The 10 Best Software Engineering Schools in the US

In the modern world, the vast majority of industries heavily rely on technology in one way or another. As a result, the job market for software engineers is not just incredibly diverse but also rapidly booming.  

In fact, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, software engineers as a group are going to see an estimated 25% increase in employment rates over the next ten years. 

This growth rate is far, far higher than the national average for all careers at just 5%. 

Studying software engineering is an excellent way to gain an extremely versatile, in-demand set of skills that can land you a job working in whatever industry you want. 

Furthermore, it is essential to know that most software engineering jobs require a bachelor’s degree or higher. Thus, attending a college with a phenomenal software engineering program is vital if you are serious about starting a career in this field. 

Choosing the best school can be a stressful and overwhelming process with so many different options out there. To help you narrow down your search a bit, here, we have compiled a ranked list of some of the best schools for studying software engineering that the US has to offer.

To publish this list of the best software engineering schools, we are creating an “averaged” & aggregated ranking. We assign a score to every school on the list based on its positioning in other published ranking lists, then rank them based on which schools performed the best. We have included our sources at the end of the article.

Here are the 10 best software engineering schools in the US!


10. Michigan Technological University (Houghton, MI)

Michigan Tech
Jcvertin, Michigan Tech campus, CC BY-SA 4.0

The first institution for higher education to be established in the state’s Upper Peninsula, Michigan Technological University is a public research university that offers a strong bachelor’s degree program in software engineering.

For their first two years of study, students in the software engineering BS program are trained in the fundamentals of computer science in order to establish a solid foundation for the remainder of the program. 

In the remaining two years, the program’s focus narrows in on software engineering, covering a variety of topics like cost effectiveness, beta testing, usability, and domain knowledge of an application area.

One testament to the effectiveness of MTU’s software engineering program is its employment rates. 

An impressive 93% of MTU graduates are able to secure full-time employment in their field of study within 5 years of graduating from the school.


9. Stanford University (Stanford, CA)

Stanford University
Public domain photo via Wikimedia Commons

Consistently ranking within the top three universities in the United States, Stanford University is widely revered as one of the most prestigious colleges in the world. 

This internationally acclaimed institution for higher education is home to seven constituent schools, one of which is the School of Engineering

Stanford University is tied for first place in the nation on US News and World Report’s ranked list of the best universities for studying computer science in the country. 

Since mastering computer science fundamentals is essentially the first step to understanding and studying software engineering, the school’s strength in one area suggests strength in the other.

Stanford’s School of Engineering offers 10 different departmental undergraduate degree programs and six interdepartmental programs. 


8. Stevens Institute of Technology (Hoboken, NJ)

Stevens Institute of Technology
Antony-22, Stevens Hall Stevens Tech, CC BY-SA 4.0

A private research university founded in 1870, the Stevens Institute of Technology is one of the oldest universities for technological studies in the United States. 

It was also the first school in the country to offer degree programs in mechanical engineering.

Stevens Institute of Technology is home to the School of Systems and Enterprises, which offers degrees in software engineering at both the undergraduate and graduate levels.

For students seeking a bachelor’s degree, there is a BS in software engineering

In addition to studying the vast field of software engineering, students in this program can also choose to specialize in one particular area. 

Areas of concentration for software engineering students include healthcare systems, sustainable energy, cybersecurity, and many more. 

Stevens also has a software engineering MS program, offering intensive practice training in software development. 


7. Georgia Institute of Technology (Atlanta, GA)

Georgia Institute of Technology
JJonahJackalope, Armstrong Hall, Georgia Tech, CC BY-SA 4.0

The Georgia Institute of Technology is a public institution for higher education specializing in technology studies and research. 

Founded in 1885, Georgia Tech has a 130-plus year-long history of offering excellent programs in the liberal arts, business, design, and sciences, with a special focus on engineering. 

One of Georgia Tech’s 29 constituent colleges and schools is the School of Engineering, which offers a world-class undergraduate program in programming languages and software engineering.

The school’s College of Computing also has an extensive array of bachelor’s degree programs that are a great fit for students who are interested in studying software engineering. 

Georgia Tech also offers a dual BS program in computer engineering. Students in this program get the opportunity to study abroad at the Korea Advanced Institute of Science & Tech Students.


6. UC Berkeley (Berkeley, CA)

UC Berkeley Campus
Public domain photo by Daderot via Wikimedia Commons

Established in 1868, the University of California — Berkeley is a large public university situated on the San Francisco Bay. According to US News and World Report, UC Berkeley is the #1 public university in the country. 

