Best Computer Engineering Programs in the South (2026)
Updated
Part of Best Engineering Colleges in the South
Regional list from Computer Engineering Programs in the United States
This page ranks the 56 Computer Engineering programs in the South by the median earnings of Computer Engineering graduates four years after completing. Duke University leads the list with median earnings of $174,522 for its graduates four years after completing.
Across the listed schools, the median figure is $102,020, with reported earnings ranging from $174,522 to $63,005.
Public institutions account for 89% of the programs on the list. The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley posts the lowest average net price at $4,831, while The University of Texas at Arlington ranks 8th on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions.
The ranked list
| Rank | School | Program Earnings | Average net price | Net price, families under $30K | Admission rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Duke University · Durham, NC | $174,522 | $29,612 | $735 | 5.7% |
| Duke University reports median earnings of $174,522 for its Computer Engineering graduates four years after completing, alongside an admission rate of 6%. | |||||
| 2 | University of Maryland-College Park · College Park, MD | $152,422 | $15,678 | $2,962 | 44.8% |
| Graduates across all fields who borrowed at University of Maryland-College Park left with a median of $19,000 in federal loans, and the program's Computer Engineering completers earned a median of $152,422 four years after completing. | |||||
| 3 | University of Virginia-Main Campus · Charlottesville, VA | $148,175 | $21,565 | $8,174 | 16.8% |
| University of Virginia-Main Campus ranks 3rd on this list and shows an average net price of $21,565. | |||||
| 4 | Georgia Institute of Technology-Main Campus · Atlanta, GA | $128,497 | $12,116 | $7,666 | 14.1% |
| Georgia Institute of Technology-Main Campus posts a median of $128,497 for its Computer Engineering graduates four years after completing, with 157 graduates in the earnings cohort. | |||||
| 5 | University of Florida · Gainesville, FL | $128,140 | $6,541 | $1,982 | 24.2% |
| University of Florida admits 24% of applicants and reports median earnings of $128,140 for its Computer Engineering graduates four years after completing. | |||||
| 6 | Texas A&M University-College Station · College Station, TX | $127,042 | $21,315 | $12,784 | 57.4% |
| Texas A&M University-College Station ranks 25th on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions, and its Computer Engineering graduates earned a median of $127,042 four years after completing. | |||||
| 7 | Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University · Blacksburg, VA | $122,026 | $24,953 | $11,689 | 54.8% |
| Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University reports median earnings of $122,026 for its Computer Engineering graduates four years after completing, and an average net price of $11,689 for families earning under $30,000. | |||||
| 8 | Virginia Commonwealth University · Richmond, VA | $118,273 | $23,433 | $17,512 | 92.6% |
| With a median of $118,273 for its Computer Engineering graduates four years after completing, Virginia Commonwealth University ranks 8th on this list. | |||||
| 9 | George Mason University · Fairfax, VA | $117,942 | $17,915 | $11,942 | 87.5% |
| George Mason University shows a median federal debt of $19,500 across all of its borrowers who completed, and its Computer Engineering graduates earned a median of $117,942 four years after completing. | |||||
| 10 | Florida State University · Tallahassee, FL | $114,802 | $11,297 | $5,938 | 24.2% |
| Florida State University reports an admission rate of 24% and median earnings of $114,802 for its Computer Engineering graduates four years after completing. | |||||
| 11 | University of Maryland-Baltimore County · Baltimore, MD | $113,299 | $16,467 | $5,087 | 72.4% |
| University of Maryland-Baltimore County ranks 162nd on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions, and its Computer Engineering completers earned a median of $113,299 four years after completing. | |||||
| 12 | The University of Texas at Dallas · Richardson, TX | $112,666 | $18,267 | $12,814 | 65.1% |
| The University of Texas at Dallas reports median earnings of $112,666 for its Computer Engineering graduates four years after completing, with an average net price of $12,814 for families earning under $30,000. | |||||
| 13 | University of Delaware · Newark, DE | $111,388 | $17,799 | $10,901 | 70.6% |
