Software Engineering programs are offered at a focused set of schools across the country. A focused field like this rewards careful comparison of the schools that offer it.
For its 2027 ranking, College Factual looked at 84 schools in the United States to determine which ones were the best for software engineering students pursuing a degree.
The school you choose for software engineering can shape your career. That is why we developed our collection of Best Schools for Software Engineering rankings. For our Best Overall Software Engineering School ranking, we roll up the results of our degree-level rankings, weighted by the number of degrees awarded at that level.
To find the best fit, you can narrow this list to a specific degree level below.
We offer several rankings, including this Best Software Engineering Schools list, to help you decide. Want schools in a particular part of the country? Narrow the list by region or state.
Want to compare schools head to head? Try our College Combat tool to weigh the factors that matter most to you.
Best Schools for Software Engineering in the United States
If you are not interested in a particular degree level and want to know which schools are the overall best at delivering an education for the software engineering degrees they offer, see the list below.
California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo is one of the finest schools in the country for getting a degree in software engineering. Located in the suburb of San Luis Obispo, California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo is a very large public university. Roughly 86% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 23 software engineering degrees were awarded at California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo in the most recent year. Students who receive their software engineering degree from California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo earn around $111,560 in the first couple years of their career. California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo graduates carry a median of $20,556 in student loans.
Get the full software engineering details for California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo
Carnegie Mellon University came in at #2 on our 2027 list of the best software engineering schools. Carnegie Mellon University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Pittsburgh. Roughly 94% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 237 software engineering degrees were awarded at Carnegie Mellon University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, software engineering degree recipients from Carnegie Mellon University generally make around $89,327. Carnegie Mellon University graduates carry a median of $23,529 in student loans.
Read more about the software engineering program at Carnegie Mellon University
A rank of #3 makes San Jose State University one of the top schools for software engineering. San Jose State University is a very large public school located in the city of San Jose. The six-year graduation rate is 69%. San Jose State University awarded about 321 software engineering degrees in the most recent data year.
See the full software engineering program report for San Jose State University
Harvard University is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in software engineering, ranking #4. Harvard University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Cambridge. Roughly 98% of students complete a degree within six years here. Harvard University awarded about 35 software engineering degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, software engineering degree recipients from Harvard University generally make around $177,890. Typical student debt for the program is $16,616.
See the full software engineering program report for Harvard University
University Of California Irvine came in at #5 on our 2027 list of the best software engineering schools. Set in the city of Irvine, University Of California Irvine is a very large public institution. Roughly 87% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 150 software engineering students who graduated with this degree at University Of California Irvine in the most recent data year. Graduates of the software engineering program make about $79,812 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $19,233.
More information about a degree in software engineering from University Of California Irvine
Chapman University placed #6 among the best software engineering schools. Set in the city of Orange, Chapman University is a large private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 82%. Chapman University awarded about 19 software engineering degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the software engineering program make about $50,947 in their early career. Chapman University graduates carry a median of $21,657 in student loans.
Get the full software engineering details for Chapman University
Brigham Young University Provo ranked #7 on our 2027 list of the best software engineering schools. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Provo. About 81% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 41 software engineering students who graduated with this degree at Brigham Young University Provo in the most recent data year. Software Engineering graduates of Brigham Young University Provo earn a median of $88,785 early in their careers. Brigham Young University Provo graduates carry a median of $10,750 in student loans.
Get the full software engineering details for Brigham Young University Provo
Northeastern University placed #8 among the best software engineering schools. Located in the city of Boston, Northeastern University is a very large private not-for-profit university. About 90% of students finish within six years. Northeastern University awarded about 1,246 software engineering degrees in the most recent data year. Software Engineering graduates of Northeastern University earn a median of $99,499 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $25,005.
More information about a degree in software engineering from Northeastern University
Western Governors University landed the #9 spot for software engineering this year. Western Governors University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Salt Lake City. Western Governors University graduates 46% of students within six years. Western Governors University awarded about 888 software engineering degrees in the most recent data year. Software Engineering graduates of Western Governors University earn a median of $74,771 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $23,277.
See the full software engineering program report for Western Governors University
Point Loma Nazarene University ranked #10 on our 2027 list of the best software engineering schools. Located in the city of San Diego, Point Loma Nazarene University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. Roughly 77% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 11 software engineering students who graduated with this degree at Point Loma Nazarene University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, software engineering degree recipients from Point Loma Nazarene University generally make around $54,116. Students borrow a median of $22,542 to complete this degree.
Read more about the software engineering program at Point Loma Nazarene University
Concordia University Wisconsin placed #11 among the best software engineering schools. Located in the suburb of Mequon, Concordia University Wisconsin is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. About 69% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 104 software engineering students who graduated with this degree at Concordia University Wisconsin in the most recent data year. Graduates of the software engineering program make about $58,227 in their early career. Concordia University Wisconsin graduates carry a median of $27,172 in student loans.
See the full software engineering program report for Concordia University Wisconsin
Southern Methodist University earned the #12 position for software engineering this year. Located in the suburb of Dallas, Southern Methodist University is a large private not-for-profit university. Roughly 84% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 17 software engineering students who graduated with this degree at Southern Methodist University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their software engineering degree from Southern Methodist University earn around $130,488 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $20,712 to complete this degree.
