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Engineering · Computer Engineering Rank #107 of 174

Computer Engineeringat Drexel University

Graduates earn $89,418/yr in their first year — about 14.0% above the national Computer Engineering average. Base-case 10-year earnings $1,072K; scenarios range from $799K to $1,144K depending on AI disruption.

Philadelphia, PA Private nonprofit Bachelor's Degree
DegreeOutlook Score
74 STRONG
75
Optimistic
67
Pessimistic
Earnings
$89,418
1-year post-graduation
ROI
3.9x
Earnings : tuition
10-yr Base
$1,072K
Cumulative base-case earnings
AI Risk
Very High
62% task exposure
Program Analysis

What this degree looks like at Drexel University

Drexel University's Computer Engineering graduates start at $89,418/yr — above the $78,694 national average, though not by a wide margin.

The 4.4x return on tuition is positive but not overwhelming. Financial outcomes depend on keeping costs close to in-state rates.

AI exposure is significant at 71% of job tasks, producing a 30% spread between best and worst-case decade earnings. The field isn't immune to disruption.

Loan repayment is a non-issue here — $27,000 in median debt clears quickly against $89,418 in annual earnings.

At #107 out of 174 programs, Drexel University's financial outcomes for Computer Engineering trail the majority of peers. The value case depends on other factors.

The five-year earnings trajectory from $89,418 to $119,954 shows 34% growth, reflecting steady but unremarkable salary progression.

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
$799K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score67/100
Earnings Multiple3.3x
Base Case
Moderate Integration
$1,072K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score74/100
Earnings Multiple4.4x
Optimistic
AI Augmentation
$1,144K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score75/100
Earnings Multiple4.7x
Earnings Trajectory

10 year projection

Year-by-year earnings under each scenario. Base case reflects BLS growth patterns applied to Drexel 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 Drexel 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 Drexel University

Other top programs at Drexel University

Other highest-scoring programs offered at Drexel 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 Drexel University

How does Drexel University's Computer Engineering program score?

A score of 74/100 reflects decent absolute metrics, but Drexel University trails the majority of Computer Engineering programs on relative rankings. Context matters more than the raw number.

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.