| University of Delaware reports median earnings of $111,388 for its Computer Engineering graduates four years after completing, alongside an average net price of $17,799. | |||||
| 14 | Auburn University · Auburn, AL | $110,927 | $24,323 | $16,681 | 45.9% |
| Graduates across all fields who borrowed at Auburn University left with a median of $21,000 in federal loans, and the school's Computer Engineering program posts median earnings of $110,927 four years after completing. | |||||
| 15 | North Carolina State University at Raleigh · Raleigh, NC | $110,416 | $17,303 | $6,382 | 41.7% |
| North Carolina State University at Raleigh admits 42% of applicants and ranks 99th on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions. | |||||
| 16 | University of North Texas · Denton, TX | $109,151 | $15,649 | $12,311 | 72.2% |
| With an average net price of $12,311 for families earning under $30,000, University of North Texas ranks 16th on this list and reports median earnings of $109,151 for its Computer Engineering graduates four years after completing. | |||||
| 17 | University of South Carolina-Columbia · Columbia, SC | $109,116 | $22,811 | $12,634 | 60.2% |
| University of South Carolina-Columbia ranks 17th on this list, with median earnings of $109,116 for its Computer Engineering graduates four years after completing and an admission rate of 60%. | |||||
| 18 | University of South Florida · Tampa, FL | $109,054 | $9,812 | $4,122 | 43.2% |
| An average net price of $9,812 coincides with median earnings of $109,054 for Computer Engineering graduates of University of South Florida four years after completing. | |||||
| 19 | University of Houston · Houston, TX | $107,283 | $14,276 | $10,929 | 73.9% |
| Graduates across all fields who borrowed at University of Houston left with a median of $18,194 in federal loans, and the school ranks 13th on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions. | |||||
| 20 | Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College · Baton Rouge, LA | $106,897 | $19,151 | $13,056 | 73.3% |
| Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College reports median earnings of $106,897 for its Computer Engineering graduates four years after completing, with an average net price of $13,056 for families earning under $30,000. | |||||
| 21 | University of Central Florida · Orlando, FL | $106,680 | $10,411 | $5,816 | 40.1% |
| University of Central Florida admits 40% of applicants and reports median earnings of $106,680 for its Computer Engineering graduates four years after completing, with a cohort of 192 graduates in the earnings cohort. | |||||
| 22 | Florida Institute of Technology · Melbourne, FL | $106,431 | $35,639 | $29,108 | 57.7% |
| A private nonprofit university in Melbourne, Florida Institute of Technology ranks 22nd on this list and carries an average net price of $35,639. | |||||
| 23 | University of Alabama in Huntsville · Huntsville, AL | $105,920 | $18,796 | $16,192 | 68.6% |
| University of Alabama in Huntsville reports median earnings of $105,920 for its Computer Engineering graduates four years after completing, and graduates across all fields who borrowed left with a median of $20,705 in federal loans. | |||||
| 24 | The University of Texas at Arlington · Arlington, TX | $105,871 | $13,951 | $11,893 | 79.9% |
| The University of Texas at Arlington ranks 8th on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions and reports median earnings of $105,871 for its Computer Engineering graduates four years after completing. | |||||
| 25 | The University of Tennessee-Knoxville · Knoxville, TN | $105,834 | $18,976 | $10,029 | 41.6% |
| The University of Tennessee-Knoxville reports median earnings of $105,834 for its Computer Engineering graduates four years after completing, with an average net price of $18,976. | |||||
| 26 | University of Oklahoma-Norman Campus · Norman, OK | $105,525 | $15,300 | $10,509 | 76.6% |
| Graduates across all fields who borrowed left University of Oklahoma-Norman Campus with a median of $20,654 in federal loans, and the school's Computer Engineering completers earn $105,525 four years after completing. | |||||
| 27 | Kennesaw State University · Kennesaw, GA | $103,054 | $15,048 | $12,235 | 69.2% |
| Kennesaw State University admits 69% of applicants and ranks 24th on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions. | |||||
| 28 | Clemson University · Clemson, SC | $102,762 | $22,253 | $13,607 | 38.3% |
| Clemson University ranks 28th on this list, with an average net price of $13,607 for families earning under $30,000. | |||||
