2026 Best Software Engineering Schools in the The Plains States Region
Software Engineering degree programs prepare students for a range of careers in the field. A focused field like this rewards careful comparison of the schools that offer it.
For its 2026 ranking, College Factual looked at 20 schools in the United States to determine which ones were the best for software engineering students pursuing a degree.
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Best Schools for Software Engineering in the The Plains States Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest overall software engineering education in the The Plains States Region.
Top Schools in Software Engineering
Our analysis ranked University Of Minnesota Twin Cities the best school in the country for a degree in software engineering. Set in the city of Minneapolis, University Of Minnesota Twin Cities is a very large public institution. University Of Minnesota Twin Cities graduates 85% of students within six years. About 13 software engineering degrees were awarded at University Of Minnesota Twin Cities in the most recent year. Graduates of the software engineering program make about $106,498 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $23,000.
Get the full software engineering details for University Of Minnesota Twin Cities
Iowa State University came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best software engineering schools. Located in the city of Ames, Iowa State University is a very large public university. About 75% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 142 software engineering students who graduated with this degree at Iowa State University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their software engineering degree from Iowa State University earn around $79,182 in the first couple years of their career. Iowa State University graduates carry a median of $24,337 in student loans.
See the full software engineering program report for Iowa State University
University Of Nebraska Lincoln came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best software engineering schools. University Of Nebraska Lincoln is a very large public school located in the city of Lincoln. Roughly 67% of students complete a degree within six years here. University Of Nebraska Lincoln awarded about 37 software engineering degrees in the most recent data year. Software Engineering graduates of University Of Nebraska Lincoln earn a median of $82,398 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $20,240.
Read more about the software engineering program at University Of Nebraska Lincoln
North Dakota State University Main Campus is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in software engineering, landing the #4 spot this year. North Dakota State University Main Campus is a large public school located in the city of Fargo. The six-year graduation rate is 64%. North Dakota State University Main Campus awarded about 16 software engineering degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, software engineering degree recipients from North Dakota State University Main Campus generally make around $76,558. Typical student debt for the program is $21,511.
More information about a degree in software engineering from North Dakota State University Main Campus
Students looking for a strong software engineering program will find one at Rasmussen College Minnesota, which ranked #5. Set in the city of St. Cloud, Rasmussen College Minnesota is a large private for-profit institution. About 16 software engineering degrees were awarded at Rasmussen College Minnesota in the most recent year. Software Engineering graduates of Rasmussen College Minnesota earn a median of $48,263 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $23,635.
Get the full software engineering details for Rasmussen College Minnesota
Saint Cloud State University earned the #6 position for software engineering this year. This large public university is located in the city of Saint Cloud. About 39% of students finish within six years. About 21 software engineering degrees were awarded at Saint Cloud State University in the most recent year. Software Engineering graduates of Saint Cloud State University earn a median of $77,792 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $27,000.
See the full software engineering program report for Saint Cloud State University
Drury University came in at #7 for software engineering this year. Located in the city of Springfield, Drury University is a small private not-for-profit university. Drury University graduates 62% of students within six years. Drury University awarded about 11 software engineering degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the software engineering program make about $37,267 in their early career. Drury University graduates carry a median of $26,641 in student loans.
See the full software engineering program report for Drury University
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Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 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 · 20 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.
