University Headquarters (HQ) is an industry-leading, independent educational organization that provides independent college rankings using a proprietary formula to create first class unbiased rankings. The team at University HQ strives to provide accurate and trustworthy rankings that highlights affordable programs in software engineering.
Are you considering becoming a software engineer? Software engineering may be a good career choice if you are interested in using computer science to create your own apps or software that can be applied to a variety of issues in business, research, etc. Those who enter this field can generally expect continually growing job security, high salaries, and opportunities to explore a number of roles in an incredibly comprehensive profession.
Software engineers are primarily responsible for creating systems and software for companies and organization. Depending on their employers, this could mean anything from developing business applications and games to producing network control and operating systems. While job specifics vary, these professionals often design and test applications based on user needs. This requires working closely with users, as well as other developers to ensure the results are satisfactory. They also regularly draw diagrams and models to help make the code creation easier. It’s also common for software engineers to recommend software upgrades for existing systems and perform maintenance, updates, and repairs when necessary.
Choosing to pursue this career will require some level of higher education, which can be expensive. If you are interested in becoming a software engineer, finding an affordable academic program should be a top priority. Most employers expect candidates to have, at minimum, a bachelor’s degree in computer and information technology or a related field.
Top 50 Affordable Software Engineering Colleges and Universities
1
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $7,064
- Out-of-State:$18,944
- Net Price: $4,438
- Acceptance Rate: 91%
- Retention Rate: 66%
- Graduation Rate: 47%
- Total Enrollment: 15,181
- Undergrad Students: 12,730
- Graduate Students: 2,451
- Grads Salary: $76,000
- Student-to-faculty: 18:1
2
California State University-Fullerton
Score: 94.28
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $7,073
- Out-of-State:$18,953
- Net Price: $6,283
- Acceptance Rate: 87%
- Retention Rate: 85%
- Graduation Rate: 69%
- Total Enrollment: 41,962
- Undergrad Students: 37,125
- Graduate Students: 4,837
- Grads Salary: $80,000
- Student-to-faculty: 22:1
3
Brigham Young University-Idaho
Score: 91.15
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $4,656
- Out-of-State:$4,656
- Net Price: $7,295
- Acceptance Rate: 97%
- Retention Rate: 70%
- Graduation Rate: 55%
- Total Enrollment: 42,996
- Undergrad Students: 42,996
- Graduate Students: N/A
- Grads Salary: $69,000
- Student-to-faculty: 20:1
4
Northern Kentucky University
Score: 88.5
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $10,896
- Out-of-State:$21,480
- Net Price: $8,151
- Acceptance Rate: 96%
- Retention Rate: 78%
- Graduation Rate: 48%
- Total Enrollment: 14,961
- Undergrad Students: 9,927
- Graduate Students: 5,034
- Grads Salary: $72,000
- Student-to-faculty: 18:1
5
California State University-Northridge
Score: 88.28
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $7,095
- Out-of-State:$18,975
- Net Price: $8,222
- Acceptance Rate: 93%
- Retention Rate: 74%
- Graduation Rate: 56%
- Total Enrollment: 37,760
- Undergrad Students: 32,429
- Graduate Students: 5,331
- Grads Salary: $81,000
- Student-to-faculty: 21:1
6
Utah Valley University
Score: 86.95
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $6,270
- Out-of-State:$17,830
- Net Price: $8,650
- Acceptance Rate: 100%
- Retention Rate: 70%
- Graduation Rate: 41%
- Total Enrollment: 44,651
- Undergrad Students: 43,794
