2026 Best Value Software Engineering Schools in the Far Western Region
[Software Engineering](/majors/engineering/ce-computer-engineering/software-engineering/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
College Factual analyzed 24 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best value software engineering schools.
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2026 Best Value Software Engineering Schools in the Far Western Region
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
California State University Fullerton earned the #1 spot for value among software engineering schools in the Far Western Region. California State University Fullerton is a very large public school located in the suburb of Fullerton. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,470, compared with $20,070 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for software engineering graduates is $18,500. Software Engineering graduates of California State University Fullerton earn a median of $84,047 early in their careers. Set against $18,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. California State University Fullerton admits about 90% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in software engineering will find it at California State University Northridge, which ranked #2. Set in the city of Northridge, California State University Northridge is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $7,458, while out-of-state students pay about $20,058. Students borrow a median of $19,548 to complete the software engineering program here. Software Engineering graduates of California State University Northridge earn a median of $75,692 early in their careers. Set against $19,548 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 93%.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at California State University Sacramento earned it the #3 place for software engineering. Set in the city of Sacramento, California State University Sacramento is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $8,018 in tuition and fees, compared with $20,618 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $17,500 to complete the software engineering program here. Early-career software engineering graduates make about $66,266. That is a strong return on a $17,500 median debt. Roughly 94% of applicants are accepted.
A rank of #4 makes California State University San Marcos one of the best values for software engineering. Set in the suburb of San Marcos, California State University San Marcos is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $8,082 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $20,682. Typical student debt for software engineering graduates is $17,527. Soon after graduation, software engineering degree recipients from California State University San Marcos generally make around $48,726. Set against $17,527 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. California State University San Marcos admits about 95% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in software engineering will find it at University Of California Irvine, which ranked #5. University Of California Irvine is a very large public school located in the city of Irvine. In-state tuition and fees average $14,752, while out-of-state students pay about $46,640. Students borrow a median of $19,233 to complete the software engineering program here. Soon after graduation, software engineering degree recipients from University Of California Irvine generally make around $79,812. Set against $19,233 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of California Irvine admits about 29% of applicants.
University Of California Merced ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best value software engineering schools. University Of California Merced is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Merced. In-state tuition and fees average $14,653, with out-of-state students paying around $46,541. Software Engineering graduates carry a median of $19,086 in student loans. Soon after graduation, software engineering degree recipients from University Of California Merced generally make around $58,835. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of California Merced admits about 90% of applicants.
San Jose State University placed #7 among the best values for software engineering. San Jose State University is a very large public school located in the city of San Jose. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,410, compared with $21,010 for out-of-state students. Median earnings reach $78,988 ten years out. San Jose State University admits about 85% of applicants.
Portland State University ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best value software engineering schools. Set in the city of Portland, Portland State University is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $11,118 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $29,136. Software Engineering graduates carry a median of $35,166 in student loans. Software Engineering graduates of Portland State University earn a median of $47,717 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 91% of applicants are accepted.
California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo landed the #9 spot for software engineering value this year. Located in the suburb of San Luis Obispo, California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $12,161 in tuition and fees, compared with $33,230 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for software engineering graduates is $20,556. Soon after graduation, software engineering degree recipients from California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo generally make around $111,560. Set against $20,556 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 31% of applicants are accepted.
Washington State University came in at #10 for value in software engineering this year. Washington State University is a very large public school located in the town of Pullman. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $13,391, while out-of-state students pay about $29,950. Software Engineering graduates carry a median of $21,750 in student loans. Early-career software engineering graduates make about $87,135. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 87% of applicants are accepted.
San Diego State University ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the best value software engineering schools. San Diego State University is a very large public school located in the city of San Diego. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,728, with out-of-state students paying around $21,328. Students borrow a median of $16,248 to complete the software engineering program here. Early-career software engineering graduates make about $76,812. That is a strong return on a $16,248 median debt. The acceptance rate is 36%.
Ashford University came in at #12 for value in software engineering this year. Located in the city of San Diego, Ashford University is a very large private for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $11,960. Software Engineering graduates carry a median of $39,515 in student loans. Early-career software engineering graduates make about $48,441. Set against $39,515 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
California Baptist University placed #13 among the best values for software engineering. Set in the city of Riverside, California Baptist University is a large private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $41,228. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the software engineering program here. Software Engineering graduates of California Baptist University earn a median of $75,087 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 85% of applicants are accepted.
Chapman University earned the #14 position for value in software engineering this year. Located in the city of Orange, Chapman University is a large private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $64,984. Software Engineering graduates carry a median of $21,657 in student loans. Soon after graduation, software engineering degree recipients from Chapman University generally make around $50,947. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 65%.
Santa Clara University ranked #15 on our 2026 list of the best value software engineering schools. Santa Clara University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Santa Clara. In-state tuition and fees average $61,293. Software Engineering graduates carry a median of $24,666 in student loans. Software Engineering graduates of Santa Clara University earn a median of $79,380 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 48% of applicants are accepted.
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs the cost of a degree against the earnings graduates go on to achieve, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 24 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.
