ROI Major

Computer Engineering at Missouri University of Science and Technology

MO · Bachelor's Degree · CIP 14.09

Apply Now Data: 2026 release

Executive Summary

Graduates with a Computer Engineering degree from Missouri University of Science and Technology earn a median salary of $98,926 within five years of graduation. Adjusted for the cost of living in MO, this represents a national purchasing power equivalent of $110,904. The degree typically pays for itself in 3.5 years.

Quick Insights

Solid Investment

How this degree looks at a glance

A fast read on salary range, break-even speed, living-cost impact, and where bachelor's graduates from this school usually land.

Salary Ranges

Starting Range

$84,042

Typical Career

$98,926

Top Performers

$122,659

Estimated break-even: 3.5 years.

Debt-to-Income Check

$660

Estimated comfortable monthly loan payment

Typical monthly pay is approximately $8,244. Most students can comfortably afford about a $660 monthly loan payment with this degree.

Comparison Bench

This degree earns 2.6x more than the average US high school graduate and 1.3x more than the average college graduate.

Purchasing Power Context

A dollar in Missouri buys what costs $0.89 nationally.

Industry Breadcrumbs

Top industries for bachelor's graduates from this school: Manufacturing, Professional, Scientific & Technical Services, Construction.

Where Bachelor's Graduates from This School Work

Manufacturing 30.5%
Professional, Scientific & Technical Services 25.9%
Construction 6.6%

Institution-wide industry mix for bachelor's graduates, 5 years after graduation. This is not major-specific. Source: Census PSEO Flows.

5-Year Median Salary — National Purchasing Power Equivalent

$110,904

Nominal: $98,926 in Missouri (COL 89.2% of national avg) · 12.1% higher purchasing power

10-Year Earnings Curve

Break-Even Timeline

How long until cumulative earnings advantage exceeds total college investment (tuition + opportunity cost vs. entering workforce directly after high school).

3.5 years to break even
Graduation 15 years

Total Investment

$155,168

4yr tuition + 4yr opportunity cost

HS Graduate Baseline

$38,792/yr

BLS 2023 median, HS diploma

View Raw Data: Median Earnings by Year
Timeframe 25th Pct. Median (50th) 75th Pct.
1 Year After Graduation $64,289 $75,319 $86,040
5 Years After Graduation $84,042 $98,926 $122,659
10 Years After Graduation $100,446 $128,031 $158,210

Source: US Census Bureau Post-Secondary Employment Outcomes (PSEO), 2025 release. Earnings shown for Bachelor's degree graduates (all cohorts combined).

How We Calculate Purchasing Power

The median salary of $98,926 is reported by the US Census Bureau's Post-Secondary Employment Outcomes (PSEO) dataset for graduates working in MO, which has a cost-of-living index of 89.2% of the national average.

Formula: Adjusted Salary = Nominal × (1.0 ÷ COL Index)
= $98,926 × (1.0 ÷ 0.8920) = $110,904 National Average equivalent.

COL index source: BLS Regional Consumer Price Index & MIT Living Wage Project, 2023. Full methodology →

Career Verdict

The earnings trajectory for graduates in Computer Engineering from Missouri University of Science and Technology is promising. One year after graduation, the median earnings stand at $75,319, which increases significantly to $98,926 after five years and reaches $128,031 after ten years. When considering purchasing power, the five-year salary adjusted for national equivalence is approximately $110,903.59, indicating that graduates can maintain a competitive standard of living relative to their peers across the country.

Graduates typically enter robust industries, with 30.5% working in Manufacturing and 25.9% in Professional, Scientific & Technical Services, followed by 6.6% in Construction. The estimated break-even point for this educational path compared to a high school-only route is approximately 3.5 years, suggesting a favorable return on investment. Overall, pursuing a degree in Computer Engineering at this institution appears to be a sound financial decision, given the strong earnings potential and diverse career opportunities available.

AI-assisted editorial analysis based on Census PSEO data. Fact-checked against source data.

Compare with Another School

See how the Computer Engineering degree at Missouri University of Science and Technology stacks up against another institution side-by-side.

Data sources: US Census Bureau Post-Secondary Employment Outcomes (PSEO). Cost-of-living index: BLS Regional CPI & MIT Living Wage Project. Cost of attendance: IPEDS. For informational use only; data may be suppressed for small cohort sizes.

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