| 29 | Oklahoma State University-Main Campus · Stillwater, OK | $101,279 | $17,447 | $12,243 | 75.0% |
| Oklahoma State University-Main Campus posts median earnings of $101,279 for its Computer Engineering graduates four years after completing, alongside an admission rate of 75%. | |||||
| 30 | Florida International University · Miami, FL | $101,224 | $9,288 | $7,003 | 54.7% |
| Florida International University reports an average net price of $9,288 and median earnings of $101,224 for its Computer Engineering graduates four years after completing. | |||||
| 31 | University of Kentucky · Lexington, KY | $99,945 | $18,851 | $12,182 | 92.9% |
| University of Kentucky admits 93% of applicants, and its Computer Engineering graduates earn a median of $99,945 four years after completing. | |||||
| 32 | University of Georgia · Athens, GA | $99,739 | $13,936 | $8,085 | 37.7% |
| Median earnings of $99,739 for its Computer Engineering graduates four years after completing coincide with University of Georgia's Azimuth composite rank of 95th among nonprofit four-year institutions. | |||||
| 33 | West Virginia University · Morgantown, WV | $99,048 | $15,634 | $9,450 | 89.0% |
| West Virginia University reports an average net price of $9,450 for families earning under $30,000, and its Computer Engineering completers earn $99,048 four years after completing. | |||||
| 34 | University of Arkansas · Fayetteville, AR | $99,031 | $18,209 | $14,319 | 74.3% |
| University of Arkansas ranks 34th on this list, with a median of $21,500 in federal loans across all of the school's borrowers who completed. | |||||
| 35 | Tennessee Technological University · Cookeville, TN | $98,978 | $14,246 | $9,815 | 76.1% |
| Tennessee Technological University posts median earnings of $98,978 for its Computer Engineering graduates four years after completing, alongside an admission rate of 76%. | |||||
| 36 | Florida Gulf Coast University · Fort Myers, FL | $98,650 | $12,568 | $8,220 | 63.4% |
| Florida Gulf Coast University reports an average net price of $12,568 and a median of $17,622 in federal loans across all of the school's borrowers who completed. | |||||
| 37 | North Carolina A & T State University · Greensboro, NC | $98,567 | $10,846 | $8,223 | 49.9% |
| North Carolina A & T State University reports $98,567 in median earnings of Computer Engineering graduates four years after completing and an average net price of $10,846. | |||||
| 38 | University of Louisville · Louisville, KY | $97,216 | $17,988 | $15,138 | 79.4% |
| University of Louisville admits 79% of applicants and its Computer Engineering graduates earn a median of $97,216 four years after completing. | |||||
| 39 | University of North Carolina at Charlotte · Charlotte, NC | $97,109 | $15,435 | $10,357 | 79.6% |
| Graduates across all fields who borrowed left University of North Carolina at Charlotte with a median of $21,500 in federal loans, and the school ranks 98th on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions. | |||||
| 40 | Old Dominion University · Norfolk, VA | $94,542 | $14,638 | $9,739 | 90.4% |
| Old Dominion University ranks 40th on this list, with $94,542 in median earnings for its Computer Engineering graduates four years after completing. | |||||
| 41 | Texas Tech University · Lubbock, TX | $92,615 | $19,070 | $12,457 | 72.7% |
| An average net price of $12,457 for families earning under $30,000 and a 73% admission rate are reported by Texas Tech University. | |||||
| 42 | Florida Polytechnic University · Lakeland, FL | $92,109 | $11,853 | $8,819 | 57.5% |
| Florida Polytechnic University posts $92,109 in median earnings of Computer Engineering graduates four years after completing alongside a median federal debt of $14,250 across all of the school's borrowers who completed. | |||||
| 43 | Florida Atlantic University · Boca Raton, FL | $90,664 | $8,752 | $3,022 | 66.1% |
| With an average net price of $8,752, Florida Atlantic University reports median earnings of $90,664 for its Computer Engineering graduates four years after completing. | |||||
| 44 | University of Memphis · Memphis, TN | $89,702 | $12,397 | $10,607 | 72.0% |
| University of Memphis ranks 224th on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions and reports a 72% admission rate. | |||||
| 45 | Jackson State University · Jackson, MS | $89,702 | $23,836 | $22,869 | 93.2% |
| Jackson State University reports $89,702 in median earnings of Computer Engineering graduates four years after completing and an average net price of $22,869 for families earning under $30,000. | |||||
