ROI Major

Computer Engineering at University of Connecticut

CT · Bachelor's Degree · CIP 14.09

Apply Now Data: 2026 release

Executive Summary

Graduates with a Computer Engineering degree from University of Connecticut earn a median salary of $120,561 within five years of graduation. Adjusted for the cost of living in CT, this represents a national purchasing power equivalent of $104,563. The degree typically pays for itself in 2.8 years.

Quick Insights

Financial Home Run

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

$97,319

Typical Career

$120,561

Top Performers

$151,581

Estimated to break even in under 3 years.

Debt-to-Income Check

$804

Estimated comfortable monthly loan payment

Typical monthly pay is approximately $10,047. Most students can comfortably afford about a $804 monthly loan payment with this degree.

Comparison Bench

This degree earns 3.1x more than the average US high school graduate and 1.6x more than the average college graduate.

Purchasing Power Context

A dollar in Connecticut buys what costs $1.15 nationally.

Industry Breadcrumbs

Top industries for bachelor's graduates from this school: Health Care & Social Assistance, Professional, Scientific & Technical Services, Educational Services.

Where Bachelor's Graduates from This School Work

Health Care & Social Assistance 20.5%
Professional, Scientific & Technical Services 16.5%
Educational Services 13.9%

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

$104,563

Nominal: $120,561 in Connecticut (COL 115.3% of national avg) · 13.3% lower 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).

2.8 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 $71,298 $84,775 $97,849
5 Years After Graduation $97,319 $120,561 $151,581
10 Years After Graduation $117,867 $151,063 $198,937

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 $120,561 is reported by the US Census Bureau's Post-Secondary Employment Outcomes (PSEO) dataset for graduates working in CT, which has a cost-of-living index of 115.3% of the national average.

Formula: Adjusted Salary = Nominal × (1.0 ÷ COL Index)
= $120,561 × (1.0 ÷ 1.1530) = $104,563 National Average equivalent.

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

Career Verdict

Graduates in Computer Engineering from the University of Connecticut experience a robust earnings trajectory. The median earnings one year after graduation stand at $84,775, which increases significantly to $120,561 five years post-graduation and reaches $151,063 after ten years. When adjusted for purchasing power, the median five-year salary aligns with a national equivalent of $104,562.88, indicating that while the cost of living in Connecticut is higher (COL index: 1.153), the earnings potential remains strong.

The top industries for graduates include Health Care & Social Assistance (20.5%), Professional, Scientific & Technical Services (16.5%), and Educational Services (13.9%). With an estimated break-even point of approximately 2.8 years compared to a high-school-only path, the return on investment for pursuing a degree in Computer Engineering appears favorable. This data suggests that graduates can expect a solid financial return and diverse career opportunities in growing sectors.

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 University of Connecticut 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.

Ready to apply?

Start your application for Computer Engineering at University of Connecticut.

Apply to University of Connecticut

Explore More

Other Degrees at University of Connecticut