2027 Best Value Software Engineering Schools in the Southeast 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 16 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for software engineering students.
What’s on this page:
2027 Best Value Software Engineering Schools in the Southeast 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
For return on investment in software engineering, no school beat Florida Gulf Coast University this year. Florida Gulf Coast University is a large public school located in the suburb of Fort Myers. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,118, with out-of-state students paying around $25,162. Software Engineering graduates carry a median of $25,000 in student loans. Early-career software engineering graduates make about $60,746. Set against $25,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Florida Gulf Coast University admits about 63% of applicants.
A rank of #2 makes Kennesaw State University one of the best values for software engineering. Kennesaw State University is a very large public school located in the suburb of Kennesaw. In-state tuition and fees average $5,808, compared with $17,736 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for software engineering graduates is $27,000. Early-career software engineering graduates make about $84,836. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Kennesaw State University admits about 69% of applicants.
East Carolina University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in software engineering, landing the #3 spot this year. Set in the city of Greenville, East Carolina University is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,361, compared with $23,638 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $24,747 to complete the software engineering program here. Soon after graduation, software engineering degree recipients from East Carolina University generally make around $51,931. That is a strong return on a $24,747 median debt. East Carolina University admits about 89% of applicants.
West Virginia University came in at #4 on our 2027 list of the best value software engineering schools. Set in the city of Morgantown, West Virginia University is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,104, with out-of-state students paying around $28,608. Students borrow a median of $24,500 to complete the software engineering program here. Software Engineering graduates of West Virginia University earn a median of $76,314 early in their careers. Set against $24,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 89% of applicants are accepted.
Students looking for strong value in software engineering will find it at George Mason University, which ranked #5. Set in the suburb of Fairfax, George Mason University is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $14,220, with out-of-state students paying around $38,688. Software Engineering graduates carry a median of $26,697 in student loans. Soon after graduation, software engineering degree recipients from George Mason University generally make around $109,917. Set against $26,697 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. George Mason University admits about 88% of applicants.
Bellarmine University ranked #6 on our 2027 list of the best value software engineering schools. Set in the city of Louisville, Bellarmine University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $48,770. Typical student debt for software engineering graduates is $26,766. Soon after graduation, software engineering degree recipients from Bellarmine University generally make around $46,024. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 86%.
Saint Leo University ranked #7 on our 2027 list of the best value software engineering schools. Saint Leo University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the town of Saint Leo. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $30,000. Students borrow a median of $32,116 to complete the software engineering program here. Early-career software engineering graduates make about $49,458. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Saint Leo University admits about 78% of applicants.
University Of South Carolina Columbia earned the #8 position for value in software engineering this year. University Of South Carolina Columbia is a very large public school located in the city of Columbia. Students from in state pay about $12,688 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $36,298. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the software engineering program here. Soon after graduation, software engineering degree recipients from University Of South Carolina Columbia generally make around $53,623. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Roughly 60% of applicants are accepted.
Auburn University placed #9 among the best values for software engineering. Located in the city of Auburn, Auburn University is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,890, compared with $34,922 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for software engineering graduates is $22,125. Soon after graduation, software engineering degree recipients from Auburn University generally make around $80,067. Set against $22,125 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 46% of applicants are accepted.
Mercer University ranked #10 on our 2027 list of the best value software engineering schools. Located in the city of Macon, Mercer University is a large private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $31,565. Typical student debt for software engineering graduates is $32,463. Software Engineering graduates of Mercer University earn a median of $56,699 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Mercer University admits about 69% of applicants.
National College Lexington earned the #11 position for value in software engineering this year. Set in the town of Louisville, National College Lexington is a small private for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $11,484. Software Engineering graduates carry a median of $22,431 in student loans. Early-career software engineering graduates make about $45,767. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Florida Institute Of Technology ranked #12 on our 2027 list of the best value software engineering schools. Located in the city of Melbourne, Florida Institute Of Technology is a large private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $45,900. Typical student debt for software engineering graduates is $25,125. Software Engineering graduates of Florida Institute Of Technology earn a median of $79,244 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $25,125 median debt. Roughly 58% of applicants are accepted.
Keiser University Ft Lauderdale earned the #13 position for value in software engineering this year. Keiser University Ft Lauderdale is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Fort Lauderdale. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $25,056. Software Engineering graduates carry a median of $48,442 in student loans. Soon after graduation, software engineering degree recipients from Keiser University Ft Lauderdale generally make around $45,453. Set against $48,442 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 97% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Miami earned the #14 position for value in software engineering this year. Set in the suburb of Coral Gables, University Of Miami is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $62,616 in tuition and fees. Software Engineering graduates carry a median of $17,750 in student loans. Soon after graduation, software engineering degree recipients from University Of Miami generally make around $57,234. Set against $17,750 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 19% of applicants are accepted.
Full Sail University ranked #15 on our 2027 list of the best value software engineering schools. Located in the suburb of Winter Park, Full Sail University is a very large private for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $26,906. Typical student debt for software engineering graduates is $20,500. Early-career software engineering graduates make about $61,553. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Embry Riddle Aeronautical University Daytona Beach came in at #16 for value in software engineering this year. Embry Riddle Aeronautical University Daytona Beach is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Daytona Beach. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $44,074. Students borrow a median of $26,146 to complete the software engineering program here. Software Engineering graduates of Embry Riddle Aeronautical University Daytona Beach earn a median of $79,276 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $26,146 median debt. Roughly 65% of applicants are accepted.
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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 · 16 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 16 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.
