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Computer Engineering at Bucknell University

Lewisburg, PA · Private nonprofit · Bachelor's Degree
75 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case)
76
Optimistic
75
Base Case
68
Pessimistic
Earnings $90,171/yr (15% vs median)
AI Risk Very High (71% exposed)
Job Market Very Large (167,700 openings/yr)
ROI 5.0x earnings multiple
Ranked #103 of 174 Computer Engineering programs

How AI Changes the Outlook

Three scenarios based on how aggressively AI disrupts the career paths available to Computer Engineering graduates.

Optimistic
No Disruption		 Base Case
Gradual AI		 Pessimistic
Aggressive AI
10-Year Earnings $1,389K $1,289K $924K
Earnings Multiple 5.4x 5.0x 3.6x
Probability of Field Employment 84% 74% 43%
DegreeOutlook Score 76 75 68

10-Year Earnings Projection

*Year 1 uses actual reported earnings. Scenarios diverge as AI impact compounds over time.

4-Year Tuition (Sticker)
$259,088
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$161,716
38% less than sticker · See by income
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$140,705
56% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

Bucknell University's Computer Engineering graduates start at $90,171/yr — above the $78,694 national average, though not by a wide margin.

An earnings multiple of 5.0x means ten-year projected earnings exceed tuition, but not by a dramatic margin. Returns are positive but modest.

The 33% gap between optimistic and pessimistic AI scenarios is notable. With 71% of typical tasks exposed to automation, AI adoption could meaningfully shift career outcomes for Computer Engineering graduates.

Ranked #103 of 174 Computer Engineering programs, Bucknell University falls below the median. Stronger options exist, though cost and location may compensate.

Five-year earnings of $140,705 show a 56% jump from the $90,171 starting point — strong upward trajectory suggesting real career acceleration.

About Bucknell University

Admission to Bucknell University is competitive, with 32% of applicants accepted, a compact campus enrolling 3,818 students in Lewisburg, PA. The average net cost of $161,716 over four years represents a 38% discount from published tuition.

See all programs and financial aid at Bucknell University →

Top Career Paths

Architectural and engineering managers $167,740/yr
Computer hardware engineers $155,020/yr
Database architects $135,980/yr
View all 7 career paths with salary ranges and AI risk →

Compare & Explore

Compare this program → View all 174 schools offering Computer Engineering →

Computer Engineering at Other Schools

University of Washington-Seattle Campus ($141,588) University of Washington-Bothell Campus ($141,588) University of Virginia-Main Campus ($118,232) California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo ($111,560) Duke University ($111,145) Santa Clara University ($103,804) University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign ($103,123) Columbia University in the City of New York ($102,083)

Other Majors at Bucknell University

Chemical Engineering ($80,653) Civil Engineering ($80,231) Mechanical Engineering ($79,391) International Relations and National Security Studies ($77,312) Accounting and Related Services ($75,776) Economics ($70,946) Marketing ($70,868) Political Science and Government ($53,012)

Consider the Trade Route?

Compare Computer Engineering trade programs on TradeSchoolWorth →

Trade programs often mean less time in school, lower student debt, and hands-on career paths that tend to be more resilient to AI disruption.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Computer Engineering at Bucknell University?
This program scores 75/100 — a respectable number in isolation, but it ranks in the bottom half of Computer Engineering programs nationally. The field is competitive, and stronger options exist.
Will AI replace Computer Engineering careers?
With 71% of typical job tasks exposed to AI, this is one of the higher-risk fields. Our pessimistic scenario projects $923,819 in decade earnings vs $1,388,889 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →