Computer Engineering at Florida State University

Florida State's Computer Engineering program puts graduates right at the national median for starting salary ($78,941), but performs notably better within Florida—landing in the 60th percentile among the state's 20 programs. That's meaningful context since in-state tuition makes FSU attractive to Florida families. Four years out, graduates see solid progression to nearly $95,000, which is healthy growth for an engineering career trajectory. The debt picture is reasonable: $23,346 is slightly below both state and national averages, creating a manageable 0.30 debt-to-earnings ratio that most graduates can handle comfortably.

The catch here is sample size. With fewer than 30 graduates reporting, these numbers could shift considerably in either direction. FSU clearly trails the state's top programs—University of Florida and USF graduates earn $9,000-$5,000 more right out of the gate—but costs less to attend and is significantly more selective than it was a decade ago. For a Florida family looking at in-state options, this represents a solid middle-tier choice: not the ceiling for computer engineering in the state, but a legitimate path to a six-figure salary within five years at a manageable debt load.

The fundamentals work here—engineering grads earning nearly $80,000 with under $24,000 in debt rarely face financial hardship. Just recognize you're betting on a smaller program where individual outcomes vary more than they would at Florida's larger engineering schools.