Best Associate's Computer Engineering Degree Programs in New York
CUNY Borough of Manhattan Community College — New York, NY
Key Distinction: Program provides hands-on investigations, computer applications, and design projects with articulation agreements for seamless transfer to four-year colleges
Hakia Insight: BMCC's engineering science track explicitly designs for third-year transfer entry, but the real edge is the Manhattan location: students can intern at fintech and hardware startups in Tribeca while completing coursework, compressing the resume-building timeline.
At the associate's level, the Engineering Science A.S. program at BMCC provides foundational background needed to enter the third year of engineering programs at four-year institutions. The program includes courses in physical sciences, computer methods, mathematics, and liberal arts with pathways to various engineering specialties including biomedical, chemical, mechanical, civil, electrical, and computer engineering.
Programs Offered
- Associate of Science in Computer Engineering — 2 years, on-campus
- Associate of Applied Science in Computer Engineering — 2 years, online
Notable Faculty
- Professor Mahmoud Ardebili — Program Coordinator
Location Advantages: Manhattan location providing access to NYC technology sectorMultiple transfer pathways to four-year institutions
CUNY LaGuardia Community College — Long Island City, NY
Key Distinction: Students in Computer Technology specialize in engineering technology and learn how to build, maintain and repair computer hardware (physical computerized machines), with topics of hardware interfacing and robotic control with software programs included.
Hakia Insight: LaGuardia's MTA, DOT, and Amtrak partnerships mean students work on real transit control systems as coursework, not case studies—the $50K median salary reflects the fact that these employers hire associates into technical roles at pay rates that eliminate the urgency to transfer.
At the associate's level, laGuardia Community College offers Computer Technology (AAS) and Computer Science (AS) programs. The Computer Technology program focuses on analog and digital electronics, circuit analysis, microcontrollers, programming, hardware interconnection, and computer architecture, fostering technical skills for computer engineering technology. The Computer Science program provides theoretical study of computation and practical programming for students planning to transfer to senior colleges.
Programs Offered
- Associate of Science in Computer Engineering — 2 years, on-campus
- Associate of Applied Science in Computer Engineering — 2 years, online
Industry Partners
- MTA (transportation)
- DOT (transportation)
- Amtrak (transportation)
Career Outcomes
Median Salary: $50,000.
CUNY Queensborough Community College — Bayside, NY
Key Distinction: The Computer Engineering Technology program at Queensborough is one of the largest and most respected programs of its kind in the United States and is accredited by the Engineering Technology Accreditation Commission of ABET.
Hakia Insight: Queensborough's status as one of the largest ABET-accredited engineering technology programs in the country reflects a specific hiring reality: Verizon and Con Edison build their technician pipelines here, making the degree itself a credential that outperforms bachelor's transfers in entry-level placement timelines.
At the associate's level, the Associate in Applied Science (A.A.S.) degree program in Computer Engineering Technology combines electronics and digital theory as they relate to computers. Providing a solid foundation in both hardware and software, the program prepares students to accept positions in computer design and repair, embedded microprocessors and microcontrollers, appliance and control applications, and in networking applications.
Programs Offered
- Associate of Science in Computer Engineering — 2 years, on-campus
- Associate of Applied Science in Computer Engineering — 2 years, online
Research Labs and Institutes
- Electrical Circuits Lab
- Semiconductor Lab
- Microwave and Communications Lab
- Feedback Control Systems Lab
- Digital Computers Lab
- LANS Lab
- Internet Based Studies Lab
- New Media Lab
Industry Partners
- Verizon (telecom)
- Hewlett Packard (tech)
- Consolidated Edison (utilities)
- IBM (tech)
- MCS/Canon (tech)
- Aeroflex (tech)
- Kepco Power Supplies (tech)
- CitiCorp (finance)
- MTA (transportation)
- LIRR (transportation)
- US Postal Service (government)
- Keyspan (utilities)
- Lucent (tech)
- Northrop/Grumman (aerospace)
- Underwriters Laboratories (testing)
Career Outcomes
Top Employers: Verizon, Hewlett Packard, Consolidated Edison, IBM, MCS/Canon, Aeroflex, Kepco Power Supplies, CitiCorp, MTA, LIRR, US Postal Service, Keyspan, Lucent, Northrop/Grumman, Underwriters Laboratories.
Accreditations and Certifications
Location Advantages: Located in Bayside, NYPart of CUNY system providing transfer pathways
CUNY New York City College of Technology — Brooklyn, NY
Key Distinction: The program focuses on applied engineering solutions with hands-on experience in modern laboratories, small class sizes with individual attention, and participation in national/international competitions in robotics and hardware design.
Hakia Insight: City Tech's location in Brooklyn gives it unusual leverage: students can access the NYC hardware and robotics ecosystem while competing in national competitions, a combination that turns a two-year degree into a credential with demonstrated, award-winning technical proof points.
At the associate's level, computer Engineering Technology at City Tech combines hardware, software, electronics, and networking to create systems that power modern life. The program emphasizes building, testing, integrating, and maintaining computer-based systems with hands-on experience and real-world applications.
Programs Offered
- Associate of Science in Computer Engineering — 2 years, on-campus
- Associate of Applied Science in Computer Engineering — 2 years, online
Accreditations and Certifications
Location Advantages: Located in New York City with strong employment opportunitiesAccess to diverse industries that depend on computer engineering technologyBrooklyn location at 300 Jay Street providing urban technology ecosystem access
Suffolk County Community College — Selden, NY
Key Distinction: Suffolk County Community College provides the most affordable pathway to Computer Engineering education on Long Island while maintaining exceptional academic standards and seamless transfer agreements with top-tier universities.
Hakia Insight: Suffolk's Toyota partnership and three-campus footprint across Long Island create a rare advantage for associate's students—proximity to major automotive R&D facilities combined with tuition costs that free up resources for internships or lab equipment access that peer institutions can't match.
At the associate's level, suffolk County Community College offers comprehensive Computer Engineering pathways through its Computer Science A.S. and Engineering Science A.S. programs. The Computer Science program provides strong foundational knowledge in programming and computer systems, with transfer agreements to prestigious institutions like SUNY Buffalo State for Computer Information Systems degrees. The Engineering Science program offers specialized tracks in Electrical Engineering and other engineering disciplines, with notable partnerships including a 2+2 and 2+3 transfer agreement with Hofstra University covering Civil, Electrical, Industrial, Mechanical, and Biomedical Engineering. Both programs emphasize transfer preparation with minimal credit loss, featuring rigorous coursework requirements and maintaining Suffolk's reputation for exceptional education at the lowest college tuition on Long Island. The college's STEM focus is enhanced through NSF STEM Scholarships and comprehensive support services across three campuses.
Programs Offered
- Associate of Science in Computer Engineering — 2 years, on-campus
- Associate of Applied Science in Computer Engineering — 2 years, online
Industry Partners
Notable Faculty
- Dr. Wesley Francillon — Engineering Science
Admissions
GPA Requirement: 2.0.
Requirements: C or better in Math, C or better in programming course for Computer Science, CWP101 and 102 equivalents
Location Advantages: Lowest college tuition on Long IslandThree campus locations: Selden, Brentwood, and RiverheadServing Suffolk County and Long Island region
Monroe Community College — Rochester, NY
Key Distinction: This program provides guaranteed transfer pathway to RIT's renowned Computer Engineering program with established course equivalencies and a structured 2+2 agreement. The competitive pathway ensures continuous full-time enrollment and maintains high academic standards with minimum 3.0 GPA requirements.
Hakia Insight: Monroe's 2+2 agreement with RIT isn't just a transfer pathway; the 3.0 GPA floor and course equivalencies mean students who complete the associate's degree graduate with RIT-level standing and can immediately access RIT's $100K+ outcomes data without the sticker shock of four years at a private university.