- Graduate Students: 857
- Grads Salary: $68,000
- Student-to-faculty: 28:1
7
The University of West Florida
Score: 86.15
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $6,360
- Out-of-State:$19,241
- Net Price: $8,908
- Acceptance Rate: 57%
- Retention Rate: 88%
- Graduation Rate: 62%
- Total Enrollment: 14,371
- Undergrad Students: 9,661
- Graduate Students: 4,710
- Grads Salary: $67,000
- Student-to-faculty: 22:1
8
University of Washington-Bothell
Score: 82.73
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $12,559
- Out-of-State:$41,913
- Net Price: $10,013
- Acceptance Rate: 92%
- Retention Rate: 86%
- Graduation Rate: 68%
- Total Enrollment: 5,809
- Undergrad Students: 5,248
- Graduate Students: 561
- Grads Salary: $81,000
- Student-to-faculty: 21:1
9
University of Wisconsin-Green Bay
Score: 81.87
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $8,342
- Out-of-State:$16,929
- Net Price: $10,289
- Acceptance Rate: 88%
- Retention Rate: 70%
- Graduation Rate: 53%
- Total Enrollment: 10,326
- Undergrad Students: 9,853
- Graduate Students: 473
- Grads Salary: $69,000
- Student-to-faculty: 23:1
10
The University of Texas at El Paso
Score: 81.74
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $9,744
- Out-of-State:$25,512
- Net Price: $10,333
- Acceptance Rate: 100%
- Retention Rate: 77%
- Graduation Rate: 46%
- Total Enrollment: 24,351
- Undergrad Students: 20,609
- Graduate Students: 3,742
- Grads Salary: $73,000
- Student-to-faculty: 20:1
11
The University of Virginia's College at Wise
Score: 81.5
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $11,656
- Out-of-State:$32,540
- Net Price: $10,409
- Acceptance Rate: 94%
- Retention Rate: 73%
- Graduation Rate: 50%
- Total Enrollment: 1,911
- Undergrad Students: 1,911
- Graduate Students: N/A
- Grads Salary: $67,000
- Student-to-faculty: 13:1
12
University of Houston-Clear Lake
Score: 81.26
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $7,746
- Out-of-State:$21,330
- Net Price: $10,488
- Acceptance Rate: 75%
- Retention Rate: 75%
- Graduation Rate: 51%
- Total Enrollment: 8,211
- Undergrad Students: 6,108
- Graduate Students: 2,103
- Grads Salary: $78,000
- Student-to-faculty: 19:1
13
Florida Gulf Coast University
Score: 81.07
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $6,118
- Out-of-State:$25,162
- Net Price: $10,548
- Acceptance Rate: 77%
- Retention Rate: 83%
- Graduation Rate: 56%
- Total Enrollment: 16,167
- Undergrad Students: 14,227
- Graduate Students: 1,940
- Grads Salary: $63,000
- Student-to-faculty: 21:1
14
University of North Florida
Score: 80.82
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $6,389
- Out-of-State:$20,793
- Net Price: $10,628
- Acceptance Rate: 62%
- Retention Rate: 81%
- Graduation Rate: 68%
- Total Enrollment: 16,453
- Undergrad Students: 14,264
- Graduate Students: 2,189
- Grads Salary: $68,000
- Student-to-faculty: 19:1
15
The University of Texas at San Antonio
Score: 80.19
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $8,991
- Out-of-State:$21,965
- Net Price: $10,831
- Acceptance Rate: 88%
- Retention Rate: 79%
- Graduation Rate: 51%
- Total Enrollment: 34,864
- Undergrad Students: 30,310
- Graduate Students: 4,554
- Grads Salary: $71,000
- Student-to-faculty: 25:1
16
University of Illinois Chicago
Score: 78.12
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $14,338
- Out-of-State:$29,360
- Net Price: $11,499
- Acceptance Rate: 79%
- Retention Rate: 78%
- Graduation Rate: 60%
- Total Enrollment: 33,522
- Undergrad Students: 22,107
- Graduate Students: 11,415
- Grads Salary: $80,000
- Student-to-faculty: 17:1
17
Salem University
Score: 77.73
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $10,750
- Out-of-State:$13,750
- Net Price: $11,626
- Acceptance Rate: 100%
- Retention Rate: 52%
- Graduation Rate: 27%
- Total Enrollment: 894
- Undergrad Students: 695
