Computer Engineering at Northeastern University

Boston, MA · Private nonprofit · Bachelor's Degree
75 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case)
77
Optimistic
75
Base Case
69
Pessimistic
Earnings $99,499/yr (26% vs median)
AI Risk Very High (71% exposed)
Job Market Very Large (167,700 openings/yr)
ROI 5.1x earnings multiple
Ranked #101 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 $1,376K $1,278K $917K
Earnings Multiple 5.4x 5.1x 3.6x
Probability of Field Employment 84% 74% 43%
DegreeOutlook Score 77 75 69

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition (Sticker)
$252,564
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$128,464
49% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$25,002
3.0 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$143,143
44% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

First-year earnings of $99,499 put Northeastern University's Computer Engineering program 26% above the national median of $78,694 — one of the higher-earning programs in this field.

At 5.1x the cost of in-state tuition, the ten-year earnings outlook represents a strong return. Not exceptional, but meaningfully positive.

AI exposure is significant at 71% of job tasks, producing a 33% spread between best and worst-case decade earnings. The field isn't immune to disruption.

With first-year pay of $99,499 far exceeding the $25,002 median debt, the payback timeline is measured in months, not years.

At #101 out of 174 programs, Northeastern 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 $99,499 to $143,143 shows 44% growth, reflecting steady but unremarkable salary progression.

About Northeastern University

Northeastern University's 6% admission rate places it in the top tier of selectivity nationally, with a mid-sized student body of 15,719 in Boston, MA. Financial aid reduces the effective four-year cost to $128,464 — 49% less than the list price.

See all programs and financial aid at Northeastern 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 Northeastern 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 Northeastern University's Computer Engineering program score?
A score of 75/100 reflects decent absolute metrics, but Northeastern 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.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →