Computer Engineering at The Catholic University of America

Computer engineering programs typically deliver strong early earnings, and estimates from peer institutions suggest Catholic University follows this pattern. Based on the national median of similar programs, first-year earnings around $79,000 paired with estimated debt of $26,000 creates a manageable debt burden—roughly four months of gross pay. That 0.33 debt-to-earnings ratio falls comfortably below the warning threshold where loan payments start straining budgets.

The challenge here is uncertainty. With only three computer engineering programs in DC and no reported outcomes from any of them, you're making decisions with limited visibility into how this specific program performs. Catholic's high admission rate (84%) and low Pell grant enrollment (17%) suggest it serves a particular demographic, but whether that translates to strong industry connections or internship pipelines in DC's tech corridor remains unclear. The estimated earnings match the national median exactly, which tells you nothing about whether Catholic's location in the capital offers advantages over programs elsewhere.

If your child has strong offers from schools with actual reported outcomes, those give you firmer ground to stand on. Here, you're betting on a reasonable debt load and the general strength of computer engineering degrees, but without program-specific evidence of job placement success or alumni networks.