Computer Engineering: Binghamton University vs California State University-Long Beach

Side-by-side ROI comparison · Bachelor's Degree
Return on Investment
10-year earnings ÷ tuition · higher is better
In-State
24.6x
$41,452 tuition
35.2x
$28,032 tuition
Out-of-State
8.7x
$117,812 tuition
13.1x
$75,552 tuition
$1,019,956 10-yr earnings · Public
$987,194 10-yr earnings · Public

Head-to-Head

Binghamton University California State University-Long Beach
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 24.6x 35.2x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 8.7x 13.1x
4-Year Tuition (In-State) $41,452 $28,032
Year 1 Earnings $86,938 $79,809
10-Year Earnings $1,020K $987K
Median Debt $19,000 $17,129
Debt-to-Earnings Ratio 2.6 months 2.6 months
DegreeWorth Score (In-State) 81/100 82/100
Acceptance Rate 37.7% 47.1%

Both programs have very high AI automation risk (71% task exposure) — the same career paths apply to Computer Engineering graduates regardless of school. See full AI analysis →

ROI Breakdown

How tuition costs translate into long-term earnings for Computer Engineering graduates.

Binghamton University California State University-Long Beach
4-Year Tuition (In-State) $41,452 $28,032
4-Year Tuition (Out-of-State) $117,812 $75,552
10-Year Projected Earnings $1,020K $987K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 24.6x 35.2x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 8.7x 13.1x
5-Year Salary Growth +31% +36%

"Earnings Multiple" = projected 10-year earnings ÷ 4-year tuition. Higher is better. Not a discounted financial ROI.

AI Disruption Scenarios

Both schools share identical AI exposure for Computer Engineering (same career paths). The score differences below reflect how each school's earnings and ROI hold up under stress.

Binghamton University California State University-Long Beach
Optim. Base Pessim. Optim. Base Pessim.
10-Year Earnings $1,086K $1,020K $769K $1,049K $987K $751K
Earnings Multiple (IS) 26.2x 24.6x 18.6x 37.4x 35.2x 26.8x
DegreeWorth Score 84 81 71 84 82 72

For the full AI analysis of Computer Engineering career paths, see the Binghamton University or California State University-Long Beach program pages.

Earnings Trajectory Comparison

Projected annual earnings for Computer Engineering graduates. Year 1 uses actual reported data.

Tuition Gap (In-State)
$13,420
California State University-Long Beach saves you this
Year 1 Earnings Gap
$7,129/yr
Binghamton University grads earn more
ROI Range (In-State)
24.6x / 35.2x
Out-of-state: 8.7x / 13.1x

Career Paths

Computer Engineering graduates from both schools map to the same career paths. Differences in earnings reflect school prestige, location, and employer networks.

Career Path Wage Openings/yr Growth AI Risk
Architectural and engineering managers $167,740 14,500 +3.8% 41%
Computer hardware engineers $155,020 4,700 +7.3% 73%
Database architects $135,980 4,000 +8.7% 94%
Software developers $133,080 115,200 +15.8% 87%
Computer network architects $130,390 11,200 +11.9% 61%
Engineering teachers, postsecondary $106,120 4,100 +8.1% 50%
Software quality assurance analysts and testers $102,610 14,000 +10.0% 88%
Want to compare different schools or majors? Try the freeform comparison tool →

Explore Each Program

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Frequently Asked Questions

Which is better for Computer Engineering: Binghamton University or California State University-Long Beach?
Binghamton University scores 81/100 while California State University-Long Beach scores 82/100. California State University-Long Beach has significantly lower tuition, which drives its higher ROI. The best choice depends on whether you prioritize raw earnings or return on investment.
Which school has better ROI for Computer Engineering?
Binghamton University has an in-state earnings multiple of 24.6x vs California State University-Long Beach's 35.2x. That means California State University-Long Beach grads earn more per dollar spent on tuition.
How do Binghamton University and California State University-Long Beach compare on Computer Engineering earnings?
Year 1 median earnings are $86,938 at Binghamton University vs $79,809 at California State University-Long Beach. Over 10 years, the projected totals are $1,019,956 vs $987,194 — a difference of $32,762.
How much does Computer Engineering cost at each school?
Four-year in-state tuition is $41,452 at Binghamton University and $28,032 at California State University-Long Beach. Median debt at graduation is $19,000 vs $17,129. Both programs lead to the same Computer Engineering career paths — the cost difference is the main factor in ROI.
Data: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (earnings, debt), Bureau of Labor Statistics 2024-2034 (employment projections), OpenAI GPTs-are-GPTs research (AI task exposure), Felten et al. AIOE. Scenarios use a continuous weighting function combining AI exposure and BLS job growth projections. "Earnings Multiple" is total 10-year projected earnings divided by tuition — not a discounted financial ROI. Last updated 2025.