Program Analysis
At $89,965 per year, Computer Engineering graduates from Purdue University-Main Campus earn slightly above the $78,694 national median. The premium is real but not dramatic.
Every dollar of in-state tuition returns an estimated 26.3x in decade earnings — an exceptional ratio that places this among the highest-ROI Computer Engineering programs nationally.
Some AI exposure exists in Computer Engineering's typical career paths, with 71% of job tasks potentially affected. The pessimistic scenario still projects solid returns, with a 30% gap from the optimistic case.
The median debt load of $22,875 represents less than half a year of starting salary — among the lightest debt-to-income ratios we track.
At #21 of 174 nationally, this is a top-5% Computer Engineering program. Financial outcomes consistently outperform the vast majority of peers.
Earnings grow from $89,965 to $118,081 over five years — a 31% increase that's moderate and in line with typical career progression.