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Engineering · Computer Engineering Rank #100 of 174

Computer Engineeringat Boston University

Graduates earn $93,995/yr in their first year — about 19.0% above the national Computer Engineering average. Base-case 10-year earnings $1,244K; scenarios range from $898K to $1,339K depending on AI disruption.

Boston, MA Private nonprofit Bachelor's Degree
DegreeOutlook Score
75 STRONG
76
Optimistic
69
Pessimistic
Earnings
$93,995
1-year post-graduation
ROI
4.3x
Earnings : tuition
10-yr Base
$1,244K
Cumulative base-case earnings
AI Risk
Very High
62% task exposure
Program Analysis

What this degree looks like at Boston University

Boston University's Computer Engineering program leverages its elite academic standing and prime location in Boston's thriving tech and innovation hub. Your education here provides direct access to a dense ecosystem of leading tech companies, innovative startups, and research institutions, creating robust recruiting pipelines. The program's rigorous curriculum, often featuring hands-on projects and strong faculty connections, prepares you for highly specialized roles in areas like embedded systems, hardware architecture, and advanced software development. This deep preparation, coupled with invaluable local internship opportunities, explains the strong early career outcomes.

While AI's influence on the field is significant, your BU degree equips you to be at the forefront of this evolution, rather than just adapting. You'll be positioned to design and implement the very systems driving these changes. To maximize your advantage, actively engage with BU’s extensive alumni network and Boston’s numerous tech meetups and career fairs from your first year.

AI Outlook Integration

Three scenarios, ten years out

Each scenario is a different assumption about how AI reshapes the career paths this major feeds into. Earnings projections stack the full 10-year cumulative trajectory; scores use the same 0–100 metric as the hero, recomputed under that scenario's assumptions.

Pessimistic
Mass Automation
$898K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score69/100
Earnings Multiple3.4x
Base Case
Moderate Integration
$1,244K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score75/100
Earnings Multiple4.8x
Optimistic
AI Augmentation
$1,339K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score76/100
Earnings Multiple5.1x
Earnings Trajectory

10 year projection

Year-by-year earnings under each scenario. Base case reflects BLS growth patterns applied to Boston University's starting earnings; optimistic and pessimistic adjust for AI's effect on each career path this major feeds into.

Career Paths

Where Computer Engineering graduates typically work

Common career destinations for this program's graduates, weighted by the school's specific occupation mix. Salary is BLS national median; AI risk is per-role task-exposure research.

1
Architectural and engineering managers
+3.8% 10-yr growth · 14,500 openings/yr
$167,740/yr
Moderate
2
Computer hardware engineers
+7.3% 10-yr growth · 4,700 openings/yr
$155,020/yr
Very High
3
Database architects
+8.7% 10-yr growth · 4,000 openings/yr
$135,980/yr
Very High
4
Software developers
+15.8% 10-yr growth · 115,200 openings/yr
$133,080/yr
Very High
5
Computer network architects
+11.9% 10-yr growth · 11,200 openings/yr
$130,390/yr
High
6
Engineering teachers, postsecondary
+8.1% 10-yr growth · 4,100 openings/yr
$106,120/yr
High
Source: BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics, May 2024. AI exposure from OpenAI GPTs-are-GPTs and Felten AIOE research.
Compare & Explore

Peer schools offering Computer Engineering

How Boston University stacks up against other schools offering this major.

Highest earnings
University of Washington-Seattle Campus
WA · Public
88
DW Score
$142K
1-yr earn
43.2x
ROI
University of Washington-Bothell Campus
WA · Public
88
DW Score
$142K
1-yr earn
43.5x
ROI
University of Virginia-Main Campus
VA · Public
84
DW Score
$118K
1-yr earn
15.6x
ROI
California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo
CA · Public
87
DW Score
$112K
1-yr earn
32.0x
ROI
Duke University
NC · Private nonprofit
76
DW Score
$111K
1-yr earn
5.6x
ROI
Also at Boston University

Other top programs at Boston University

Other highest-scoring programs offered at Boston University, ranked by DegreeOutlook Score.

Consider the trade route

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

Compare Computer Engineering trade programs on TradeSchoolOutlook →
FAQ

Frequently asked about Computer Engineering at Boston University

What does a 75/100 DegreeOutlook Score mean for Computer Engineering at Boston University?

At 75/100, the score looks reasonable — but Computer Engineering is a high-scoring field overall. Compared to peers, this program's earnings and ROI fall below the median.

Should I worry about AI if I study Computer Engineering at Boston University?

The 71% AI task exposure score is above average. Our model shows this affecting job availability more than salaries — graduates may face stiffer competition for fewer positions.

What do students actually pay for Computer Engineering at Boston University?

The 59% gap between sticker price and net cost means most students pay far less than $260,672. At a net cost of $107,984, the earnings multiple improves substantially.