Computer Engineering at Brigham Young University

BYU's computer engineering program produces graduates who earn nearly $90,000 right out of school—above the national median and competitive with Utah's other tech programs—while carrying just $10,750 in debt. That debt figure is exceptionally low, ranking in the 95th percentile nationally, largely thanks to BYU's subsidized tuition model for LDS students. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.12 means graduates could theoretically pay off their loans in under six weeks of gross income, an almost unheard-of position for new engineers.

The earnings trajectory here is particularly strong, jumping 44% to nearly $128,000 by year four. While this program sits at the 60th percentile among Utah's computer engineering offerings—meaning University of Utah edges it out slightly—the difference amounts to less than $1,000 initially and likely narrows given BYU's robust mid-career growth. Nationally, these graduates outperform 87% of their peers in the same field.

For families who qualify for BYU's tuition benefits, this is about as close to a financial slam dunk as engineering education gets. Even students paying full non-member tuition would graduate with manageable debt relative to strong earning potential. The moderate sample size suggests stable but not massive program enrollment, which can actually mean better faculty attention in technical fields.