Computer Engineering at Mississippi State University

Mississippi State's computer engineering program launches graduates into solid $72,500 starting salaries while keeping debt manageable at $19,500—a 0.27 debt-to-earnings ratio that beats most engineering programs nationally. The real story here is state context: this is the strongest computer engineering option in Mississippi, outearning the state median by $10,500 and sitting comfortably above Jackson State's $51,500. While these graduates earn about $6,400 less than the national median, they're also carrying $5,000 less debt than typical computer engineering grads nationwide.

The combination of reasonable admission standards (76% acceptance rate, 1220 SAT) and strong in-state outcomes makes this particularly attractive for Mississippi families. Computer engineering typically commands higher salaries than computer science, and these numbers—despite ranking in just the 27th percentile nationally—represent genuinely good starting salaries in Mississippi's lower cost-of-living environment.

One important caveat: the sample size here is small (under 30 graduates), so individual outcomes could vary more than these medians suggest. Still, for Mississippi students interested in hardware-focused engineering careers, this program delivers clear value with minimal debt burden and earnings that work well for the regional job market.