See the full software engineering program report for Southern Methodist University
George Mason University landed the #13 spot for software engineering this year. This very large public university is located in the suburb of Fairfax. Roughly 68% of students complete a degree within six years here. George Mason University awarded about 59 software engineering degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, software engineering degree recipients from George Mason University generally make around $109,917. Students borrow a median of $26,697 to complete this degree.
Read more about the software engineering program at George Mason University
Rose Hulman Institute Of Technology earned the #14 position for software engineering this year. Set in the city of Terre Haute, Rose Hulman Institute Of Technology is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. About 78% of students finish within six years. About 19 software engineering degrees were awarded at Rose Hulman Institute Of Technology in the most recent year. Graduates of the software engineering program make about $92,123 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $24,834 to complete this degree.
Get the full software engineering details for Rose Hulman Institute Of Technology
Villanova University ranked #15 on our 2027 list of the best software engineering schools. Located in the suburb of Villanova, Villanova University is a large private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 92%. About 14 software engineering degrees were awarded at Villanova University in the most recent year. Students who receive their software engineering degree from Villanova University earn around $108,248 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $26,000 to complete this degree.
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Gannon University ranked #16 on our 2027 list of the best software engineering schools. Set in the city of Erie, Gannon University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. About 67% of students finish within six years. Gannon University awarded about 13 software engineering degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the software engineering program make about $73,658 in their early career. Gannon University graduates carry a median of $26,934 in student loans.
Read more about the software engineering program at Gannon University
The University Of Texas At Dallas placed #17 among the best software engineering schools. The University Of Texas At Dallas is a very large public school located in the city of Richardson. About 76% of students finish within six years. About 186 software engineering degrees were awarded at The University Of Texas At Dallas in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, software engineering degree recipients from The University Of Texas At Dallas generally make around $88,820. The University Of Texas At Dallas graduates carry a median of $21,000 in student loans.
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University Of Cincinnati Main Campus landed the #18 spot for software engineering this year. University Of Cincinnati Main Campus is a very large public school located in the city of Cincinnati. University Of Cincinnati Main Campus graduates 74% of students within six years. University Of Cincinnati Main Campus awarded about 19 software engineering degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the software engineering program make about $83,489 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $21,875.
See the full software engineering program report for University Of Cincinnati Main Campus
Auburn University ranked #19 on our 2027 list of the best software engineering schools. Located in the city of Auburn, Auburn University is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 82%. There were roughly 53 software engineering students who graduated with this degree at Auburn University in the most recent data year. Software Engineering graduates of Auburn University earn a median of $80,067 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $22,125.
See the full software engineering program report for Auburn University
California State University San Marcos earned the #20 position for software engineering this year. Located in the suburb of San Marcos, California State University San Marcos is a large public university. Roughly 55% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 19 software engineering students who graduated with this degree at California State University San Marcos in the most recent data year. Students who receive their software engineering degree from California State University San Marcos earn around $48,726 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $17,527 to complete this degree.
See the full software engineering program report for California State University San Marcos
Stevens Institute Of Technology placed #21 among the best software engineering schools. Set in the suburb of Hoboken, Stevens Institute Of Technology is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. Stevens Institute Of Technology graduates 87% of students within six years. There were roughly 103 software engineering students who graduated with this degree at Stevens Institute Of Technology in the most recent data year. Students who receive their software engineering degree from Stevens Institute Of Technology earn around $106,761 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $26,930 to complete this degree.
See the full software engineering program report for Stevens Institute Of Technology
Iowa State University placed #22 among the best software engineering schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Ames. Roughly 75% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 131 software engineering degrees were awarded at Iowa State University in the most recent year. Software Engineering graduates of Iowa State University earn a median of $79,182 early in their careers. Iowa State University graduates carry a median of $24,337 in student loans.
More information about a degree in software engineering from Iowa State University
Pace University New York came in at #23 for software engineering this year. Set in the city of New York, Pace University New York is a large private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 60% of students complete a degree within six years here. Pace University New York awarded about 11 software engineering degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the software engineering program make about $59,662 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $25,656.
Read more about the software engineering program at Pace University New York
University Of Arizona earned the #24 position for software engineering this year. Located in the city of Tucson, University Of Arizona is a very large public university. Roughly 68% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 51 software engineering students who graduated with this degree at University Of Arizona in the most recent data year. Software Engineering graduates of University Of Arizona earn a median of $50,834 early in their careers. University Of Arizona graduates carry a median of $21,861 in student loans.
See the full software engineering program report for University Of Arizona
Mills College ranked #25 on our 2027 list of the best software engineering schools. Located in the city of Oakland, Mills College is a small private not-for-profit university. There were roughly 20 software engineering students who graduated with this degree at Mills College in the most recent data year. Software Engineering graduates of Mills College earn a median of $77,860 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $25,022.
Get the full software engineering details for Mills College
Rest of the Top 50 Software Engineering Schools
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s software engineering ranking:
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. The methodology weighs graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, cost, and program quality, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 84 schools evaluated.
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).
