2026 Best Value Software Engineering Schools in Arizona
[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.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 8 schools to find the best return on investment for software engineering students.
What’s on this page:
2026 Best Value Software Engineering Schools in Arizona
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
Arizona State University earned the #1 spot for value among software engineering schools in Arizona. Arizona State University is a very large public school located in the city of Tempe. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $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. Soon after graduation, software engineering degree recipients from Arizona State University generally make around $81,123. That is a strong return on a $26,972 median debt. Arizona State University admits about 90% of applicants.
Northern Arizona University came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best value software engineering schools. Northern Arizona University is a very large public school located in the city of Flagstaff. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,619, while out-of-state students pay about $20,044. Software Engineering graduates carry a median of $21,645 in student loans. Soon after graduation, software engineering degree recipients from Northern Arizona University generally make around $47,056. That is a strong return on a $21,645 median debt. Roughly 90% of applicants are accepted.
A rank of #3 makes University Of Arizona one of the best values for software engineering. Set in the city of Tucson, University Of Arizona is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $13,573, with out-of-state students paying around $39,903. Software Engineering graduates carry a median of $21,861 in student loans. Soon after graduation, software engineering degree recipients from University Of Arizona generally make around $50,834. Set against $21,861 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 86%.
Students looking for strong value in software engineering will find it at Embry Riddle Aeronautical University Prescott, which ranked #4. 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. Software Engineering graduates carry a median of $26,146 in student loans. Early-career software engineering graduates make about $79,276. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 77%.
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 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 · 8 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 3 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.
