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Computer Engineering at Florida Gulf Coast University

Fort Myers, FL · Public · Bachelor's Degree

DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition

Optimistic

Base Case

Pessimistic

Earnings $60,746/yr (-23% vs median)

AI Risk Very High (71% exposed)

Job Market Very Large (167,700 openings/yr)

ROI 45.8x earnings multiple (11.1x out-of-state)

Ranked #68 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	$1,201K	$1,122K	$828K
Earnings Multiple (In-State)	49.1x	45.8x	33.8x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State)	11.9x	11.1x	8.2x
Probability of Field Employment	84%	74%	43%
DegreeOutlook Score	84	82	76

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)

$24,472

Out-of-state: $100,648 (11.1x ROI)

4-Year Net Price (After Aid)

$41,276

-69% less than sticker · See by income

Median Debt at Graduation

$21,500

4.2 months of Year 1 earnings

Reported Earnings (5 Year)

$112,607

85% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

First-year earnings of $60,746 place Florida Gulf Coast University below the $78,694 national median for Computer Engineering — worth weighing against tuition and cost of living.

The 45.8x 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 31% spread between best and worst-case decade earnings. The field isn't immune to disruption.

With first-year pay of $60,746 far exceeding the $21,500 median debt, the payback timeline is measured in months, not years.

Ranked #68 out of 174 programs, Florida Gulf Coast University's Computer Engineering offering sits in the upper half but doesn't break into the top tier.

Earnings growth from $60,746 to $112,607 over five years (85% increase) indicates that graduates in this field see meaningful salary progression.

About Florida Gulf Coast University

Florida Gulf Coast University accepts 77% of applicants — an open-access institution by design, serving 13,809 students in Fort Myers, FL.

See all programs and financial aid at Florida Gulf Coast 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

Computer Engineering at Other Schools

Other Majors at Florida Gulf Coast University

Consider the Trade Route?

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

How does Florida Gulf Coast University's Computer Engineering program score?

A score of 82/100 indicates strong financial outcomes. Florida Gulf Coast University'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 Florida Gulf Coast University?

Lower starting pay at Florida Gulf Coast University 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 →