Computer Engineering at Illinois Institute of Technology

Illinois Tech's computer engineering graduates start at $81,252—about $9,400 above the Illinois median and $2,300 above the national average. That's solid performance, placing the program in the 60th percentile statewide, though it's worth noting this advantage is based on a small graduating class (under 30 students), which means individual outcomes can swing these numbers significantly year to year.

The debt picture looks manageable at $26,500, resulting in a debt-to-earnings ratio of just 0.33. Graduates could reasonably pay off their loans within a year of focused payments, which is favorable territory for any engineering program. However, the small sample size becomes more concerning when you see earnings barely budge over four years—from $81,252 to $87,437. That 8% growth suggests graduates may be finding their ceiling quickly, or that the cohort tracked here had unusual career paths.

The reality check: Illinois Tech sits comfortably in the middle tier of Illinois engineering programs, well behind UIUC's elite $103,000 starting salaries but ahead of most state options. For a student who can't get into or afford UIUC, this delivers decent value with reasonable debt. Just remember that these numbers represent a small cohort, so your child's experience could look quite different—especially if they're below the program's median SAT of 1296.