Best Schools for Software Engineering in the United States
See the highest-ranked software engineering schools offering a master’s degree below.
Top Schools in Software Engineering
Carnegie Mellon University tops our 2026 ranking of the best software engineering schools. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Pittsburgh. Carnegie Mellon University graduates 94% of students within six years. About 232 software engineering degrees were awarded at Carnegie Mellon University in the most recent year. Graduates of the software engineering program make about $89,327 in their early career. Carnegie Mellon University graduates carry a median of $23,529 in student loans.
More information about a degree in software engineering from Carnegie Mellon University
Students looking for a strong software engineering program will find one at Harvard University, which ranked #2. Located in the city of Cambridge, Harvard University is a very large private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 98%. About 33 software engineering degrees were awarded at Harvard University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, software engineering degree recipients from Harvard University generally make around $177,890. Students borrow a median of $16,616 to complete this degree.
Get the full software engineering details for Harvard University
Students looking for a strong software engineering program will find one at University Of California Irvine, which ranked #3. University Of California Irvine is a very large public school located in the city of Irvine. The six-year graduation rate is 87%. University Of California Irvine awarded about 54 software engineering degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the software engineering program make about $79,812 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $19,233 to complete this degree.
See the full software engineering program report for University Of California Irvine
San Jose State University came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best software engineering schools. San Jose State University is a very large public school located in the city of San Jose. San Jose State University graduates 69% of students within six years. There were roughly 319 software engineering students who graduated with this degree at San Jose State University in the most recent data year.
Read more about the software engineering program at San Jose State University
A rank of #5 makes Northeastern University one of the top schools for software engineering. Set in the city of Boston, Northeastern University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 90%. There were roughly 1,086 software engineering students who graduated with this degree at Northeastern University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the software engineering program make about $99,499 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $25,005 to complete this degree.
Get the full software engineering details for Northeastern University
Auburn University came in at #6 for software engineering this year. Located in the city of Auburn, Auburn University is a very large public university. About 82% of students finish within six years. Auburn University awarded about 62 software engineering degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, software engineering degree recipients from Auburn University generally make around $80,067. Typical student debt for the program is $22,125.
More information about a degree in software engineering from Auburn University
University Of Minnesota Twin Cities earned the #7 position for software engineering this year. University Of Minnesota Twin Cities is a very large public school located in the city of Minneapolis. About 85% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 13 software engineering students who graduated with this degree at University Of Minnesota Twin Cities in the most recent data year. Graduates of the software engineering program make about $127,323 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $23,000 to complete this degree.
Read more about the software engineering program at University Of Minnesota Twin Cities
George Mason University came in at #8 for software engineering this year. Set in the suburb of Fairfax, George Mason University is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 68%. George Mason University awarded about 29 software engineering degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, software engineering degree recipients from George Mason University generally make around $132,367. George Mason University graduates carry a median of $26,697 in student loans.
See the full software engineering program report for George Mason University
Southern Methodist University landed the #9 spot for software engineering this year. Southern Methodist University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Dallas. Southern Methodist University graduates 84% of students within six years. Southern Methodist University awarded about 11 software engineering degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, software engineering degree recipients from Southern Methodist University generally make around $130,488. Students borrow a median of $20,712 to complete this degree.
See the full software engineering program report for Southern Methodist University
Concordia University Wisconsin ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the best software engineering schools. This moderately-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Mequon. Roughly 69% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 74 software engineering degrees were awarded at Concordia University Wisconsin in the most recent year. Software Engineering graduates of Concordia University Wisconsin earn a median of $58,227 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $27,172.
See the full software engineering program report for Concordia University Wisconsin
University Of Scranton earned the #11 position for software engineering this year. Set in the city of Scranton, University Of Scranton is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. About 80% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 10 software engineering students who graduated with this degree at University Of Scranton in the most recent data year. Students who receive their software engineering degree from University Of Scranton earn around $56,861 in the first couple years of their career. University Of Scranton graduates carry a median of $26,500 in student loans.
Read more about the software engineering program at University Of Scranton
The University Of Texas At Dallas came in at #12 for software engineering this year. The University Of Texas At Dallas is a very large public school located in the city of Richardson. The six-year graduation rate is 76%. The University Of Texas At Dallas awarded about 19 software engineering degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their software engineering degree from The University Of Texas At Dallas earn around $100,030 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $21,000.
More information about a degree in software engineering from The University Of Texas At Dallas
Pennsylvania State University World Campus ranked #13 on our 2026 list of the best software engineering schools. This large public university is located in the city of University Park. Roughly 34% of students complete a degree within six years here. Pennsylvania State University World Campus awarded about 50 software engineering degrees in the most recent data year.
