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2022 Best Value Computer Software Engineering Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k

47 Ranked Colleges
2,045 Degrees Awarded
$25,300 Avg Grad Tuition & Fees*
Best Value Computer Software Engineering Schools for a Master's For Those Making $0-$30k

With all of the options students have for higher education today, it can be tough to choose which direction to take. One of our goals at College Factual is to give you as much information as we can - such as our “Best Value Computer Software Engineering Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking - to help you make that decision.

In 2019-2020, 3,874 people earned their degree in software engineering, making the major the 195th most popular in the United States.

At the master’s degree level specifically, there were 2,045 software engineering graduates with average earnings and debt of $56,398 and $43,194 respectively.

This year’s “Best Value Computer Software Engineering Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking analyzed 47 colleges that offered a degree in software engineering. The schools that top this list are recognized because they have great software engineering programs and cost less that schools of similar quality.

To come up with these rankings, we looked at factors such as the cost to attend the school after aid is awarded and overall quality of the software engineering program at the school. See our ranking methodology to learn more.

One Size Does Not Fit All

Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we’ve developed a number of rankings, including this “Best Value Computer Software Engineering Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k” list, to help you choose the best school for you.

You can create your own custom comparison that focuses on the factors most important to you using our tool, College Combat. When you have some time, check it out - you may want to bookmark the link so you don’t forget it.

Best Value Computer Software Engineering Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k

The colleges and universities below are the best for master’s degree computer software engineering students whose families make $0-$30k.

Top 25 Best Value Master’s Degree Colleges for Software Engineering (Income $0-$30k)

#1

Harvard University

Cambridge, Massachusetts
#4 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Harvard University. The school came in at #1 for the Best Value Computer Software Engineering Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k. Located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, this large private not-for-profit school handed out 55 degrees to qualified masters’s computer software engineering students in 2019-2020.

Harvard did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #4 on our “Best Software Engineering Master’s Degree Schools” list. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Harvard are $50,654.

Full Harvard Software Engineering Report

#2

Northeastern University

Boston, Massachusetts
#3 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Northeastern University. It ranked #2 on our 2022 Best Value Computer Software Engineering Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k list. Northeastern is a private not-for-profit institution located in Boston, Massachusetts. The school has a large population, and it awarded 577 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our master’s degree computer software engineering students whose families make $0-$30k list, Northeastern has also earned the #3 rank in our “Best Software Engineering Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Northeastern University are $25,558, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Software Engineering at Northeastern

#6 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of California - Irvine. It ranked #3 on our 2022 Best Value Computer Software Engineering Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k list. University of California - Irvine is a large school located in Irvine, California that handed out 18 masters’s computer software engineering degrees in 2019-2020.

UC Irvine also made our “Best Software Engineering Master’s Degree Schools” list, coming in at #6. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of California - Irvine are $28,456, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full University of California - Irvine Software Engineering Report

#4

University of Minnesota - Twin Cities

Minneapolis, Minnesota
#12 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Minnesota - Twin Cities. The school came in at #4 for the Best Value Computer Software Engineering Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k. University of Minnesota - Twin Cities is a public institution located in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The school has a large population, and it awarded 22 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

UMN Twin Cities did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #12 on our “Best Software Engineering Master’s Degree Schools” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of Minnesota - Twin Cities are $28,845, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full UMN Twin Cities Software Engineering Report

#23 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend California State University - Fullerton. It ranked #5 on our 2022 Best Value Computer Software Engineering Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k list. Cal State Fullerton is located in Fullerton, California and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 74 masters’s computer software engineering degrees to qualified students.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Cal State Fullerton, the school also landed the #23 spot in our “Best Software Engineering Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at California State University - Fullerton are $17,892, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full California State University - Fullerton Software Engineering Report

#6

Carnegie Mellon University

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
#1 in overall quality

With a ranking of #6, Carnegie Mellon University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Computer Software Engineering Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k list. Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out masters’s computer software engineering degrees to 117 students in 2019-2020.

Carnegie Mellon also took the #1 spot in our “Best Software Engineering Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Carnegie Mellon University are $47,326.

Read more about Software Engineering at Carnegie Mellon

#10 in overall quality

Arizona State University - Tempe came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Computer Software Engineering Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Located in Tempe, Arizona, this large public school handed out 80 diplomas to qualified masters’s computer software engineering students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at ASU - Tempe, the school also landed the #10 spot in our “Best Software Engineering Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Arizona State University - Tempe are $27,048.

Read more about Software Engineering at Arizona State University - Tempe

California State University - Northridge landed the #8 spot on the 2022 Best Value Computer Software Engineering Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Located in Northridge, California, this large public school awarded 11 degrees to qualified masters’s computer software engineering students in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at CSUN are $17,955, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full California State University - Northridge Software Engineering Report

#9

San Jose State University

San Jose, California
#9 in overall quality

San Jose State University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Computer Software Engineering Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #9. San Jose State University is a large public school situated in San Jose, California. It awarded 377 masters’s computer software engineering degrees in 2019-2020.

San Jose State not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #9 on our “Best Software Engineering Master’s Degree Schools” list. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at San Jose State University are $18,790.

Full San Jose State University Software Engineering Report

#10

Washington State University

Pullman, Washington

Washington State University landed the #10 spot on the 2022 Best Value Computer Software Engineering Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Washington State University is a large school located in Pullman, Washington that handed out 1 masters’s computer software engineering degrees in 2019-2020.

Wazzu also made our “Best Software Engineering Master’s Degree Schools” list, coming in at #0. Average graduate tuition and fees at Wazzu are $27,561, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Software Engineering at Wazzu

#14 in overall quality

North Dakota State University - Main Campus did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Computer Software Engineering Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #11. Fargo, North Dakota is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s computer software engineering degrees to 17 students in 2019-2020.