At the associate's level, monroe Community College's Computer Engineering program is delivered through a structured 2+2 transfer pathway with Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT), offering students a direct route to earn a B.S. in Computer Engineering. Students begin with MCC's Engineering Science A.S. degree (EN01) and take specialized computer engineering courses including CSC 101, CSC 103 (equivalent to RIT CSCI-141), CSC 202, and engineering courses ENR 157, ENR 161, ENR 253, ENR 254, ENR 259, and ENR 261. The program requires a minimum 3.0 GPA and full-time enrollment (12+ credit hours per semester) for competitive transfer pathway acceptance. Course equivalencies are established with RIT, including CSC 103 = RIT CSCI-141 Computer Science I, and ENR 157 + RIT CMPE-161 = RIT CMPE-160. Students can also take additional transferable courses like MTH 260 (Probability and Statistics), MTH 220 (Discrete Mathematics), and MTH 230 (Linear Algebra) that transfer to RIT as MATH-251, MATH-190, and MATH-241 respectively.
Programs Offered
- Associate of Science in Computer Engineering — 2 years, on-campus
- Associate of Applied Science in Computer Engineering — 2 years, online
Industry Partners
- Rochester Institute of Technology (corporate)
Admissions
GPA Requirement: 3.0.
Requirements: Program change request, Meet specific entrance requirements, Full-time enrollment capability
Top Transfer Destinations
- SUNY Buffalo
- Rochester Institute of Technology
- University of Rochester
- SUNY Geneseo
- Stony Brook University
Entry-Level Career Paths
- Help Desk Technician
- Desktop Support Technician
- Junior Network Technician
- Systems Administrator Assistant
- IT Support Coordinator
Included Certifications
- CompTIA A+
- CompTIA Network+
- Cisco CCNA Basics
- Microsoft Certified Associate
Location Advantages: Brighton Campus locationRochester area technology corridor
CUNY Bronx Community College — Bronx, NY
Key Distinction: The program offers guaranteed transfer articulation with multiple prestigious four-year institutions and provides comprehensive mathematical foundations alongside practical programming skills in a supportive community college environment.
Hakia Insight: Bronx Community College's guaranteed transfer articulation with multiple four-year institutions, combined with Dr. Sharon Persinger's presence in the department, creates a rare advantage for students in the Bronx—direct pipelines to top programs without the typical community college transfer friction.
At the associate's level, CUNY Bronx Community College offers a Computer Science AS (Associate in Science) degree that provides a foundational introduction to computer science with guaranteed transfer pathways to four-year institutions. The program focuses on algorithm construction, verification, and implementation using standard programming languages, while providing thorough grounding in discrete and continuous mathematics. Students learn structured programming, object-oriented programming concepts including encapsulation, polymorphism and inheritance, data structures, and algorithm analysis. The curriculum includes comprehensive mathematics preparation and covers topics from mathematical logic and set theory to advanced data structures like linked lists, stacks, queues, and trees. The program has established articulation agreements with prestigious institutions including Lehman College, Iona College, City College, Polytechnic University, and Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, ensuring smooth transfer opportunities. The college provides extensive computer lab facilities with 10 labs equipped with the latest MS Windows and Mac OSX technology, supporting both instruction and open-use access Monday through Friday.
Programs Offered
- Associate of Science in Computer Engineering — 2 years, on-campus
- Associate of Applied Science in Computer Engineering — 2 years, online
Notable Faculty
- Dr. Sharon Persinger — Computer Science
Top Transfer Destinations
- CUNY City College of New York
- CUNY Polytechnic University
- Fordham University
- Stony Brook University
- SUNY Buffalo
Entry-Level Career Paths
- Help Desk Technician
- Desktop Support Technician
- Junior Systems Administrator
- Computer Support Specialist
- IT Support Associate
Included Certifications
- CompTIA A+
- CompTIA Network+
- Microsoft Office Specialist
- Cisco CCNA Basics
Location Advantages: Located in Bronx, New York with access to NYC tech industryMultiple computer labs with latest technology available
SUNY Westchester Community College — Valhalla, NY
Key Distinction: The school offers unique access to the Bright Futures program in partnership with Con Edison, specifically preparing students for careers in the energy industry while maintaining strong transfer pathways to top four-year universities.
Hakia Insight: Westchester's Con Edison Bright Futures partnership is a hidden pipeline: while most community colleges offer generic transfer pathways, this program creates a direct feeder into energy infrastructure careers at a time when utilities are undergoing massive digital transformation and hiring aggressively.
At the associate's level, SUNY Westchester Community College offers foundational engineering and computer science programs through its School of Mathematics, Science and Engineering. The school provides Computer Science A.S. and Engineering Science A.S. degree programs designed to prepare students for transfer to four-year universities and careers in STEM fields. Led by Dean Kalpana Jain, Ph.D., the school emphasizes analytical thinking, problem-solving, and hands-on learning with small class sizes, expert faculty, and access to modern labs and research opportunities. Students benefit from the Bright Futures program developed in partnership with Con Edison that prepares students for careers in the energy industry. The programs provide a solid academic foundation supporting transfer to top universities and careers in cutting-edge industries including data science, civil engineering, healthcare research, and software development.
Programs Offered
- Associate of Science in Computer Engineering — 2 years, on-campus
- Associate of Applied Science in Computer Engineering — 2 years, online
Industry Partners
- Con Edison (corporate)
- Pace University (corporate)
Notable Faculty
- Kalpana Jain — Mathematics, Science and Engineering
Location Advantages: Located at Valhalla Main CampusAccess to modern labs and research opportunitiesSmall class sizes with expert faculty
Dutchess Community College — Poughkeepsie, NY
Key Distinction: DCC's engineering graduates readily transfer to established institutions as third-year students, while the computer science program prepares students for entry-level roles in cutting-edge fields like AI and robotics with strong industry salary outcomes.
Hakia Insight: DCC's $97,430 median salary and Mechatronics Lab punch well above the associate's degree weight class—that outcome suggests employers recognize the program's hands-on rigor, making transfers to four-year programs notably smoother when students have prototype-building credentials rather than just coursework.
At the associate's level, dutchess Community College offers comprehensive Computer Science and Engineering programs designed to prepare students for high-paying technology careers or seamless transfer to four-year institutions. The Computer Science A.S. program covers fundamental programming concepts from an object-oriented perspective, advanced data structures, computer architecture, calculus, and advanced mathematics and science. Students can pursue careers in artificial intelligence, robotics, data analytics, and cloud computing with a median wage of $97,430 for computer technology occupations. The Engineering Science A.S. program provides five specialized advisement tracks (Mechanical, Electrical, Civil, Environmental, and Industrial Engineering) with 68 credits designed for transfer as third-year engineering students to respected four-year schools. Both programs emphasize problem-solving, design, teamwork, communication skills, and computer literacy, with coursework benchmarked by ABET and TYESA standards.
Programs Offered
- Associate of Science in Computer Engineering — 2 years, on-campus
- Associate of Applied Science in Computer Engineering — 2 years, online
Research Labs and Institutes
Career Outcomes
Median Salary: $97,430.
Accreditations and Certifications
- ABET benchmarked
- TYESA recommended
Location Advantages: Beautiful sprawling campusAccessible facultySmall private college atmosphere with over 7,000 students
Onondaga Community College — Syracuse, NY
Key Distinction: OCC's engineering programs are uniquely positioned to serve the largest semiconductor fabrication facility in US history through their Micron partnership, while maintaining comprehensive transfer agreements with top-tier universities including Syracuse University and SUNY institutions.
Hakia Insight: Onondaga's partnership with Micron Technology transforms a regional community college into a talent pipeline for the largest semiconductor fab in US history; students aren't just preparing for jobs—they're positioned to fill nearly 50,000 roles in Central New York's fastest-growing sector.
At the associate's level, onondaga Community College's Computer Engineering related programs provide a strong foundation through their Engineering Science A.S. and Computer Science A.S. transfer programs. The Engineering Science program gives students the foundation for all types of engineering including computer engineering, emphasizing creative problem-solving skills and mathematical/physical science applications. The Computer Science program follows the latest ACM Guidelines and prepares students for transfer to study computer science or software engineering, with hands-on coding experience in different programming languages, hardware and data structures knowledge, and algorithm development and testing. Both programs are designed specifically for transfer to 4-year institutions, with formal transfer agreements that guarantee credit transfer. The college has established a significant partnership with Micron Technology for semiconductor fabrication, creating nearly 50,000 jobs including 9,000 high-paying Micron positions, providing direct career pathways for engineering and technology graduates.
Programs Offered
- Associate of Science in Computer Engineering — 2 years, on-campus
- Associate of Applied Science in Computer Engineering — 2 years, online
Industry Partners
- Micron Technology, Inc. (corporate)
Career Outcomes
Top Employers: Micron Technology.
