by our College Data Analytics Team
[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 3 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for software engineering students.
What’s on this page:
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the software engineering degrees they offer, see the list below.
For return on investment in software engineering, no school beat Clarkson University this year. Set in the town of Potsdam, Clarkson University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $59,398. Software Engineering graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Early-career software engineering graduates make about $80,942. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 77%.
Students looking for strong value in software engineering will find it at Pace University New York, which ranked #2. Located in the city of New York, Pace University New York is a large private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $53,510. Students borrow a median of $25,656 to complete the software engineering program here. 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.
Students looking for strong value in software engineering will find it at Rochester Institute Of Technology, which ranked #3. Set in the suburb of Rochester, Rochester Institute Of Technology is a large private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $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. That is a strong return on a $28,500 median debt. Rochester Institute Of Technology admits about 67% of applicants.
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 · 3 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 3 ranked schools only.
More about our data sources and methodologies.