Computer Engineering at The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley

Computer engineering graduates from UT Rio Grande Valley start well below the market, earning $57,841 in their first year—nearly $21,000 less than the national median and about $20,000 behind the typical Texas graduate in this field. That's 25th percentile performance statewide, which matters when regional employers form the core of your network. The school serves a predominantly first-generation college population (64% receive Pell grants) in the Rio Grande Valley, and while the mission is admirable, families need to know their graduate will be competing for the same engineering jobs as Texas A&M and UT Arlington grads who start $25,000-$28,000 higher.

The bright spot is debt: at $16,055, this is among the lowest burdens for computer engineering programs anywhere (95th percentile nationally). Combined with 35% earnings growth by year four, the financial math works—you're not drowning in payments while building experience. But that fourth-year salary of $78,008, while respectable, only catches you up to where peers from other Texas programs started.

For families who need an affordable path into engineering and are comfortable with their graduate spending early career years closing a substantial earnings gap, this delivers accessible entry to the field. But if you can access Texas Tech, UT Arlington, or Texas A&M—even with higher debt—those programs offer immediate market-rate compensation that likely outweighs the savings here.