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Computer Engineering

Instructional content for this group of programs is defined in codes 14.0901 - 14.0999.

Types of Degrees Computer Engineering Majors Are Earning

People majoring in Computer Engineering can earn degrees at several award levels.

Award Level	Graduates
Certificate	181
Associate’s Degree	218
Bachelor’s Degree	12,158
Master’s Degree	7,008
Doctor’s Degree	413

What Computer Engineering Majors Need to Know

Programs in Computer Engineering emphasize a specific mix of knowledge, skills, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in occupations that Computer Engineering graduates commonly enter.

Knowledge Areas

Coursework in Computer Engineering emphasizes the following knowledge areas:

• Engineering and Technology — Importance 4.4 / 5; level 5.6 / 7.
• Computers and Electronics — Importance 4.2 / 5; level 5.5 / 7.
• Mathematics — Importance 4.1 / 5; level 5.3 / 7.
• English Language — Importance 4.0 / 5; level 4.7 / 7.
• Design — Importance 3.9 / 5; level 4.7 / 7.

^{Importance is rated 1–5; level is 1–7. Source: ONET Online — weighted across related occupations.*}

Skills

Skills built by a Computer Engineering program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:

• Reading Comprehension — Importance 3.9 / 5; level 4.5 / 7.
• Speaking — Importance 3.9 / 5; level 4.3 / 7.
• Critical Thinking — Importance 3.8 / 5; level 4.1 / 7.
• Active Listening — Importance 3.8 / 5; level 4.0 / 7.
• Writing — Importance 3.7 / 5; level 4.3 / 7.

Abilities

The cognitive and physical abilities most relevant to Computer Engineering careers — again drawn from O*NET surveys of related occupations:

• Oral Expression — Importance 4.1 / 5; level 4.8 / 7.
• Written Comprehension — Importance 4.0 / 5; level 4.7 / 7.
• Oral Comprehension — Importance 4.0 / 5; level 4.7 / 7.
• Deductive Reasoning — Importance 3.9 / 5; level 4.2 / 7.
• Inductive Reasoning — Importance 3.8 / 5; level 4.1 / 7.

Common Job Activities

Day-to-day, Computer Engineering graduates report doing:

Activity	Frequency / Importance
Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge	4.4 / 7
Working with Computers	4.4 / 7
Analyzing Data or Information	4.4 / 7
Making Decisions and Solving Problems	4.4 / 7
Thinking Creatively	4.3 / 7
Processing Information	4.3 / 7
Getting Information	4.3 / 7
Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates	4.2 / 7
Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work	3.9 / 7
Training and Teaching Others	3.9 / 7

Technology Skills Used on the Job

Most frequently-cited tools used by Computer Engineering professionals:

Tool / Software	Category	In-Demand
Microsoft Office software	Office suite software	✓
Microsoft Excel	Spreadsheet software	✓
Oracle Java	Object or component oriented development software	✓
Python	Object or component oriented development software	✓
Microsoft PowerPoint	Presentation software	✓
Microsoft Project	Project management software	—
Microsoft Word	Word processing software	—
Web browser software	Internet browser software	—
Oracle Primavera Enterprise Project Portfolio Management	Project management software	—
C++	Object or component oriented development software	✓
The MathWorks MATLAB	Analytical or scientific software	✓
Microsoft Outlook	Electronic mail software	✓

^{Source: ONET Online technology skills, weighted across related occupations.*}

Sample Job Titles

Real job postings for Computer Engineering graduates include:

• Technical Professor
• Electrical Engineering Teacher
• College Faculty Member
• Machine Design Teacher
• Drawing Instructor
• Environmental Engineering Professor
• Engineering Professor
• Drafting Teacher
• Highway Engineering Teacher
• Electronics Teacher
• Electrical Engineering Professor
• Heat Engineering Teacher
• Civil Engineering Teacher
• College Professor
• Robotics Instructor

Education Typically Required

Across the occupations open to Computer Engineering graduates, the typical level of education actually held by current workers is distributed as:

Education Level	Share of Workers
Doctoral degree	29.3%
Bachelor’s degree	28.2%
Master’s degree	12.6%
Post-master’s certificate	9.3%
Post-doctoral training	8.7%
Associate’s degree (or other 2-year)	3.5%
Postsecondary certificate	3.0%
Post-baccalaureate certificate	1.7%
Some college courses	1.6%
First professional degree	1.3%
High school diploma or equivalent	0.7%
Less than a high school diploma	0.1%

^{Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*}

Who Is Earning a Degree in Computer Engineering?

Gender Distribution

This field skews predominantly male, with men earning 79.3% of Computer Engineering degrees.

Gender	Graduates	Share
Women	4,146	20.7%
Men	15,840	79.3%

Racial-Ethnic Diversity

At the national level, the racial-ethnic distribution of Computer Engineering graduates is as follows:

Race / Ethnicity	Graduates	Share
White	6,345	31.7%
Asian	3,068	15.4%
Hispanic or Latino	2,002	10.0%
Black or African American	826	4.1%
American Indian / Alaska Native	17	0.1%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander	13	0.1%
Two or More Races	593	3.0%
Race Unknown	513	2.6%
International Students	6,609	33.1%

^{See minority definition below.}

How Much Do Computer Engineering Graduates Earn?

The U.S. Department of Education tracks median earnings of Computer Engineering graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. Earnings tend to climb steadily as graduates gain experience and move into mid-career roles.

Years Out	Median Earnings
1 year	$82,085
4 years	$94,356
5 years	$109,878

By year 5 out, median earnings rise to $109,878 — roughly 34% above the 1-year mark.

^{Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study earnings tracker.}

Online Computer Engineering Programs

Distance learning are documented by IPEDS for Computer Engineering. The table below shows how many graduates earned at least some of their coursework online (Distance-Ed Available) versus completing the entire program online (Distance-Ed Only).

Award Level	Distance-Ed Available	Distance-Ed Only
Associate’s	2	4
Bachelor’s	14	15
Master’s	31	23
Doctoral (Research)	4	3

^{Distance-Ed Only = degrees completed entirely online; Distance-Ed Available = degrees including at least some online coursework. Source: IPEDS Completions by Distance Education status.}

Is a Degree in Computer Engineering Worth It?

Looking purely at the federal earnings tracker, Computer Engineering graduates earn a median of $94,356 four years after completion — roughly 148% above the national median for workers with only a high school diploma (~$38,000).

^{ROI estimate compares the program’s 4-yr median earnings against the 2023 BLS CPS median earnings for high-school-only workers. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard + BLS Current Population Survey.}

Related Programs

You may also be interested in these closely related fields of study:

Program	Annual Degrees Awarded
Engineering	197,615
Mechanical Engineering	42,939
Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering	26,760
Civil Engineering	20,005
Biomedical/Medical Engineering	13,914
Engineering, General	13,411
Chemical Engineering	10,939
Aerospace, Aeronautical, and Astronautical/Space Engineering	9,596
Industrial Engineering	8,533
Systems Engineering	3,956
Engineering, Other	3,529
Materials Engineering	3,129

References

The racial-ethnic minorities count is calculated by taking the total number of students and subtracting white students and international students. This number is then divided by the total number of students to obtain the racial-ethnic minorities percentage.

• College Factual
• National Center for Education Statistics (IPEDS)
• O*NET Online
• U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
• U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard

More about our data sources and methodologies.