- Graduate Students: 199
- Grads Salary: N/A
- Student-to-faculty: 16:1
18
Florida Polytechnic University
Score: 76.81
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $4,940
- Out-of-State:$21,005
- Net Price: $11,923
- Acceptance Rate: 56%
- Retention Rate: 75%
- Graduation Rate: 53%
- Total Enrollment: 1,618
- Undergrad Students: 1,569
- Graduate Students: 49
- Grads Salary: $58,900
- Student-to-faculty: 17:1
19
Saint Xavier University
Score: 76.75
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $36,840
- Out-of-State:$36,840
- Net Price: $11,943
- Acceptance Rate: 86%
- Retention Rate: 74%
- Graduation Rate: 59%
- Total Enrollment: 3,457
- Undergrad Students: 3,039
- Graduate Students: 418
- Grads Salary: $79,000
- Student-to-faculty: 15:1
20
Norfolk State University
Score: 75.73
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $9,910
- Out-of-State:$21,412
- Net Price: $12,272
- Acceptance Rate: 87%
- Retention Rate: 72%
- Graduation Rate: 33%
- Total Enrollment: 6,045
- Undergrad Students: 5,510
- Graduate Students: 535
- Grads Salary: $70,000
- Student-to-faculty: 18:1
21
Purdue University
Score: 75.27
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $9,992
- Out-of-State:$28,794
- Net Price: $12,421
- Acceptance Rate: 50%
- Retention Rate: 92%
- Graduation Rate: 83%
- Total Enrollment: 52,905
- Undergrad Students: 39,864
- Graduate Students: 13,041
- Grads Salary: $83,000
- Student-to-faculty: 14:1
22
University of Michigan-Dearborn
Score: 74.1
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $14,944
- Out-of-State:$31,360
- Net Price: $12,798
- Acceptance Rate: 59%
- Retention Rate: 81%
- Graduation Rate: 57%
- Total Enrollment: 8,035
- Undergrad Students: 6,071
- Graduate Students: 1,964
- Grads Salary: $81,000
- Student-to-faculty: 16:1
23
University of Wisconsin-La Crosse
Score: 73.09
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $9,651
- Out-of-State:$18,691
- Net Price: $13,125
- Acceptance Rate: 73%
- Retention Rate: 86%
- Graduation Rate: 71%
- Total Enrollment: 10,299
- Undergrad Students: 9,378
- Graduate Students: 921
- Grads Salary: $71,000
- Student-to-faculty: 19:1
24
Ferris State University
Score: 73
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $13,630
- Out-of-State:$13,630
- Net Price: $13,154
- Acceptance Rate: 81%
- Retention Rate: 73%
- Graduation Rate: 48%
- Total Enrollment: 9,918
- Undergrad Students: 8,940
- Graduate Students: 978
- Grads Salary: $72,000
- Student-to-faculty: 15:1
25
University of Nebraska at Omaha
Score: 72.59
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $8,370
- Out-of-State:$22,358
- Net Price: $13,284
- Acceptance Rate: 87%
- Retention Rate: 76%
- Graduation Rate: 47%
- Total Enrollment: 15,015
- Undergrad Students: 11,859
- Graduate Students: 3,156
- Grads Salary: $70,000
- Student-to-faculty: 15:1
26
Texas A&M University-Texarkana
Score: 72.48
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $7,930
- Out-of-State:$20,947
- Net Price: $13,320
- Acceptance Rate: 80%
- Retention Rate: 60%
- Graduation Rate: 31%
- Total Enrollment: 2,109
- Undergrad Students: 1,760
- Graduate Students: 349
- Grads Salary: $90,000
- Student-to-faculty: 13:1
27
University of Minnesota-Crookston
Score: 72.1
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $13,120
- Out-of-State:$13,120
- Net Price: $13,442
- Acceptance Rate: 58%
- Retention Rate: 77%
- Graduation Rate: 50%
- Total Enrollment: 2,518
- Undergrad Students: 2,518
- Graduate Students: N/A
- Grads Salary: $74,000
- Student-to-faculty: 17:1
28
The University of Texas at Dallas
Score: 72.03
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $14,564
- Out-of-State:$40,064
- Net Price: $13,464
- Acceptance Rate: 65%
- Retention Rate: 88%
- Graduation Rate: 71%
- Total Enrollment: 30,885
- Undergrad Students: 21,330
- Graduate Students: 9,555
- Grads Salary: $81,000
- Student-to-faculty: 27:1
29
West Virginia University
Score: 71.33
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $9,648
- Out-of-State:$27,360
- Net Price: $13,691
- Acceptance Rate: 86%
- Retention Rate: 81%
- Graduation Rate: 61%
- Total Enrollment: 24,200
- Undergrad Students: 18,615
- Graduate Students: 5,585
- Grads Salary: $75,000
- Student-to-faculty: 17:1
30
North American University
Score: 71.3
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $12,836
- Out-of-State:$12,836
- Net Price: $13,702
- Acceptance Rate: 100%
- Retention Rate: 43%
- Graduation Rate: 27%
- Total Enrollment: 923
- Undergrad Students: 573
- Graduate Students: 350
- Grads Salary: $33,600
- Student-to-faculty: 15:1
31
University of North Carolina at Charlotte
Score: 71.09
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $7,214
- Out-of-State:$21,876
- Net Price: $13,768
- Acceptance Rate: 80%
- Retention Rate: 85%
- Graduation Rate: 68%
- Total Enrollment: 30,298
- Undergrad Students: 23,981
- Graduate Students: 6,317
- Grads Salary: $74,000
- Student-to-faculty: 21:1
32
San Jose State University
Score: 70.89
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $7,992
- Out-of-State:$19,872
- Net Price: $13,833
- Acceptance Rate: 80%
- Retention Rate: 86%
- Graduation Rate: 65%
- Total Enrollment: 36,062
- Undergrad Students: 27,111
- Graduate Students: 8,951
- Grads Salary: $91,000
- Student-to-faculty: 18:1
33
Valley City State University
Score: 70.87
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $8,514
- Out-of-State:$13,478
- Net Price: $13,841
- Acceptance Rate: 69%
- Retention Rate: 66%
- Graduation Rate: 48%
- Total Enrollment: 1,754
- Undergrad Students: 1,628
- Graduate Students: 126
- Grads Salary: $57,000
- Student-to-faculty: 12:1
34
East Carolina University
Score: 68.92
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $7,361
- Out-of-State:$23,638
- Net Price: $14,470
- Acceptance Rate: 90%
- Retention Rate: 82%
- Graduation Rate: 62%
- Total Enrollment: 26,785
- Undergrad Students: 21,328
- Graduate Students: 5,457
- Grads Salary: $71,000
- Student-to-faculty: 17:1
35
University of Maryland Global
Score: 68.69
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $7,992
- Out-of-State:$12,336
- Net Price: $14,545
- Acceptance Rate: 100%
- Retention Rate: 53%
- Graduation Rate: 30%
- Total Enrollment: 60,084
- Undergrad Students: 50,793
- Graduate Students: 9,291
- Grads Salary: $87,000
- Student-to-faculty: 20:1
36
Sam Houston State University
Score: 68.65
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $9,228
- Out-of-State:$19,020
- Net Price: $14,556
- Acceptance Rate: 85%
- Retention Rate: 75%
- Graduation Rate: 55%
- Total Enrollment: 21,403
- Undergrad Students: 18,179
- Graduate Students: 3,224
- Grads Salary: $69,000
- Student-to-faculty: 20:1
37
Brigham Young University
Score: 68.38
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $6,496
- Out-of-State:$6,496
- Net Price: $14,643
- Acceptance Rate: 69%
- Retention Rate: 89%
- Graduation Rate: 82%
- Total Enrollment: 35,074
- Undergrad Students: 32,221
- Graduate Students: 2,853
- Grads Salary: $83,000
- Student-to-faculty: 21:1
38
University of California-Irvine
Score: 68.37
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $14,237
- Out-of-State:$45,014
- Net Price: $14,647
- Acceptance Rate: 26%
- Retention Rate: 94%
- Graduation Rate: 86%
- Total Enrollment: 36,582
- Undergrad Students: 29,503
- Graduate Students: 7,079
- Grads Salary: $88,000
- Student-to-faculty: 18:1
39
St. Cloud State University
Score: 68.37
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $10,117
- Out-of-State:$10,117
- Net Price: $14,648
- Acceptance Rate: 95%
- Retention Rate: 68%
- Graduation Rate: 47%
- Total Enrollment: 10,514
- Undergrad Students: 8,430
- Graduate Students: 2,084
- Grads Salary: $75,000
- Student-to-faculty: 17:1
40
Austin Peay State University