It is also ranked third in the nation in terms of best ABET-accredited undergraduate engineering programs. 

Berkeley is home to a stellar department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Sciences, which has numerous courses and programs relating to software engineering. 

The EECS department offers two different undergraduate degrees. 

First, there is the bachelor of science in electrical engineering and computer sciences, which is offered through Berkeley’s College of Engineering. 

The other degree option is a bachelor of arts in computer science, provided through the College of Letters and Sciences.


5. University of Pennsylvania (Philadelphia, PA)

University of Pennsylvania
Public domain image by WestCoastivieS via Wikimedia Commons

One of the eight elite private universities making up the esteemed Ivy League, the University of Pennsylvania is consistently ranked among the top ten universities in the United States. 

The school was founded by none other than Benjamin Franklin in 1740, making it the fourth oldest institution for higher education in the country.

UPenn’s School of Engineering and Applied Sciences takes an interdisciplinary approach to undergraduate education, allowing students to create a unique degree program suited to their personal interests and professional goals.

Students can choose to pursue either a bachelor of science in engineering or a bachelor of applied science. 

In addition to the BSE and BAS programs, the school also offers various specialized dual-degree programs, as well as ample opportunities to study around. 


4. Northeastern University (Boston, MA)

Northeastern University
Sdkb, Northeastern University in fall 2021, CC BY-SA 4.0

Northeastern University is a prestigious private research university that was founded in 1898. 

It is home to 9 interdisciplinary research centers that collectively receive an astonishing $180.2 million annually in external research funding, offering students at this school unparalleled opportunities to carry out serious scholarly work at a major institution.

The Khoury College of Computer Sciences at Northeastern has a robust array of academic offerings relating to software engineering

One of these is the master of science in software engineering systems, a two-year program that can be completed either full- or part-time. 

At the undergraduate level, there is a BS in computer science, in addition to a number of  interdisciplinary dual major options, allowing students to pursue a unique plan of study. For example, there is a BS in computer science and philosophy.


3. UC Irvine (Irvine, CA)

One of the nine schools that make up the University of California system, UC Irvine is an excellent public university located in California’s Orange County. 

As of 2022, UC Irvine is tied for ninth in the nation in terms of schools with the best undergraduate software engineering program offerings, according to US News and World Report.

UCI is home to the Henry Samueli School of Engineering

Engineering studies at the school are divided into seven departments. One of these is the Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, which offers software engineering degree programs at the bachelors, masters, and Ph.D. levels. 

The engineering department faculty at UCI are highly-accomplished experts in the engineering field, frequently making the news for receiving prestigious academic awards.


2. Massachusetts Institute of Technology (Cambridge, MA)

Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Public domain photo by Daderot via Wikimedia Commons

Located in the iconic city of Cambridge — which is often named among the top 10 college towns in the United States — the Massachusetts Institute of Technology is known around the world for its significant contributions to scholarly research in the sciences, technology, engineering, and math. 

According to QS World University Rankings, MIT is the #1 school in the world in terms of best program offerings in the area of computer science and information systems. 

The school offers a variety of programs, from the undergraduate level all the way up to doctoral degrees.

Research and academic programs at MIT’s Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science are organized into a number of areas of focus, one of which is programming languages and software engineering.


1. Carnegie Mellon University (Pittsburgh, PA)

Carnegie Mellon Cohon University Center
Dllu, Carnegie Mellon Cohon University Center 2016 main entrance, CC BY-SA 4.0

Carnegie Mellon University is a private research university known worldwide for its excellent interdisciplinary programs and its long-standing commitment to promoting global human welfare through scientific innovation.

According to US News and World Report’s 2022 list of schools with the best undergraduate software engineering programs, Carnegie Mellon University is ranked first in the nation. 

The university is home to the Software Engineering Institute

One of the largest research institutes of its kind in the country, CMU’s SEI is one of the mere 10 federally-funded research and development centers to be sponsored by the Department of Defense.

SEI has a number of degree program options in software engineering. One of these is the MSE for professionals, a 16-month program designed to make students prepare to become successful, leading professionals in the technology industry.


To create this list, we created an aggregate “averaged-out” ranking of other lists.

Here are the sources for our aggregated ranking.

US News

ComputerCareers

Prepler

College Raptor

CollegeChoice

Universities.com