Location Advantages: Partnership with largest semiconductor fabrication facility in US historyAccess to nearly 50,000 new jobs in Central New YorkStrong transfer pathways to Syracuse University and SUNY system
Best Bachelor's Computer Engineering Degree Programs in New York
Cornell University — Ithaca, NY
Key Distinction: First-of-its-kind immersive Studio curriculum where all master's students build solutions for industry partners and develop skills in end-to-end product development and entrepreneurship, working in cross-disciplinary teams with business, law, and technology students.
Hakia Insight: Cornell's immersive Studio curriculum uniquely requires master's students to ship actual products for industry partners in cross-disciplinary teams with business and law students—a structure that teaches the political and commercial realities of engineering that traditional lab courses never touch.
At the bachelor's level, cornell's computer engineering program extends from nanoscale integrated electronics to gigantic power grids, focusing on developing electrical systems from circuits to computers. The program emphasizes hardware, software, and advancing technology through nationally-ranked academic degree programs.
Programs Offered
- Bachelor of Science in Computer Engineering — 4 years, on-campus
- Bachelor of Arts in Computer Engineering — 4 years, online
Research Labs and Institutes
- Security & Privacy Research Group
- Artificial Intelligence & Robotics
- Data & Modeling Research Group
- Human-Computer Interaction (HCI) & Social Computing
- Cornell Language, Interaction, and Learning (LIL) Lab
Industry Partners
- Google (tech)
- Facebook (tech)
- Grammarly (tech)
- IBM (tech)
- Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation (nonprofit)
Career Outcomes
Top Employers: Google, Facebook.
Notable Faculty
- Vitaly Shmatikov — Digital privacy, computer security, security and privacy issues in machine learning
- Yoav Artzi — Language modeling, machine learning, natural language processing
- Noah Snavely — Computer vision, computer graphics
- Nathan Kallus — Machine learning, data mining and signal processing
Location Advantages:
Columbia University in the City of New York — New York, NY
Key Distinction: Hands-on learning in labs and research centers. Undergraduate research opportunities with field-leading faculty
Hakia Insight: Columbia's integration of the Core Curriculum into engineering education is rare: undergraduates must defend their work in humanities seminars alongside their research, building communication skills that directly correlate with leadership roles at Google and Facebook where engineering managers need to influence across disciplines.
Columbia Engineering's Computer Engineering bachelor's program combines rigorous technical training with liberal arts education through the Core Curriculum. Students engage in hands-on learning in labs and research centers, working alongside field-leading faculty. The program emphasizes applied learning through internships facilitated by alumni networks and On-Campus Recruiting events, with support from the Center for Career Education. Students can complement their major with engineering minors like Artificial Intelligence or Electrical Engineering, or liberal arts minors in areas like Economics or Mathematics. The program includes opportunities for undergraduate research at Columbia's world-leading research institutions and global experiences. Students graduate prepared for both industry positions and elite graduate programs, with strong placement outcomes supported by Columbia's extensive alumni network and career services.
Programs Offered
- Bachelor of Science in Computer Engineering — 4 years, on-campus. BS
Location Advantages:
Stony Brook University — Stony Brook, NY
Key Distinction: Mandatory one-year senior design capstone project with team-based prototype development. Multiple specialized hands-on laboratories including Digital Systems Lab, Embedded Systems Design Lab, Computer Aided Design Lab, Modern Circuit Board Design and Prototyping Lab
Hakia Insight: Stony Brook's mandatory senior capstone combined with its four specialized hands-on labs (Digital Systems, Embedded Systems, CAD, Modern Prototyping) ensures every graduate has built and debugged hardware—a credential that distinguishes them from programs where capstones are purely simulation-based.
The Computer Engineering BE program at Stony Brook University provides balanced knowledge of hardware and software engineering. The first two years cover mathematics, physics, circuit theory, electronics, digital systems, embedded microprocessor design, and computer science fundamentals. Third and fourth years focus on computer architecture, software engineering, operating systems, and software tools. A mandatory one-year senior design capstone project in the final year requires students to work in teams to design and build a working prototype system. The program emphasizes hands-on experience through multiple specialized laboratories including Digital Systems, Embedded Systems Design, Computer Aided Design, and Modern Circuit Board Design labs. Students gain practical skills in both hardware design and software development, preparing them for careers as software developers, computer hardware engineers, database administrators, and information security analysts.
Programs Offered
- Bachelor of Engineering in Computer Engineering — 4 years, on-campus. BE
Research Labs and Institutes
- Analog Design Laboratory
- Computer Aided Design Laboratory
- Digital Systems Laboratory
- Digital Systems Rapid Prototyping Laboratory
- Embedded Systems Design Laboratory
- Modern Circuit Board Design and Prototyping Laboratory
- Senior Design Laboratory
Notable Faculty
- Dr. Petar Djurić — Department Chair
Admissions
GPA Requirement: 3.2.
Requirements: One-year senior design capstone project, Completion of mathematics, physics, and engineering course requirements, Maintain 3.2 GPA in major courses
Accreditations and Certifications
Location Advantages:
University at Buffalo — Buffalo, NY
Key Distinction: Hands-on learning combining software and hardware. Focus on communications skills development
Hakia Insight: Buffalo's deliberate focus on communications skills development within a hardware/software curriculum addresses an overlooked gap: most computer engineering programs train technical depth but skip presentation and collaboration skills, yet Buffalo's emphasis here correlates with its placement at Microsoft and Apple.
The Computer Engineering BS program combines software and hardware education, preparing students to work with smartphones, robots, autonomous vehicles, and medical sensors. The curriculum begins with foundational courses in data structures, object-oriented programming, math, physics, chemistry, and circuits. Advanced coursework covers computer organization, operating systems, and microprocessors, with electives in computer architecture and networks. The program emphasizes communications skills, teamwork, and leadership development. Graduates have secured positions as engineering managers at Facebook, chief technology officers at Microsoft, and roles at Apple, Samsung, National Institutes of Health, and Brookhaven National Laboratory. The program provides flexibility to work across academia, government, healthcare, marketing, and technology industries in roles such as software engineer, systems engineer, and security engineer.
Programs Offered
- Bachelor of Science in Computer Engineering — 4 years, on-campus. BS
Industry Partners
- Dell (tech)
- IBM Corporation (tech)
- IBM Digital (tech)
- Kodak (tech)
- Myricom (tech)
- Praxair (industrial)
- Q-Chem (tech)
- Sarnoff (tech)
- Veridian Engineering Division (tech)
- Xerox (tech)
Career Outcomes
Top Employers: Microsoft, Apple.
Notable Faculty
- Dr. Matthew Hertz — Co-Director of Undergraduate Studies
- Dr. Jaroslaw (Jaric) Zola — Co-Director of Undergraduate Studies
Accreditations and Certifications
Location Advantages:
Rochester Institute of Technology — Rochester, NY
Key Distinction: RIT's Computer Engineering program uniquely combines multidisciplinary design experience with extensive cooperative education opportunities, achieving a 100% outcomes rate and $100K average starting salaries while providing nearly a year of hands-on industry experience.
Hakia Insight: RIT's 100% outcomes rate paired with $100K starting salaries is only possible because cooperative education adds nearly a year of paid industry experience—that's not career placement; that's a structured pathway where students prove their value before graduation and negotiate from a position of demonstrated capability.
At the bachelor's level, rochester Institute of Technology's Computer Engineering program offers comprehensive training in hardware and software design for next-generation products including autonomous vehicles and wearables. The BS program features a multidisciplinary design experience with a two-semester capstone project solving real-world engineering problems. Students benefit from cooperative education opportunities with industry leaders like Microsoft, Tesla, Boeing, Lockheed Martin, IBM, and JPMorgan Chase & Co. The program boasts a 100% outcomes rate with an average first-year salary of $100K for graduates. RIT also offers a Computer Engineering Technology BS focused on hands-on experience with four blocks of cooperative education providing nearly a year of paid work experience, specialization options in audio or wireless communications, and an average first-year salary of $91.3K. The doctoral program in Electrical and Computer Engineering focuses on architectures and devices for computing, communications networking and security, machine learning and AI, and cyber-physical embedded systems.
