the design of computing hardware and the low-level software that drives it. A typical bachelor's degree builds on calculus, differential equations, and physics, then moves into digital logic design, circuit analysis, microprocessors and computer architecture, embedded systems, signals, and operating systems. Students work in labs with FPGAs, microcontrollers, and hardware description languages such as VHDL or Verilog, and most programs finish with a senior capstone design project.
Graduates design and test processors, memory, circuit boards, and embedded controllers, and write the firmware and device drivers that let hardware and software work together. They work across semiconductors, consumer electronics, telecommunications, aerospace, automotive, and embedded products. The closely related occupation of computer hardware engineers had a median wage of $155,020 per year in 2024, with projected employment growth of 7.3% from 2024 to 2034 (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics).
Computer engineering programs are credit-heavy and are commonly accredited by ABET. The coursework overlaps substantially with both electrical engineering and computer science, so graduates can pursue hardware, embedded, or software-leaning roles depending on their electives and concentration.
Academic classification (CIP)
In the federal Classification of Instructional Programs, Computer Engineering maps to CIP 14.0901, Computer Engineering, General, within the ENGINEERING family. The official definition:
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.
Source: U.S. Department of Education (NCES), Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP) 2020. View on nces.ed.gov
What credential Computer Engineering is awarded as
Of the 13,887 Computer Engineering credentials U.S. colleges reported conferring in 2024-25:
- Certificate: <1%, 136 credentials.
- Associate: <1%, 32 credentials.
- Bachelor's: 71%, 9,898 credentials.
- Graduate: 28%, 3,821 credentials.
This mix is fairly consistent nationally: across the 34 states reporting it, the certificate share moves by about 0 percentage points between the 10th and 90th percentile state, so the credential is more a property of the field than of where you study it. See the full study.
Credentials conferred in 2024-25, U.S. Department of Education IPEDS completions. A certificate is a different credential from a degree, not a lesser one, and this counts what was awarded rather than what a college currently offers.
What you'll study
- Digital logic design and Boolean algebra
- Circuit analysis and electronics fundamentals
- Computer architecture and microprocessor design
- Embedded systems and microcontroller programming
- Hardware description languages (VHDL/Verilog) and FPGA design
- Signals, systems, and the C/assembly programming used for firmware
- Operating systems, computer networks, and data structures
- Senior capstone hardware/software design project
Typical careers
- Computer hardware engineers
- Embedded Systems Engineer
- Firmware Engineer
- Electrical Engineer
- FPGA / Hardware Design Engineer
- Software Engineer
Typical salary range: BLS, 2024 computer hardware engineers median $155,020Ranges are early-career estimates. Any BLS figure shown is the occupation-wide median across all experience levels, not a starting wage, and is informational only.
How much do Computer Engineering graduates earn?
Nationally, bachelor's graduates in Computer Engineering earn a median $109,015 four years after graduating; the middle half of programs ranges from $86,299 to $145,170 (2017-19 graduates, measured 2022-23, College Scorecard).
| Credential | National median | Middle half of programs |
|---|---|---|
| Bachelor's | $109,015 | $86,299 to $145,170 |
| Master's | $136,736 | $108,298 to $186,553 |
Compare Computer Engineering programs in your state
Highest-earning bachelor's Computer Engineering programs
- Princeton University (NJ): $214,274
- Duke University (NC): $174,522, median federal debt $14,500
- Santa Clara University (CA): $163,765, median federal debt $24,833
- University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (IL): $159,855, median federal debt $20,500
- Bucknell University (PA): $156,885
- University of Maryland, College Park (MD): $152,422, median federal debt $20,417
- University of California-San Diego (CA): $149,139, median federal debt $18,414
- California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo (CA): $148,950, median federal debt $20,556
- University of Virginia-Main Campus (VA): $148,175, median federal debt $16,875
- University of California-Davis (CA): $145,422, median federal debt $12,703
Ordered by median earnings: one federal measure, not a ranking of program quality. Federal program group: Computer Engineering. Earnings: graduates of 2017-18 and 2018-19, earnings measured in 2022 and 2023, in 2024 dollars, for graduates who received federal aid, worked and were not enrolled. Programs need at least 30 graduates in the earnings cohort to be listed; multi-state systems whose figures pool campuses are not listed. Source: U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard, 10 June 2026. How much the college matters, by major. Graduate programs over the new federal loan caps.
