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Computer Engineering at California State University-Fullerton

Fullerton, CA · Public · Bachelor's Degree
81 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
82
Optimistic
81
Base Case
75
Pessimistic
Earnings $55,093/yr (-30% vs median)
AI Risk Very High (71% exposed)
Job Market Very Large (167,700 openings/yr)
ROI 41.6x earnings multiple (15.5x out-of-state)
Ranked #73 of 174 Computer Engineering programs Top 50%

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 $1,262K $1,176K $859K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 44.6x 41.6x 30.4x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 16.6x 15.5x 11.3x
Probability of Field Employment 84% 74% 43%
DegreeOutlook Score 82 81 75

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$28,292
Out-of-state: $75,812 (15.5x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$22,584
20% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$16,500
3.6 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$113,278
106% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

California State University-Fullerton's Computer Engineering graduates start at $55,093/yr, trailing the $78,694 national average by 30%. The program's value hinges on affordability.

The 41.6x earnings multiple means ten-year projected earnings exceed tuition cost by an order of magnitude. By pure financial math, this is a standout.

AI exposure is significant at 71% of job tasks, producing a 32% spread between best and worst-case decade earnings. The field isn't immune to disruption.

Loan repayment is a non-issue here — $16,500 in median debt clears quickly against $55,093 in annual earnings.

Ranked #73 out of 174 programs, California State University-Fullerton's Computer Engineering offering sits in the upper half but doesn't break into the top tier.

Earnings growth from $55,093 to $113,278 over five years (106% increase) indicates that graduates in this field see meaningful salary progression.

About California State University-Fullerton

A 87% acceptance rate means California State University-Fullerton is accessible to most applicants, serving a student body of 36,956 in Fullerton, CA. With 47% of students on Pell Grants, the campus draws from a broad economic spectrum.

See all programs and financial aid at California State University-Fullerton →

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 California State University-Fullerton

Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing ($103,028) Civil Engineering ($72,606) Mechanical Engineering ($65,252) Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering ($63,468) Computer Science ($57,307) Information Science/Studies ($49,897) Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods ($49,830) Business Administration, Management and Operations ($48,256)

Is a Trade Program a Better Fit?

Compare Computer Engineering trade programs on TradeSchoolWorth →

For students who prefer applied learning, trade programs can deliver strong earnings with significantly less debt and shorter time to employment.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does California State University-Fullerton's Computer Engineering program score?
A score of 81/100 indicates strong financial outcomes. California State University-Fullerton's Computer Engineering graduates fare well on earnings, job market size, and return on investment.
How vulnerable is Computer Engineering to AI automation?
AI won't 'replace' Computer Engineering careers outright, but it is likely to reduce the number of job openings. We model 71% task exposure, which compresses field employment probability in our scenarios.
Why are Computer Engineering earnings lower at California State University-Fullerton?
Lower starting pay at California State University-Fullerton may reflect local labor market conditions rather than program quality. Many graduates see convergence with national averages within 3-5 years.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →