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 highlight the best programs for an associates in software development.
Software programs are needed in every industry. Software engineering and web development are needed for applications, games, web pages, and other software programs, which require code written by programmers who know specific programming languages and other technical skills. Today, programmers are writing in many programming languages including C++, SQL, Java, Python, and Ruby on Rails. Associate degrees in software development will teach students about these programming languages, algorithms, data structures, operating systems, the software development cycle, design of web pages, and management of databases as well as database design. A software developer degree will prepare students for potential employment in entry-level, junior software developer, software engineer positions, or as database administrators. And, luckily for students who cannot attend school full-time or on campus, they can attend online or through hybrid programs, with include some online and some on-campus courses. There are some 100% online programs that will provide graduates with associate degrees in software development.
In the best associate degree programs in software engineering or development students will learn through internships in order to help students begin to gain the industry experience needed to break into the field and eventually take the next step into a software development bachelor's program. Students who intend to pursue an associate degree in this field need to understand that they will also be taking advanced mathematics courses, such as calculus, along with required major courses, which may include some of the following subjects.
- Programming
- Object Oriented Programming
- Information Systems
- Database Design
- Software Assurance
- Software Application Development
- Web Design
- Web Development
- Software Engineering
Featured Online Software Development Programs
Top 25 Best Online Associate in Software Development Programs
Champlain College
Score: 76.81
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $45,550
- Out-of-State: $45,550
- Net Price: $35,133
- Acceptance Rate: 56%
- Retention Rate: 76%
- Graduation Rate: 64%
- Total Enrollment: 3,543
- Undergrad Students: 3,060
- Graduate Students: 483
- Grads Salary: $49,000
- Student-to-faculty: 14:1
Fox Valley Technical College
Score: 74.84
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $4,916
- Out-of-State: $7,109
- Net Price: $10,220
- Acceptance Rate: 100%
- Retention Rate: 74%
- Graduation Rate: 50%
- Total Enrollment: 11,181
- Undergrad Students: 11,181
- Graduate Students: N/A
- Grads Salary: $43,900
- Student-to-faculty: 10:1
Midamerica Nazarene University
Score: 74.41
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $36,120
- Out-of-State: $36,120
- Net Price: $28,787
- Acceptance Rate: 67%
- Retention Rate: 63%
- Graduation Rate: 42%
- Total Enrollment: 1,508
- Undergrad Students: 1,159
- Graduate Students: 349
- Grads Salary: $56,700
- Student-to-faculty: 11:1
University of Toledo
Score: 74.38
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $12,377
- Out-of-State: $21,737
- Net Price: $17,654
- Acceptance Rate: 92%
- Retention Rate: 75%
- Graduation Rate: 55%
- Total Enrollment: 15,545
- Undergrad Students: 11,965
- Graduate Students: 3,580
- Grads Salary: $46,200
- Student-to-faculty: 17:1
Northwood Technical College
Score: 74.15
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $4,524
- Out-of-State: $6,583
- Net Price: $9,800
- Acceptance Rate: 100%
- Retention Rate: 77%
- Graduation Rate: 60%
- Total Enrollment: 2,677
- Undergrad Students: 2,677
- Graduate Students: N/A
- Grads Salary: $34,900
- Student-to-faculty: 5:1
Dakota State University
Score: 73.15
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $9,633
- Out-of-State: $12,735
- Net Price: $17,977
- Acceptance Rate: 79%
- Retention Rate: 74%
- Graduation Rate: 49%
- Total Enrollment: 3,241
- Undergrad Students: 2,757
- Graduate Students: 484
- Grads Salary: $46,400
- Student-to-faculty: 18:1
Gateway Technical College
Score: 72.44
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $4,853
- Out-of-State: $7,046
- Net Price: $8,274
- Acceptance Rate: 100%
- Retention Rate: 81%
- Graduation Rate: 45%
- Total Enrollment: 9,881
- Undergrad Students: 9,881
- Graduate Students: N/A
- Grads Salary: $40,100
- Student-to-faculty: 8:1
Chippewa Valley Technical College
Score: 71.09
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $4,724
- Out-of-State: $6,917
- Net Price: $10,302
- Acceptance Rate: 100%
- Retention Rate: 66%
- Graduation Rate: 46%
- Total Enrollment: 8,364
- Undergrad Students: 8,364
- Graduate Students: N/A
- Grads Salary: $43,600
- Student-to-faculty: 14:1
Northeast Wisconsin Technical College
Score: 71.01
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $4,904
- Out-of-State: $7,097
- Net Price: $9,574
- Acceptance Rate: 100%
- Retention Rate: 79%
- Graduation Rate: 50%
- Total Enrollment: 10,661
- Undergrad Students: 10,661
- Graduate Students: N/A
- Grads Salary: $39,200
- Student-to-faculty: 16:1
Lakeshore Technical College
Score: 68.62
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $4,649
- Out-of-State: $6,842
- Net Price: $9,327
- Acceptance Rate: 100%
