Computer Engineering at University of California-Davis

UC Davis computer engineering graduates walk into six-figure salaries with minimal debt—a combination that should capture any parent's attention. While first-year earnings of $96,418 trail Cal Poly SLO and Santa Clara, the debt picture is dramatically better. That $12,804 median debt is less than half California's state average and just a fraction of the $24,500 national median. This translates to a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.13, meaning graduates could theoretically pay off loans in just six weeks of gross income.

The earnings trajectory reinforces the program's strength: four years out, graduates reach $120,745, representing 25% growth and placing them comfortably in tech industry mid-career territory. Ranking in the 80th percentile among California programs is noteworthy given the state's concentration of top engineering schools. You're getting outcomes comparable to more selective UCs like Santa Barbara and Santa Cruz, without the debt burden many private universities carry.

For families weighing UC options or comparing against costlier private schools, Davis offers an unusually clean value proposition. The combination of strong starting salaries, exceptional debt levels, and solid earnings growth makes this one of the state's better financial bets in computer engineering. The moderate sample size suggests program consistency rather than outlier results.