Computer Engineering at University of South Alabama

The small sample size here demands caution, but the earnings gap is hard to ignore: South Alabama's computer engineering graduates start at $59,626, nearly $20,000 below the state median and $25,000 below Auburn's outcomes. In Alabama's limited computer engineering landscape—just four programs—this lands at the 25th percentile, meaning only one other option performs worse. Nationally, this sits in the bottom 5th percentile among 356 programs. The modest debt load of $26,000 (right at state average) keeps the debt-to-earnings ratio manageable at 0.44, but that's a consolation prize when peers at Auburn or UAH are earning 34% more right out of the gate.

For context, computer engineering typically delivers strong starting salaries—the national median sits near $79,000. Something appears off here, whether it's the small cohort size skewing results, regional employer connections, or curriculum differences. The 65% admission rate and below-average SAT scores suggest this serves a different student population than UAH (Alabama's engineering powerhouse), but that shouldn't translate to such a dramatic earnings penalty in a field with relatively standardized skillsets.

If your child is set on computer engineering and South Alabama for non-academic reasons, the debt burden won't be crushing. But if outcomes matter most, the in-state alternatives offer substantially better career launching points for likely similar tuition costs. Request more granular employment data before committing.