Computer Engineering at Milwaukee School of Engineering

Milwaukee School of Engineering produces computer engineers who earn solid mid-career salaries while carrying remarkably low debt—a combination that makes this program stand out in Wisconsin. At $88,667 four years out, graduates earn about $12,000 more than the state median for the program and rank in the 60th percentile among Wisconsin schools. More impressively, the $27,000 median debt sits in just the 5th percentile nationally, meaning 95% of comparable programs saddle students with more debt. That translates to a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.34, making this one of the more affordable paths to a computer engineering degree in the state.

The tradeoff is that first-year earnings start at $78,333—respectable but essentially matching the national median rather than exceeding it like top-tier programs. However, the 13% growth to nearly $89,000 by year four suggests graduates gain valuable experience and advancement opportunities. When you compare MSOE's outcomes to other Wisconsin programs like UW-Stout ($80,493) or Marquette ($69,664), MSOE lands in the middle of the pack for earnings but far ahead on affordability.

For families concerned about engineering school debt, this represents an especially practical choice. Your child gets a legitimate engineering education with strong mid-career earning potential without the $40,000-50,000 debt loads common at many engineering programs.