by our College Data Analytics TeamSoftware Engineering was the 167th most popular major in the 2020-2021 school year. Colleges in the United States reported awarding 4,251 degrees in this year alone. This is a difference of 377 over the prior year, a growth of 8.9%.
This year's Best Software Engineering Schools ranking compares 69 of them to identify the best overall programs in the country. Explore this or one of our many other custom computer software engineering rankings further below.
One of the most important skills you will need for a career in software engineering is understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents. Required skills include using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems and giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
A high school diploma or equivalent is typically required for most computer software engineering degree programs and many students will need a minimum GPA and SAT/ACT score depending on the school. Specific computer software engineering careers may require a certain level of degree attainment or additional certifications beyond that.
There are various different levels of computer software engineering degrees. Software Engineering programs offered by schools range from a to a , which is the highest computer software engineering degree you can get. Software Engineering programs can take anywhere between one to four or more years for a full-time student to complete.
| Degree | Credit Requirements | Typical Program Length |
|---|---|---|
| Associate Degree | 60-70 credits | 2 years |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 120 credits | 4 years |
| Master’s Degree | 50-70 credits | 1-3 years |
| Doctorate | Program required coursework including thesis or dissertation | At least 4 years |
A bachelor's degree is the most common level of education achieved by those in careers related to computer software engineering, with approximately 53.7% of workers getting one. Find out other typical degree levels for computer software engineering workers below.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Bachelor’s Degree | 61.1% |
| Master’s Degree | 20.2% |
| Doctoral Degree | 7.6% |
| Post-Baccalaureate Certificate | 3.7% |
| Associate’s Degree (or other 2-year degree) | 2.4% |
97.2% of computer software engineering workers have at least a bachelor's. See the chart below for the most common degree level workers in software engineering have received.
The education level required is different depending on the computer software engineering career you are seeking.
Want a job when you graduate with your computer software engineering degree? Software Engineering careers are expected to grow 21.5% between 2016 and 2026.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to software engineering.
| Occupation Name | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Software Applications Developers | 1,086,600 | 30.7% |
| Systems Software Developers | 472,100 | 11.1% |
| Architectural and Engineering Managers | 190,000 | 5.5% |
| Engineering Professors | 54,600 | 14.7% |
As you might expect, salaries for computer software engineering graduates vary depending on the level of education that was acquired.
Salaries for software engineering graduates can vary widely by the occupation you choose as well. The following table shows the top highest paying careers computer software engineering grads often go into.
| Occupation Name | Median Average Salary |
|---|---|
| Architectural and Engineering Managers | $148,970 |
| Systems Software Developers | $114,000 |
| Engineering Professors | $113,680 |
| Software Applications Developers | $108,080 |
With over 216 different computer software engineering degree programs to choose from, finding the best fit for you can be a challenge. Fortunately you have come to the right place. We have analyzed all of these schools to come up with hundreds of unbiased computer software engineering school rankings to help you with this.
One of 3 majors within the Computer Engineering area of study, Software Engineering has other similar majors worth exploring.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| General Computer Engineering | 13,520 |
| Other Computer Engineering | 149 |
| Computer Hardware Engineering | 67 |