| 46 | The University of Texas at San Antonio · San Antonio, TX | $87,983 | $10,836 | $7,870 | 86.8% |
| The University of Texas at San Antonio ranks 34th on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions, and its Computer Engineering graduates earn a median of $87,983 four years after completing. | |||||
| 47 | Oklahoma Christian University · Edmond, OK | $87,701 | $21,872 | $17,818 | 96.5% |
| A private nonprofit university in Edmond, Oklahoma Christian University reports median earnings of $87,701 for its Computer Engineering graduates four years after completing. | |||||
| 48 | Mississippi State University · Mississippi State, MS | $85,275 | $17,595 | $14,332 | 77.6% |
| Mississippi State University reports $85,275 in median earnings of Computer Engineering graduates four years after completing and a median federal debt of $22,142 across all of the school's borrowers who completed. | |||||
| 49 | Johns Hopkins University · Baltimore, MD | $84,653 | $18,809 | $428 | 6.4% |
| Johns Hopkins University admits 6% of applicants and reports median earnings of $84,653 for its Computer Engineering graduates four years after completing. | |||||
| 50 | University of Houston-Clear Lake · Houston, TX | $79,710 | $15,563 | $7,330 | 90.5% |
| Graduates across all fields who borrowed left with a median of $17,831 in federal loans at University of Houston-Clear Lake, which ranks 50th on this list. | |||||
| 51 | St. Mary's University · San Antonio, TX | $78,406 | $21,145 | $18,352 | 97.8% |
| St. Mary's University posts an average net price of $21,145 and a median of $78,406 for its Computer Engineering graduates four years after completing. | |||||
| 52 | The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley · Edinburg, TX | $77,097 | $4,831 | $3,785 | 94.2% |
| With an average net price of $4,831, The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley ranks 11th on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions. | |||||
| 53 | Prairie View A & M University · Prairie View, TX | $69,338 | $13,570 | $12,120 | 79.3% |
| Prairie View A & M University reports median earnings of $69,338 for its Computer Engineering graduates four years after completing, alongside an admission rate of 79%. | |||||
| 54 | Christopher Newport University · Newport News, VA | $64,493 | $23,015 | $12,461 | 86.0% |
| An admission rate of 86% and an average net price of $23,015 coincide at Christopher Newport University, which ranks 54th on this list. | |||||
| 55 | Liberty University · Lynchburg, VA | $63,600 | $29,357 | $30,667 | 99.0% |
| Liberty University ranks 79th on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions and reports median earnings of $63,600 for its Computer Engineering graduates four years after completing. | |||||
| 56 | University of West Florida · Pensacola, FL | $63,005 | $9,364 | $4,815 | 58.2% |
| University of West Florida admits 58% of applicants and reports an average net price of $4,815 for families earning under $30,000. | |||||
How this list is ordered
Programs are ordered by the median earnings of their Computer Engineering graduates four years after completing, highest first. Only programs with a reported earnings cohort in the South appear. The figures reflect federally aided completers of Computer Engineering programs who were working and not enrolled, measured four years after completing. For 5 of the 56 listed programs the figure is the two-year completion median rather than the four-year one. The metric does not adjust for graduate school enrollment, cost, or who enrolls, and it is not a measure of teaching quality. Duke University reports $174,522, which is $22,100 above the $152,422 posted by University of Maryland-College Park. The spread from Duke University to the lowest figure on the list is $111,517.
Job market context in the South
The Bureau of Labor Statistics links Computer Engineering to occupations such as Software Developers and Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers. Across those occupations in the South, the median annual wage is $127,993, and a quarter of workers in those occupations earn less than $99,859. Projections for 2024 to 2034 show about 49,490 openings a year, or about 1,348 openings a year for every hundred graduates, with more projected openings than graduates. Projections for 2024 to 2034 put employment in those occupations about 19.2% higher. Wages and top occupations exclude management occupations; openings include them. These market figures describe the occupations, not the earnings of any listed program's graduates.