2027 Best Value Software Engineering Schools in the Southwest 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.
College Factual analyzed 15 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best value software engineering schools.
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2027 Best Value Software Engineering Schools in the Southwest 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
Leading the list is The University Of Texas At Arlington, our #1 best value for software engineering in the Southwest Region. Set in the city of Arlington, The University Of Texas At Arlington is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $11,950 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $29,582. Software Engineering graduates carry a median of $20,833 in student loans. Software Engineering graduates of The University Of Texas At Arlington earn a median of $81,226 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The University Of Texas At Arlington admits about 80% of applicants.
University Of Houston is a great value for students pursuing a degree in software engineering, landing the #2 spot this year. Located in the city of Houston, University Of Houston is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $9,717, while out-of-state students pay about $22,547. Software Engineering graduates carry a median of $21,582 in student loans. Early-career software engineering graduates make about $80,438. Set against $21,582 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Houston admits about 74% of applicants.
A rank of #3 makes Northern Arizona University one of the best values for software engineering. Northern Arizona University is a very large public school located in the city of Flagstaff. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,619, while out-of-state students pay about $20,044. Students borrow a median of $21,645 to complete the software engineering program here. Soon after graduation, software engineering degree recipients from Northern Arizona University generally make around $47,056. Set against $21,645 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 90% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at The University Of Texas At El Paso earned it the #4 place for software engineering. The University Of Texas At El Paso is a very large public school located in the city of El Paso. In-state tuition and fees average $9,544, with out-of-state students paying around $25,502. Software Engineering graduates carry a median of $19,819 in student loans. Early-career software engineering graduates make about $102,946. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 100% of applicants are accepted.
Arizona State University came in at #5 on our 2027 list of the best value software engineering schools. Set in the city of Tempe, Arizona State University is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,223, with out-of-state students paying around $33,139. Students borrow a median of $26,972 to complete the software engineering program here. Early-career software engineering graduates make about $81,123. Set against $26,972 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Arizona State University admits about 90% of applicants.
University Of Arizona came in at #6 for value in software engineering this year. University Of Arizona is a very large public school located in the city of Tucson. Students from in state pay about $13,573 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $39,903. Typical student debt for software engineering graduates is $21,861. Early-career software engineering graduates make about $50,834. That is a strong return on a $21,861 median debt. The acceptance rate is 86%.
University Of Houston Clear Lake landed the #7 spot for software engineering value this year. Set in the city of Houston, University Of Houston Clear Lake is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,346, while out-of-state students pay about $22,290. Software Engineering graduates carry a median of $22,238 in student loans. Soon after graduation, software engineering degree recipients from University Of Houston Clear Lake generally make around $63,751. Set against $22,238 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 90% of applicants are accepted.
The University Of Texas At Dallas earned the #8 position for value in software engineering this year. Located in the city of Richardson, The University Of Texas At Dallas is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $14,644, compared with $40,144 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $21,000 to complete the software engineering program here. Software Engineering graduates of The University Of Texas At Dallas earn a median of $88,820 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $21,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 65%.
Texas Tech University ranked #9 on our 2027 list of the best value software engineering schools. Texas Tech University is a very large public school located in the city of Lubbock. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,852, while out-of-state students pay about $24,157. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the software engineering program here. Software Engineering graduates of Texas Tech University earn a median of $85,619 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 73%.
University Of Central Oklahoma earned the #10 position for value in software engineering this year. Located in the suburb of Edmond, University Of Central Oklahoma is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $8,818 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $19,704. Students borrow a median of $23,321 to complete the software engineering program here. Early-career software engineering graduates make about $44,085. That is a strong return on a $23,321 median debt. Roughly 78% of applicants are accepted.
Grand Canyon University came in at #11 for value in software engineering this year. Set in the city of Phoenix, Grand Canyon University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $18,508. Students borrow a median of $30,027 to complete the software engineering program here. Soon after graduation, software engineering degree recipients from Grand Canyon University generally make around $56,285. That is a strong return on a $30,027 median debt. Grand Canyon University admits about 79% of applicants.
University Of Advancing Technology came in at #12 for value in software engineering this year. Set in the city of Tempe, University Of Advancing Technology is a small private for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $18,800 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for software engineering graduates is $29,802. Soon after graduation, software engineering degree recipients from University Of Advancing Technology generally make around $40,489. That is a strong return on a $29,802 median debt. University Of Advancing Technology admits about 98% of applicants.
Ashford University landed the #13 spot for software engineering value this year. Located in the city of Chandler, Ashford University is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $11,960 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for software engineering graduates is $39,515. Software Engineering graduates of Ashford University earn a median of $48,441 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Embry Riddle Aeronautical University Prescott landed the #14 spot for software engineering value this year. Located in the city of Prescott, Embry Riddle Aeronautical University Prescott is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $43,974. Typical student debt for software engineering graduates is $26,146. Early-career software engineering graduates make about $79,276. Set against $26,146 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Embry Riddle Aeronautical University Prescott admits about 77% of applicants.
Southern Methodist University earned the #15 position for value in software engineering this year. Southern Methodist University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Dallas. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $67,040. Software Engineering graduates carry a median of $20,712 in student loans. Software Engineering graduates of Southern Methodist University earn a median of $130,488 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Southern Methodist University admits about 63% 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 · 15 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 15 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.
