Computer Engineering at Polytechnic University of Puerto Rico-Orlando

Computer engineering graduates from this program start at $38,213—less than half the $75,210 median for Florida engineering programs and far below what University of Florida ($87,949) or University of South Florida ($83,660) graduates typically earn. While earnings do climb to $62,156 by year four, that's still $13,000 below the state median and places this program in the bottom 10% statewide. With an estimated $26,146 in debt based on comparable Florida programs, the financial math is challenging: you're looking at debt equal to 68% of first-year earnings for outcomes that lag significantly behind state peers.

The 59% Pell grant rate suggests many students here come from families with limited financial resources, making the weak earnings trajectory particularly concerning. Computer engineering is supposed to be a reliable path to solid middle-class income, but starting under $40,000 in a field where $75,000+ is typical means graduates face years of financial struggle before catching up—if they catch up at all. Even with strong 63% earnings growth, year-four salaries remain below what peers at other Florida schools earn right out of the gate.

For an anxious parent considering this investment, the gap is too wide to ignore. If your child has the academic credentials for computer engineering here, they likely have options at programs where first-year earnings start $35,000+ higher. That difference compounds over a career and dramatically changes the debt payoff timeline and quality of life in those crucial early working years.