2027 Best Value Software Engineering Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region
[Software Engineering](/majors/engineering/ce-computer-engineering/software-engineering/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 14 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for software engineering students.
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2027 Best Value Software Engineering Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in software engineering, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Software Engineering Schools
Thaddeus Stevens College Of Technology tops our 2027 list of the best value software engineering schools in the Middle Atlantic Region. Thaddeus Stevens College Of Technology is a small public school located in the city of Lancaster. In-state tuition and fees average $9,050. Software Engineering graduates carry a median of $9,915 in student loans. Soon after graduation, software engineering degree recipients from Thaddeus Stevens College Of Technology generally make around $48,257. Set against $9,915 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 71%.
New Jersey Institute Of Technology came in at #2 on our 2027 list of the best value software engineering schools. New Jersey Institute Of Technology is a large public school located in the city of Newark. Students from in state pay about $19,974 in tuition and fees, compared with $37,664 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $22,375 to complete the software engineering program here. Software Engineering graduates of New Jersey Institute Of Technology earn a median of $67,640 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 65% of applicants are accepted.
A rank of #3 makes Gannon University one of the best values for software engineering. Gannon University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Erie. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $40,656. Software Engineering graduates carry a median of $26,934 in student loans. Early-career software engineering graduates make about $73,658. That is a strong return on a $26,934 median debt. Gannon University admits about 74% of applicants.
A rank of #4 makes Pennsylvania State University World Campus one of the best values for software engineering. Pennsylvania State University World Campus is a large public school located in the city of University Park. Students from in state pay about $15,356 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $26,708 to complete the software engineering program here. Soon after graduation, software engineering degree recipients from Pennsylvania State University World Campus generally make around $101,819. Set against $26,708 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Pennsylvania State University World Campus admits about 91% of applicants.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Pennsylvania State University Penn State Erie Behrend College earned it the #5 place for software engineering. Set in the suburb of Erie, Pennsylvania State University Penn State Erie Behrend College is a mid-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $15,972 in tuition and fees, compared with $26,958 for out-of-state students. Software Engineering graduates carry a median of $26,708 in student loans. Software Engineering graduates of Pennsylvania State University Penn State Erie Behrend College earn a median of $85,446 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $26,708 median debt. Pennsylvania State University Penn State Erie Behrend College admits about 97% of applicants.
Shippensburg University Of Pennsylvania came in at #6 for value in software engineering this year. Located in the town of Shippensburg, Shippensburg University Of Pennsylvania is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $13,570, while out-of-state students pay about $15,824. Typical student debt for software engineering graduates is $27,000. Software Engineering graduates of Shippensburg University Of Pennsylvania earn a median of $80,574 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 86% of applicants are accepted.
Clarkson University earned the #7 position for value in software engineering this year. Set in the town of Potsdam, Clarkson University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $59,398. Typical student debt for software engineering graduates is $27,000. Early-career software engineering graduates make about $80,942. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 77% of applicants are accepted.
Pace University New York came in at #8 for value in software engineering this year. Set in the city of New York, Pace University New York is a large private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $53,510 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for software engineering graduates is $25,656. Software Engineering graduates of Pace University New York earn a median of $59,662 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $25,656 median debt. Pace University New York admits about 76% of applicants.
Carnegie Mellon University placed #9 among the best values for software engineering. Carnegie Mellon University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Pittsburgh. Students from in state pay about $65,636 in tuition and fees. Software Engineering graduates carry a median of $23,529 in student loans. Software Engineering graduates of Carnegie Mellon University earn a median of $89,327 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Carnegie Mellon University admits about 12% of applicants.
Pennsylvania State University Main Campus landed the #10 spot for software engineering value this year. Located in the city of University Park, Pennsylvania State University Main Campus is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $20,644, compared with $41,790 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for software engineering graduates is $26,708. Soon after graduation, software engineering degree recipients from Pennsylvania State University Main Campus generally make around $60,523. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 61% of applicants are accepted.
Rochester Institute Of Technology earned the #11 position for value in software engineering this year. Located in the suburb of Rochester, Rochester Institute Of Technology is a large private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $59,210. Students borrow a median of $28,500 to complete the software engineering program here. Software Engineering graduates of Rochester Institute Of Technology earn a median of $90,829 early in their careers. Set against $28,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 67% of applicants are accepted.
Drexel University placed #12 among the best values for software engineering. Located in the city of Philadelphia, Drexel University is a very large private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $62,412 in tuition and fees. Software Engineering graduates carry a median of $28,166 in student loans. Early-career software engineering graduates make about $101,510. Set against $28,166 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 79% of applicants are accepted.
Stevens Institute Of Technology came in at #13 for value in software engineering this year. Stevens Institute Of Technology is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Hoboken. Students from in state pay about $63,462 in tuition and fees. Software Engineering graduates carry a median of $26,930 in student loans. Early-career software engineering graduates make about $106,761. That is a strong return on a $26,930 median debt. The acceptance rate is 48%.
Villanova University ranked #14 on our 2027 list of the best value software engineering schools. Villanova University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Villanova. In-state tuition and fees average $67,776. Software Engineering graduates carry a median of $26,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, software engineering degree recipients from Villanova University generally make around $108,248. Set against $26,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Villanova University admits about 27% of applicants.
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published 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 · 14 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 14 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.
