Computer Engineering at The College of New Jersey

The College of New Jersey's computer engineering program produces graduates earning $84,241 in their first year—about $5,000 more than the national median and roughly on par with the New Jersey average. With debt around $25,725, graduates face a manageable 0.31 debt-to-earnings ratio, meaning they'd owe less than four months' salary. That's a solid foundation for launching a technical career, though the small sample size (under 30 graduates) means individual outcomes may vary more than these numbers suggest.

Within New Jersey's small computer engineering landscape, TCNJ sits in the middle of the pack. Stevens Institute of Technology graduates earn about $5,000 more annually, while NJIT graduates start significantly lower at $67,640. For families weighing in-state options, TCNJ offers a reasonable middle ground—you're not getting the premium outcomes of Stevens, but you're avoiding the debt load that often comes with private institutions while still clearing the national median comfortably.

The program makes financial sense for students who gain admission and can manage the debt level. The 0.31 ratio suggests most graduates can handle loan payments without undue stress, and starting near $84,000 provides room for typical engineering career growth. Just keep in mind that with so few graduates in the dataset, your child's experience could differ from what these numbers suggest.