2027 Best Value Software Engineering Associate’s Degree Schools

[Software Engineering](/majors/engineering/ce-computer-engineering/software-engineering/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
College Factual analyzed 6 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best value software engineering schools.
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2027 Best Value Software Engineering Schools in the United States
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the software engineering degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Software Engineering Schools
Snow College tops our 2027 list of the best value software engineering schools in the United States. Snow College is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Ephraim. In-state tuition and fees average $4,338, with out-of-state students paying around $14,288. Typical student debt for software engineering graduates is $10,440. Early-career software engineering graduates make about $42,776. Set against $10,440 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Oakland Community College earned it the #2 place for software engineering. Set in the suburb of Auburn Hills, Oakland Community College is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $3,120, compared with $5,560 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $15,865 to complete the software engineering program here. Soon after graduation, software engineering degree recipients from Oakland Community College generally make around $43,205. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Thaddeus Stevens College Of Technology earned it the #3 place for software engineering. Located in the city of Lancaster, Thaddeus Stevens College Of Technology is a small public university. Students from in state pay about $9,050 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $9,915 to complete the software engineering program here. Software Engineering graduates of Thaddeus Stevens College Of Technology earn a median of $48,257 early in their careers. Set against $9,915 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Thaddeus Stevens College Of Technology admits about 71% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in software engineering will find it at Capital Community College, which ranked #4. Located in the city of New Britain, Capital Community College is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $5,338, compared with $15,596 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $12,059 to complete the software engineering program here. Early-career software engineering graduates make about $43,086. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
A rank of #5 makes Rasmussen College Minnesota one of the best values for software engineering. Set in the city of St. Cloud, Rasmussen College Minnesota is a large private for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $12,199. Typical student debt for software engineering graduates is $23,635. Soon after graduation, software engineering degree recipients from Rasmussen College Minnesota generally make around $48,263. That is a strong return on a $23,635 median debt.
Full Sail University placed #6 among the best values for software engineering. Full Sail University is a very large private for-profit school located in the suburb of Winter Park. Students from in state pay about $26,906 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for software engineering graduates is $20,500. Software Engineering graduates of Full Sail University earn a median of $61,553 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Other Software Engineering Degree Levels
Looking for a different degree level? Compare best-value Software Engineering rankings across degree levels:
View All Software Engineering Rankings >
Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. Schools are scored on the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 6 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 6 ranked schools only.
- 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).
More about our data sources and methodologies.