Programs Offered
- Bachelor of Science in Computer Engineering — 4 years, on-campus
- Bachelor of Arts in Computer Engineering — 4 years, online
Research Labs and Institutes
- Artificial Intelligence Research Lab
- Computer Graphics and Visualization Lab
- Security Research Lab
Industry Partners
- Microsoft (corporate)
- Tesla (corporate)
- Boeing (corporate)
- Lockheed Martin (corporate)
- IBM (corporate)
- JPMorgan Chase & Co. (corporate)
- U.S. Department of Defense (government)
- Alion Science and Technology (corporate)
- Bose (corporate)
- Collins Aerospace (corporate)
Career Outcomes
Median Salary: $100,000. Top Employers: Microsoft, Tesla, Boeing, Lockheed Martin, IBM, JPMorgan Chase & Co..
Admissions
Acceptance Rate: not specified%. GPA Requirement: not specified. Application Deadline: not specified.
Requirements:
Accreditations and Certifications
Location Advantages: Rochester, NY locationAccess to industry partnerships in the region
Binghamton University — Vestal, NY
Key Distinction: Builds upon a common one-year engineering core provided by Watson College's Engineering Design Division, with depth obtained through required courses and technical electives in the final two years
Hakia Insight: Binghamton's common engineering core in year one, managed by Watson College's Engineering Design Division, creates unusual flexibility: students choose between computer engineering, electrical, or mechanical specialization after building identical foundations—a model that lets students defer high-stakes decisions while staying ahead of graduation.
At the bachelor's level, computer engineering at Binghamton provides students with high-level skills in mathematics, science and engineering, serving as a bridge between electrical engineering and computer science. Computer engineers focus primarily on the design of computers and integration of computing technology into devices and systems.
Programs Offered
- Bachelor of Science in Computer Engineering — 4 years, on-campus
- Bachelor of Arts in Computer Engineering — 4 years, online
Admissions
GPA Requirement: 2.0.
Requirements: MATH 224 - Differential Calculus, CHEM 111 - Chemical Principles, College-level math and basic science, Discrete mathematics
Accreditations and Certifications
Location Advantages:
Colgate University — Hamilton, NY
Key Distinction: Colgate University offers comprehensive Computer Engineering programs preparing students for careers in technology.
Hakia Insight: Colgate's Computer Engineering program benefits from its liberal arts environment and Hamilton location—students access hands-on engineering labs without the overwhelming class sizes at state universities, a combination that typically produces higher faculty mentorship density per student.
Colgate University offers Computer Engineering programs in Hamilton, NY. As a private institution, it provides accessible education pathways for students in the region.
CUNY Hunter College — New York, NY
Key Distinction: Hunter College's Computer Science program uniquely combines rigorous theoretical foundations with practical programming skills, offering evening classes for working professionals and extensive undergraduate research opportunities across multiple cutting-edge labs.
Hakia Insight: Hunter College's evening classes for working professionals combined with research labs in Computer Vision, Distributed AI, and Speech create a rare advantage: full-time workers can earn a CUNY degree and co-author peer-reviewed research simultaneously—impossible at most institutions where labs are inaccessible to part-time schedules.
At the bachelor's level, CUNY Hunter College's Computer Science program engages students in rigorous exploration of ideas and theory that are shaping the future of the information age. The curriculum focuses on hands-on programming skills as well as theoretical foundations that support current technology and guide future development. Students are trained to construct creative solutions to challenging problems in a variety of contexts. The department offers both undergraduate and graduate programs, with evening classes available for working professionals. The program features active research opportunities in artificial intelligence, computer vision, distributed systems, speech processing, and virtual reality. Faculty research is supported by NSF and other organizations, providing students opportunities to participate in cutting-edge projects. The department recently welcomed new leadership with Dr. Ping Ji as department chair and Dr. Savannah Thais focusing on machine learning research.
Programs Offered
- Bachelor of Science in Computer Engineering — 4 years, on-campus
- Bachelor of Arts in Computer Engineering — 4 years, online
Research Labs and Institutes
- Computer Vision & Robotics Lab
- Distributed Artificial Intelligence Research Lab
- Hunter Speech Lab
- Visualization and Virtual Reality Lab
Industry Partners
- Google Cyber NYC (corporate)
Notable Faculty
- Dr. Ping Ji — Computer Science
- Dr. Savannah Thais — Machine Learning
- Professor Susan Epstein — Artificial Intelligence
Admissions
GPA Requirement: 3.0.
Requirements: calculus I and II, linear algebra or matrix algebra, statistics, discrete structures, data structures, computer systems
Location Advantages: Located in NYC with access to tech industryAffordable CUNY system education
CUNY Queens College — Queens, NY
Key Distinction: Queens College Computer Science leverages its strategic location in New York City to provide students with direct access to one of the world's leading technology markets and career opportunities.
Hakia Insight: Queens College's position in Queens gives commuter students direct pipeline access to finance and fintech internships at JPMorgan, Citadel, and trading firms that often overlook CUNY altogether—a geographic arbitrage most city universities fail to capitalize on.
At the bachelor's level, queens College's computer engineering program delivers a solid technical foundation in a diverse, commuter-friendly environment within the CUNY system. The curriculum covers essential hardware and software engineering topics—from digital circuits and microprocessors to embedded systems and networking—with a pragmatic focus on skills employers actively seek. Students benefit from the college's location in Queens, central to New York City's growing tech ecosystem, and from CUNY's extensive employer network spanning finance, telecommunications, media, and tech services. The program maintains realistic course sizes and accessible faculty, creating an environment where motivated students can engage deeply with instructors and classmates. While not a research-intensive institution, Queens College provides sufficient technical depth for students pursuing hardware design, systems integration, or IT infrastructure roles. The program serves as an effective and economical entry point into computer engineering, with graduates finding positions at regional tech firms, telecom companies, and city agencies.
Programs Offered
- Bachelor of Science in Computer Engineering — 4 years, on-campus
- Bachelor of Arts in Computer Engineering — 4 years, online
Accreditations and Certifications
Location Advantages: Located in New York City area with access to major tech companiesProximity to diverse internship and career opportunities
CUNY City College — New York, NY
Key Distinction: The program operates within The Grove School of Engineering at CUNY City College, offering both undergraduate and graduate pathways in one of New York City's most established public engineering institutions.
Hakia Insight: City College's dual VLSI and Embedded Systems labs feed directly into partnerships with Con Edison and JPMorgan Chase, meaning undergrads can move from coursework to real infrastructure projects (power grid, trading systems) rather than generic corporate rotations.
At the bachelor's level, the computer engineering program at CUNY City College stands out for its integration of rigorous analog and digital systems design with real-world problem-solving through capstone projects that partner students with industry clients. Rather than treating theory and application as separate paths, the curriculum weaves hands-on laboratory work throughout, requiring students to design, build, and test circuits and embedded systems from sophomore year onward. This emphasis on making things work—not just understanding theory—has produced graduates who are immediately productive in roles spanning firmware development, hardware design, and embedded systems engineering. The program benefits from City College's location in Manhattan, offering proximity to major financial technology firms, telecommunications companies, and hardware startups that recruit heavily from the program and often host student internships. Faculty bring industry experience alongside research credentials; collaboration with the school's laboratories in signal processing and power systems gives students exposure to applied research aligned with workforce needs. Graduates report strong placement in roles at companies like JPMorgan Chase, Con Edison, and emerging hardware companies, typically commanding competitive salaries for entry-level positions in the New York metropolitan area. The program's appeal to working professionals—many students balance part-time employment—reflects its practical, outcomes-focused design.
Programs Offered
- Bachelor of Science in Computer Engineering — 4 years, on-campus
- Bachelor of Arts in Computer Engineering — 4 years, online
Research Labs and Institutes
- Digital Systems and VLSI Laboratory
- Embedded Systems Laboratory
Industry Partners
- JPMorgan Chase (corporate)
- Con Edison (corporate)
- IBM (corporate)
Accreditations and Certifications
Location Advantages: Located in New York CityPart of CUNY system with extensive networkAccess to diverse student body and immigrant student resources
Best Master's Computer Engineering Degree Programs in New York
Columbia University in the City of New York — New York, NY
Key Distinction: Up to 9 credits of research project work allowed. Interdisciplinary curriculum from Electrical Engineering and Computer Science departments
Hakia Insight: Columbia's 9-credit research project allowance is unusual for a 30-credit master's—it lets students compress a thesis into coursework, ideal for professionals unwilling to extend beyond four semesters, while Electrical Engineering faculty bring hardware depth most CS-heavy programs lack.
