by our College Data Analytics Team
[Computer Engineering](/majors/engineering/ce-computer-engineering/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
For its 2027 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 14 schools to find the best return on investment for computer engineering students.
What’s on this page:
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in computer engineering, balancing cost against outcomes.
For return on investment in computer engineering, no school beat Thaddeus Stevens College Of Technology this year. Located in the city of Lancaster, Thaddeus Stevens College Of Technology is a small public university. Students from in state pay about $9,050 in tuition and fees. Computer Engineering graduates carry a median of $9,915 in student loans. Early-career computer engineering graduates make about $48,257. That is a strong return on a $9,915 median debt. The acceptance rate is 71%.
Students looking for strong value in computer engineering will find it at York College Pennsylvania, which ranked #2. Set in the suburb of York, York College Pennsylvania is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $25,588. Students borrow a median of $26,537 to complete the computer engineering program here. Early-career computer engineering graduates make about $53,667. Set against $26,537 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 74%.
Students looking for strong value in computer engineering will find it at Gannon University, which ranked #3. Set in the city of Erie, Gannon University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $40,656. Students borrow a median of $26,934 to complete the computer engineering program here. Soon after graduation, computer engineering degree recipients from Gannon University generally make around $73,658. Set against $26,934 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Gannon University admits about 74% of applicants.
Pennsylvania State University World Campus is a great value for students pursuing a degree in computer engineering, landing the #4 spot this year. Set in the city of University Park, Pennsylvania State University World Campus is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $15,356. Computer Engineering graduates carry a median of $26,708 in student loans. Soon after graduation, computer engineering degree recipients from Pennsylvania State University World Campus generally make around $101,819. Set against $26,708 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 91%.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Pennsylvania State University Penn State Erie Behrend College earned it the #5 place for computer engineering. Located in the suburb of Erie, Pennsylvania State University Penn State Erie Behrend College is a mid-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $15,972, with out-of-state students paying around $26,958. Typical student debt for computer engineering graduates is $26,708. Soon after graduation, computer engineering degree recipients from Pennsylvania State University Penn State Erie Behrend College generally make around $85,446. Set against $26,708 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 97%.
Shippensburg University Of Pennsylvania earned the #6 position for value in computer engineering this year. Shippensburg University Of Pennsylvania is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Shippensburg. Students from in state pay about $13,570 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $15,824. Computer Engineering graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, computer engineering degree recipients from Shippensburg University Of Pennsylvania generally make around $80,574. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 86% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Pennsylvania landed the #7 spot for computer engineering value this year. University Of Pennsylvania is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Philadelphia. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $68,686. Computer Engineering graduates carry a median of $16,155 in student loans. Soon after graduation, computer engineering degree recipients from University Of Pennsylvania generally make around $99,682. That is a strong return on a $16,155 median debt. Roughly 5% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus came in at #8 for value in computer engineering this year. University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus is a very large public school located in the city of Pittsburgh. In-state tuition and fees average $21,926, compared with $41,430 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $26,837 to complete the computer engineering program here. Computer Engineering graduates of University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus earn a median of $78,075 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $26,837 median debt. The acceptance rate is 58%.
Carnegie Mellon University came in at #9 for value in computer engineering this year. Located in the city of Pittsburgh, Carnegie Mellon University is a large private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $65,636. Typical student debt for computer engineering graduates is $23,529. Computer Engineering graduates of Carnegie Mellon University earn a median of $89,327 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $23,529 median debt. Roughly 12% of applicants are accepted.
Pennsylvania State University Main Campus came in at #10 for value in computer engineering this year. Set in the city of University Park, Pennsylvania State University Main Campus is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $20,644 in tuition and fees, compared with $41,790 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for computer engineering graduates is $26,708. Early-career computer engineering graduates make about $101,819. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Pennsylvania State University Main Campus admits about 61% of applicants.
Lehigh University landed the #11 spot for computer engineering value this year. Located in the city of Bethlehem, Lehigh University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $64,980. Students borrow a median of $24,625 to complete the computer engineering program here. Early-career computer engineering graduates make about $82,209. Set against $24,625 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Lehigh University admits about 26% of applicants.
Drexel University placed #12 among the best values for computer engineering. Set in the city of Philadelphia, Drexel University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $62,412 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for computer engineering graduates is $28,166. Early-career computer engineering graduates make about $101,510. Set against $28,166 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Drexel University admits about 79% of applicants.
Bucknell University earned the #13 position for value in computer engineering this year. Located in the town of Lewisburg, Bucknell University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $67,812. Computer Engineering graduates carry a median of $25,951 in student loans. Computer Engineering graduates of Bucknell University earn a median of $90,171 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $25,951 median debt. Bucknell University admits about 29% of applicants.
Villanova University landed the #14 spot for computer engineering value this year. Villanova University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Villanova. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $67,776. Students borrow a median of $26,000 to complete the computer engineering program here. Computer Engineering graduates of Villanova University earn a median of $108,248 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Villanova University admits about 27% of applicants.
This ranking is produced 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 · 14 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 14 ranked schools only.
More about our data sources and methodologies.