Computer Engineering Degree in Lafayette, LA — Salary & ROI 2026
Computer Engineering degree analysis for Lafayette, LA. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$52K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$130K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
5.6 yrs
in Lafayette
Cost of Living
104
index (100 = avg)
Computer Engineering in Lafayette, LA Overview
While Lafayette has a smaller college scene with 5 institutions, Computer Engineering students benefit from lower tuition costs. Room and board averages $11,349/year, and the car-friendly layout shapes the student experience. Computer Engineering has seen growing enrollment nationally, reflecting rising employer demand for VLSI Design and Embedded Systems skills. The adjusted starting salary in Lafayette is approximately $52,000, growing to $130,000 by mid-career.
Category
Engineering
Local Colleges
5
Public Tuition
$10,374/yr
Private Tuition
$38,796/yr
Room & Board
$11,349/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$7,367/yr
Unemployment
4.8%
Graduation Rate
66%
Computer Engineering Salary in Lafayette (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Lafayette's cost of living index of 104 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Computer Engineering salary: $50,000 starting, $125,000 mid-career, $155,000 senior level.Lafayette adjustment factor: 1.04x based on the local cost of living index.
Computer Engineering ROI Calculator for Lafayette
Estimate your return on investment for a Computer Engineering degree using local Lafayette tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $10,374 | Private avg: $38,796
Lafayette avg aid: $7,367/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$86,892
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$15,600
vs HS diploma in Lafayette
ROI Payback Period
5.6 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Lafayette
$1,057,108
Lifetime earnings premium ($1,144,000) minus total education cost ($86,892)
Student Loan Payoff for Computer Engineering in Lafayette
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Lafayette for Computer Engineering
University of Louisiana at Lafayette
public
$10,374/yr
$41,496 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
South Louisiana Community College
$4,236/yr
Top Employers for Computer Engineering in Lafayette
Lafayette offers opportunities in Engineering firms, Manufacturing, Defense contractors for Computer Engineering graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Lafayette Hiring Sectors for Engineering
Engineering firms
Manufacturing
Defense contractors
Energy companies
Construction firms
Common Computer Engineering Job Titles
Computer Engineering in Nearby Louisiana Cities
New Orleans, LA
$45K starting · COL 90
23 colleges
Baton Rouge, LA
$41K starting · COL 82
16 colleges
Shreveport, LA
$50K starting · COL 99
14 colleges
Metairie, LA
$45K starting · COL 89.4
6 colleges
Lake Charles, LA
$40K starting · COL 80
6 colleges
Bossier City, LA
$44K starting · COL 87.8
3 colleges
Kenner, LA
$46K starting · COL 92.5
3 colleges
Other Engineering Majors in Lafayette
Petroleum Engineering
$52K starting · 2.5 yr ROI
Chemical Engineering
$85K starting · 3.2 yr ROI
Nuclear Engineering
$52K starting · 3.3 yr ROI
Electrical Engineering
$83K starting · 3.3 yr ROI
Aerospace Engineering
$83K starting · 3.5 yr ROI
Mechanical Engineering
$81K starting · 3.5 yr ROI
Mining Engineering
$52K starting · 3 yr ROI
Materials Science & Engineering
$52K starting · 3.8 yr ROI
Computer Engineering Degree in Lafayette — 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 Lafayette.