Home › West Virginia University Institute of Technology › Computer Engineering

Computer Engineering at West Virginia University Institute of Technology

Beckley, WV · Public · Bachelor's Degree
85 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
86
Optimistic
85
Base Case
78
Pessimistic
Earnings $76,314/yr (-3% vs median)
AI Risk Very High (71% exposed)
Job Market Very Large (167,700 openings/yr)
ROI 27.9x earnings multiple (11.2x out-of-state)
Ranked #37 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 $952K $901K $701K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 29.5x 27.9x 21.7x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 11.8x 11.2x 8.7x
Probability of Field Employment 84% 74% 43%
DegreeOutlook Score 86 85 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)
$32,256
Out-of-state: $80,480 (11.2x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$39,828
-23% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$23,000
3.6 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$99,140
30% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

First-year earnings of $76,314 track close to the $78,694 national median for Computer Engineering programs. This is a middle-of-the-road outcome on salary alone.

The 27.9x 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 26% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

At $23,000 in median debt against $76,314 in first-year earnings, graduates can expect to clear their loan balance in under six months of full earnings.

Ranked #37 out of 174 programs, West Virginia University Institute of Technology's Computer Engineering program lands in the top 5% — a strong signal of graduate success.

The five-year earnings trajectory from $76,314 to $99,140 shows 30% growth, reflecting steady but unremarkable salary progression.

About West Virginia University Institute of Technology

With a 61% acceptance rate, West Virginia University Institute of Technology is moderately selective, with a smaller student body of 1,009 in Beckley, WV.

See all programs and financial aid at West Virginia University Institute of Technology →

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 West Virginia University Institute of Technology

Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering ($79,662) Aerospace, Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering ($72,210) Mechanical Engineering ($71,504) Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing ($71,298) Chemical Engineering ($69,875) Civil Engineering ($67,062) Computer and Information Sciences, General ($65,223) Accounting and Related Services ($51,824)

Is a Trade Program a Better Fit?

Compare Computer Engineering trade programs on TradeSchoolWorth →

For students who prefer applied learning, trade programs can deliver strong earnings with significantly less debt and shorter time to employment.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does West Virginia University Institute of Technology's Computer Engineering program score?
A score of 85/100 indicates strong financial outcomes. West Virginia University Institute of Technology'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 West Virginia University Institute of Technology rank so high for Computer Engineering?
The #37 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 →