Computer Engineering Technologies/Technicians: degree ROI, salary & best colleges
Computer Engineering Technologies/Technicians graduates earn a median $83,742 four years after finishing — $35,382/yr above the $48,360 high-school baseline. At a typical $16,902/yr net price ($67,608 over four years), that pays back in about 1.9 years. Federal data pools 65 bachelor's programs graduating roughly 859 students a year. (Scorecard field-of-study, 2026 · our math.)
Computer Engineering Technologies/Technicians ranks #42 of 202 bachelor's fields by earnings — pays more than 80% of majors.
| # | College | State | Grad earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute | NY | $125,531 |
| 2 | Brigham Young University-Idaho | ID | $113,755 |
| 3 | University of Houston-Downtown | TX | $112,244 |
| 4 | Oregon Institute of Technology | OR | $112,169 |
| 5 | Wentworth Institute of Technology | MA | $95,526 |
| 6 | Rochester Institute of Technology | NY | $95,491 |
| 7 | Virginia State University | VA | $89,702 |
| 8 | Fresno Pacific University | CA | $88,542 |
| 9 | Pennsylvania College of Technology | PA | $85,115 |
| 10 | Farmingdale State College | NY | $81,036 |
| 11 | DeVry University-Illinois | IL | $79,501 |
| 12 | DeVry University-California | CA | $79,501 |
College Scorecard field-of-study (2026), program-level median earnings for this CIP · our ranking.
How we compute this. Earnings are the national median for graduates of this field measured 1 and 4 years after completion (Scorecard field-of-study, bachelor's). Premium = 4-year earnings − the $48,360 high-school baseline. Payback = a representative 4-year net cost (median college net price × 4) ÷ premium. Field medians blend every school — a specific program can pay far more or less. Full method on the methodology page; the field ranking is on ROI by major.
How fast does Computer Engineering Technologies/Technicians pay grow after graduation?
From $48,829 one year out to $83,742 four years out — a $34,913 climb, or 72% over three years. Both are federal medians of the same graduating cohorts, so the gap reflects real wage progression rather than a change in who is measured.
How many students graduate in Computer Engineering Technologies/Technicians each year?
About 859 bachelor's graduates a year across 65 programs in the federal file. Cohort size matters when reading the median: a field this size averages across a wide range of employers, regions and job titles.