Computer Engineering Technology Degree

29 schools compared · Average earnings $55,290/yr

Students study the practical aspects of computer hardware, networking, embedded systems, and IT infrastructure installation and maintenance. Graduates typically pursue careers as computer support specialists, network technicians, hardware technicians, and IT infrastructure managers. The ever-growing reliance on computing technology ensures steady demand for professionals who can build and maintain computer systems.

What Computer Engineering Technology Graduates Do

Your degree opens two distinct paths: shaping software or building the hardware it runs on. You might spend your days as a software developer, writing the code for a new feature on a massive cloud platform, or as a QA analyst, designing automated tests to intentionally break that feature before users can. Alternatively, you could be an engineering technologist in a lab, physically assembling prototype circuit boards, soldering components, and running diagnostics on complex electronic systems.

Initially, you’ll focus on executing specific tasks, but with experience, you can advance to designing entire systems or managing projects. While software development and QA roles are expanding rapidly, be aware that traditional computer programming jobs are declining and technician roles face very slow growth.

AI is fundamentally reshaping the software-focused careers. AI tools now handle much of the routine coding and testing once performed by junior staff, making entry-level jobs more competitive. Your long-term value will come not from writing basic code, but from architecting systems, verifying AI-generated work, and making critical judgment calls. The hands-on, physical nature of technologist roles, however, provides significant insulation from this disruption.

Schools Offering
29
Avg Grad Earnings
$55,290/yr
Avg DegreeOutlook Score
61/100
AI Automation Risk
Very High
57% task exposure

Common Career Paths

Where Computer Engineering Technology graduates typically work, ranked by salary. Salary ranges show 25th–75th percentile spread. This field has roughly 148,800 combined openings per year.

Career Path Salary Range Openings/yr Growth AI Risk
Software developers
$133,080
$103K$169K
115,200 +15.8% 87%
Software quality assurance analysts and testers
$102,610
$80K$132K
14,000 +10.0% 88%
Computer programmers
$98,670
$72K$129K
5,500 -6.0% 95%
Engineering technologists and technicians, except drafters, all other
$77,390
$60K$98K
5,700 +1.5% 24%
Electrical and electronic engineering technologists and technicians
$77,180
$61K$95K
8,400 +0.6% 41%
Software developers
$133,080
$103K $169K
115,200 openings/yr +15.8% growth 87% AI risk
Software quality assurance analysts and testers
$102,610
$80K $132K
14,000 openings/yr +10.0% growth 88% AI risk
Computer programmers
$98,670
$72K $129K
5,500 openings/yr -6.0% growth 95% AI risk
Engineering technologists and technicians, except drafters, all other
$77,390
$60K $98K
5,700 openings/yr +1.5% growth 24% AI risk
Electrical and electronic engineering technologists and technicians
$77,180
$61K $95K
8,400 openings/yr +0.6% growth 41% AI risk

Source: BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics, May 2024. Salary range shows 25th–median–75th percentile (national).

Browse all 29 Computer Engineering Technology programs ranked by graduate outcomes →

Best Schools for Computer Engineering Technology

Top 20 of 29 schools ranked by DegreeOutlook Score. Click any row for full AI scenario analysis and earnings projections.

# School DW Score Earnings ROI
1 Oregon Institute of Technology
Klamath Falls, OR
77
71–79
$82,242/yr 19.0x
2 University of Houston-Downtown
Houston, TX
75
68–76
$68,144/yr 25.5x
3 Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
Troy, NY
69
63–71
$94,722/yr 4.5x
4 University of Houston
Houston, TX
69
61–71
$56,527/yr 17.4x
5 Brigham Young University-Idaho
Rexburg, ID
67
60–68
$75,836/yr 39.7x
6 ECPI University
Virginia Beach, VA
63
55–65
$59,330/yr 9.0x
7 DeVry College of New York
New York, NY
63
55–64
$48,829/yr 10.6x
8 DeVry University-Arizona
Phoenix, AZ
63
55–64
$48,829/yr 10.6x
9 DeVry University-California
Ontario, CA
63
55–64
$48,829/yr 10.6x
10 DeVry University-Florida
Orlando, FL
63
55–64
$48,829/yr 10.6x
11 DeVry University-Georgia
Decatur, GA
63
55–64
$48,829/yr 10.6x
12 DeVry University-Illinois
Lisle, IL
63
55–64
$48,829/yr 10.6x
13 DeVry University-Ohio
Columbus, OH
63
55–64
$48,829/yr 10.6x
14 DeVry University-Texas
Irving, TX
63
55–64
$48,829/yr 10.6x
15 DeVry University-Virginia
Arlington, VA
63
55–64
$48,829/yr 10.6x
16 CUNY New York City College of Technology
Brooklyn, NY
63
56–64
$39,744/yr 23.7x
17 Wentworth Institute of Technology
Boston, MA
62
54–63
$56,310/yr 5.0x
18 Farmingdale State College
Farmingdale, NY
61
53–62
$58,419/yr 16.0x
19 Indiana State University
Terre Haute, IN
61
53–63
$48,639/yr 13.8x
20 SUNY Polytechnic Institute
Utica, NY
59
54–60
$34,637/yr 22.6x

Highest Earning Computer Engineering Technology Programs

Schools where Computer Engineering Technology graduates earn the most in their first year after graduation.

Best ROI for Computer Engineering Technology

Schools with the highest earnings-to-tuition ratio for Computer Engineering Technology.

School ROI Multiple Earnings DW Score
Brigham Young University-Idaho 39.7x $75,836/yr 67
Inter American University of Puerto Rico-Bayamon 25.7x $32,166/yr 53
University of Houston-Downtown 25.5x $68,144/yr 75
CUNY New York City College of Technology 23.7x $39,744/yr 63
SUNY Polytechnic Institute 22.6x $34,637/yr 59
Oregon Institute of Technology 19.0x $82,242/yr 77
University of Houston 17.4x $56,527/yr 69
Farmingdale State College 16.0x $58,419/yr 61
Indiana State University 13.8x $48,639/yr 61
Central Connecticut State University 11.1x $60,339/yr 58
Want to compare two Computer Engineering Technology programs side by side? Use the comparison tool →

Related Majors

Explore similar fields of study.

Consider the Trade Route

Not sure a 4-year degree is the right path? Trade programs in Computer Engineering Technology offer shorter timelines, lower debt, and strong AI resilience for hands-on careers.

Frequently Asked Questions

What's the typical salary after a Computer Engineering Technology degree?
First-year earnings for Computer Engineering Technology graduates average $55,290 annually, based on data from 29 programs. The range spans $32,166 at the low end to $94,722 at the top.
Will AI affect Computer Engineering Technology careers?
Computer Engineering Technology is rated "Very High" for AI automation risk, with 57% of job tasks exposed to large language models and AI tools. This means most career tasks in this field could be augmented or replaced by AI over the next decade.
What's the top-ranked school for Computer Engineering Technology?
Oregon Institute of Technology leads all 29 programs with a DegreeOutlook Score of 77/100. Graduates earn $82,242/yr — the ranking weighs earnings, ROI, AI resilience, and job market size equally.
What's the ROI on a Computer Engineering Technology degree?
Typical graduates earn 12.8 times what they paid in tuition within a decade. This is a strong return on investment. Look at per-school ROI in the table above — averages can mask significant variation.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →