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

10 Colleges in the United States
575 Software Engineering Degrees Awarded
$74,216 Avg Early-Career Salary

Software Engineering is a field worth a close look when choosing where to study. While the number of schools offering the program varies, there are still top-quality ones to be found.

College Factual analyzed 34 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best software engineering schools.

What’s on this page:

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Best Schools for Software Engineering 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 software engineering degrees they offer, see the list below.

Top Schools in Software Engineering

1

Leading the list is University Of Cincinnati Main Campus, our #1 school for software engineering. Located in the city of Cincinnati, University Of Cincinnati Main Campus is a very large public university. Roughly 74% of students complete a degree within six years here. 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. Typical student debt for the program is $21,875. See the full software engineering program report for University Of Cincinnati Main Campus

2

Rose Hulman Institute Of Technology is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in software engineering, landing the #2 spot this year. Rose Hulman Institute Of Technology is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Terre Haute. Rose Hulman Institute Of Technology graduates 78% of students within six years. There were roughly 13 software engineering students who graduated with this degree at Rose Hulman Institute Of Technology in the most recent data 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

3

Students looking for a strong software engineering program will find one at Concordia University Wisconsin, which ranked #3. Located in the suburb of Mequon, Concordia University Wisconsin is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 69%. Concordia University Wisconsin awarded about 78 software engineering degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the software engineering program make about $58,227 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $27,172 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in software engineering from Concordia University Wisconsin

4

Michigan Technological University came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best software engineering schools. This moderately-sized public university is located in the town of Houghton. The six-year graduation rate is 68%. Michigan Technological University awarded about 20 software engineering degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the software engineering program make about $77,465 in their early career. Michigan Technological University graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. More information about a degree in software engineering from Michigan Technological University

5
Depaul University crest
Depaul University
Chicago, IL

Depaul University is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in software engineering, landing the #5 spot this year. Depaul University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Chicago. Roughly 68% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 26 software engineering students who graduated with this degree at Depaul University in the most recent data year. Software Engineering graduates of Depaul University earn a median of $121,173 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $25,310 to complete this degree. Read more about the software engineering program at Depaul University

6

Illinois Institute Of Technology came in at #6 for software engineering this year. Illinois Institute Of Technology is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Chicago. About 75% of students finish within six years. About 42 software engineering degrees were awarded at Illinois Institute Of Technology in the most recent year. Software Engineering graduates of Illinois Institute Of Technology earn a median of $81,252 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $26,500. Get the full software engineering details for Illinois Institute Of Technology

7

Loyola University Chicago earned the #7 position for software engineering this year. Located in the city of Chicago, Loyola University Chicago is a large private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 75%. Loyola University Chicago awarded about 21 software engineering degrees in the most recent data year. Software Engineering graduates of Loyola University Chicago earn a median of $68,020 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $25,000 to complete this degree. Read more about the software engineering program at Loyola University Chicago

8

Miami University Oxford earned the #8 position for software engineering this year. This large public university is located in the town of Oxford. The six-year graduation rate is 80%. About 46 software engineering degrees were awarded at Miami University Oxford in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, software engineering degree recipients from Miami University Oxford generally make around $71,836. Miami University Oxford graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. See the full software engineering program report for Miami University Oxford

9

University Of Wisconsin Platteville came in at #9 for software engineering this year. This moderately-sized public university is located in the town of Platteville. The six-year graduation rate is 61%. University Of Wisconsin Platteville awarded about 23 software engineering degrees in the most recent data year. Software Engineering graduates of University Of Wisconsin Platteville earn a median of $71,635 early in their careers. University Of Wisconsin Platteville graduates carry a median of $24,500 in student loans. See the full software engineering program report for University Of Wisconsin Platteville

10

Milwaukee School Of Engineering ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the best software engineering schools. Milwaukee School Of Engineering is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Milwaukee. Milwaukee School Of Engineering graduates 67% of students within six years. Milwaukee School Of Engineering awarded about 26 software engineering degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the software engineering program make about $78,333 in their early career. Milwaukee School Of Engineering graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. More information about a degree in software engineering from Milwaukee School Of Engineering

11

Bowling Green State University Main Campus placed #11 among the best software engineering schools. Bowling Green State University Main Campus is a large public school located in the town of Bowling Green. Roughly 61% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 63 software engineering students who graduated with this degree at Bowling Green State University Main Campus in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, software engineering degree recipients from Bowling Green State University Main Campus generally make around $67,949. Typical student debt for the program is $27,000. See the full software engineering program report for Bowling Green State University Main Campus

12
Oakland Community College crest
Oakland Community College
Auburn Hills, MI

Oakland Community College came in at #12 for software engineering this year. Located in the suburb of Auburn Hills, Oakland Community College is a very large public university. There were roughly 46 software engineering students who graduated with this degree at Oakland Community College in the most recent data year. Students who receive their software engineering degree from Oakland Community College earn around $43,205 in the first couple years of their career. Oakland Community College graduates carry a median of $15,865 in student loans. More information about a degree in software engineering from Oakland Community College

13

Cleveland State University ranked #13 on our 2026 list of the best software engineering schools. Set in the city of Cleveland, Cleveland State University is a large public institution. Cleveland State University graduates 51% of students within six years. Cleveland State University awarded about 26 software engineering degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the software engineering program make about $68,852 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $25,547 to complete this degree. Read more about the software engineering program at Cleveland State University

14

Devry University Illinois ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the best software engineering schools. This very large private for-profit university is located in the suburb of Lisle. Devry University Illinois graduates 18% of students within six years. Devry University Illinois awarded about 135 software engineering degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, software engineering degree recipients from Devry University Illinois generally make around $55,470. Students borrow a median of $43,684 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in software engineering from Devry University Illinois

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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 · 34 schools evaluated.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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