Software Engineering programs are offered at a focused set of schools across the country. A focused field like this rewards careful comparison of the schools that offer it.
College Factual analyzed 175 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best software engineering schools.
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Choosing a Great Software Engineering School
The school you choose for software engineering can shape your career. That is why we built our Best Software Engineering Schools rankings. Our overall ranking combines our degree-level rankings, weighted by degrees awarded at each level.
In order to find the schools that are the best fit for you, you may want to filter to one of the degree levels below.
Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we have developed a number of rankings, including this Best Software Engineering Schools list, to help you choose. Want schools in a particular part of the country? Narrow the list by region or state.
To further help you make the college decision, we have developed a unique tool called College Combat that lets you compare schools on the factors that matter most to you.
California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo is one of the finest schools in the country for getting a degree in software engineering. Set in the suburb of San Luis Obispo, California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo is a very large public institution. Roughly 86% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 37 software engineering students who graduated with this degree at California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo in the most recent data year. Graduates of the software engineering program make about $111,560 in their early career. California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo graduates carry a median of $20,556 in student loans.
Read more about the software engineering program at California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo
A rank of #2 makes San Jose State University one of the top schools for software engineering. Set in the city of San Jose, San Jose State University is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 69%. There were roughly 475 software engineering students who graduated with this degree at San Jose State University in the most recent data year.
See the full software engineering program report for San Jose State University
A rank of #3 makes Carnegie Mellon University one of the top schools for software engineering. Carnegie Mellon University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Pittsburgh. Roughly 94% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 237 software engineering students who graduated with this degree at Carnegie Mellon University in the most recent data year. Software Engineering graduates of Carnegie Mellon University earn a median of $89,327 early in their careers. Carnegie Mellon University graduates carry a median of $23,529 in student loans.
Get the full software engineering details for Carnegie Mellon University
Harvard University came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best software engineering schools. Set in the city of Cambridge, Harvard University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Harvard University graduates 98% of students within six years. There were roughly 33 software engineering students who graduated with this degree at Harvard University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their software engineering degree from Harvard University earn around $177,890 in the first couple years of their career. Harvard University graduates carry a median of $16,616 in student loans.
Read more about the software engineering program at Harvard University
A rank of #5 makes University Of California Irvine one of the top schools for software engineering. Set in the city of Irvine, University Of California Irvine is a very large public institution. Roughly 87% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 111 software engineering students who graduated with this degree at University Of California Irvine 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.
Read more about the software engineering program at University Of California Irvine
Brigham Young University Provo landed the #6 spot for software engineering this year. Set in the city of Provo, Brigham Young University Provo is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 81% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 53 software engineering degrees were awarded at Brigham Young University Provo in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, software engineering degree recipients from Brigham Young University Provo generally make around $88,785. Typical student debt for the program is $10,750.
Read more about the software engineering program at Brigham Young University Provo
Western Governors University earned the #7 position for software engineering this year. Western Governors University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Salt Lake City. Roughly 46% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 388 software engineering students who graduated with this degree at Western Governors University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, software engineering degree recipients from Western Governors University generally make around $74,771. Western Governors University graduates carry a median of $23,277 in student loans.
See the full software engineering program report for Western Governors University
Chapman University came in at #8 for software engineering this year. Chapman University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Orange. About 82% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 10 software engineering students who graduated with this degree at Chapman University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their software engineering degree from Chapman University earn around $50,947 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $21,657 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in software engineering from Chapman University
Northeastern University came in at #9 for software engineering this year. Northeastern University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Boston. About 90% of students finish within six years. Northeastern University awarded about 1,086 software engineering degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their software engineering degree from Northeastern University earn around $99,499 in the first couple years of their career. Northeastern University graduates carry a median of $25,005 in student loans.
More information about a degree in software engineering from Northeastern University
University Of Cincinnati Main Campus ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the best software engineering schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Cincinnati. University Of Cincinnati Main Campus graduates 74% of students within six years. University Of Cincinnati Main Campus awarded about 10 software engineering degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the software engineering program make about $83,489 in their early career. University Of Cincinnati Main Campus graduates carry a median of $21,875 in student loans.
More information about a degree in software engineering from University Of Cincinnati Main Campus
Rose Hulman Institute Of Technology landed the #11 spot for software engineering this year. Set in the city of Terre Haute, Rose Hulman Institute Of Technology is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. About 78% of students finish within six years. About 13 software engineering degrees were awarded at Rose Hulman Institute Of Technology in the most recent year. Students who receive their software engineering degree from Rose Hulman Institute Of Technology earn around $92,123 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $24,834.
Read more about the software engineering program at Rose Hulman Institute Of Technology
California State University San Marcos came in at #12 for software engineering this year. Set in the suburb of San Marcos, California State University San Marcos is a large public institution. California State University San Marcos graduates 55% of students within six years. There were roughly 36 software engineering students who graduated with this degree at California State University San Marcos in the most recent data year. Software Engineering graduates of California State University San Marcos earn a median of $48,726 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $17,527.
