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College Factual  by our College Data Analytics Team
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2026 Best Computer Software & Applications Schools in the Great Lakes Region

19 Colleges in the United States
1,689 Computer Software & Applications Degrees Awarded
$46,000 Avg Early-Career Salary

Computer Software & Applications is a field worth a close look when choosing where to study. The schools below stand out for the quality of their computer software & applications programs.

To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 134 schools to find the best for computer software & applications students.

What’s on this page:

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Best Schools for Computer Software & Applications 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 computer software & applications degrees they offer, see the list below.

Top Schools in Computer Software & Applications

1

University Of Dayton is one of the finest schools in the country for getting a degree in computer software & applications. Located in the city of Dayton, University Of Dayton is a large private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 80%. About 11 computer software & applications degrees were awarded at University Of Dayton in the most recent year. Computer Software & Applications graduates of University Of Dayton earn a median of $56,077 early in their careers. University Of Dayton graduates carry a median of $25,033 in student loans. See the full computer software & applications program report for University Of Dayton

2
Purdue University Main Campus crest
Purdue University Main Campus
West Lafayette, IN

A rank of #2 makes Purdue University Main Campus one of the top schools for computer software & applications. This very large public university is located in the city of West Lafayette. Purdue University Main Campus graduates 83% of students within six years. There were roughly 190 computer software & applications students who graduated with this degree at Purdue University Main Campus in the most recent data year. Graduates of the computer software & applications program make about $38,234 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $21,250. Read more about the computer software & applications program at Purdue University Main Campus

3

Illinois State University is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in computer software & applications, landing the #3 spot this year. This very large public university is located in the suburb of Normal. Illinois State University graduates 64% of students within six years. Illinois State University awarded about 126 computer software & applications degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, computer software & applications degree recipients from Illinois State University generally make around $49,660. Illinois State University graduates carry a median of $21,896 in student loans. See the full computer software & applications program report for Illinois State University

4

Students looking for a strong computer software & applications program will find one at Madison Area Technical College, which ranked #4. Set in the city of Madison, Madison Area Technical College is a large public institution. Madison Area Technical College awarded about 37 computer software & applications degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, computer software & applications degree recipients from Madison Area Technical College generally make around $65,191. Students borrow a median of $16,640 to complete this degree. Read more about the computer software & applications program at Madison Area Technical College

5
Depaul University crest
Depaul University
Chicago, IL

Students looking for a strong computer software & applications program will find one at Depaul University, which ranked #5. Depaul University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Chicago. About 68% of students finish within six years. About 217 computer software & applications degrees were awarded at Depaul University in the most recent year. Graduates of the computer software & applications program make about $84,986 in their early career. Depaul University graduates carry a median of $23,249 in student loans. Read more about the computer software & applications program at Depaul University

6

Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best computer software & applications schools. Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis is a very large public school located in the city of Indianapolis. The six-year graduation rate is 54%. There were roughly 13 computer software & applications students who graduated with this degree at Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis in the most recent data year. Students who receive their computer software & applications degree from Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis earn around $56,930 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $23,146 to complete this degree. Get the full computer software & applications details for Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis

7

University Of Cincinnati Main Campus earned the #7 position for computer software & applications this year. Located in the city of Cincinnati, University Of Cincinnati Main Campus is a very large public university. University Of Cincinnati Main Campus graduates 74% of students within six years. There were roughly 23 computer software & applications students who graduated with this degree at University Of Cincinnati Main Campus in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, computer software & applications degree recipients from University Of Cincinnati Main Campus generally make around $58,659. Students borrow a median of $23,530 to complete this degree. See the full computer software & applications program report for University Of Cincinnati Main Campus

8

University Of Wisconsin Stout earned the #8 position for computer software & applications this year. University Of Wisconsin Stout is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Menomonie. Roughly 55% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 62 computer software & applications students who graduated with this degree at University Of Wisconsin Stout in the most recent data year. Students who receive their computer software & applications degree from University Of Wisconsin Stout earn around $54,639 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $27,000. See the full computer software & applications program report for University Of Wisconsin Stout

9
College Of Dupage crest
College Of Dupage
Glen Ellyn, IL

College Of Dupage landed the #9 spot for computer software & applications this year. This very large public university is located in the suburb of Glen Ellyn. About 13 computer software & applications degrees were awarded at College Of Dupage in the most recent year. Computer Software & Applications graduates of College Of Dupage earn a median of $43,025 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $12,492. See the full computer software & applications program report for College Of Dupage

10

Northeast Wisconsin Technical College landed the #10 spot for computer software & applications this year. Northeast Wisconsin Technical College is a large public school located in the city of Green Bay. About 16 computer software & applications degrees were awarded at Northeast Wisconsin Technical College in the most recent year. Graduates of the computer software & applications program make about $42,016 in their early career. Northeast Wisconsin Technical College graduates carry a median of $14,997 in student loans. Read more about the computer software & applications program at Northeast Wisconsin Technical College

11

Lorain County Community College ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the best computer software & applications schools. Lorain County Community College is a large public school located in the suburb of Elyria. There were roughly 85 computer software & applications students who graduated with this degree at Lorain County Community College in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, computer software & applications degree recipients from Lorain County Community College generally make around $40,095. Lorain County Community College graduates carry a median of $17,611 in student loans. Read more about the computer software & applications program at Lorain County Community College

12

Elgin Community College ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the best computer software & applications schools. Elgin Community College is a large public school located in the city of Elgin. Elgin Community College awarded about 20 computer software & applications degrees in the most recent data year. Computer Software & Applications graduates of Elgin Community College earn a median of $43,975 early in their careers. Elgin Community College graduates carry a median of $7,727 in student loans. More information about a degree in computer software & applications from Elgin Community College

