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2023 Best Value Colleges for Software Engineering (Income $30-$48k)

69 Ranked Colleges
4,251 Degrees Awarded
$9,700 Avg Net Price*
Best Value Computer Software Engineering Schools For Those Making $30-$48k

Students have lots of options to chooose from today when trying to decide which college to attend. 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 Those Making $30-$48k” ranking - to help you make that decision.

In 2020-2021, 4,251 people earned their degree in software engineering, making the major the 167th most popular in the United States.

This year’s “Best Value Computer Software Engineering Schools For Those Making $30-$48k” ranking analyzed 69 colleges that offered a degree in software engineering. Not only do the schools that top this list have excellent software engineering programs, but they also cost less that schools of similar quality.

Some of the factors we look at when determining these rankings are overall quality of the software engineering program at the school and the cost of the school after aid is awarded among other things. See our ranking methodology to learn more.

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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 Those Making $30-$48k” list, to help you choose the best school for you.

We’ve created a tool called College Combat that lets you create your own customized comparisons based on the factors that matter the most to you. Go ahead and give it a try, or bookmark the link so you can check it out later.

Best Value Computer Software Engineering Schools For Those Making $30-$48k

The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Computer Software Engineering Schools For Those Making $30-$48k.

Top 25 Best Value Colleges for Software Engineering (Income $30-$48k)

1
Harvard crest
Harvard University
Cambridge, Massachusetts

Out of the 69 schools in the Best Value Computer Software Engineering Schools For Those Making $30-$48k that were part of this year’s ranking, Harvard University landed the #1 spot on the list. Harvard University is a private not-for-profit institution located in Cambridge, Massachusetts. The school has a large population, and it awarded 59 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

Harvard also took the #1 spot in our “Best Software Engineering Schools” ranking. It costs about $1,396 for computer software engineering students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Harvard.

Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 5 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 0.9%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Software Engineering at Harvard

2
Tufts crest
Tufts University
Medford, Massachusetts

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Tufts University. It ranked #2 on our 2023 Best Value Computer Software Engineering Schools For Those Making $30-$48k list. Medford, Massachusetts is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s computer software engineering degrees to 3 students in 2020-2021.

In addition to being on our computer software engineering students whose families make $30-$48k list, Tufts has also earned the #13 rank in our “Best Software Engineering Schools” ranking. It costs about $7,987 for computer software engineering students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Tufts University.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.1%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 92%. With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed.

Full Tufts Software Engineering Report

3

Out of the 69 schools in the Best Value Computer Software Engineering Schools For Those Making $30-$48k that were part of this year’s ranking, Iowa State University landed the #3 spot on the list. Located in Ames, Iowa, this large public school handed out 186 diplomas to qualified ’s computer software engineering students in 2020-2021.

In addition to being on our computer software engineering students whose families make $30-$48k list, Iowa State has also earned the #3 rank in our “Best Software Engineering Schools” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Iowa State University is $11,427 for Computer Software Engineering students whose families make $30-$48k.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.4% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 89%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read full report on Software Engineering at Iowa State University

4

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of California - Irvine. It ranked #4 on our 2023 Best Value Computer Software Engineering Schools For Those Making $30-$48k list. Located in Irvine, California, this large public school awarded 109 diplomas to qualified ’s computer software engineering students in 2020-2021.

UC Irvine also took the #5 spot in our “Best Software Engineering Schools” ranking. The yearly cost to attend University of California - Irvine is $8,449 for computer software engineering students whose families make $30-$48k.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.4% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 94%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read more about Software Engineering at UC Irvine

5

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Minnesota - Twin Cities. The school came in at #5 for the Best Value Computer Software Engineering Schools For Those Making $30-$48k. Minneapolis, Minnesota is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s computer software engineering degrees to 13 students in 2020-2021.

UMN Twin Cities did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #15 on our “Best Software Engineering Schools” list. It costs about $8,609 for computer software engineering students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend University of Minnesota - Twin Cities.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 93%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Software Engineering at UMN Twin Cities

6

With a ranking of #6, Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Computer Software Engineering Schools For Those Making $30-$48k list. This small school is located in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, and it awarded 16 ’s computer software engineering degrees in 2020-2021.

The estimated yearly cost for Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology is $5,656 for Computer Software Engineering students whose families make $30-$48k.