Read more about the software engineering program at Pennsylvania State University World Campus
Villanova University came in at #14 for software engineering this year. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Villanova. Villanova University graduates 92% of students within six years. There were roughly 16 software engineering students who graduated with this degree at Villanova University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the software engineering program make about $122,268 in their early career. Villanova University graduates carry a median of $26,000 in student loans.
Get the full software engineering details for Villanova University
New Jersey Institute Of Technology ranked #15 on our 2026 list of the best software engineering schools. Set in the city of Newark, New Jersey Institute Of Technology is a large public institution. Roughly 73% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 12 software engineering degrees were awarded at New Jersey Institute Of Technology in the most recent year. Graduates of the software engineering program make about $67,640 in their early career. New Jersey Institute Of Technology graduates carry a median of $22,375 in student loans.
See the full software engineering program report for New Jersey Institute Of Technology
Pace University New York placed #16 among the best software engineering schools. Pace University New York is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of New York. Roughly 60% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 11 software engineering degrees were awarded at Pace University New York in the most recent year. Software Engineering graduates of Pace University New York earn a median of $59,662 early in their careers. Pace University New York graduates carry a median of $25,670 in student loans.
See the full software engineering program report for Pace University New York
Stevens Institute Of Technology came in at #17 for software engineering this year. Stevens Institute Of Technology is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Hoboken. The six-year graduation rate is 87%. Stevens Institute Of Technology awarded about 87 software engineering degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the software engineering program make about $124,520 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $26,930.
Read more about the software engineering program at Stevens Institute Of Technology
The University Of Texas At Arlington placed #18 among the best software engineering schools. The University Of Texas At Arlington is a very large public school located in the city of Arlington. About 54% of students finish within six years. About 33 software engineering degrees were awarded at The University Of Texas At Arlington in the most recent year. Graduates of the software engineering program make about $81,226 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $20,833.
Get the full software engineering details for The University Of Texas At Arlington
Arizona State University placed #19 among the best software engineering schools. Set in the city of Tempe, Arizona State University is a very large public institution. Arizona State University graduates 68% of students within six years. Arizona State University awarded about 231 software engineering degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their software engineering degree from Arizona State University earn around $81,123 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $26,972 to complete this degree.
Get the full software engineering details for Arizona State University
California State University Northridge landed the #20 spot for software engineering this year. Located in the city of Northridge, California State University Northridge is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 57%. About 12 software engineering degrees were awarded at California State University Northridge in the most recent year. Students who receive their software engineering degree from California State University Northridge earn around $75,692 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $19,548.
Read more about the software engineering program at California State University Northridge
Iowa State University ranked #21 on our 2026 list of the best software engineering schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Ames. Iowa State University graduates 75% of students within six years. About 142 software engineering degrees were awarded at Iowa State University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, software engineering degree recipients from Iowa State University generally make around $79,182. Typical student debt for the program is $24,337.
See the full software engineering program report for Iowa State University
California State University Fullerton landed the #22 spot for software engineering this year. This very large public university is located in the suburb of Fullerton. The six-year graduation rate is 70%. California State University Fullerton awarded about 75 software engineering degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their software engineering degree from California State University Fullerton earn around $113,000 in the first couple years of their career. California State University Fullerton graduates carry a median of $18,500 in student loans.
See the full software engineering program report for California State University Fullerton
North Dakota State University Main Campus earned the #23 position for software engineering this year. North Dakota State University Main Campus is a large public school located in the city of Fargo. North Dakota State University Main Campus graduates 64% of students within six years. North Dakota State University Main Campus awarded about 11 software engineering degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their software engineering degree from North Dakota State University Main Campus earn around $76,558 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $21,511 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in software engineering from North Dakota State University Main Campus
University Of Utah came in at #24 for software engineering this year. Located in the city of Salt Lake City, University Of Utah is a very large public university. About 65% of students finish within six years. About 40 software engineering degrees were awarded at University Of Utah in the most recent year. Students who receive their software engineering degree from University Of Utah earn around $108,534 in the first couple years of their career. University Of Utah graduates carry a median of $19,375 in student loans.
Get the full software engineering details for University Of Utah
Fairfield University placed #25 among the best software engineering schools. This moderately-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Fairfield. Fairfield University graduates 84% of students within six years. There were roughly 10 software engineering students who graduated with this degree at Fairfield University in the most recent data year. Software Engineering graduates of Fairfield University earn a median of $66,305 early in their careers. Fairfield University graduates carry a median of $26,687 in student loans.
See the full software engineering program report for Fairfield University
Rest of the Top 37 Software Engineering Schools
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s software engineering ranking:
Other Software Engineering Degree Levels
Explore the best software engineering schools at other degree levels:
Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 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 · 175 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.