Read more about the software engineering program at California State University San Marcos
Villanova University landed the #13 spot for software engineering this year. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Villanova. Roughly 92% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 16 software engineering degrees were awarded at Villanova University in the most recent year. Software Engineering graduates of Villanova University earn a median of $108,248 early in their careers. Villanova University graduates carry a median of $26,000 in student loans.
Read more about the software engineering program at Villanova University
University Of Minnesota Twin Cities came in at #14 for software engineering this year. Set in the city of Minneapolis, University Of Minnesota Twin Cities is a very large public institution. Roughly 85% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 13 software engineering students who graduated with this degree at University Of Minnesota Twin Cities in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, software engineering degree recipients from University Of Minnesota Twin Cities generally make around $106,498. University Of Minnesota Twin Cities graduates carry a median of $23,000 in student loans.
More information about a degree in software engineering from University Of Minnesota Twin Cities
The University Of Texas At Dallas came in at #15 for software engineering this year. Set in the city of Richardson, The University Of Texas At Dallas is a very large public institution. The University Of Texas At Dallas graduates 76% of students within six years. There were roughly 139 software engineering students who graduated with this degree at The University Of Texas At Dallas in the most recent data year. Graduates of the software engineering program make about $88,820 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $21,000 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in software engineering from The University Of Texas At Dallas
Auburn University landed the #16 spot for software engineering this year. Set in the city of Auburn, Auburn University is a very large public institution. Auburn University graduates 82% of students within six years. There were roughly 62 software engineering students who graduated with this degree at Auburn University in the most recent data year. Software Engineering graduates of Auburn University earn a median of $80,067 early in their careers. Auburn University graduates carry a median of $22,125 in student loans.
Read more about the software engineering program at Auburn University
Southern Methodist University ranked #17 on our 2026 list of the best software engineering schools. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Dallas. Southern Methodist University graduates 84% of students within six years. About 12 software engineering degrees were awarded at Southern Methodist University in the most recent year. Graduates of the software engineering program make about $130,488 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $20,712 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in software engineering from Southern Methodist University
George Mason University placed #18 among the best software engineering schools. Located in the suburb of Fairfax, George Mason University is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 68%. George Mason University awarded about 34 software engineering degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the software engineering program make about $109,917 in their early career. George Mason University graduates carry a median of $26,697 in student loans.
More information about a degree in software engineering from George Mason University
Concordia University Wisconsin earned the #19 position for software engineering this year. Set in the suburb of Mequon, Concordia University Wisconsin is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. Concordia University Wisconsin graduates 69% of students within six years. About 78 software engineering degrees were awarded at Concordia University Wisconsin in the most recent 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.
Get the full software engineering details for Concordia University Wisconsin
Pennsylvania State University Penn State Erie Behrend College earned the #20 position for software engineering this year. This mid-sized public university is located in the suburb of Erie. Pennsylvania State University Penn State Erie Behrend College graduates 44% of students within six years. There were roughly 24 software engineering students who graduated with this degree at Pennsylvania State University Penn State Erie Behrend College in the most recent data year.
See the full software engineering program report for Pennsylvania State University Penn State Erie Behrend College
Iowa State University earned the #21 position for software engineering this year. Set in the city of Ames, Iowa State University is a very large public institution. Roughly 75% of students complete a degree within six years here. 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. Typical student debt for the program is $24,337.
Read more about the software engineering program at Iowa State University
University Of Scranton landed the #22 spot for software engineering this year. This moderately-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Scranton. Roughly 80% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 10 software engineering degrees were awarded at University Of Scranton in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, software engineering degree recipients from University Of Scranton generally make around $56,861. University Of Scranton graduates carry a median of $26,500 in student loans.
More information about a degree in software engineering from University Of Scranton
Pennsylvania State University World Campus landed the #23 spot for software engineering this year. This large public university is located in the city of University Park. About 34% of students finish within six years. About 50 software engineering degrees were awarded at Pennsylvania State University World Campus in the most recent year.
Get the full software engineering details for Pennsylvania State University World Campus
Stevens Institute Of Technology earned the #24 position for software engineering this year. Located in the suburb of Hoboken, Stevens Institute Of Technology is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. Stevens Institute Of Technology graduates 87% of students within six years. There were roughly 106 software engineering students who graduated with this degree at Stevens Institute Of Technology in the most recent data year. Students who receive their software engineering degree from Stevens Institute Of Technology earn around $106,761 in the first couple years of their 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 came in at #25 for software engineering this year. Set in the city of Arlington, The University Of Texas At Arlington is a very large public institution. Roughly 54% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 89 software engineering students who graduated with this degree at The University Of Texas At Arlington in the most recent data year. Students who receive their software engineering degree from The University Of Texas At Arlington earn around $81,226 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $20,833.
Read more about the software engineering program at The University Of Texas At Arlington
Rest of the Top 50 Software Engineering Schools
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s software engineering ranking:
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 · 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).
