Computer Engineering at University of Akron Main Campus

A $69,070 starting salary might sound solid for computer engineering, but University of Akron graduates earn about $10,000 less than the national median for this degree—landing them at just the 19th percentile nationally. Within Ohio, they're right at the state median, which tells you something important: Ohio's computer engineering programs generally underperform the national market. Still, when flagship programs like Ohio State and Cincinnati start graduates at $83,000+, Akron's 40th percentile state ranking means you're paying similar tuition for meaningfully lower outcomes.

The debt picture offers some relief. At $23,320, graduates borrow slightly less than typical for this field, creating a manageable 0.34 debt-to-earnings ratio that most can handle comfortably. Earnings do grow 15% to $79,000 by year four, showing normal career progression for the field. The moderate sample size suggests reasonably consistent outcomes.

For an accessible program (71% admission rate) at likely lower in-state tuition, Akron delivers a functional computer engineering degree that will launch a career. But if your student can get into Ohio State, Cincinnati, or even Miami University, the $13,000-14,000 earnings premium from day one—roughly $60,000+ over four years—would justify the competitive admissions process. Akron works as a backup option, not a first choice for this major.