Computer Engineering Technologies/Technicians at Commonwealth Technical Institute

Johnstown, PA · Private nonprofit · Associate Degree

with a smaller student body of 132 in Johnstown, PA.

Program Analysis

Starting salaries of $20,049/yr fall 41% below the $33,970 national median for Computer Engineering Technologies/Technicians. The financial case depends heavily on whether tuition compensates.

Every dollar of tuition returns an estimated 13.6x in decade earnings — an exceptional ratio that places this among the highest-ROI Computer Engineering Technologies/Technicians programs nationally.

Some AI exposure exists in Computer Engineering Technologies/Technicians's career paths, with 67% of job tasks potentially affected. The pessimistic scenario still projects solid returns, with a 0% gap from the optimistic case.

Ranked #26 of 26 Computer Engineering Technologies/Technicians programs, Commonwealth Technical Institute falls below the median. Stronger options exist, though cost and location may compensate.

Computer Engineering Technologies/Technicians offers 20 registered apprenticeship pathways — an unusually broad set of earn-while-you-learn alternatives to the classroom track.

37 /100
TradeSchoolOutlook Score
29
Low End
37
Score
40
High End
Earnings $20,049/yr (-41% vs median)
AI-Proof Exposed (33% shielded)
Job Market Very Large (148,800 openings/yr)

Earnings Overview

Projected 10-Year Earnings
$210K
1.0% annual growth
Earnings Multiple
13.6x
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
$15,428

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

Considering a 4-Year Degree Instead?

Compare how bachelor's degree graduates fare on earnings, ROI, and AI resilience.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does a 37/100 TradeSchoolOutlook Score mean for Computer Engineering Technologies/Technicians at Commonwealth Technical Institute?
This program scores 37/100 — on the lower end for Computer Engineering Technologies/Technicians. Prospective students should carefully weigh costs against likely earnings.
Will AI affect Computer Engineering Technologies/Technicians careers?
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 you still earn well with Computer Engineering Technologies/Technicians from Commonwealth Technical Institute?
Lower starting pay at Commonwealth Technical Institute may reflect local labor market conditions rather than program quality. Many graduates see convergence with national averages within 3-5 years.
Can I learn Computer Engineering Technologies/Technicians through an apprenticeship instead?
There are 20 registered apprenticeships connected to Computer Engineering Technologies/Technicians occupations. The earn-while-you-learn model means no tuition debt and immediate income, though the training period is typically longer.
Is there demand for Computer Engineering Technologies/Technicians workers?
With approximately 148,800 annual openings across mapped careers, Computer Engineering Technologies/Technicians offers a very large employment pool. Physical trades tend to have steady demand driven by infrastructure and construction cycles.
Data from College Scorecard, BLS, and AI resilience research. Methodology & sources →