Full Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology Software Engineering Report

7

With a ranking of #7, Michigan Technological University did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Computer Software Engineering Schools For Those Making $30-$48k list. Located in Houghton, Michigan, this medium-sized public school handed out 16 degrees to qualified ’s computer software engineering students in 2020-2021.

Michigan Tech also made our “Best Software Engineering Schools” list, coming in at #14. The yearly cost to attend Michigan Technological University is $8,983 for computer software engineering students whose families make $30-$48k.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.9% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 86%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.

Read full report on Software Engineering at Michigan Tech

8

With a ranking of #8, Arizona State University - Tempe did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Computer Software Engineering Schools For Those Making $30-$48k list. Tempe, Arizona is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s computer software engineering degrees to 167 students in 2020-2021.

ASU - Tempe also made our “Best Software Engineering Schools” list, coming in at #16. It costs about $10,628 for Computer Software Engineering students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend ASU - Tempe.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.5%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 86%.

Full Arizona State University - Tempe Software Engineering Report

9
Carnegie Mellon crest
Carnegie Mellon University
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Carnegie Mellon University ranked #9 on this year’s Best Value Computer Software Engineering Schools For Those Making $30-$48k list. This fairly large school is located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and it awarded 144 ’s computer software engineering degrees in 2020-2021.

Carnegie Mellon not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #2 on our “Best Software Engineering Schools” list. The estimated yearly cost for Carnegie Mellon is $13,608 for computer software engineering students whose families make $30-$48k.

Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 5 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors. With a freshman retention rate of 96%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 0.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full Carnegie Mellon Software Engineering Report

10
San Jose State crest
San Jose State University
San Jose, California

With a ranking of #10, San Jose State University did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Computer Software Engineering Schools For Those Making $30-$48k list. Located in San Jose, California, this large public school awarded 541 degrees to qualified ’s computer software engineering students in 2020-2021.

San Jose State also took the #8 spot in our “Best Software Engineering Schools” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for San Jose State is $13,378 for computer software engineering students whose families make $30-$48k.

With a freshman retention rate of 86%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.9%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Software Engineering at San Jose State

11
Northeastern crest
Northeastern University
Boston, Massachusetts

Northeastern University landed the #11 spot on the 2023 Best Value Computer Software Engineering Schools For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Northeastern is a large school located in Boston, Massachusetts that handed out 619 ’s computer software engineering degrees in 2020-2021.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Northeastern, the school also landed the #7 spot in our “Best Software Engineering Schools” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Northeastern University is $7,376 for Computer Software Engineering students whose families make $30-$48k.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 97%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.5% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Read more about Software Engineering at Northeastern University

12

California State University - Fullerton came in at #12 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Computer Software Engineering Schools For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Fullerton, California is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s computer software engineering degrees to 59 students in 2020-2021.

The yearly cost to attend Cal State Fullerton is $5,821 for Computer Software Engineering students whose families make $30-$48k.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 89%. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.5%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Software Engineering at Cal State Fullerton

13

With a ranking of #13, The University of Texas at Dallas did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Computer Software Engineering Schools For Those Making $30-$48k list. Located in Richardson, Texas, this large public school awarded 134 degrees to qualified ’s computer software engineering students in 2020-2021.

UT Dallas did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #12 on our “Best Software Engineering Schools” list. The yearly cost to attend The University of Texas at Dallas is $12,144 for computer software engineering students whose families make $30-$48k.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 90%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.8% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Read full report on Software Engineering at UT Dallas

14

Brigham Young University - Provo did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Computer Software Engineering Schools For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #14. BYU is located in Provo, Utah and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 28 ’s computer software engineering degrees to qualified students.

In addition to being on our computer software engineering students whose families make $30-$48k list, BYU has also earned the #21 rank in our “Best Software Engineering Schools” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Brigham Young University - Provo is $10,333 for Computer Software Engineering students whose families make $30-$48k.

With a freshman retention rate of 92%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.3% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Full Brigham Young University - Provo Software Engineering Report

15

California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Computer Software Engineering Schools For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #15. This large school is located in San Luis Obispo, California, and it awarded 61 ’s computer software engineering degrees in 2020-2021.

