2027 Best Value Computer Engineering Schools in Illinois
[Computer Engineering](/majors/engineering/ce-computer-engineering/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
For its 2027 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 8 schools to find the best return on investment for computer engineering students.
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2027 Best Value Computer Engineering Schools in Illinois
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the computer engineering degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Computer Engineering Schools
Leading the list is University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign, our #1 best value for computer engineering in Illinois. Set in the city of Champaign, University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $18,267 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $40,096. Students borrow a median of $20,500 to complete the computer engineering program here. Soon after graduation, computer engineering degree recipients from University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign generally make around $103,123. Set against $20,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 42%.
University Of Illinois At Chicago is a great value for students pursuing a degree in computer engineering, landing the #2 spot this year. Set in the city of Chicago, University Of Illinois At Chicago is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $15,949, compared with $32,009 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for computer engineering graduates is $22,000. Computer Engineering graduates of University Of Illinois At Chicago earn a median of $71,148 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Illinois At Chicago admits about 77% of applicants.
Illinois Institute Of Technology is a great value for students pursuing a degree in computer engineering, landing the #3 spot this year. Illinois Institute Of Technology is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Chicago. In-state tuition and fees average $52,202. Computer Engineering graduates carry a median of $26,500 in student loans. Early-career computer engineering graduates make about $81,252. Set against $26,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Illinois Institute Of Technology admits about 55% of applicants.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Bradley University earned it the #4 place for computer engineering. Set in the city of Peoria, Bradley University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $42,160. Computer Engineering graduates carry a median of $26,380 in student loans. Soon after graduation, computer engineering degree recipients from Bradley University generally make around $54,513. That is a strong return on a $26,380 median debt. Roughly 77% of applicants are accepted.
Students looking for strong value in computer engineering will find it at Northwestern University, which ranked #5. Set in the city of Evanston, Northwestern University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $68,322 in tuition and fees. Computer Engineering graduates carry a median of $16,616 in student loans. Computer Engineering graduates of Northwestern University earn a median of $78,551 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 8% of applicants are accepted.
Devry University Illinois landed the #6 spot for computer engineering value this year. Located in the suburb of Lisle, Devry University Illinois is a very large private for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $17,008. Typical student debt for computer engineering graduates is $43,684. Computer Engineering graduates of Devry University Illinois earn a median of $55,470 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $43,684 median debt. The acceptance rate is 98%.
Depaul University earned the #7 position for value in computer engineering this year. Set in the city of Chicago, Depaul University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $45,405. Typical student debt for computer engineering graduates is $25,340. Early-career computer engineering graduates make about $121,173. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 76% of applicants are accepted.
Loyola University Chicago landed the #8 spot for computer engineering value this year. Located in the city of Chicago, Loyola University Chicago is a large private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $53,710 in tuition and fees. Computer Engineering graduates carry a median of $25,000 in student loans. Early-career computer engineering graduates make about $68,020. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 82%.
More Computer Engineering Rankings
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. Schools are scored on the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 8 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 8 ranked schools only.
- The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE), serves as the core of our data about colleges.
- Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
More about our data sources and methodologies.