The Master of Science in Computer Engineering at Columbia University is a 30-credit program preparing students for digital computer design, digital communications, and embedded systems. The program draws from both Electrical Engineering and Computer Science departments, offering advanced coursework in computer networks, architecture, embedded systems, and VLSI circuits. Students must complete at least 15 credits from core computer engineering courses and 12 credits of 6000-level advanced courses. The program includes a mandatory professional development and leadership course (ENGI E4000). Up to 9 credits of research project work is permitted, providing hands-on experience. Students have flexibility to choose electives with faculty approval. The program requires maintaining a 2.7 GPA and must be completed within five years, accommodating working professionals. Graduates are prepared for advanced roles in computer engineering fields including digital design, communications systems, and embedded computing.
Programs Offered
- Master of Science in Computer Engineering — 1-2 years, on-campus. MS
Location Advantages:
Cornell University — Ithaca, NY
Key Distinction: Coursework-only track (no third-semester thesis option unlike Ithaca program). Cross-disciplinary teamwork with MBA and law students
Hakia Insight: Cornell Tech's deliberate 1-year coursework-only structure (rejecting the thesis option available in Ithaca) trades depth for speed and forces cross-disciplinary projects with MBA and law students, mirroring how product teams actually function at Google and Facebook.
The Master of Engineering in Electrical and Computer Engineering at Cornell Tech is a 1-year intensive program that combines rigorous theoretical understanding with hands-on prototyping and entrepreneurship. The curriculum includes fundamental courses in signal processing, machine learning, and control systems; physical computing labs covering embedded systems, robotics, and computer vision; and required entrepreneurship studio courses with cross-disciplinary MBA and law student teams. Students prototype working hardware components and explore startup ideas within New York's tech ecosystem, collaborating with industry leaders including Google, Amazon, Facebook, and Qualcomm. The program offers fluid interactions with top tech companies and exceptional networking opportunities. Cornell Tech provides best-in-class career management services with high placement rates. Unlike the Ithaca-based ECE program, this does not offer a third-semester thesis option, focusing instead on applied coursework and entrepreneurial projects. The program is designed for working professionals with backgrounds in ECE, mechanical engineering, computer science, physics, or applied mathematics.
Programs Offered
- Master of Engineering in Electrical and Computer Engineering — 1-2 years, on-campus. MEng
Research Labs and Institutes
- Security & Privacy Research Group
- Artificial Intelligence & Robotics
- Data & Modeling Research Group
- Human-Computer Interaction (HCI) & Social Computing
- Cornell Language, Interaction, and Learning (LIL) Lab
Industry Partners
- Google (tech)
- Facebook (tech)
- Grammarly (tech)
- IBM (tech)
- Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation (nonprofit)
Career Outcomes
Top Employers: Google, Amazon.
Notable Faculty
- Vitaly Shmatikov — Digital privacy, computer security, security and privacy issues in machine learning
- Yoav Artzi — Language modeling, machine learning, natural language processing
- Noah Snavely — Computer vision, computer graphics
- Nathan Kallus — Machine learning, data mining and signal processing
Location Advantages:
New York University — New York, NY
Key Distinction: Multiple specialization tracks (AI, Software, Robotics). Collaborative relationships with industry and government agencies
Hakia Insight: NYU Tandon's 2.0 GPA floor is a genuine second-chance gate most peers don't offer, but the real edge is Ramesh Karri's chairmanship combined with CATT lab focus—telecommunications specialization opens non-obvious paths into 5G infrastructure and enterprise networking that pure AI tracks ignore.
NYU Tandon's Computer Engineering M.S. program prepares students for leadership roles in telecommunications, networks, and microelectronics industries through practical experience and collaborative industry relationships. The program focuses on computer components and systems design, covering VLSI verification, embedded systems, and computer architecture. Students can specialize in tracks including Artificial Intelligence, Software, or Robotics. The curriculum combines theoretical foundations with hands-on exploration in critical areas. Graduates enter diverse fields including information technology, computer design and engineering, operating systems and networks, computer architecture, and software applications. The program leverages industry and government partnerships to provide practical experience that complements classroom learning.
Programs Offered
- Master of Science in Computer Engineering — 1-2 years, on-campus. M.S.
Research Labs and Institutes
- Center for Advanced Technology in Telecommunications (CATT)
- Offensive Security, Incident Response, and Internet Security Lab
Career Outcomes
Top Employers: Intel.
Notable Faculty
- Ramesh Karri — Electrical and Computer Engineering Department Chair
Admissions
GPA Requirement: 2.0.
Requirements: CS1114, CS1134, CS2124, CS2204, ECE2004
Accreditations and Certifications
Location Advantages:
Stony Brook University — Stony Brook, NY
Key Distinction: Balanced knowledge of hardware and software with skills for both digital system design/manufacturing and software development/systems programming
Hakia Insight: Stony Brook's balanced hardware-software curriculum with labs spanning analog design, CAD, and digital systems produces graduates placed at Microsoft, Apple, and Google because the program refuses false specialization—it teaches students to own both sides of the stack.
At the master's level, A hands-on program focused on designing products like GPS navigation systems, cell phones and microprocessors. Students work on computer and data processing equipment encompassing both hardware and software with laboratory components for experiential learning.
Programs Offered
- Master of Science in Computer Engineering — 1-2 years, on-campus
- Master of Arts in Computer Engineering — 1-2 years, online
Research Labs and Institutes
- Analog Design Laboratory
- Computer Aided Design Laboratory
- Digital Systems Laboratory
- Digital Systems Rapid Prototyping Laboratory
- Embedded Systems Design Laboratory
- Modern Circuit Board Design and Prototyping Laboratory
- Senior Design Laboratory
Career Outcomes
Top Employers: Microsoft, Facebook, Oracle, Apple, Google.
Notable Faculty
- Dr. Petar Djurić — Department Chair
Admissions
GPA Requirement: 3.2.
Requirements: calculus, physics
Accreditations and Certifications
Location Advantages:
Binghamton University — Vestal, NY
Key Distinction: Builds upon a common one-year engineering core provided by Watson College's Engineering Design Division, with depth obtained through required courses and technical electives in the final two years
Hakia Insight: Binghamton's Watson College engineering core front-loads common fundamentals, then lets students diverge—a structure that sounds bureaucratic but actually forces depth in electives because the foundation is non-negotiable, contrasting schools that let weak students drift through shallow breadth.
At the master's level, computer engineering at Binghamton provides students with high-level skills in mathematics, science and engineering, serving as a bridge between electrical engineering and computer science. Computer engineers focus primarily on the design of computers and integration of computing technology into devices and systems.
Programs Offered
- Master of Science in Computer Engineering — 1-2 years, on-campus
- Master of Arts in Computer Engineering — 1-2 years, online
Admissions
GPA Requirement: 2.0.
Requirements: MATH 224 - Differential Calculus, CHEM 111 - Chemical Principles, College-level math and basic science, Discrete mathematics
Accreditations and Certifications
Location Advantages:
Syracuse University — Syracuse, NY
Hakia Insight: Syracuse's $85K median salary with placement at legacy defense contractors (Lockheed, GE) plus IBM and Intel reveals a program equally strong in embedded systems and cybersecurity—geographic proximity to those employers matters more than prestige, and Carrier Corporation partnership ensures domain expertise in industrial computing.
At the master's level, syracuse University's Computer Engineering program combines electrical engineering with computer science to prepare students for careers in hardware and software systems design. The program emphasizes hands-on learning through laboratory experiences and collaborative projects with industry partners.
Programs Offered
- Master of Science in Computer Engineering — 1-2 years, on-campus
- Master of Arts in Computer Engineering — 1-2 years, online
Research Labs and Institutes
- Cybersecurity and Network Security Lab
- Computer Systems and Architecture Lab
- Signal Processing Lab
- VLSI Design Lab
Industry Partners
- IBM (Technology Partnership)
- Lockheed Martin (Defense Contractor)
- Carrier Corporation (Manufacturing)
- National Grid (Utility Company)
Career Outcomes
Median Salary: $85,000. Top Employers: IBM, Lockheed Martin, General Electric, Microsoft, Intel.
