Computer Engineering at Duke University

Duke's Computer Engineering graduates start at $111,145—about $29,000 more than NC State's grads and $53,000 above the national median. While that 80th percentile ranking among North Carolina programs might seem modest, remember there are only 9 schools offering this degree in-state, so Duke is still comfortably ahead of most alternatives. More importantly, earnings jump another 23% to $137,144 by year four, which is exceptional growth for engineering where early-career salaries typically plateau faster.

The debt picture is remarkably clean: $14,500 puts Duke below 95% of programs nationally (yes, lower debt than almost everyone else), creating a debt-to-earnings ratio of just 0.13. That means graduates could theoretically clear their entire debt with about six weeks of gross income. This is particularly notable given Duke's 7% admission rate and elite student profile—many peer institutions saddle graduates with far more debt.

The moderate sample size (30-100 graduates) suggests this is a smaller program, which could mean more faculty attention but less room for specialization. Still, for families who can navigate Duke's selective admissions, this represents one of the strongest Computer Engineering investments in the state, combining top-tier starting salaries with minimal debt burden.