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Computer Engineering at University of Houston-Clear Lake

Houston, TX · Public · Bachelor's Degree

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

Optimistic

Base Case

Pessimistic

Earnings $63,751/yr (-19% vs median)

AI Risk Very High (71% exposed)

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

ROI 27.4x earnings multiple (10.0x out-of-state)

Ranked #80 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	$894K	$849K	$672K
Earnings Multiple (In-State)	28.9x	27.4x	21.7x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State)	10.5x	10.0x	7.9x
Probability of Field Employment	84%	74%	43%
DegreeOutlook Score	83	81	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)

$30,984

Out-of-state: $85,320 (10.0x ROI)

4-Year Net Price (After Aid)

$44,224

-43% less than sticker · See by income

Median Debt at Graduation

$15,500

2.9 months of Year 1 earnings

Reported Earnings (5 Year)

$90,291

42% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

First-year earnings of $63,751 place University of Houston-Clear Lake below the $78,694 national median for Computer Engineering — worth weighing against tuition and cost of living.

The 27.4x 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 25% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

With first-year pay of $63,751 far exceeding the $15,500 median debt, the payback timeline is measured in months, not years.

Ranked #80 out of 174 programs, University of Houston-Clear Lake's Computer Engineering offering sits in the upper half but doesn't break into the top tier.

The five-year earnings trajectory from $63,751 to $90,291 shows 42% growth, reflecting steady but unremarkable salary progression.

About University of Houston-Clear Lake

University of Houston-Clear Lake accepts 75% of applicants — an open-access institution by design, serving 6,082 students in Houston, TX. With 44% of students on Pell Grants, the campus draws from a broad economic spectrum.

See all programs and financial aid at University of Houston-Clear Lake →

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 University of Houston-Clear Lake

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 University of Houston-Clear Lake's Computer Engineering program score?

A score of 81/100 indicates strong financial outcomes. University of Houston-Clear Lake'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 University of Houston-Clear Lake?

Lower starting pay at University of Houston-Clear Lake 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 →