Too Long; Didn't Read
The average entry-level salary for a software engineer in the United States is $77,000 a year. A salary of $80,000 in Austin, Texas puts you in a better position than a $120,000-a-year in Palo Alto, California. Financial aid is definitely something to consider, and discipline is also important. The question of how to become a computer engineer is almost as contentious as tabs vs. spaces: "Was it worth it? I tried to refrain from arguing for or against that point?"