Computer Engineering Technologies/Technicians at California Institute of Arts & Technology

San Diego, CA · Private for-profit · Associate Degree

with a smaller student body of 14 in San Diego, CA.

Program Analysis

At $48,778 per year, Computer Engineering Technologies/Technicians graduates from California Institute of Arts & Technology significantly outpace the $33,970 national average for this trade, reflecting strong employer demand for this program's graduates.

With a 16.6x return on tuition over ten years, the financial case for this program is compelling by virtually any measure.

The 0% difference between AI scenarios reflects partial automation exposure. Some Computer Engineering Technologies/Technicians career paths face changes, but the trade's physical demands provide a buffer.

The median debt load of $20,000 represents less than half a year of starting salary — among the lightest debt-to-income ratios in vocational education.

A #7 ranking among 26 Computer Engineering Technologies/Technicians programs places California Institute of Arts & Technology in the middle-to-upper range. Solid, not exceptional.

The 20 apprenticeship pathways connected to Computer Engineering Technologies/Technicians reflect strong industry infrastructure for this trade. Apprenticeships typically lead to journeyman-level wages.

55 /100
TradeSchoolOutlook Score
47
Low End
55
Score
58
High End
Earnings $48,778/yr (44% vs median)
AI-Proof Exposed (33% shielded)
Job Market Very Large (148,800 openings/yr)

Earnings Overview

Projected 10-Year Earnings
$510K
1.0% annual growth
Earnings Multiple
16.6x
10-year earnings ÷ tuition
Viable Career Paths
5 of 5
Occupations with strong AI resilience

Projected 10-Year Earnings

Based on actual graduate salary data and Bureau of Labor Statistics growth projections.

Program Tuition
$30,780
Median Debt at Graduation
$20,000
4.9 months of Year 1 earnings

Top Career Paths

Top career paths for Computer Engineering Technologies/Technicians graduates by median salary.

Career Path Median Salary Growth AI-ProofAI
Software developers $133,080 +15.8% 13%
Software quality assurance analysts and testers $102,610 +10.0% 12%
Computer programmers $98,670 -6.0% 5%
Software developers
$133,080
+15.8% growth 13% AI-proof
Software quality assurance analysts and testers
$102,610
+10.0% growth 12% AI-proof
Computer programmers
$98,670
-6.0% growth 5% AI-proof

View all 5 career paths with full salary data →

About Computer Engineering Technologies/Technicians Careers

You’ll work where hardware and software collide. One day you might be in a lab, using an oscilloscope to test a new circuit board; the next, you’re at a desk writing Python code for a mobile app or collaborating with a team through project tools like Jira. As a quality assurance analyst, you’ll be the one trying to break the software, designing test plans and running automated scripts to find bugs before users do. These software development and QA roles are seeing explosive demand.

Read the full Computer Engineering Technologies/Technicians career guide →

Compare & Explore

Computer Engineering Technologies/Technicians Overview

Computer Engineering Technologies/Technicians at Other Schools

How Does a Bachelor's Degree Compare?

Four-year programs take longer but may unlock different career trajectories. See the data.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the TradeSchoolOutlook Score for Computer Engineering Technologies/Technicians at California Institute of Arts & Technology?
At 55/100, California Institute of Arts & Technology's Computer Engineering Technologies/Technicians program delivers middling returns. School cost and personal fit become important decision factors.
How vulnerable is Computer Engineering Technologies/Technicians to AI automation?
The 67% AI task exposure score is above average. Our model shows this affecting job availability more than salaries — graduates may face stiffer competition for fewer positions.
Can I learn Computer Engineering Technologies/Technicians through an apprenticeship instead?
Yes — 20 registered apprenticeship programs are mapped to Computer Engineering Technologies/Technicians career paths, including Additive 3D Printing Technician. Apprenticeships offer paid on-the-job training as an alternative or complement to certificate programs.
Is there demand for Computer Engineering Technologies/Technicians workers?
The career paths mapped to Computer Engineering Technologies/Technicians have roughly 148,800 combined annual openings nationally, making this a very large job market. Trade careers in this field benefit from consistent replacement demand as workers retire.
Data from College Scorecard, BLS, and AI resilience research. Methodology & sources →