Computer Engineering at Auburn University

Auburn's Computer Engineering program delivers exactly what most parents hope for: solid starting salaries around $80,000, manageable debt of $22,125, and steady income growth. Among Alabama's limited options for this degree, Auburn sits squarely in the middle—earning more than South Alabama's program but trailing UAH by about $4,000 annually. With a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.28, graduates typically owe just over three months' salary, making loan repayment straightforward for most.

What you're paying for here is reliability rather than exceptional outcomes. Auburn performs slightly above the national median for Computer Engineering programs, ranking in the 56th percentile nationally and 60th within Alabama. The 11% earnings growth from year one to year four suggests graduates are building marketable skills, though nothing extraordinary. The debt level is actually lower than both state and national medians, which matters when your child is deciding between similar programs.

For anxious parents, this represents a safe bet: Auburn graduates leave with less debt than typical Computer Engineering students and earn enough to manage it comfortably. The program won't catapult your child to the highest-paying tech jobs, but it provides solid technical training from a recognizable state flagship at a reasonable cost. If your child has been admitted and the alternative is paying out-of-state tuition elsewhere or taking on significantly more debt, Auburn makes financial sense.