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Computer Engineering at University of Nevada-Reno

Reno, NV · Public · Bachelor's Degree
84 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
85
Optimistic
84
Base Case
78
Pessimistic
Earnings $69,310/yr (-12% vs median)
AI Risk Very High (71% exposed)
Job Market Very Large (167,700 openings/yr)
ROI 28.0x earnings multiple (9.7x out-of-state)
Ranked #44 of 174 Computer Engineering programs Top 25%

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 $1,074K $1,009K $763K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 29.8x 28.0x 21.2x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 10.3x 9.7x 7.4x
Probability of Field Employment 84% 74% 43%
DegreeOutlook Score 85 84 78

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$35,976
Out-of-state: $103,800 (9.7x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$61,608
-71% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$21,500
3.7 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$107,148
55% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

First-year earnings of $69,310 track close to the $78,694 national median for Computer Engineering programs. This is a middle-of-the-road outcome on salary alone.

The 28.0x 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 29% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

At $21,500 in median debt against $69,310 in first-year earnings, graduates can expect to clear their loan balance in under six months of full earnings.

Ranked #44 out of 174 programs, University of Nevada-Reno's Computer Engineering program lands in the top 5% — a strong signal of graduate success.

Earnings growth from $69,310 to $107,148 over five years (55% increase) indicates that graduates in this field see meaningful salary progression.

About University of Nevada-Reno

University of Nevada-Reno has a 85% acceptance rate, making it broadly accessible, with a mid-sized student body of 15,723 in Reno, NV.

See all programs and financial aid at University of Nevada-Reno →

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

Compare this program → View all 174 schools offering Computer Engineering →

Computer Engineering at Other Schools

University of Washington-Seattle Campus ($141,588) University of Washington-Bothell Campus ($141,588) University of Virginia-Main Campus ($118,232) California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo ($111,560) Duke University ($111,145) Santa Clara University ($103,804) University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign ($103,123) Columbia University in the City of New York ($102,083)

Other Majors at University of Nevada-Reno

Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing ($85,733) Civil Engineering ($67,379) Environmental/Environmental Health Engineering ($65,194) Chemical Engineering ($64,039) Mechanical Engineering ($61,977) Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering ($60,223) Accounting and Related Services ($59,218) Geography and Cartography ($53,079)

Consider the Trade Route?

Compare Computer Engineering trade programs on TradeSchoolWorth →

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 Nevada-Reno's Computer Engineering program score?
A score of 84/100 indicates strong financial outcomes. University of Nevada-Reno'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 does University of Nevada-Reno rank so high for Computer Engineering?
The #44 ranking out of 174 programs is driven by strong financial outcomes — graduates earn well, debt is manageable relative to income, and the job market supports the field.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →