Computer Engineering at University of Louisville

University of Louisville's Computer Engineering program delivers strong earnings growth and manageable debt, but graduates start below what you'd expect for this field. The $72,710 first-year salary lands in just the 28th percentile nationally—about $6,000 below the typical computer engineering graduate. Within Kentucky, it fares slightly better at the 40th percentile, though still trails University of Kentucky's $79,620. The good news is the 24% earnings jump by year four, climbing to $90,398, which puts graduates on track to catch up with their peers.

The debt picture offers reassurance: at $21,306, students borrow slightly less than both state and national medians for this program. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.29 means graduates can realistically pay off loans within a few years, even with that modest starting salary. For a university with an 81% admission rate serving a significant population of Pell recipients, this program provides accessible engineering training without crushing debt.

The tradeoff here is clear—you're accepting a slower launch in exchange for reasonable costs and proven earnings acceleration. If your child can handle the initial salary gap and doesn't need to immediately maximize income, this represents a solid path into computer engineering at a fair price.