Computer Engineering at University of South Carolina-Columbia

USC-Columbia's computer engineering program delivers solid starting salaries at $73,982, but graduates face concerning career stagnation—earnings barely budge to $75,680 after four years, suggesting limited upward mobility. While the program lands in the middle of the pack among South Carolina's six engineering schools (40th percentile), it trails behind flagship competitor Clemson by about $4,000 annually. More concerning is the national picture: this program ranks in just the 32nd percentile among the country's 356 computer engineering programs, meaning roughly two-thirds deliver stronger earnings outcomes.

The saving grace here is debt management. At $27,000, graduates carry slightly more than the state median but far less than typical student loan burdens nationally—landing in the 5th percentile (meaning 95% of comparable programs saddle students with more debt). That translates to a manageable 0.36 debt-to-earnings ratio, where graduates owe just over a third of their first year's salary.

For families weighing this investment: Your child will likely start strong enough to handle their debt payments comfortably, but don't expect the typical engineering salary trajectory. If they're considering staying in South Carolina and cost is a priority, this works. If they can access Clemson or stronger out-of-state options at similar cost, the flat earnings growth suggests those alternatives deserve serious consideration—computer engineering careers typically show more robust advancement than what USC grads are experiencing.