2027 Best Value Software Engineering Schools in Texas
[Software Engineering](/majors/engineering/ce-computer-engineering/software-engineering/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
College Factual analyzed 7 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best value software engineering schools.
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2027 Best Value Software Engineering Schools in Texas
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 Texas. Set in the city of Arlington, The University Of Texas At Arlington is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,950, compared with $29,582 for out-of-state students. 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. Set against $20,833 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 80%.
University Of Houston is a great value for students pursuing a degree in software engineering, landing the #2 spot this year. University Of Houston is a very large public school located in the city of Houston. Students from in state pay about $9,717 in tuition and fees, compared with $22,547 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for software engineering graduates is $21,582. Soon after graduation, software engineering degree recipients from University Of Houston generally make around $80,438. Set against $21,582 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Houston admits about 74% of applicants.
The University Of Texas At El Paso came in at #3 on our 2027 list of the best value software engineering schools. 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, while out-of-state students pay about $25,502. Software Engineering graduates carry a median of $19,819 in student loans. Soon after graduation, software engineering degree recipients from The University Of Texas At El Paso generally make around $102,946. Set against $19,819 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 100% of applicants are accepted.
Students looking for strong value in software engineering will find it at University Of Houston Clear Lake, which ranked #4. University Of Houston Clear Lake is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Houston. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,346, compared with $22,290 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $22,238 to complete the software engineering program here. Soon after graduation, software engineering degree recipients from University Of Houston Clear Lake generally make around $63,751. That is a strong return on a $22,238 median debt. Roughly 90% of applicants are accepted.
The University Of Texas At Dallas is a great value for students pursuing a degree in software engineering, landing the #5 spot this year. Located in the city of Richardson, The University Of Texas At Dallas is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $14,644, with out-of-state students paying around $40,144. Software Engineering graduates carry a median of $21,000 in student loans. 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 #6 on our 2027 list of the best value software engineering schools. Located in the city of Lubbock, Texas Tech University is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $11,852 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $24,157. Typical student debt for software engineering graduates is $27,000. Soon after graduation, software engineering degree recipients from Texas Tech University generally make around $85,619. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 73% of applicants are accepted.
Southern Methodist University came in at #7 for value in software engineering this year. Set in the suburb of Dallas, Southern Methodist University is a large private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $67,040. Typical student debt for software engineering graduates is $20,712. 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. Schools are scored on the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 7 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 7 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.