Related occupations
Occupations the federal CIP–SOC crosswalk associates with Computer Engineering, with what each one pays and how many openings it is projected to average each year. Ordered by projected annual openings, largest first. Linked titles open the full CampusPin career page.
| Occupation | Median pay | Openings / yr | Projected change | Most entrants hold |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Software Developers | $133,080 | 115,200 | +15.8% | Bachelor's degree |
| Architectural and Engineering Managers | $167,740 | 14,500 | +3.8% | Bachelor's degree |
| Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers | $102,610 | 14,000 | +10% | Bachelor's degree |
| Computer Network Architects | $130,390 | 11,200 | +11.9% | Bachelor's degree |
| Computer Hardware Engineers | $155,020 | 4,700 | +7.3% | Bachelor's degree |
| Engineering Teachers, Postsecondary | $106,120 | 4,100 | +8.1% | Doctoral or professional degree |
| Database Architects | $135,980 | 4,000 | +8.7% | Bachelor's degree |
Crosswalk: U.S. Department of Education (NCES), CIP 2020 to SOC 2018. Pay, openings and projections: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (2024 wages, Employment Projections). 7 of these 7 occupations report a median wage.
“Most entrants hold” is what BLS observes about people already working in the occupation. It is not a legal requirement, not an admission rule, and not a guarantee of entry. Studying Computer Engineering does not guarantee any specific occupation, and many of these roles are entered from several different fields. Projected openings are a projection, not jobs promised.
Before you commit to a Computer Engineering major
CampusPin does not rank programs. Use these prompts to pressure-test whether a specific Computer Engineering program fits your goals, they are decision questions, not claims about any school.
Ask the Computer Engineering department
- Which concentrations or specializations are offered, and which faculty lead them?
- What does the typical course sequence look like, and how much is required vs. elective?
- What labs, studios, clinical placements, or research opportunities are available to undergraduates?
- Is there a capstone, thesis, internship, or co-op requirement?
Ask current students & check the curriculum
- How heavy is the workload, and how accessible is the faculty?
- What internships or co-ops did you do, and where do recent graduates end up?
- Does the required curriculum actually match the careers listed above?
- How easy is it to add a minor, double major, or switch tracks later?
Find a Computer Engineering program
CampusPin lists U.S. universities and community colleges by state, tuition, school size, acceptance rate, and campus setting, no account required.
Colleges that awarded the most Computer Engineering credentials
Largest by credentials conferred in 2024-25. This measures the size of the graduating class, not quality, and it is not a ranking.
- Ohio State University-Main Campus, OH · 571 credentials
- University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, IL · 458 credentials
- Purdue University-Main Campus, IN · 455 credentials
- New York University, NY · 398 credentials
- University of Michigan-Ann Arbor, MI · 369 credentials
- Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, VA · 345 credentials
- North Carolina State University at Raleigh, NC · 337 credentials
- Santa Clara University, CA · 332 credentials
- University of California-San Diego, CA · 288 credentials
- Texas A & M University-College Station, TX · 277 credentials
- University of California-Irvine, CA · 275 credentials
- Arizona State University Campus Immersion, AZ · 255 credentials
Based on credentials this institution reported conferring in the federal IPEDS completions collection for 2024-25. It confirms the field was awarded that year, not that the program currently accepts students, and it covers only the fields CampusPin tracks. Confirm current offerings with the institution.
Where Computer Engineering credentials were awarded
9 states have a distinct enough set of Computer Engineering colleges to be worth its own page.
Computer Engineering by state
- Computer Engineering in California
- Computer Engineering in Florida
- Computer Engineering in Georgia
- Computer Engineering in Illinois
- Computer Engineering in Maryland
- Computer Engineering in Massachusetts
- Computer Engineering in New York
- Computer Engineering in North Carolina
- Computer Engineering in Pennsylvania
- Computer Engineering in Texas
Every Computer Engineering program with its own CampusPin page
56 programs in 20 states, A to Z by state and then by college. Each page gives what the program's graduates earned four years after finishing, what they borrowed in federal loans, the monthly payment, and how the program compares with others in its state and the nation. The figure beside each college is the median for its largest credential with at least 30 graduates (U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard, 2017-19 graduates, measured 2022-23). The list is alphabetical; it is not a ranking.
