Computer Engineering at Franklin College

Computer engineering graduates from Indiana programs typically earn around $75,000 in their first year—a figure that puts Franklin College's program right in line with state benchmarks, though trailing Purdue and Rose-Hulman by $15,000-$17,000. Based on similar small liberal arts colleges nationally, students here likely graduate with roughly $26,000 in debt, producing a manageable debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.35. That's competitive: you'd need less than five months of gross income to cover the full debt load, assuming similar outcomes.

The uncertainty here matters more than usual because Franklin's program is small enough that the Department of Education can't publish actual outcomes. We're estimating based on five comparable Indiana programs and national peer institutions. If Franklin's graduates land at companies paying closer to Rose-Hulman rates, this looks excellent. If they struggle more than the average Indiana program, the picture darkens. The school's 71% admission rate and modest SAT scores suggest it's not as selective as Purdue or Rose-Hulman, which could mean less competitive job placement—or could simply mean a different recruiting focus.

The practical read: computer engineering credentials generally open doors to solid-paying work, and the estimated debt burden here won't anchor your child's early career. But you're betting on a program without verified track record data, so connecting directly with recent alumni about actual job outcomes would be critical before committing.