Computer Engineering at California State University-Northridge

California State University-Northridge's Computer Engineering program sits right at the state median for earnings ($75,692) while keeping debt nearly $5,000 below the national average. That 60th percentile ranking among California programs is more impressive than it initially appears—yes, elite schools like Cal Poly SLO and the UCs pull in six figures, but those also come with harder admissions and often higher costs. For a school with a 93% admission rate serving predominantly middle-class students (56% on Pell grants), matching the state median represents solid execution.

The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.26 is genuinely good, meaning graduates owe just over three months' salary. Combined with the below-average debt load of $19,548, most graduates should be able to handle their payments comfortably on a computer engineer's salary. The first-year earnings of $75,692 trail the national median by about $3,000, but that gap reflects California's more competitive landscape—you're being compared against some of the strongest engineering programs in the country.

For families who can't afford or access the UCs and Cal Poly, CSUN delivers a functional engineering degree without crushing debt. The program won't command Silicon Valley's top-tier starting salaries, but it provides legitimate entry into the field at a price point that makes financial sense. That's particularly valuable for students who need the accessibility of a 93% admission rate.