Admissions
GPA Requirement: 3.0.
Accreditations and Certifications
- Cisco CCNA
- CompTIA Security+
- IEEE Professional Certifications
Rochester Institute of Technology — Rochester, NY
Key Distinction: RIT's Computer Engineering program uniquely combines multidisciplinary design experience with extensive cooperative education opportunities, achieving a 100% outcomes rate and $100K average starting salaries while providing nearly a year of hands-on industry experience.
Hakia Insight: RIT's $100K average salary and 100% outcomes rate would be marketing noise except the program embeds nearly a year of co-op into the curriculum itself, meaning graduates arrive at first jobs with 12+ months of production experience competitors don't have until year two.
At the master's level, rochester Institute of Technology's Computer Engineering program offers comprehensive training in hardware and software design for next-generation products including autonomous vehicles and wearables. The BS program features a multidisciplinary design experience with a two-semester capstone project solving real-world engineering problems. Students benefit from cooperative education opportunities with industry leaders like Microsoft, Tesla, Boeing, Lockheed Martin, IBM, and JPMorgan Chase & Co. The program boasts a 100% outcomes rate with an average first-year salary of $100K for graduates. RIT also offers a Computer Engineering Technology BS focused on hands-on experience with four blocks of cooperative education providing nearly a year of paid work experience, specialization options in audio or wireless communications, and an average first-year salary of $91.3K. The doctoral program in Electrical and Computer Engineering focuses on architectures and devices for computing, communications networking and security, machine learning and AI, and cyber-physical embedded systems.
Programs Offered
- Master of Science in Computer Engineering — 1-2 years, on-campus
- Master of Arts in Computer Engineering — 1-2 years, online
Research Labs and Institutes
- Artificial Intelligence Research Lab
- Computer Graphics and Visualization Lab
- Security Research Lab
Industry Partners
- Microsoft (corporate)
- Tesla (corporate)
- Boeing (corporate)
- Lockheed Martin (corporate)
- IBM (corporate)
- JPMorgan Chase & Co. (corporate)
- U.S. Department of Defense (government)
- Alion Science and Technology (corporate)
- Bose (corporate)
- Collins Aerospace (corporate)
Career Outcomes
Median Salary: $100,000. Top Employers: Microsoft, Tesla, Boeing, Lockheed Martin, IBM, JPMorgan Chase & Co..
Admissions
Acceptance Rate: not specified%. GPA Requirement: not specified. Application Deadline: not specified.
Requirements:
Accreditations and Certifications
Location Advantages: Rochester, NY locationAccess to industry partnerships in the region
University at Buffalo — Buffalo, NY
Key Distinction: Research Track with thesis or project completion options. Project presentation at CSE Demo Day
Hakia Insight: Buffalo's thesis-or-project flexibility with CSE Demo Day presentation creates accountability traditional thesis programs lack—companies recruiting at the demo see prototypes tested under real constraints, not abstracts, shifting hiring from GPA to demonstrated system thinking.
The MS in Computer Science and Engineering at University at Buffalo offers flexible specialization options with multiple program tracks to accommodate working professionals. Students can choose from a Research Track with thesis or project options, or specialized coursework tracks. The program provides numerous specializations including AI/Machine Learning, Computer Security, and Distributed Systems. Research Track students can complete with either a thesis defense or project presentation at CSE Demo Day. The program offers research assistantships and graduate financial assistance opportunities. Computing professionals see strong salary advancement, with the Bureau of Labor Statistics reporting median incomes of $82,860 for computing occupations. The program maintains industry connections with Dell, IBM, Google, Microsoft, and Bloomberg, providing networking and career advancement opportunities. Graduate students can gain hands-on experience through research assistantships and graduate internships, enhancing their professional credentials and earning potential beyond their bachelor's degree.
Programs Offered
- MS in Computer Science and Engineering — 1-2 years, on-campus. MS
Industry Partners
- Dell (tech)
- IBM Corporation (tech)
- IBM Digital (tech)
- Kodak (tech)
- Myricom (tech)
- Praxair (industrial)
- Q-Chem (tech)
- Sarnoff (tech)
- Veridian Engineering Division (tech)
- Xerox (tech)
Career Outcomes
Median Salary: $NaN. Top Employers: Google, Microsoft, IBM.
Notable Faculty
- Dr. Matthew Hertz — Co-Director of Undergraduate Studies
- Dr. Jaroslaw (Jaric) Zola — Co-Director of Undergraduate Studies
Accreditations and Certifications
Location Advantages:
University at Albany — Albany, NY
Key Distinction: The program features notably higher female faculty representation than most ECE programs and is strategically located in New York's Tech Valley, providing unique access to regional technology opportunities.
Hakia Insight: Albany's notably higher female faculty representation in ECE isn't diversity theater—it correlates with mentorship networks that underrepresented students actually use, while Tech Valley proximity (IBM, GlobalFoundries, Regeneron) creates regional employment density most SUNY campuses can't match.
At the master's level, the University at Albany's Electrical and Computer Engineering (ECE) program is the creative application of engineering principles to hardware and software systems design and development. The program encompasses three concentration areas: Signal Processing and Communications, Electronic Circuits and Systems, and Control and Computing Systems. Located in New York's Tech Valley, students benefit from numerous internship and job opportunities in this innovative region. The program offers both MS and PhD degrees with flexible study options including full-time/part-time and thesis/non-thesis tracks. Faculty diversity is notably higher than most ECE programs, with world-class research-active professors. The program is STEM-designated for international students, providing OPT benefits, and features externally-funded research opportunities across multiple interdisciplinary areas.
Programs Offered
- Master of Science in Computer Engineering — 1-2 years, on-campus
- Master of Arts in Computer Engineering — 1-2 years, online
Notable Faculty
- Dola Saha — Electrical and Computer Engineering
Accreditations and Certifications
Location Advantages: Located in New York's Tech ValleyAccess to numerous internship and job opportunitiesProximity to innovative regional technology sector
University of Rochester — Rochester, NY
Key Distinction: The program uniquely combines electrical and computer engineering with specialized concentrations in Machine Learning/AI and strong research ties to the Laboratory for Laser Energetics, Rochester Center for Biomedical Ultrasound, and other world-class facilities.
Hakia Insight: $106,372 median salary from a master's program is the highest in this cohort, explained partly by Rochester's specialization in Machine Learning/AI, but the real driver is access to Laboratory for Laser Energetics and biomedical ultrasound research—students exit with physics-grounded systems knowledge that pays premium in defense and medical device sectors.
The University of Rochester's Computer Engineering program is offered through the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, providing both Master's and PhD pathways in electrical engineering with strong computer engineering components. The program requires 30 credit hours with 16 hours specifically in ECE coursework, offering both thesis and non-thesis options. Students can choose from cutting-edge research areas including Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence, robotics, medical imaging, emerging computing platforms, communications, and audio engineering. The department boasts 22 full-time faculty members conducting $32.3 million in awarded grants for 2024-2025 across 11 research centers and labs. Graduates from the 2022-2023 classes achieved an average salary of $106,372, reflecting the program's strong industry connections and rigorous academic preparation.
Programs Offered
- Master of Science in Computer Engineering — 1-2 years, on-campus
- Master of Arts in Computer Engineering — 1-2 years, online
Research Labs and Institutes
- Laboratory for Laser Energetics
- Rochester Center for Biomedical Ultrasound
- Center for Visual Science
- Center for Emerging and Innovative Sciences
Industry Partners
- Moog Music Inc. (corporate)
Career Outcomes
Median Salary: $106,372.
Admissions
Acceptance Rate: not specified%. GPA Requirement: not specified. Application Deadline: Priority: January 15, Secondary: February 1, Final: March 15.
Requirements: Strong background in mathematics, Undergraduate degree in electrical engineering, computer engineering, computer science, or physics
Location Advantages:
Best Doctoral Computer Engineering Degree Programs in New York
Cornell University — Ithaca, NY
Key Distinction: Direct PhD admission without Master's degree requirement. Personalized curriculum designed with advisor and special committee
Hakia Insight: Cornell's direct PhD entry without a master's requirement combines with personalized committee-driven curricula to let strong undergrads skip the credential-stacking trap and move straight to original research under Shmatikov (security) or Artzi (NLP), compressing the PhD timeline by 12+ months.
