2026 Best Value Software Engineering Schools in the Great Lakes Region

1

Purdue University Main Campus
West Lafayette, IN

Purdue University Main Campus earned the #1 spot for value among software engineering schools in the Great Lakes Region. Set in the city of West Lafayette, Purdue University Main Campus is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,992, with out-of-state students paying around $28,794. Students borrow a median of $23,000 to complete the software engineering program here. Software Engineering graduates of Purdue University Main Campus earn a median of $63,111 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $23,000 median debt. Purdue University Main Campus admits about 50% of applicants.

2

Oakland Community College
Auburn Hills, MI

The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Oakland Community College earned it the #2 place for software engineering. Located in the suburb of Auburn Hills, Oakland Community College is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $3,120 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $5,560. Students borrow a median of $15,865 to complete the software engineering program here. Soon after graduation, software engineering degree recipients from Oakland Community College generally make around $43,205. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.

3

Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis
Indianapolis, IN

Students looking for strong value in software engineering will find it at Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis, which ranked #3. Set in the city of Indianapolis, Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,762, compared with $34,891 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the software engineering program here. Soon after graduation, software engineering degree recipients from Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis generally make around $56,930. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 76% of applicants are accepted.

4

University Of Wisconsin Platteville
Platteville, WI

University Of Wisconsin Platteville came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best value software engineering schools. University Of Wisconsin Platteville is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Platteville. In-state tuition and fees average $8,644, compared with $17,603 for out-of-state students. Software Engineering graduates carry a median of $24,500 in student loans. Early-career software engineering graduates make about $71,635. Set against $24,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Wisconsin Platteville admits about 89% of applicants.

5

Michigan Technological University
Houghton, MI

Michigan Technological University came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best value software engineering schools. Located in the town of Houghton, Michigan Technological University is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $20,532 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $44,807. Typical student debt for software engineering graduates is $27,000. Soon after graduation, software engineering degree recipients from Michigan Technological University generally make around $77,465. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Michigan Technological University admits about 92% of applicants.

6

Cleveland State University
Cleveland, OH

Cleveland State University ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best value software engineering schools. Located in the city of Cleveland, Cleveland State University is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,982, while out-of-state students pay about $18,502. Software Engineering graduates carry a median of $25,547 in student loans. Soon after graduation, software engineering degree recipients from Cleveland State University generally make around $68,852. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 91%.

7

Illinois Institute Of Technology
Chicago, IL

Illinois Institute Of Technology landed the #7 spot for software engineering value this year. Located in the city of Chicago, Illinois Institute Of Technology is a large private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $52,202. Typical student debt for software engineering graduates is $26,500. Early-career software engineering graduates make about $81,252. Set against $26,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 55%.

8

University Of Cincinnati Main Campus
Cincinnati, OH

University Of Cincinnati Main Campus landed the #8 spot for software engineering value this year. Set in the city of Cincinnati, University Of Cincinnati Main Campus is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $13,363, with out-of-state students paying around $28,697. Students borrow a median of $21,875 to complete the software engineering program here. Software Engineering graduates of University Of Cincinnati Main Campus earn a median of $83,489 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Cincinnati Main Campus admits about 85% of applicants.

9

Bowling Green State University Main Campus
Bowling Green, OH

Bowling Green State University Main Campus ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the best value software engineering schools. Located in the town of Bowling Green, Bowling Green State University Main Campus is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $13,912, with out-of-state students paying around $21,900. Typical student debt for software engineering graduates is $27,000. Soon after graduation, software engineering degree recipients from Bowling Green State University Main Campus generally make around $67,949. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 81% of applicants are accepted.

10

Milwaukee School Of Engineering
Milwaukee, WI

Milwaukee School Of Engineering earned the #10 position for value in software engineering this year. Located in the city of Milwaukee, Milwaukee School Of Engineering is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $50,480. Software Engineering graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, software engineering degree recipients from Milwaukee School Of Engineering generally make around $78,333. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Milwaukee School Of Engineering admits about 59% of applicants.

11

Concordia University Wisconsin
Mequon, WI

Concordia University Wisconsin landed the #11 spot for software engineering value this year. Set in the suburb of Mequon, Concordia University Wisconsin is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $35,470. Software Engineering graduates carry a median of $27,172 in student loans. Early-career software engineering graduates make about $58,227. That is a strong return on a $27,172 median debt. The acceptance rate is 78%.

12

Trine University
Angola, IN

Trine University earned the #12 position for value in software engineering this year. Located in the town of Angola, Trine University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $36,560. Software Engineering graduates carry a median of $25,765 in student loans. Soon after graduation, software engineering degree recipients from Trine University generally make around $67,500. That is a strong return on a $25,765 median debt. Trine University admits about 86% of applicants.

13

Miami University Oxford
Oxford, OH

Miami University Oxford came in at #13 for value in software engineering this year. Set in the town of Oxford, Miami University Oxford is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $17,519, compared with $38,965 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the software engineering program here. Software Engineering graduates of Miami University Oxford earn a median of $71,836 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 75%.

14

Depaul University
Chicago, IL

Depaul University came in at #14 for value in software engineering this year. Located in the city of Chicago, Depaul University is a very large private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $45,405. Software Engineering graduates carry a median of $25,310 in student loans. Early-career software engineering graduates make about $121,173. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 76%.

15

Devry University Illinois
Lisle, IL

Devry University Illinois came in at #15 for value in software engineering this year. Devry University Illinois is a very large private for-profit school located in the suburb of Lisle. Students from in state pay about $17,008 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for software engineering graduates is $43,684. Software Engineering graduates of Devry University Illinois earn a median of $55,470 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $43,684 median debt. Devry University Illinois admits about 98% of applicants.

16

Lawrence Technological University
Southfield, MI

Lawrence Technological University placed #16 among the best values for software engineering. Lawrence Technological University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Southfield. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $44,760. Software Engineering graduates carry a median of $27,799 in student loans. Software Engineering graduates of Lawrence Technological University earn a median of $74,924 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $27,799 median debt. Lawrence Technological University admits about 56% of applicants.

17

Loyola University Chicago
Chicago, IL

Loyola University Chicago earned the #17 position for value in software engineering this year. Set in the city of Chicago, Loyola University Chicago is a large private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $53,710. Software Engineering graduates carry a median of $25,000 in student loans. Early-career software engineering graduates make about $68,020. Set against $25,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 82% of applicants are accepted.

18

Rose Hulman Institute Of Technology
Terre Haute, IN

Rose Hulman Institute Of Technology ranked #18 on our 2026 list of the best value software engineering schools. Rose Hulman Institute Of Technology is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Terre Haute. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $56,046. Students borrow a median of $24,834 to complete the software engineering program here. Soon after graduation, software engineering degree recipients from Rose Hulman Institute Of Technology generally make around $92,123. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Rose Hulman Institute Of Technology admits about 77% of applicants.