Computer Engineering at University of Delaware

University of Delaware's computer engineering program sits in an unusual position: it's the only such program in Delaware, making state comparisons meaningless, yet it trails the national median by about $5,200 annually. That 32nd percentile national ranking suggests graduates are earning less than two-thirds of their peers at other schools, though the $73,750 starting salary still represents solid entry into the tech workforce.

The debt picture offers some compensation for the below-average earnings. At $26,679, graduates carry slightly more debt than the national median but maintain a manageable 0.36 debt-to-earnings ratio—meaning they owe about 4.4 months of their first-year salary. For context, many engineering programs leave students with 6-8 months' worth of debt, so this is relatively contained.

The program's positioning likely reflects Delaware's smaller tech ecosystem compared to major hubs. If your child plans to stay in-state after graduation, this might be the logical choice, but families should recognize that moving to higher-paying markets (Boston, Silicon Valley, Austin) could be necessary to match national earning potential. The moderate sample size suggests reasonable program stability, and the 65% admission rate makes this achievable for strong students. Just understand you're paying for a solid engineering education, not a premium-tier outcome.