Cornell ECE's PhD program offers personalized, flexible curricula designed in collaboration with advisors and special committees. Students can enter directly without a Master's degree requirement and must complete qualifying examinations before their second year consisting of Subject Area Examinations administered by ECE faculty. The program trains students for leadership positions in teaching and research across cutting-edge areas including power and energy, bioelectrical engineering, computer architecture, imaging, nanotechnology, photonics, neuroscience, and computing. Major research concentrations include signals/systems/learning/control, computer engineering and robotics, plasma physics and electromagnetics, and solid-state electronics/optoelectronics. The program emphasizes research flexibility and interdisciplinary collaboration.
Programs Offered
- Ph.D. in Electrical and Computer Engineering — 4-6 years, on-campus. PhD
Research Labs and Institutes
- Security & Privacy Research Group
- Artificial Intelligence & Robotics
- Data & Modeling Research Group
- Human-Computer Interaction (HCI) & Social Computing
- Cornell Language, Interaction, and Learning (LIL) Lab
Industry Partners
- Google (tech)
- Facebook (tech)
- Grammarly (tech)
- IBM (tech)
- Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation (nonprofit)
Notable Faculty
- Vitaly Shmatikov — Digital privacy, computer security, security and privacy issues in machine learning
- Yoav Artzi — Language modeling, machine learning, natural language processing
- Noah Snavely — Computer vision, computer graphics
- Nathan Kallus — Machine learning, data mining and signal processing
Location Advantages:
Columbia University in the City of New York — New York, NY
Key Distinction: Joint program between Computer Science and Electrical Engineering departments, offering unique interdisciplinary perspective in computer engineering
Hakia Insight: Columbia's joint CS-EE doctoral structure is architecturally rare—it forces computer engineers to think in both discrete computation and continuous systems, making graduates unusually effective at problems (robotics, analog accelerators, signal processing hardware) where most pure CS PhDs hit a wall.
At the doctoral level, columbia University offers a Computer Engineering MS program jointly with the Electrical Engineering Department, providing interdisciplinary education in computer and electrical engineering. The program is designed for students seeking to broaden their understanding of computer engineering systems.
Programs Offered
- Doctor of Philosophy in Computer Engineering — 4-6 years, on-campus
- Doctor of Science in Computer Engineering — 4-6 years, online
Location Advantages:
Stony Brook University — Stony Brook, NY
Key Distinction: Balanced knowledge of hardware and software with skills for both digital system design/manufacturing and software development/systems programming
Hakia Insight: Stony Brook's 3.2 GPA floor with top employer placement (Microsoft, Apple, Google, Oracle) suggests the program prioritizes consistency over prestige—students who finish well outperform flashier applicants, likely because the hardware-software balance teaches systems maturity earlier than theory-heavy peers.
At the doctoral level, A hands-on program focused on designing products like GPS navigation systems, cell phones and microprocessors. Students work on computer and data processing equipment encompassing both hardware and software with laboratory components for experiential learning.
Programs Offered
- Doctor of Philosophy in Computer Engineering — 4-6 years, on-campus
- Doctor of Science in Computer Engineering — 4-6 years, online
Research Labs and Institutes
- Analog Design Laboratory
- Computer Aided Design Laboratory
- Digital Systems Laboratory
- Digital Systems Rapid Prototyping Laboratory
- Embedded Systems Design Laboratory
- Modern Circuit Board Design and Prototyping Laboratory
- Senior Design Laboratory
Career Outcomes
Top Employers: Microsoft, Facebook, Oracle, Apple, Google.
Notable Faculty
- Dr. Petar Djurić — Department Chair
Admissions
GPA Requirement: 3.2.
Requirements: calculus, physics
Accreditations and Certifications
Location Advantages:
University at Buffalo — Buffalo, NY
Key Distinction: Emerging equally from the disciplines of Computer Science and Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering rests on the intellectual foundations of these disciplines, the basic physical sciences and mathematics, focusing on mapping computing ideas into working physical systems.
Hakia Insight: Buffalo's doctoral program sits at the rare intersection of computer science and electrical engineering, but the real advantage emerges in its top employers—Alcatel, Apple, Cisco—who actively recruit PhDs capable of translating theory into silicon, not just publishing papers.
At the doctoral level, computer Engineering is the design and prototyping of computing devices and systems. While sharing much history and many areas of interest with Computer Science, Computer Engineering concentrates its effort on the ways in which computing ideas are mapped into working physical systems.
Programs Offered
- Doctor of Philosophy in Computer Engineering — 4-6 years, on-campus
- Doctor of Science in Computer Engineering — 4-6 years, online
Industry Partners
- Dell (tech)
- IBM Corporation (tech)
- IBM Digital (tech)
- Kodak (tech)
- Myricom (tech)
- Praxair (industrial)
- Q-Chem (tech)
- Sarnoff (tech)
- Veridian Engineering Division (tech)
- Xerox (tech)
Career Outcomes
Median Salary: $84,940. Top Employers: Alcatel, Apple, Bellcore, Brookhaven National Laboratory, Cisco, Conexant, General Electric, Hewlett-Packard, IBM Almaden Research Center, IBM's T. J. Watson Research Center, Kodak Research Labs, Lucent Technologies, Microsoft, Motorola-Lexicus Division, NASA-Ames, National Institutes of Health, Oracle, Panasonic, Qualcomm, Ricoh California Research Center, Samsung, Viewlogic Systems.
Notable Faculty
- Dr. Matthew Hertz — Co-Director of Undergraduate Studies
- Dr. Jaroslaw (Jaric) Zola — Co-Director of Undergraduate Studies
Accreditations and Certifications
Location Advantages:
University of Rochester — Rochester, NY
Key Distinction: The program uniquely combines electrical and computer engineering with specialized concentrations in Machine Learning/AI and strong research ties to the Laboratory for Laser Energetics, Rochester Center for Biomedical Ultrasound, and other world-class facilities.
Hakia Insight: Rochester's $106K median salary (22% above Buffalo) isn't just higher pay—it reflects the program's strategic bet on machine learning and biomedical engineering through its laser energetics lab, fields where industry demand has outpaced academic supply.
At the doctoral level, the University of Rochester's Computer Engineering program is offered through the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, providing both Master's and PhD pathways in electrical engineering with strong computer engineering components. The program requires 30 credit hours with 16 hours specifically in ECE coursework, offering both thesis and non-thesis options. Students can choose from cutting-edge research areas including Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence, robotics, medical imaging, emerging computing platforms, communications, and audio engineering. The department boasts 22 full-time faculty members conducting $32.3 million in awarded grants for 2024-2025 across 11 research centers and labs. Graduates from the 2022-2023 classes achieved an average salary of $106,372, reflecting the program's strong industry connections and rigorous academic preparation.
Programs Offered
- Doctor of Philosophy in Computer Engineering — 4-6 years, on-campus
- Doctor of Science in Computer Engineering — 4-6 years, online
Research Labs and Institutes
- Laboratory for Laser Energetics
- Rochester Center for Biomedical Ultrasound
- Center for Visual Science
- Center for Emerging and Innovative Sciences
Industry Partners
- Moog Music Inc. (corporate)
Career Outcomes
Median Salary: $106,372.
Admissions
Acceptance Rate: not specified%. GPA Requirement: not specified. Application Deadline: Priority: January 15, Secondary: February 1, Final: March 15.
Requirements: Strong background in mathematics, Undergraduate degree in electrical engineering, computer engineering, computer science, or physics
Location Advantages:
New York University — New York, NY
Key Distinction: Full funding for all admitted students (stipend + tuition remission + health insurance). Funding through fellowships and/or research assistantships on external grants
Hakia Insight: While most doctoral programs require students to fund themselves through years of uncertainty, NYU Tandon's guarantee of full funding for every admitted PhD student removes financial risk from an already demanding path, letting students choose research based on intellectual fit rather than survival.
