Computer Engineering Degree in Arlington, TX — Salary & ROI 2026
Computer Engineering degree analysis for Arlington, TX. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$47K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$117K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
7.3 yrs
in Arlington
Cost of Living
93.5
index (100 = avg)
Computer Engineering in Arlington, TX Overview
Arlington, Texas (pop. 394,266) has 14 colleges offering Computer Engineering programs. The local cost of living index of 93.5 is near the national average, with average rent near campus at $795/month. Computer Engineering has seen growing enrollment nationally, reflecting rising employer demand for VLSI Design and Embedded Systems skills. The adjusted starting salary in Arlington is approximately $46,750, growing to $116,875 by mid-career.
Category
Engineering
Local Colleges
14
Public Tuition
$10,900/yr
Private Tuition
$36,000/yr
Room & Board
$14,627/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$14,822/yr
Unemployment
3.3%
Graduation Rate
51%
Computer Engineering Salary in Arlington (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Arlington's cost of living index of 93.5 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Computer Engineering salary: $50,000 starting, $125,000 mid-career, $155,000 senior level.Arlington adjustment factor: 0.94x based on the local cost of living index.
Computer Engineering ROI Calculator for Arlington
Estimate your return on investment for a Computer Engineering degree using local Arlington tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $10,900 | Private avg: $36,000
Arlington avg aid: $14,822/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$102,108
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$14,025
vs HS diploma in Arlington
ROI Payback Period
7.3 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Arlington
$926,392
Lifetime earnings premium ($1,028,500) minus total education cost ($102,108)
Student Loan Payoff for Computer Engineering in Arlington
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Arlington for Computer Engineering
Arlington State University
public
$11,254/yr
$45,016 total
University of Arlington
public
$12,320/yr
$49,280 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Arlington Community College
$5,331/yr
Texas Technical College - Arlington
$5,252/yr
Top Employers for Computer Engineering in Arlington
Arlington offers opportunities in Engineering firms, Manufacturing, Defense contractors for Computer Engineering graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Arlington Hiring Sectors for Engineering
Engineering firms
Manufacturing
Defense contractors
Energy companies
Construction firms
Common Computer Engineering Job Titles
Computer Engineering in Nearby Texas Cities
Houston, TX
$58K starting · COL 115
90 colleges
San Antonio, TX
$60K starting · COL 120
58 colleges
Dallas, TX
$52K starting · COL 104
82 colleges
Austin, TX
$54K starting · COL 107
30 colleges
Fort Worth, TX
$51K starting · COL 101
19 colleges
El Paso, TX
$47K starting · COL 93
38 colleges
Corpus Christi, TX
$41K starting · COL 82
22 colleges
Plano, TX
$43K starting · COL 85
9 colleges
Other Engineering Majors in Arlington
Petroleum Engineering
$47K starting · 2.5 yr ROI
Chemical Engineering
$77K starting · 3.2 yr ROI
Nuclear Engineering
$47K starting · 3.3 yr ROI
Electrical Engineering
$75K starting · 3.3 yr ROI
Aerospace Engineering
$75K starting · 3.5 yr ROI
Mechanical Engineering
$73K starting · 3.5 yr ROI
Mining Engineering
$47K starting · 3 yr ROI
Materials Science & Engineering
$47K starting · 3.8 yr ROI
Computer Engineering Degree in Arlington — FAQ
Data Sources: Salary data from BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook. Cost of living from BLS Regional Data. College data from NCES/IPEDS. Updated March 2026.
Explore More
Compare Computer Engineering ROI in other cities, or explore other majors in Arlington.