2027 Best Software Engineering Schools in the Great Lakes Region
Software Engineering degree programs prepare students for a range of careers in the field. While the number of schools offering the program varies, there are still top-quality ones to be found.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 14 schools to find the best for software engineering students.
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Best Schools for Software Engineering in the Great Lakes Region
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.
Top Schools in Software Engineering
Concordia University Wisconsin tops our 2027 ranking of the best software engineering schools. Located in the suburb of Mequon, Concordia University Wisconsin is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. Roughly 69% of students complete a degree within six years here. Concordia University Wisconsin awarded about 104 software engineering degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their software engineering degree from Concordia University Wisconsin earn around $58,227 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $27,172.
Read more about the software engineering program at Concordia University Wisconsin
Rose Hulman Institute Of Technology is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in software engineering, landing the #2 spot this year. Rose Hulman Institute Of Technology is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Terre Haute. About 78% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 19 software engineering students who graduated with this degree at Rose Hulman Institute Of Technology in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, software engineering degree recipients from Rose Hulman Institute Of Technology generally make around $92,123. Rose Hulman Institute Of Technology graduates carry a median of $24,834 in student loans.
Read more about the software engineering program at Rose Hulman Institute Of Technology
Students looking for a strong software engineering program will find one at University Of Cincinnati Main Campus, which ranked #3. Set in the city of Cincinnati, University Of Cincinnati Main Campus is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 74%. About 19 software engineering degrees were awarded at University Of Cincinnati Main Campus in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, software engineering degree recipients from University Of Cincinnati Main Campus generally make around $83,489. Typical student debt for the program is $21,875.
More information about a degree in software engineering from University Of Cincinnati Main Campus
Depaul University is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in software engineering, landing the #4 spot this year. Located in the city of Chicago, Depaul University is a very large private not-for-profit university. Depaul University graduates 68% of students within six years. Depaul University awarded about 20 software engineering degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, software engineering degree recipients from Depaul University generally make around $121,173. Depaul University graduates carry a median of $25,340 in student loans.
See the full software engineering program report for Depaul University
Illinois Institute Of Technology is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in software engineering, landing the #5 spot this year. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Chicago. About 75% of students finish within six years. Illinois Institute Of Technology awarded about 27 software engineering degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their software engineering degree from Illinois Institute Of Technology earn around $81,252 in the first couple years of their career. Illinois Institute Of Technology graduates carry a median of $26,500 in student loans.
More information about a degree in software engineering from Illinois Institute Of Technology
Michigan Technological University earned the #6 position for software engineering this year. Located in the town of Houghton, Michigan Technological University is a moderately-sized public university. The six-year graduation rate is 68%. Michigan Technological University awarded about 32 software engineering degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the software engineering program make about $77,465 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete this degree.
Get the full software engineering details for Michigan Technological University
Milwaukee School Of Engineering landed the #7 spot for software engineering this year. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Milwaukee. Roughly 67% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 35 software engineering degrees were awarded at Milwaukee School Of Engineering in the most recent year. Software Engineering graduates of Milwaukee School Of Engineering earn a median of $78,333 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete this degree.
Read more about the software engineering program at Milwaukee School Of Engineering
Loyola University Chicago ranked #8 on our 2027 list of the best software engineering schools. Located in the city of Chicago, Loyola University Chicago is a large private not-for-profit university. Loyola University Chicago graduates 75% of students within six years. Loyola University Chicago awarded about 25 software engineering degrees in the most recent data year. Software Engineering graduates of Loyola University Chicago earn a median of $68,020 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $25,000.
See the full software engineering program report for Loyola University Chicago
University Of Wisconsin Platteville landed the #9 spot for software engineering this year. University Of Wisconsin Platteville is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Platteville. Roughly 61% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 25 software engineering degrees were awarded at University Of Wisconsin Platteville in the most recent year. Software Engineering graduates of University Of Wisconsin Platteville earn a median of $71,635 early in their careers. University Of Wisconsin Platteville graduates carry a median of $24,500 in student loans.
Read more about the software engineering program at University Of Wisconsin Platteville
Miami University Oxford landed the #10 spot for software engineering this year. Set in the town of Oxford, Miami University Oxford is a very large public institution. About 80% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 27 software engineering students who graduated with this degree at Miami University Oxford in the most recent data year. Students who receive their software engineering degree from Miami University Oxford earn around $71,836 in the first couple years of their career. Miami University Oxford graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans.
Read more about the software engineering program at Miami University Oxford
Oakland Community College earned the #11 position for software engineering this year. Located in the suburb of Auburn Hills, Oakland Community College is a very large public university. About 60 software engineering degrees were awarded at Oakland Community College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, software engineering degree recipients from Oakland Community College generally make around $43,205. Typical student debt for the program is $15,865.
More information about a degree in software engineering from Oakland Community College
Bowling Green State University Main Campus ranked #12 on our 2027 list of the best software engineering schools. Located in the town of Bowling Green, Bowling Green State University Main Campus is a very large public university. Bowling Green State University Main Campus graduates 61% of students within six years. Bowling Green State University Main Campus awarded about 67 software engineering degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their software engineering degree from Bowling Green State University Main Campus earn around $67,949 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in software engineering from Bowling Green State University Main Campus
Cleveland State University earned the #13 position for software engineering this year. Cleveland State University is a large public school located in the city of Cleveland. The six-year graduation rate is 51%. About 30 software engineering degrees were awarded at Cleveland State University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, software engineering degree recipients from Cleveland State University generally make around $68,852. Students borrow a median of $25,547 to complete this degree.
Get the full software engineering details for Cleveland State University
Devry University Illinois placed #14 among the best software engineering schools. Set in the suburb of Lisle, Devry University Illinois is a very large private for-profit institution. About 18% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 171 software engineering students who graduated with this degree at Devry University Illinois in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, software engineering degree recipients from Devry University Illinois generally make around $55,470. Devry University Illinois graduates carry a median of $43,684 in student loans.
Get the full software engineering details for Devry University Illinois
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. Schools are scored on a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and program focus, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 14 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).
More about our data sources and methodologies.