Computer Engineeringat University of Illinois Chicago
Graduates earn $71,148/yr in their first year — about 10.0% below the national Computer Engineering average. Base-case 10-year earnings $737K; scenarios range from $607K to $767K depending on AI disruption.
What this degree looks like at University of Illinois Chicago
At $71,148/yr, Computer Engineering graduates from University of Illinois Chicago land near the $78,694 national average — neither a standout nor a red flag.
The 12.8x earnings multiple means ten-year projected earnings exceed tuition cost by an order of magnitude. By pure financial math, this is a standout.
AI risk is moderate — 71% task exposure — and the 21% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.
The median debt load of $19,250 represents less than half a year of starting salary — among the lightest debt-to-income ratios we track.
At #94 out of 174 programs, University of Illinois Chicago's financial outcomes for Computer Engineering trail the majority of peers. The value case depends on other factors.
Earnings growth is modest: $71,148 to $80,522 over five years (13% gain). This field may have a lower salary ceiling than high-growth professions.
Three scenarios, ten years out
Each scenario is a different assumption about how AI reshapes the career paths this major feeds into. Earnings projections stack the full 10-year cumulative trajectory; scores use the same 0–100 metric as the hero, recomputed under that scenario's assumptions.
10 year projection
Year-by-year earnings under each scenario. Base case reflects BLS growth patterns applied to University of Illinois Chicago's starting earnings; optimistic and pessimistic adjust for AI's effect on each career path this major feeds into.
Common career destinations for this program's graduates, weighted by the school's specific occupation mix. Salary is BLS national median; AI risk is per-role task-exposure research.
Peer schools offering Computer Engineering
How University of Illinois Chicago stacks up against other schools offering this major.
Other top programs at University of Illinois Chicago
Other highest-scoring programs offered at University of Illinois Chicago, ranked by DegreeOutlook Score.
Consider the trade route
Not sure a 4-year degree is the right path? Trade programs in Computer Engineering offer shorter timelines, lower debt, and strong AI resilience for hands-on careers.
Compare Computer Engineering trade programs on TradeSchoolOutlook →Frequently asked about Computer Engineering at University of Illinois Chicago
How does University of Illinois Chicago's Computer Engineering program score?
A score of 77/100 reflects decent absolute metrics, but University of Illinois Chicago 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.