Computer Engineering at University of Dayton

The $26,090 in debt here isn't alarming on its face—it sits right at the national median for computer engineering programs—but the estimated first-year earnings of roughly $70,000 place this program toward the middle of Ohio's range. Similar programs in the state suggest outcomes from around $69,000 at Akron to over $83,000 at Cincinnati and Ohio State, a $14,000+ spread that matters when you're servicing debt.

What complicates the picture is that we're working with estimated earnings derived from eight peer programs in Ohio, not reported outcomes for Dayton graduates specifically. The 0.37 debt-to-earnings ratio looks manageable by engineering standards—you'd pay back about $260 monthly on a standard plan, roughly 4.5% of gross income. But if Dayton's actual outcomes tilt lower than the state median, or if your child doesn't land in software or tech consulting where salaries trend higher, that calculation tightens quickly.

The real question is whether Dayton's engineering program—at a smaller private university with strong co-op connections but less brand recognition than Ohio State or Cincinnati—positions graduates as competitively. Without school-specific data, you're betting on comparable preparation and recruiting access. If cost is similar to state flagships, the established track records at Cincinnati or Ohio State offer more certainty about return on investment.