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Engineering · Computer Engineering Rank #46 of 174

Computer Engineeringat University of North Carolina at Charlotte

Graduates earn $71,117/yr in their first year — about 10.0% below the national Computer Engineering average. Base-case 10-year earnings $959K; scenarios range from $735K to $1,018K depending on AI disruption.

Charlotte, NC Public Bachelor's Degree
DegreeOutlook Score
84 STRONG
86
Optimistic
78
Pessimistic
Earnings
$71,117
1-year post-graduation
ROI
34.8x
Earnings : in-state tuition
10-yr Base
$959K
Cumulative base-case earnings
AI Risk
Very High
62% task exposure
Program Analysis

What this degree looks like at University of North Carolina at Charlotte

At $71,117/yr, Computer Engineering graduates from University of North Carolina at Charlotte land near the $78,694 national average — neither a standout nor a red flag.

The 33.2x 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 28% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

The median debt load of $20,500 represents less than half a year of starting salary — among the lightest debt-to-income ratios we track.

Ranked #46 out of 174 programs, University of North Carolina at Charlotte's Computer Engineering offering sits in the upper half but doesn't break into the top tier.

The five-year earnings trajectory from $71,117 to $103,237 shows 45% growth, reflecting steady but unremarkable salary progression.

AI Outlook Integration

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.

Pessimistic
Mass Automation
$735K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score78/100
Earnings Multiple25.5x
Base Case
Moderate Integration
$959K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score84/100
Earnings Multiple33.2x
Optimistic
AI Augmentation
$1,018K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score86/100
Earnings Multiple35.3x
Earnings Trajectory

10 year projection

Year-by-year earnings under each scenario. Base case reflects BLS growth patterns applied to University of North Carolina at Charlotte's starting earnings; optimistic and pessimistic adjust for AI's effect on each career path this major feeds into.

Career Paths

Where Computer Engineering graduates typically work

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.

1
Architectural and engineering managers
+3.8% 10-yr growth · 14,500 openings/yr
$167,740/yr
Moderate
2
Computer hardware engineers
+7.3% 10-yr growth · 4,700 openings/yr
$155,020/yr
Very High
3
Database architects
+8.7% 10-yr growth · 4,000 openings/yr
$135,980/yr
Very High
4
Software developers
+15.8% 10-yr growth · 115,200 openings/yr
$133,080/yr
Very High
5
Computer network architects
+11.9% 10-yr growth · 11,200 openings/yr
$130,390/yr
High
6
Engineering teachers, postsecondary
+8.1% 10-yr growth · 4,100 openings/yr
$106,120/yr
High
Source: BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics, May 2024. AI exposure from OpenAI GPTs-are-GPTs and Felten AIOE research.
Compare & Explore

Peer schools offering Computer Engineering

How University of North Carolina at Charlotte stacks up against other schools offering this major.

Highest earnings
University of Washington-Seattle Campus
WA · Public
88
DW Score
$142K
1-yr earn
43.2x
ROI
University of Washington-Bothell Campus
WA · Public
88
DW Score
$142K
1-yr earn
43.5x
ROI
University of Virginia-Main Campus
VA · Public
84
DW Score
$118K
1-yr earn
15.6x
ROI
California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo
CA · Public
87
DW Score
$112K
1-yr earn
32.0x
ROI
Same state (NC)
Duke University
NC · Private nonprofit
76
DW Score
$111K
1-yr earn
5.6x
ROI
Also at University of North Carolina at Charlotte

Other top programs at University of North Carolina at Charlotte

Other highest-scoring programs offered at University of North Carolina at Charlotte, 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 →
FAQ

Frequently asked about Computer Engineering at University of North Carolina at Charlotte

How does University of North Carolina at Charlotte's Computer Engineering program score?

A score of 84/100 indicates strong financial outcomes. University of North Carolina at Charlotte'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.