Score: 68.27
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $8,675
- Out-of-State:$14,219
- Net Price: $14,679
- Acceptance Rate: 96%
- Retention Rate: 67%
- Graduation Rate: 45%
- Total Enrollment: 9,945
- Undergrad Students: 8,587
- Graduate Students: 1,358
- Grads Salary: $68,000
- Student-to-faculty: 15:1
41
Colorado Technical University
Score: 67.95
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $12,760
- Out-of-State:$12,760
- Net Price: $14,784
- Acceptance Rate: 100%
- Retention Rate: 44%
- Graduation Rate: 18%
- Total Enrollment: 28,852
- Undergrad Students: 26,114
- Graduate Students: 2,738
- Grads Salary: $73,000
- Student-to-faculty: 29:1
42
North Carolina State University at Raleigh
Score: 67.71
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $8,895
- Out-of-State:$31,767
- Net Price: $14,860
- Acceptance Rate: 40%
- Retention Rate: 93%
- Graduation Rate: 85%
- Total Enrollment: 37,323
- Undergrad Students: 27,323
- Graduate Students: 10,000
- Grads Salary: $82,000
- Student-to-faculty: 15:1
43
Harrisburg University of Science and Technology
Score: 67.64
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $23,900
- Out-of-State:$23,900
- Net Price: $14,882
- Acceptance Rate: 82%
- Retention Rate: 73%
- Graduation Rate: 43%
- Total Enrollment: 3,558
- Undergrad Students: 718
- Graduate Students: 2,840
- Grads Salary: $82,000
- Student-to-faculty: 17:1
44
The University of Texas at Arlington
Score: 67.41
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $11,728
- Out-of-State:$29,660
- Net Price: $14,956
- Acceptance Rate: 81%
- Retention Rate: 73%
- Graduation Rate: 57%
- Total Enrollment: 43,992
- Undergrad Students: 31,112
- Graduate Students: 12,880
- Grads Salary: $81,000
- Student-to-faculty: 23:1
45
Strayer University-Virginia
Score: 67.39
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $13,920
- Out-of-State:$13,920
- Net Price: $14,963
- Acceptance Rate: 100%
- Retention Rate: 50%
- Graduation Rate: 13%
- Total Enrollment: 2,382
- Undergrad Students: 2,010
- Graduate Students: 372
- Grads Salary: $75,000
- Student-to-faculty: 39:1
46
Towson University
Score: 67.08
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $11,306
- Out-of-State:$28,326
- Net Price: $15,064
- Acceptance Rate: 83%
- Retention Rate: 83%
- Graduation Rate: 68%
- Total Enrollment: 19,527
- Undergrad Students: 16,517
- Graduate Students: 3,010
- Grads Salary: $70,000
- Student-to-faculty: 14:1
47
California State University-Monterey Bay
Score: 66.59
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $7,437
- Out-of-State:$19,317
- Net Price: $15,222
- Acceptance Rate: 95%
- Retention Rate: 79%
- Graduation Rate: 63%
- Total Enrollment: 6,742
- Undergrad Students: 5,909
- Graduate Students: 833
- Grads Salary: $73,000
- Student-to-faculty: 16:1
48
Texas State University
Score: 66.32
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $11,450
- Out-of-State:$23,210
- Net Price: $15,307
- Acceptance Rate: 89%
- Retention Rate: 78%
- Graduation Rate: 56%
- Total Enrollment: 38,722
- Undergrad Students: 34,547
- Graduate Students: 4,175
- Grads Salary: $70,000
- Student-to-faculty: 21:1
49
University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire
Score: 66.28
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $9,277
- Out-of-State:$18,516
- Net Price: $15,323
- Acceptance Rate: 76%
- Retention Rate: 82%
- Graduation Rate: 68%
- Total Enrollment: 9,991
- Undergrad Students: 9,304
- Graduate Students: 687
- Grads Salary: $76,000
- Student-to-faculty: 19:1
50
Tarleton State University
Score: 66.15
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $7,878
- Out-of-State:$17,958
- Net Price: $15,363
- Acceptance Rate: 94%
- Retention Rate: 74%
- Graduation Rate: 51%
- Total Enrollment: 15,937
- Undergrad Students: 13,688
- Graduate Students: 2,249
- Grads Salary: $67,000
- Student-to-faculty: 18:1
