Computer Engineering at University of Missouri-Columbia

Mizzou's Computer Engineering program produces solid early earnings of $83,243, beating both the national median ($78,952) and the state median ($81,104). With only $19,500 in debt, graduates face one of the lowest debt burdens among computer engineering programs nationally—landing in the 81st percentile for low debt. That 0.23 debt-to-earnings ratio means graduates owe less than three months' salary, making this program highly affordable by engineering standards.

The catch? Earnings growth is minimal over the first four years, rising just 4% to $86,396. This is unusual for computer engineering, where graduates typically see faster salary increases as they gain experience. More concerning is that despite the strong start, this program sits at just the 60th percentile among Missouri's six computer engineering programs—meaning most other in-state options deliver comparable or better outcomes. Missouri S&T, for instance, produces nearly identical earnings with graduates reporting $78,964.

One important caveat: this data comes from fewer than 30 graduates, so individual circumstances could skew these numbers significantly. That said, the combination of low debt and decent starting pay makes this a financially safe choice for computer engineering students at Mizzou. Just don't expect rapid salary growth in those early career years, and recognize you're not getting a premium outcome compared to other Missouri engineering schools.