Computer Engineering at Texas Tech University

Texas Tech's computer engineering program punches well above its weight nationally—landing in the 79th percentile for earnings—but sits in the middle of Texas's competitive landscape. That 60th percentile state ranking means your child would earn slightly more than UT Dallas graduates but less than those from UT Arlington or A&M, despite starting at $85,619 and growing to $96,395 by year four.

The real standout here is the debt picture. At $27,000, graduates carry notably more debt than the Texas median of $22,238, placing this program in the 95th percentile nationally for debt burden. However, that translates to just 3.8 months of first-year salary—a manageable load that's paid back quickly given the strong starting wages. The 13% earnings growth through year four suggests stable career trajectories in Texas's robust tech market.

For an accessible engineering school (71% admission rate) in an affordable city, this program delivers solid returns. Your child won't necessarily out-earn peers from flagship state schools, but they'll enter the workforce with good starting pay and reasonable debt. If your student is deciding between Tech and lower-ranked Texas options, the earnings advantage justifies the slightly higher debt load. Against A&M or UT Arlington, it becomes more about fit and scholarship offers than outcome differences.