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Computer Engineering at Washington State University

Pullman, WA · Public · Bachelor's Degree
85 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
87
Optimistic
85
Base Case
79
Pessimistic
Earnings $87,135/yr (11% vs median)
AI Risk Very High (71% exposed)
Job Market Very Large (167,700 openings/yr)
ROI 18.9x earnings multiple (8.5x out-of-state)
Ranked #36 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 $1,046K $984K $749K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 20.1x 18.9x 14.4x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 9.0x 8.5x 6.4x
Probability of Field Employment 84% 74% 43%
DegreeOutlook Score 87 85 79

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$51,988
Out-of-state: $116,292 (8.5x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$57,604
-11% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$19,902
2.7 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$110,492
27% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

Graduates earn $87,135/yr, edging above the $78,694 national average for Computer Engineering — a modest premium that suggests solid regional demand.

The 18.9x 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.

At $19,902 in median debt against $87,135 in first-year earnings, graduates can expect to clear their loan balance in under six months of full earnings.

Ranked #36 out of 174 programs, Washington State University's Computer Engineering program lands in the top 5% — a strong signal of graduate success.

The five-year earnings trajectory from $87,135 to $110,492 shows 27% growth, reflecting steady but unremarkable salary progression.

About Washington State University

Washington State University has a 85% acceptance rate, making it broadly accessible, serving a student body of 21,583 in Pullman, WA.

See all programs and financial aid at Washington State University →

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 Washington State University

Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing ($83,894) Construction Engineering Technologies ($80,404) Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering ($79,874) Computer Science ($79,519) Civil Engineering ($74,841) Mechanical Engineering ($72,690) Chemical Engineering ($69,820) Management Information Systems and Services ($59,490)

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 Washington State University's Computer Engineering program score?
A score of 85/100 indicates strong financial outcomes. Washington State University'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 Washington State University rank so high for Computer Engineering?
The #36 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 →