- Retention Rate: 69%
- Graduation Rate: 48%
- Total Enrollment: 3,154
- Undergrad Students: 3,154
- Graduate Students: N/A
- Grads Salary: $37,500
- Student-to-faculty: 13:1
Wayne Community College
Score: 67.65
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $2,524
- Out-of-State: $8,668
- Net Price: $4,694
- Acceptance Rate: 100%
- Retention Rate: 80%
- Graduation Rate: 49%
- Total Enrollment: 2,732
- Undergrad Students: 2,732
- Graduate Students: N/A
- Grads Salary: $30,300
- Student-to-faculty: 12:1
Rasmussen University
Score: 66.67
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $15,117
- Out-of-State: $15,117
- Net Price: $17,890
- Acceptance Rate: 100%
- Retention Rate: 50%
- Graduation Rate: 43%
- Total Enrollment: 8,166
- Undergrad Students: 7,937
- Graduate Students: 229
- Grads Salary: $45,700
- Student-to-faculty: 11:1
Florida State College at Jacksonville
Score: 65.74
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $2,878
- Out-of-State: $9,992
- Net Price: $2,341
- Acceptance Rate: 100%
- Retention Rate: 55%
- Graduation Rate: 37%
- Total Enrollment: 20,363
- Undergrad Students: 20,363
- Graduate Students: N/A
- Grads Salary: $40,800
- Student-to-faculty: 23:1
ECPI University
Score: 65.16
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $18,484
- Out-of-State: $18,484
- Net Price: $22,578
- Acceptance Rate: 83%
- Retention Rate: 51%
- Graduation Rate: 51%
- Total Enrollment: 11,740
- Undergrad Students: 11,399
- Graduate Students: 341
- Grads Salary: $39,600
- Student-to-faculty: 12:1
Northcentral Technical College
Score: 61.5
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $3,861
- Out-of-State: $5,615
- Net Price: $10,866
- Acceptance Rate: 100%
- Retention Rate: 63%
- Graduation Rate: 32%
- Total Enrollment: 6,069
- Undergrad Students: 6,069
- Graduate Students: N/A
- Grads Salary: $40,000
- Student-to-faculty: 18:1
Saddleback College
Score: 59.88
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $1,432
- Out-of-State: $13,732
- Net Price: $6,940
- Acceptance Rate: 100%
- Retention Rate: 74%
- Graduation Rate: 46%
- Total Enrollment: 16,660
- Undergrad Students: 16,660
- Graduate Students: N/A
- Grads Salary: $27,500
- Student-to-faculty: 24:1
Lorain County Community College
Score: 57
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $4,790
- Out-of-State: $8,730
- Net Price: $3,896
- Acceptance Rate: 100%
- Retention Rate: 68%
- Graduation Rate: 26%
- Total Enrollment: 9,170
- Undergrad Students: 9,170
- Graduate Students: N/A
- Grads Salary: $30,200
- Student-to-faculty: 14:1
Madison Area Technical College
Score: 56.21
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $4,780
- Out-of-State: $7,027
- Net Price: $11,588
- Acceptance Rate: 100%
- Retention Rate: 42%
- Graduation Rate: 23%
- Total Enrollment: 12,982
- Undergrad Students: 12,936
- Graduate Students: 46
- Grads Salary: $39,600
- Student-to-faculty: 12:1
Columbus State Community College
Score: 55.89
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $5,338
- Out-of-State: $10,917
- Net Price: $6,964
- Acceptance Rate: 100%
- Retention Rate: 63%
- Graduation Rate: 26%
- Total Enrollment: 25,129
- Undergrad Students: 25,129
- Graduate Students: N/A
- Grads Salary: $32,500
- Student-to-faculty: 17:1
Spokane Community College
Score: 55.88
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $4,057
- Out-of-State: $5,494
- Net Price: $6,295
- Acceptance Rate: 100%
- Retention Rate: N/A
- Graduation Rate: 35%
- Total Enrollment: 6,502
- Undergrad Students: 6,502
- Graduate Students: N/A
- Grads Salary: $38,100
- Student-to-faculty: 17:1
College of Southern Nevada
Score: 55.15
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $4,110
- Out-of-State: $12,209
- Net Price: $7,685
- Acceptance Rate: 100%
- Retention Rate: 79%
- Graduation Rate: 17%
- Total Enrollment: 28,901
- Undergrad Students: 28,901
- Graduate Students: N/A
- Grads Salary: $34,100
- Student-to-faculty: 17:1
Herzing University-Madison
Score: 55.04
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $13,420
- Out-of-State: $13,420
- Net Price: $22,720
- Acceptance Rate: 94%
- Retention Rate: 51%
- Graduation Rate: 22%
- Total Enrollment: 3,473
- Undergrad Students: 1,803
- Graduate Students: 1,670
- Grads Salary: $45,200
- Student-to-faculty: 18:1
Ivy Tech Community College
Score: 54.11
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $4,912
- Out-of-State: $9,465
- Net Price: $6,756
- Acceptance Rate: 100%
- Retention Rate: 59%
- Graduation Rate: 31%
- Total Enrollment: 89,705
- Undergrad Students: 89,705
- Graduate Students: N/A
- Grads Salary: $29,800
- Student-to-faculty: 23:1
Community College of Allegheny County
Score: 51.42
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $8,803
- Out-of-State: $12,583
- Net Price: $8,139
- Acceptance Rate: 100%
- Retention Rate: 59%
- Graduation Rate: 19%
- Total Enrollment: 10,467
- Undergrad Students: 10,467
- Graduate Students: N/A
- Grads Salary: $31,500
- Student-to-faculty: 17:1
Purdue Global
Score: 50.6
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $10,110
- Out-of-State: $14,421
- Net Price: $6,785
- Acceptance Rate: 100%
- Retention Rate: 17%
- Graduation Rate: 20%
- Total Enrollment: 45,125
- Undergrad Students: 33,510
- Graduate Students: 11,615
- Grads Salary: $39,300
- Student-to-faculty: 26:1
