Computer Engineering Degree in Richmond, VA — Salary & ROI 2026
Computer Engineering degree analysis for Richmond, VA. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$50K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$125K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
6.8 yrs
in Richmond
Cost of Living
100
index (100 = avg)
Computer Engineering in Richmond, VA Overview
Richmond, Virginia (pop. 226,610) has 11 colleges offering Computer Engineering programs. The local cost of living index of 100 is near the national average, with average rent near campus at $737/month. Computer Engineering has seen growing enrollment nationally, reflecting rising employer demand for VLSI Design and Embedded Systems skills. The adjusted starting salary in Richmond is approximately $50,000, growing to $125,000 by mid-career.
Category
Engineering
Local Colleges
11
Public Tuition
$14,676/yr
Private Tuition
$58,570/yr
Room & Board
$10,932/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$9,068/yr
Unemployment
5.7%
Graduation Rate
65%
Computer Engineering Salary in Richmond (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Richmond's cost of living index of 100 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Computer Engineering salary: $50,000 starting, $125,000 mid-career, $155,000 senior level.Richmond adjustment factor: 1.00x based on the local cost of living index.
Computer Engineering ROI Calculator for Richmond
Estimate your return on investment for a Computer Engineering degree using local Richmond tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $14,676 | Private avg: $58,570
Richmond avg aid: $9,068/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$102,432
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$15,000
vs HS diploma in Richmond
ROI Payback Period
6.8 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Richmond
$997,568
Lifetime earnings premium ($1,100,000) minus total education cost ($102,432)
Student Loan Payoff for Computer Engineering in Richmond
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Richmond for Computer Engineering
Virginia Commonwealth University
public
$14,676/yr
$58,704 total
University of Richmond
private
$58,570/yr
$234,280 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Reynolds Community College
$5,340/yr
Top Employers for Computer Engineering in Richmond
Richmond offers opportunities in Engineering firms, Manufacturing, Defense contractors for Computer Engineering graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Richmond Hiring Sectors for Engineering
Engineering firms
Manufacturing
Defense contractors
Energy companies
Construction firms
Common Computer Engineering Job Titles
Computer Engineering in Nearby Virginia Cities
Virginia Beach, VA
$44K starting · COL 88
13 colleges
Chesapeake, VA
$46K starting · COL 91
12 colleges
Arlington, VA
$71K starting · COL 142.5
9 colleges
Norfolk, VA
$47K starting · COL 93
16 colleges
Newport News, VA
$46K starting · COL 92.5
7 colleges
Alexandria, VA
$51K starting · COL 102
8 colleges
Hampton, VA
$49K starting · COL 97
7 colleges
Roanoke, VA
$44K starting · COL 88.5
4 colleges
Other Engineering Majors in Richmond
Petroleum Engineering
$50K starting · 2.5 yr ROI
Chemical Engineering
$82K starting · 3.2 yr ROI
Nuclear Engineering
$50K starting · 3.3 yr ROI
Electrical Engineering
$80K starting · 3.3 yr ROI
Aerospace Engineering
$80K starting · 3.5 yr ROI
Mechanical Engineering
$78K starting · 3.5 yr ROI
Mining Engineering
$50K starting · 3 yr ROI
Materials Science & Engineering
$50K starting · 3.8 yr ROI
Computer Engineering Degree in Richmond — 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 Richmond.