Cal Poly San Luis Obispo also took the #6 spot in our “Best Software Engineering Schools” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Cal Poly San Luis Obispo is $13,194 for Computer Software Engineering students whose families make $30-$48k.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 0.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 94%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read full report on Software Engineering at California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo

16
Wazzu crest
Washington State University
Pullman, Washington

Washington State University did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Computer Software Engineering Schools For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #16. Washington State University is a public institution located in Pullman, Washington. The school has a large population, and it awarded 28 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

Wazzu not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #25 on our “Best Software Engineering Schools” list. The yearly cost to attend Washington State University is $8,719 for computer software engineering students whose families make $30-$48k.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.3% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Read full report on Software Engineering at Wazzu

17

With a ranking of #17, California State University - Northridge did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Computer Software Engineering Schools For Those Making $30-$48k list. CSUN is a large school located in Northridge, California that handed out 7 ’s computer software engineering degrees in 2020-2021.

It costs about $7,103 for Computer Software Engineering students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend California State University - Northridge.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Software Engineering at California State University - Northridge

18

University of Nebraska - Lincoln came in at #18 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Computer Software Engineering Schools For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. UNL is a large public school situated in Lincoln, Nebraska. It awarded 40 ’s computer software engineering degrees in 2020-2021.

UNL also made our “Best Software Engineering Schools” list, coming in at #18. The yearly cost to attend University of Nebraska - Lincoln is $13,453 for Computer Software Engineering students whose families make $30-$48k.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 85%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.2%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Software Engineering at University of Nebraska - Lincoln

19

North Dakota State University - Main Campus ranked #19 on this year’s Best Value Computer Software Engineering Schools For Those Making $30-$48k list. This fairly large school is located in Fargo, North Dakota, and it awarded 20 ’s computer software engineering degrees in 2020-2021.

North Dakota State University did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #24 on our “Best Software Engineering Schools” list. The estimated yearly cost for North Dakota State University - Main Campus is $12,735 for computer software engineering students whose families make $30-$48k.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.6%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Software Engineering at North Dakota State University - Main Campus

20

Utah Valley University ranked #20 on this year’s Best Value Computer Software Engineering Schools For Those Making $30-$48k list. UVU is a large school located in Orem, Utah that handed out 22 ’s computer software engineering degrees in 2020-2021.

The estimated yearly cost for UVU is $9,992 for computer software engineering students whose families make $30-$48k.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.4%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Software Engineering at Utah Valley University

21

University of Puerto Rico - Mayaguez ranked #21 on this year’s Best Value Computer Software Engineering Schools For Those Making $30-$48k list. University of Puerto Rico - Mayaguez is a fairly large school located in Mayaguez, that handed out 25 ’s computer software engineering degrees in 2020-2021.

The estimated yearly cost for University of Puerto Rico - Mayaguez is $10,427 for Computer Software Engineering students whose families make $30-$48k.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.4%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 92%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read more about Software Engineering at University of Puerto Rico - Mayaguez

22

The University of Texas at Arlington did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Computer Software Engineering Schools For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #22. UT Arlington is a public institution located in Arlington, Texas. The school has a large population, and it awarded 58 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

The yearly cost to attend The University of Texas at Arlington is $13,818 for Computer Software Engineering students whose families make $30-$48k.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.6%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Software Engineering at The University of Texas at Arlington

23
WVU crest
West Virginia University
Morgantown, West Virginia

West Virginia University ranked #23 on this year’s Best Value Computer Software Engineering Schools For Those Making $30-$48k list. WVU is located in Morgantown, West Virginia and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 14 ’s computer software engineering degrees to qualified students.

The estimated yearly cost for WVU is $10,250 for Computer Software Engineering students whose families make $30-$48k.

Read more about Software Engineering at West Virginia University

24

With a ranking of #24, The University of Texas at El Paso did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Computer Software Engineering Schools For Those Making $30-$48k list. El Paso, Texas is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s computer software engineering degrees to 29 students in 2020-2021.

The estimated yearly cost for UTEP is $8,495 for computer software engineering students whose families make $30-$48k.

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

25

Florida Gulf Coast University did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Computer Software Engineering Schools For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #25. Located in Fort Myers, Florida, this fairly large public school handed out 72 diplomas to qualified ’s computer software engineering students in 2020-2021.

The estimated yearly cost for FGCU is $7,969 for computer software engineering students whose families make $30-$48k.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.2%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Software Engineering at FGCU

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