Computer Engineering Degree in Wilmington, NC — Salary & ROI 2026
Computer Engineering degree analysis for Wilmington, NC. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$48K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$119K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
4.8 yrs
in Wilmington
Cost of Living
95
index (100 = avg)
Computer Engineering in Wilmington, NC Overview
While Wilmington has a smaller college scene with 5 institutions, Computer Engineering students benefit from lower tuition costs. Room and board averages $9,779/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 Wilmington is approximately $47,500, growing to $118,750 by mid-career.
Category
Engineering
Local Colleges
5
Public Tuition
$7,287/yr
Private Tuition
$34,393/yr
Room & Board
$9,779/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$13,831/yr
Unemployment
6.8%
Graduation Rate
48%
Computer Engineering Salary in Wilmington (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Wilmington's cost of living index of 95 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Computer Engineering salary: $50,000 starting, $125,000 mid-career, $155,000 senior level.Wilmington adjustment factor: 0.95x based on the local cost of living index.
Computer Engineering ROI Calculator for Wilmington
Estimate your return on investment for a Computer Engineering degree using local Wilmington tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $7,287 | Private avg: $34,393
Wilmington avg aid: $13,831/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$68,264
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$14,250
vs HS diploma in Wilmington
ROI Payback Period
4.8 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Wilmington
$976,736
Lifetime earnings premium ($1,045,000) minus total education cost ($68,264)
Student Loan Payoff for Computer Engineering in Wilmington
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Wilmington for Computer Engineering
University of North Carolina Wilmington
public
$7,287/yr
$29,148 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Cape Fear Community College
$2,864/yr
Top Employers for Computer Engineering in Wilmington
Wilmington offers opportunities in Engineering firms, Manufacturing, Defense contractors for Computer Engineering graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Wilmington Hiring Sectors for Engineering
Engineering firms
Manufacturing
Defense contractors
Energy companies
Construction firms
Common Computer Engineering Job Titles
Computer Engineering in Nearby North Carolina Cities
Charlotte, NC
$45K starting · COL 89
39 colleges
Raleigh, NC
$42K starting · COL 83
21 colleges
Greensboro, NC
$46K starting · COL 91
17 colleges
Durham, NC
$55K starting · COL 109
25 colleges
Winston-Salem, NC
$53K starting · COL 106
26 colleges
Fayetteville, NC
$45K starting · COL 90
15 colleges
Cary, NC
$54K starting · COL 108.5
7 colleges
High Point, NC
$42K starting · COL 84.5
5 colleges
Other Engineering Majors in Wilmington
Petroleum Engineering
$48K starting · 2.5 yr ROI
Chemical Engineering
$78K starting · 3.2 yr ROI
Nuclear Engineering
$48K starting · 3.3 yr ROI
Electrical Engineering
$76K starting · 3.3 yr ROI
Aerospace Engineering
$76K starting · 3.5 yr ROI
Mechanical Engineering
$74K starting · 3.5 yr ROI
Mining Engineering
$48K starting · 3 yr ROI
Materials Science & Engineering
$48K starting · 3.8 yr ROI
Computer Engineering Degree in Wilmington — 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 Wilmington.