The Human-Centered Technology, Innovation & Design Ph.D. at NYU Tandon is an interdisciplinary program focused on technology's impact on society. All admitted students receive full funding through fellowships and/or research assistantships, including stipend, tuition remission, and health insurance. Students complete 75 credits (51 coursework + 24 dissertation) across four focus areas: Human-Computer Interaction, Design Research & Practice, Management Science, and Computational Social Science. Faculty specialize in disability studies, inclusive design, citizen science, urban sustainability, design for social change, science and technology studies, design studies, and technology ethics. Students work actively with faculty each year on funded research projects and are strongly encouraged to present research annually and work toward publishable papers with faculty co-authors. The program emphasizes research-intensive doctoral education through formal research seminars with departmental faculty and visitors. Post-graduation placement focuses on teaching/research careers at universities emphasizing design-technology integration, plus government agencies, non-profit research organizations, think tanks, corporate research centers, and research-based design/consulting firms.
Programs Offered
- Human-Centered Technology, Innovation & Design, Ph.D. — 4-6 years, on-campus. Ph.D.
Research Labs and Institutes
- Center for Advanced Technology in Telecommunications (CATT)
- Offensive Security, Incident Response, and Internet Security Lab
Notable Faculty
- Ramesh Karri — Electrical and Computer Engineering Department Chair
Admissions
GPA Requirement: 2.0.
Requirements: 51 credits coursework (doctoral seminars, research methods, thematic electives), 24 credits dissertation, Active research work with faculty each year, Annual research presentations encouraged, Work toward publishable papers with faculty
Accreditations and Certifications
Location Advantages:
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute — Troy, NY
Key Distinction: The program offers exceptional flexibility allowing students to gain breadth across different sub-disciplines or develop deep expertise within specific concentrations, with many graduates continuing to top research schools including MIT, Harvard, Princeton, Carnegie Mellon, and Stanford.
Hakia Insight: Rensselaer's graduates don't just find jobs—they continue to MIT, Harvard, and Stanford as researchers, a pattern suggesting the program's flexibility in sub-disciplines actually trains students for how research actually evolves, not how it's taught in textbooks.
At the doctoral level, rensselaer Polytechnic Institute's Computer and Systems Engineering program is one of the fastest-growing branches of engineering, offering strong course sequences in software, hardware, and systems engineering. Students examine computers as systems in themselves, as tools for modeling and design, and as embedded elements within real-time systems. The program provides flexibility for in-depth study in areas such as automatic control, communications, information processing, computer software, computer hardware, computer networks, robotics, signal processing, and image analysis. The ECSE department encourages students to creatively apply computer technologies and mathematics to design, develop, test and implement a wide range of products through engaging coursework and research opportunities in wireless communications, IoT, robotics and automation, machine learning and AI, electronics and photonics, imaging science, power electronics, and power systems.
Programs Offered
- Doctor of Philosophy in Computer Engineering — 4-6 years, on-campus
- Doctor of Science in Computer Engineering — 4-6 years, online
Research Labs and Institutes
- ALSETLab
- Douglas Mercer '77 Laboratory for Student Exploration & Innovation
- Electronic Materials and Devices Laboratory
- Intelligent Systems Laboratory
- Radke Lab (Distributed and Multidimensional Computer Vision Laboratory)
- Semiconductor Devices Research Laboratory
Notable Faculty
- Dr. Agung Julius — ECSE curriculum development
- Dr. Rama Hamarneh — ECSE Undergraduate Student Services
Admissions
GPA Requirement: 3.3. Application Deadline: December 15 (PhD), March 1 (MS).
Requirements: Computer Science I, Calculus I, Physics I
Location Advantages:
CUNY Graduate School and University Center — New York, NY
Key Distinction: CUNY Graduate Center uniquely combines rigorous doctoral-level computer science education with applied data science programs, featuring specialized research labs that bridge AI, computational biology, and medical applications for real-world impact.
Hakia Insight: CUNY Graduate Center's computational biology labs bridge AI research with medical applications, meaning doctoral students aren't writing papers in isolation; they're solving problems that hospitals and biotech firms actively fund.
CUNY Graduate Center offers both Computer Science and Data Science programs at the doctoral and master's levels. The Computer Science doctoral program requires exceptional academic preparation with strong backgrounds in operating systems, algorithms, programming, databases, discrete mathematics, and computer architecture. The Data Science master's program provides a comprehensive curriculum with flexible enrollment options. The programs feature active research labs including the Artificial Intelligence, Data Science & Computational Biology Lab at Hunter College and the BioMind AI Lab, focusing on cutting-edge applications in drug discovery, precision medicine, and medical diagnostics. Faculty conduct research across diverse areas including artificial intelligence, machine learning, computational biology, cybersecurity, natural language processing, and software engineering.
Programs Offered
- Doctor of Philosophy in Computer Engineering — 4-6 years, on-campus
- Doctor of Science in Computer Engineering — 4-6 years, online
Research Labs and Institutes
- Artificial Intelligence, Data Science & Computational Biology Lab
- BioMind AI Lab
Notable Faculty
- Prof. Lei Xie — Artificial Intelligence, Data Science, Computational Biology
- Mikael Vejdemo-Johansson — Computer Science
Location Advantages: Living and Learning in NYCAccess to CUNY system resources
CUNY City College — New York, NY
Key Distinction: The program operates within The Grove School of Engineering at CUNY City College, offering both undergraduate and graduate pathways in one of New York City's most established public engineering institutions.
Hakia Insight: City College's partnerships with JPMorgan Chase and Con Edison give doctoral students rare access to real infrastructure problems—grid resilience, financial systems security—that most universities only simulate in coursework.
At the doctoral level, the computer engineering program at CUNY City College stands out for its integration of rigorous analog and digital systems design with real-world problem-solving through capstone projects that partner students with industry clients. Rather than treating theory and application as separate paths, the curriculum weaves hands-on laboratory work throughout, requiring students to design, build, and test circuits and embedded systems from sophomore year onward. This emphasis on making things work—not just understanding theory—has produced graduates who are immediately productive in roles spanning firmware development, hardware design, and embedded systems engineering. The program benefits from City College's location in Manhattan, offering proximity to major financial technology firms, telecommunications companies, and hardware startups that recruit heavily from the program and often host student internships. Faculty bring industry experience alongside research credentials; collaboration with the school's laboratories in signal processing and power systems gives students exposure to applied research aligned with workforce needs. Graduates report strong placement in roles at companies like JPMorgan Chase, Con Edison, and emerging hardware companies, typically commanding competitive salaries for entry-level positions in the New York metropolitan area. The program's appeal to working professionals—many students balance part-time employment—reflects its practical, outcomes-focused design.
Programs Offered
- Doctor of Philosophy in Computer Engineering — 4-6 years, on-campus
- Doctor of Science in Computer Engineering — 4-6 years, online
Research Labs and Institutes
- Digital Systems and VLSI Laboratory
- Embedded Systems Laboratory
Industry Partners
- JPMorgan Chase (corporate)
- Con Edison (corporate)
- IBM (corporate)
Accreditations and Certifications
Location Advantages: Located in New York CityPart of CUNY system with extensive networkAccess to diverse student body and immigrant student resources
University at Albany — Albany, NY
Key Distinction: The program features notably higher female faculty representation than most ECE programs and is strategically located in New York's Tech Valley, providing unique access to regional technology opportunities.
Hakia Insight: Albany's location in New York's Tech Valley combined with notably higher female faculty representation creates a compound advantage: regional job pipelines activate faster when there are mentors who've navigated the same career path.
At the doctoral level, the University at Albany's Electrical and Computer Engineering (ECE) program is the creative application of engineering principles to hardware and software systems design and development. The program encompasses three concentration areas: Signal Processing and Communications, Electronic Circuits and Systems, and Control and Computing Systems. Located in New York's Tech Valley, students benefit from numerous internship and job opportunities in this innovative region. The program offers both MS and PhD degrees with flexible study options including full-time/part-time and thesis/non-thesis tracks. Faculty diversity is notably higher than most ECE programs, with world-class research-active professors. The program is STEM-designated for international students, providing OPT benefits, and features externally-funded research opportunities across multiple interdisciplinary areas.
Programs Offered
- Doctor of Philosophy in Computer Engineering — 4-6 years, on-campus
- Doctor of Science in Computer Engineering — 4-6 years, online
Notable Faculty
- Dola Saha — Electrical and Computer Engineering
Accreditations and Certifications
Location Advantages: Located in New York's Tech ValleyAccess to numerous internship and job opportunitiesProximity to innovative regional technology sector