13

Western Technical College La Cross came in at #13 for computer software & applications this year. This moderately-sized public university is located in the city of La Crosse. Western Technical College La Cross awarded about 17 computer software & applications degrees in the most recent data year. Computer Software & Applications graduates of Western Technical College La Cross earn a median of $43,479 early in their careers. Western Technical College La Cross graduates carry a median of $13,669 in student loans. More information about a degree in computer software & applications from Western Technical College La Cross

14

Joliet Junior College placed #14 among the best computer software & applications schools. Set in the suburb of Joliet, Joliet Junior College is a very large public institution. About 28 computer software & applications degrees were awarded at Joliet Junior College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, computer software & applications degree recipients from Joliet Junior College generally make around $40,118. Joliet Junior College graduates carry a median of $11,995 in student loans. More information about a degree in computer software & applications from Joliet Junior College

15

Macomb Community College earned the #15 position for computer software & applications this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Warren. There were roughly 54 computer software & applications students who graduated with this degree at Macomb Community College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the computer software & applications program make about $38,758 in their early career. Macomb Community College graduates carry a median of $9,862 in student loans. See the full computer software & applications program report for Macomb Community College

16

College For Creative Studies landed the #16 spot for computer software & applications this year. Located in the city of Detroit, College For Creative Studies is a small private not-for-profit university. About 71% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 25 computer software & applications students who graduated with this degree at College For Creative Studies in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, computer software & applications degree recipients from College For Creative Studies generally make around $26,638. College For Creative Studies graduates carry a median of $27,655 in student loans. More information about a degree in computer software & applications from College For Creative Studies

17

Southwest Wisconsin Technical College ranked #17 on our 2026 list of the best computer software & applications schools. Located in the rural area of Fennimore, Southwest Wisconsin Technical College is a mid-sized public university. Southwest Wisconsin Technical College awarded about 10 computer software & applications degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, computer software & applications degree recipients from Southwest Wisconsin Technical College generally make around $42,087. Southwest Wisconsin Technical College graduates carry a median of $12,112 in student loans. More information about a degree in computer software & applications from Southwest Wisconsin Technical College

18

College Of Lake County landed the #18 spot for computer software & applications this year. This very large public university is located in the suburb of Grayslake. About 17 computer software & applications degrees were awarded at College Of Lake County in the most recent year. Computer Software & Applications graduates of College Of Lake County earn a median of $50,314 early in their careers. College Of Lake County graduates carry a median of $9,785 in student loans. Get the full computer software & applications details for College Of Lake County

19

Moraine Valley Community College landed the #19 spot for computer software & applications this year. Set in the suburb of Palos Hills, Moraine Valley Community College is a large public institution. Moraine Valley Community College awarded about 16 computer software & applications degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their computer software & applications degree from Moraine Valley Community College earn around $43,844 in the first couple years of their career. Moraine Valley Community College graduates carry a median of $11,149 in student loans. Read more about the computer software & applications program at Moraine Valley Community College

20

Bradley University placed #20 among the best computer software & applications schools. Set in the city of Peoria, Bradley University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 76%. About 35 computer software & applications degrees were awarded at Bradley University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, computer software & applications degree recipients from Bradley University generally make around $54,513. Students borrow a median of $26,380 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in computer software & applications from Bradley University

21
Stark State College crest
Stark State College
North Canton, OH

Stark State College earned the #21 position for computer software & applications this year. This large public university is located in the suburb of North Canton. There were roughly 73 computer software & applications students who graduated with this degree at Stark State College in the most recent data year. Computer Software & Applications graduates of Stark State College earn a median of $22,525 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $6,881. See the full computer software & applications program report for Stark State College

22

Heartland Community College earned the #22 position for computer software & applications this year. Heartland Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Normal. About 44 computer software & applications degrees were awarded at Heartland Community College in the most recent year. Computer Software & Applications graduates of Heartland Community College earn a median of $48,710 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $13,266 to complete this degree. Get the full computer software & applications details for Heartland Community College

23

Henry Ford Community College placed #23 among the best computer software & applications schools. Henry Ford Community College is a large public school located in the city of Dearborn. Henry Ford Community College awarded about 75 computer software & applications degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, computer software & applications degree recipients from Henry Ford Community College generally make around $36,247. Typical student debt for the program is $18,876. Read more about the computer software & applications program at Henry Ford Community College

24

University Of Northwestern Ohio came in at #24 for computer software & applications this year. Located in the suburb of Lima, University Of Northwestern Ohio is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Roughly 32% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 11 computer software & applications degrees were awarded at University Of Northwestern Ohio in the most recent year. Graduates of the computer software & applications program make about $44,784 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $23,805 to complete this degree. Read more about the computer software & applications program at University Of Northwestern Ohio

25
Ivy Tech Community College crest
Ivy Tech Community College
Indianapolis, IN

Ivy Tech Community College placed #25 among the best computer software & applications schools. Located in the city of Indianapolis, Ivy Tech Community College is a very large public university. There were roughly 151 computer software & applications students who graduated with this degree at Ivy Tech Community College in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, computer software & applications degree recipients from Ivy Tech Community College generally make around $40,734. Ivy Tech Community College graduates carry a median of $11,889 in student loans. See the full computer software & applications program report for Ivy Tech Community College

Rest of the Top 35 Computer Software & Applications Schools

These schools rounded out the top of this year’s computer software & applications ranking:

26
27
28
29
30
31
32
Prairie State College crest
Prairie State College
Chicago Heights, IL
33
34
35
Belmont College crest
Belmont College
St Clairsville, OH

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Notes and References

The ranking above is published 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 · 134 schools evaluated.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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