Computer Engineering Technologies/Technicians at University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus

A debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.51 looks manageable on paper, but there's a significant gap between what similar programs nationally suggest ($48,829 first-year earnings, $25,126 debt) and what's actually happening elsewhere in Pennsylvania. Pittsburgh Technical College's Computer Engineering Technology graduates—the only PA program with reported data—earn $57,998, nearly $9,000 more annually. That difference matters when you're comparing Pitt's academic prestige and higher admission standards against a technical college that appears to deliver stronger immediate returns in this specific field.

The national comparison is equally puzzling. Programs at the 75th percentile produce first-year earnings of $59,330, suggesting that top performers in this field can command significantly more. Given Pitt's selectivity (average SAT of 1371) and resources, you'd expect outcomes closer to that upper range rather than the national median. The relatively low debt estimate is a plus, but it doesn't compensate for earnings that trail both state competitors and top national programs by $10,000 or more annually.

Before committing, you need to understand why Pitt's program—if these estimates reflect reality—isn't translating institutional advantages into stronger outcomes. The small sample size that triggered data suppression might indicate a niche program without robust industry connections, or it could simply mean few students choose this path at Pitt. Either way, talk to current students and recent graduates directly about job placement and starting salaries before assuming the Pitt name delivers in this particular major.