Computer Engineering at University of Massachusetts-Boston

In Massachusetts, computer engineering programs cluster tightly in the mid-to-high $80,000s for first-year earnings, and similar programs across the state suggest UMass Boston graduates would land right in that range at around $87,000. That's actually above the national median of $79,000 for this degree, which makes sense given Boston's robust tech sector and the concentration of engineering employers along the 128 corridor.

The estimated $27,000 in debt produces a favorable 0.31 debt-to-earnings ratio—meaning graduates would owe roughly three months' salary. Compare that to the top programs in the state: Northeastern leads at $99,000, but UMass Boston's figures suggest outcomes within $7,000 of UMass Lowell and not dramatically different from BU or UMass Amherst. For a school with an 83% admission rate serving a substantial population of Pell-eligible students (43%), that's a competitive showing in a field where credential and skills often matter more than institutional prestige.

The caution here is that these figures are derived from peer programs statewide, not actual UMass Boston data—the sample size was too small to report. But the tight clustering of Massachusetts engineering outcomes and the school's urban location near major employers suggest this is a reasonable program for families seeking an affordable path into a high-demand field without stretching for the private school price tag.