Computer Engineering programs in Arizona, 1 program
- Arizona State University Campus Immersion Bachelor's, $112,543
Computer Engineering programs in California, 12 programs
- California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo Bachelor's, $148,950
- California State Polytechnic University-Pomona Bachelor's, $100,673
- California State University-Long Beach Bachelor's, $98,967
- California State University-Sacramento Bachelor's, $104,394
- San Diego State University Bachelor's, $116,842
- University of California-Davis Bachelor's, $145,422
- University of California-Irvine Bachelor's, $132,357
- University of California-Merced Bachelor's, $102,575
- University of California-Riverside Bachelor's, $107,193
- University of California-San Diego Bachelor's, $149,139
- University of California-Santa Barbara Bachelor's, $144,703
- University of California-Santa Cruz Bachelor's, $124,641
Computer Engineering programs in Connecticut, 1 program
- University of Connecticut Bachelor's, $115,117
Computer Engineering programs in Florida, 5 programs
- Florida Gulf Coast University Bachelor's, $98,650
- Florida International University Bachelor's, $101,224
- University of Central Florida Bachelor's, $106,680
- University of Florida Bachelor's, $128,140
- University of South Florida Bachelor's, $109,054
Computer Engineering programs in Georgia, 2 programs
- Georgia Institute of Technology-Main Campus Bachelor's, $128,497
- Kennesaw State University Bachelor's, $103,054
Computer Engineering programs in Illinois, 2 programs
- University of Illinois Chicago Bachelor's, $102,691
- University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Bachelor's, $159,855
Computer Engineering programs in Indiana, 2 programs
- Purdue University-Main Campus Bachelor's, $121,462
- Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology Bachelor's, $109,164
Computer Engineering programs in Maryland, 2 programs
- University of Maryland, Baltimore County Bachelor's, $113,299
- University of Maryland, College Park Bachelor's, $152,422
Computer Engineering programs in Massachusetts, 3 programs
- Boston University Bachelor's, $135,394
- University of Massachusetts Amherst Bachelor's, $113,083
- University of Massachusetts Lowell Bachelor's, $97,547
Computer Engineering programs in Michigan, 2 programs
- Michigan State University Bachelor's, $104,627
- Michigan Technological University Bachelor's, $93,557
Computer Engineering programs in Nevada, 1 program
- University of Nevada-Reno Bachelor's, $100,203
Computer Engineering programs in New Jersey, 2 programs
- New Jersey Institute of Technology Bachelor's, $99,880
- Stevens Institute of Technology Bachelor's, $124,037
Computer Engineering programs in New York, 3 programs
- Binghamton University Bachelor's, $117,721
- Rochester Institute of Technology Bachelor's, $123,027
- Stony Brook University Bachelor's, $128,038
Computer Engineering programs in North Carolina, 2 programs
- Duke University Bachelor's, $174,522
- North Carolina State University at Raleigh Bachelor's, $110,416
Computer Engineering programs in Ohio, 5 programs
- Bowling Green State University-Main Campus Bachelor's, $93,626
- Miami University-Oxford Bachelor's, $96,840
- Ohio State University-Main Campus Bachelor's, $123,731
- University of Cincinnati-Main Campus Bachelor's, $102,273
- University of Toledo Bachelor's, $93,816
Computer Engineering programs in Pennsylvania, 4 programs
- Drexel University Bachelor's, $117,537
- Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus Bachelor's, $112,269
- University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus Bachelor's, $110,417
- Villanova University Bachelor's, $119,137
Computer Engineering programs in South Carolina, 1 program
- Clemson University Bachelor's, $102,762
Computer Engineering programs in Texas, 4 programs
- Texas A & M University-College Station Bachelor's, $127,042
- The University of Texas at Arlington Bachelor's, $105,871
- The University of Texas at Dallas Bachelor's, $112,666
- University of North Texas Bachelor's, $109,151
Computer Engineering programs in Virginia, 1 program
- Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University Bachelor's, $122,026
Computer Engineering programs in Wisconsin, 1 program
- Milwaukee School of Engineering Bachelor's, $103,360
Related majors
Electrical Engineering
Electrical Engineering applies physics and math to circuits, power, and electronics, suiting students who want to design the hardware and systems behind modern technology.
Computer Science
Computer Science combines the mathematical foundations of computation with practical software engineering, preparing graduates for careers in software, AI/ML, security, data, and research.
Engineering
Engineering majors apply math, physics, and design to build the physical and digital systems that power society, from bridges and chips to medical devices and aircraft.
Information Technology
Information Technology (IT) focuses on applying computing systems to organizational needs, administering networks, supporting users, building business systems, and managing IT operations.
Still deciding between Computer Engineering and something else?
These guides put Computer Engineering side by side with the major it is most often confused with, using the federal CIP–SOC crosswalk to show where the two actually lead.
Put this major in context
The salary above is an occupation-wide median from federal data, not a starting wage or a guarantee. These CampusPin guides and reports help you read it well, see where a Computer Engineering degree can lead, and weigh it against cost and program quality.
Explore Computing & Math careers
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How one major leads to many careers
Why a single Computer Engineering degree can open more than one path, and how to read the occupations above.
Why a median wage is not a starting salary
How to read a BLS median, and why early-career pay usually sits below it.
When accreditation and licensure matter
How program accreditation and state licensure can shape a Computer Engineering path before you enroll.
Does a pricier college pay off?
How college cost lines up with graduation and earnings, an association, not a ranking.
Does picking a major narrow your college list?
Across the federal completions data, most fields barely change which colleges are on the table. Which ones genuinely do.
Certificate or degree?
What credential a field is usually awarded as is mostly set by the field itself, not by the state, with a short list of exceptions.
How this guide is sourced
This is an editorial guide from the CampusPin Editorial Team. Career and wage figures are from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, occupation-wide medians across all experience levels, not starting wages, and link to each career page. Program availability comes from CampusPin's free institution search; CampusPin does not assert that any specific school offers this exact major until that program data is verified. Last reviewed 2026-06-15. How CampusPin sources data · Report a correction.