2027 Best Value Software Engineering Schools in the Great Lakes Region
[Software Engineering](/majors/engineering/ce-computer-engineering/software-engineering/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 17 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for software engineering students.
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2027 Best Value Software Engineering Schools in the Great Lakes Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in software engineering, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Software Engineering Schools
For return on investment in software engineering, no school beat Purdue University Main Campus this year. Set in the city of West Lafayette, Purdue University Main Campus is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $9,992 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $28,794. Typical student debt for software engineering graduates is $23,000. Soon after graduation, software engineering degree recipients from Purdue University Main Campus generally make around $63,111. Set against $23,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 50% of applicants are accepted.
Students looking for strong value in software engineering will find it at Oakland Community College, which ranked #2. Oakland Community College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Auburn Hills. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,120, compared with $5,560 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for software engineering graduates is $15,865. Soon after graduation, software engineering degree recipients from Oakland Community College generally make around $43,205. That is a strong return on a $15,865 median debt.
Students looking for strong value in software engineering will find it at Michigan Technological University, which ranked #3. Located in the town of Houghton, Michigan Technological University is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $20,532, while out-of-state students pay about $44,807. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the software engineering program here. Software Engineering graduates of Michigan Technological University earn a median of $77,465 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 92%.
A rank of #4 makes Cleveland State University one of the best values for software engineering. Set in the city of Cleveland, Cleveland State University is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,982, compared with $18,502 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for software engineering graduates is $25,547. Soon after graduation, software engineering degree recipients from Cleveland State University generally make around $68,852. Set against $25,547 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 91%.
Students looking for strong value in software engineering will find it at University Of Wisconsin Platteville, which ranked #5. Set in the town of Platteville, University Of Wisconsin Platteville is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,644, while out-of-state students pay about $17,603. Typical student debt for software engineering graduates is $24,500. Early-career software engineering graduates make about $71,635. That is a strong return on a $24,500 median debt. University Of Wisconsin Platteville admits about 89% of applicants.
Illinois Institute Of Technology earned the #6 position for value in software engineering this year. Illinois Institute Of Technology is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Chicago. Students from in state pay about $52,202 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for software engineering graduates is $26,500. Soon after graduation, software engineering degree recipients from Illinois Institute Of Technology generally make around $81,252. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 55% of applicants are accepted.
Milwaukee School Of Engineering earned the #7 position for value in software engineering this year. Milwaukee School Of Engineering is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Milwaukee. Students from in state pay about $50,480 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for software engineering graduates is $27,000. Soon after graduation, software engineering degree recipients from Milwaukee School Of Engineering generally make around $78,333. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Milwaukee School Of Engineering admits about 59% of applicants.
Bowling Green State University Main Campus ranked #8 on our 2027 list of the best value software engineering schools. Set in the town of Bowling Green, Bowling Green State University Main Campus is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $13,912, compared with $21,900 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for software engineering graduates is $27,000. Early-career software engineering graduates make about $67,949. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Roughly 81% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Cincinnati Main Campus placed #9 among the best values for software engineering. University Of Cincinnati Main Campus is a very large public school located in the city of Cincinnati. In-state tuition and fees average $13,363, with out-of-state students paying around $28,697. Students borrow a median of $21,875 to complete the software engineering program here. Software Engineering graduates of University Of Cincinnati Main Campus earn a median of $83,489 early in their careers. Set against $21,875 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 85% of applicants are accepted.
Trine University ranked #10 on our 2027 list of the best value software engineering schools. Set in the town of Angola, Trine University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $36,560. Students borrow a median of $25,765 to complete the software engineering program here. Soon after graduation, software engineering degree recipients from Trine University generally make around $67,500. Set against $25,765 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 86% of applicants are accepted.
Miami University Oxford earned the #11 position for value in software engineering this year. Set in the town of Oxford, Miami University Oxford is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $17,519 in tuition and fees, compared with $38,965 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for software engineering graduates is $27,000. Software Engineering graduates of Miami University Oxford earn a median of $71,836 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Miami University Oxford admits about 75% of applicants.
Depaul University ranked #12 on our 2027 list of the best value software engineering schools. Depaul University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Chicago. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $45,405. Typical student debt for software engineering graduates is $25,340. Early-career software engineering graduates make about $121,173. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 76%.
Devry University Illinois came in at #13 for value in software engineering this year. Located in the suburb of Lisle, Devry University Illinois is a very large private for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $17,008 in tuition and fees. Software Engineering graduates carry a median of $43,684 in student loans. Early-career software engineering graduates make about $55,470. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Devry University Illinois admits about 98% of applicants.
Lawrence Technological University ranked #14 on our 2027 list of the best value software engineering schools. Lawrence Technological University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Southfield. In-state tuition and fees average $44,760. Software Engineering graduates carry a median of $27,799 in student loans. Soon after graduation, software engineering degree recipients from Lawrence Technological University generally make around $74,924. Set against $27,799 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Lawrence Technological University admits about 56% of applicants.
Loyola University Chicago ranked #15 on our 2027 list of the best value software engineering schools. Loyola University Chicago is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Chicago. In-state tuition and fees average $53,710. Software Engineering graduates carry a median of $25,000 in student loans. Software Engineering graduates of Loyola University Chicago earn a median of $68,020 early in their careers. Set against $25,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 82% of applicants are accepted.
Concordia University Wisconsin came in at #16 for value in software engineering this year. Located in the suburb of Mequon, Concordia University Wisconsin is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $35,470 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for software engineering graduates is $27,172. Software Engineering graduates of Concordia University Wisconsin earn a median of $58,227 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $27,172 median debt. Roughly 78% of applicants are accepted.
Rose Hulman Institute Of Technology earned the #17 position for value in software engineering this year. Located in the city of Terre Haute, Rose Hulman Institute Of Technology is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $56,046. Software Engineering graduates carry a median of $24,834 in student loans. Software Engineering graduates of Rose Hulman Institute Of Technology earn a median of $92,123 early in their careers. Set against $24,834 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Rose Hulman Institute Of Technology admits about 77% of applicants.
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 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 · 17 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 17 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.
