Computer Engineering at Cedarville University

Computer engineering programs in Ohio vary dramatically in outcomes, with top schools producing graduates earning over $83,000 while others hover around $69,000. Based on comparable programs statewide, Cedarville's computer engineering degree appears positioned in the middle tier—the estimated $69,708 first-year earnings align exactly with Ohio's median but fall notably short of the $78,952 national benchmark. That's roughly $9,000 less annually than typical computer engineering graduates earn nationwide, a gap that compounds over a career.

The estimated $26,146 debt load is slightly above both state and national medians for this major, yielding a manageable debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.38. That means graduates would need roughly five months of gross earnings to cover their debt—reasonable by most standards. However, the concerning element is paying above-average debt for below-average earnings. Families investing in computer engineering typically expect stronger returns, especially given the major's reputation as a high-earning field.

For context, University of Cincinnati and Ohio State graduates in this field start nearly $14,000 ahead annually. Unless Cedarville offers specific advantages like strong industry connections, smaller class sizes that translate to better job placement, or a campus culture that's worth the trade-off, families should carefully weigh whether this investment makes sense when stronger-performing programs exist at similar or lower costs within Ohio.