2026 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. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 10 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for software engineering students.
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2026 Best Value Software Engineering Schools in Texas
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in software engineering, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Software Engineering Schools
Leading the list is The University Of Texas At El Paso, our #1 best value for software engineering in Texas. Located in the city of El Paso, The University Of Texas At El Paso is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,544, while out-of-state students pay about $25,502. Typical student debt for software engineering graduates is $19,819. Early-career software engineering graduates make about $102,946. Set against $19,819 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 100% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Houston Clear Lake came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best value software engineering schools. Located in the city of Houston, University Of Houston Clear Lake is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,346, with out-of-state students paying around $22,290. Students borrow a median of $22,238 to complete the software engineering program here. Early-career software engineering graduates make about $63,751. Set against $22,238 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Houston Clear Lake admits about 90% of applicants.
The University Of Texas At Arlington is a great value for students pursuing a degree in software engineering, landing the #3 spot this year. 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. Students borrow a median of $20,833 to complete the software engineering program here. 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 acceptance rate is 80%.
The University Of Texas At Dallas is a great value for students pursuing a degree in software engineering, landing the #4 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, while out-of-state students pay about $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%.
A rank of #5 makes Texas Tech University one of the best values for software engineering. Set in the city of Lubbock, Texas Tech University is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $11,852, compared with $24,157 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the software engineering program here. Early-career software engineering graduates make about $85,619. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Texas Tech University admits about 73% of applicants.
St Marys University landed the #6 spot for software engineering value this year. Located in the city of San Antonio, St Marys University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $37,434. Software Engineering graduates carry a median of $25,040 in student loans. Soon after graduation, software engineering degree recipients from St Marys University generally make around $42,786. Set against $25,040 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 98%.
Southern Methodist University came in at #7 for value in software engineering this year. Located in the suburb of Dallas, Southern Methodist University is a large private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $67,040 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for software engineering graduates is $20,712. Early-career software engineering graduates make about $130,488. Set against $20,712 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 63% of applicants are accepted.
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Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 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 · 10 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 5 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.
