Computer Engineering at Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville

Edwardsville, IL · Public · Bachelor's Degree
67 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case)
69
Optimistic
67
Base Case
61
Pessimistic
Earnings $71,841/yr (-9% vs median)
AI Risk Very High (71% exposed)
Job Market Very Large (167,700 openings/yr)
ROI 14.3x earnings multiple
Ranked #152 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 $769K $738K $608K
Earnings Multiple 14.9x 14.3x 11.8x
Probability of Field Employment 84% 74% 43%
DegreeOutlook Score 69 67 61

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition (Sticker)
$51,688
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$54,784
-6% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$20,770
3.5 months of Year 1 earnings

Program Analysis

Graduates earn $71,841/yr, roughly in line with the $78,694 national median for Computer Engineering. The value proposition here depends on cost, not earnings.

The 14.3x earnings multiple means ten-year projected earnings exceed tuition cost by an order of magnitude. By pure financial math, this is a standout.

AI risk is moderate — 71% task exposure — and the 21% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

With first-year pay of $71,841 far exceeding the $20,770 median debt, the payback timeline is measured in months, not years.

At #152 out of 174 programs, Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville's financial outcomes for Computer Engineering trail the majority of peers. The value case depends on other factors.

About Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville

Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville accepts 97% of applicants — an open-access institution by design, enrolling 8,836 students in Edwardsville, IL.

See all programs and financial aid at Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville →

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

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Explore the Trade Alternative

Not every career requires a four-year degree. Trade programs in related fields can offer competitive salaries with a fraction of the student loan burden.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville's Computer Engineering program score?
A score of 67/100 reflects decent absolute metrics, but Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville 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 →