North Dakota State University also made our “Best Software Engineering Master’s Degree Schools” list, coming in at #14. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at North Dakota State University - Main Campus are $11,589.

Read more about Software Engineering at North Dakota State University

California State University - Sacramento did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Computer Software Engineering Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #12. Sac State is a large school located in Sacramento, California that handed out 2 masters’s computer software engineering degrees in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at Sac State are $18,356, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Software Engineering at California State University - Sacramento

#13

Texas Tech University

Lubbock, Texas

Texas Tech University landed the #13 spot on the 2022 Best Value Computer Software Engineering Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. This large school is located in Lubbock, Texas, and it awarded 3 masters’s computer software engineering degrees in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at Texas Tech University are $17,530, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Software Engineering at Texas Tech

#18 in overall quality

The University of Texas at Dallas came in at #14 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Computer Software Engineering Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Richardson, Texas is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s computer software engineering degrees to 29 students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UT Dallas, the school also landed the #18 spot in our “Best Software Engineering Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at The University of Texas at Dallas are $28,610.

Full The University of Texas at Dallas Software Engineering Report

#15

Saint Cloud State University

Saint Cloud, Minnesota

Saint Cloud State University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Computer Software Engineering Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #15. St. Cloud State University is a fairly large public school situated in Saint Cloud, Minnesota. It awarded 1 masters’s computer software engineering degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at St. Cloud State University, the school also landed the #0 spot in our “Best Software Engineering Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at St. Cloud State University are $12,904.

Read full report on Software Engineering at Saint Cloud State University

#16

University of Utah

Salt Lake City, Utah
#22 in overall quality

With a ranking of #16, University of Utah did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Computer Software Engineering Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k list. U of U is a public institution located in Salt Lake City, Utah. The school has a large population, and it awarded 24 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our master’s degree computer software engineering students whose families make $0-$30k list, U of U has also earned the #22 rank in our “Best Software Engineering Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at U of U are $24,695, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Software Engineering at U of U

#17

West Virginia University

Morgantown, West Virginia
#25 in overall quality

West Virginia University landed the #17 spot on the 2022 Best Value Computer Software Engineering Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. This large school is located in Morgantown, West Virginia, and it awarded 14 masters’s computer software engineering degrees in 2019-2020.

WVU did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #25 on our “Best Software Engineering Master’s Degree Schools” list. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at WVU are $26,154.

Read more about Software Engineering at WVU

#16 in overall quality

New Jersey Institute of Technology did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Computer Software Engineering Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #18. NJIT is a fairly large school located in Newark, New Jersey that handed out 11 masters’s computer software engineering degrees in 2019-2020.

NJIT also made our “Best Software Engineering Master’s Degree Schools” list, coming in at #16. Average graduate tuition and fees at New Jersey Institute of Technology are $33,744, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Software Engineering at NJIT

University of Houston - Clear Lake ranked #19 on this year’s Best Value Computer Software Engineering Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k list. UH Clear Lake is a public institution located in Houston, Texas. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 17 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at UH Clear Lake are $19,216, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Software Engineering at UH Clear Lake

#20

University of South Carolina - Columbia

Columbia, South Carolina
#19 in overall quality

With a ranking of #20, University of South Carolina - Columbia did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Computer Software Engineering Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k list. Located in Columbia, South Carolina, this large public school handed out 2 degrees to qualified masters’s computer software engineering students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UofSC, the school also landed the #19 spot in our “Best Software Engineering Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at University of South Carolina - Columbia are $30,160.

Read more about Software Engineering at UofSC

The University of Texas at El Paso did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Computer Software Engineering Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #21. UTEP is a large public school situated in El Paso, Texas. It awarded 40 masters’s computer software engineering degrees in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at UTEP are $16,180, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Software Engineering at The University of Texas at El Paso

#22

Central Connecticut State University

New Britain, Connecticut

Central Connecticut State University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Computer Software Engineering Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #22. New Britain, Connecticut is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s computer software engineering degrees to 6 students in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at Central Connecticut State University are $26,072, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full Central Connecticut State University Software Engineering Report

#23

East Carolina University

Greenville, North Carolina

With a ranking of #23, East Carolina University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Computer Software Engineering Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k list. Located in Greenville, North Carolina, this large public school handed out 10 degrees to qualified masters’s computer software engineering students in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at ECU are $20,685, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Software Engineering at East Carolina University

#24

Texas State University

San Marcos, Texas

Texas State University landed the #24 spot on the 2022 Best Value Computer Software Engineering Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. San Marcos, Texas is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s computer software engineering degrees to 6 students in 2019-2020.

Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Texas State are $17,040.

Read full report on Software Engineering at Texas State University

#25

George Mason University

Fairfax, Virginia
#15 in overall quality

George Mason University landed the #25 spot on the 2022 Best Value Computer Software Engineering Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Fairfax, Virginia is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s computer software engineering degrees to 35 students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at GMU, the school also landed the #15 spot in our “Best Software Engineering Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at GMU are $37,410, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Software Engineering at George Mason University

Notes and References

References

  • The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE) serves as the core of our data about colleges.
  • Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
  • Information about the national average student loan default rate is from the U.S. Department of Education and refers to data about the 2016 borrower cohort tracking period for which the cohort default rate (CDR) was 10.1%.

Read more about our data sources and methodologies

Footnotes

  • *Average salary, average net price, and average tuition and fees are for the top schools only.
  • Some schools otherwise deserving of recognition may have been removed from this ranking in the event that new data identified post-publication warranted it, or at the request of the school.

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