Software Engineering Degrees in Massachusetts

For software developers and engineers, Massachusetts is a top destination to pursue a meaningful and high paying career. The Commonwealth is home to leading private corporations, and the administration continues to invest in technology and innovation. Massachusetts also boasts many of the country’s leading schools and universities, which means that regardless of where a student wants to go after graduation, they will find themselves in high demand with a degree from a Massachusetts software engineering program.

Software Engineering Landscape in Massachusetts

Massachusetts is one of the nation’s leaders in employment for software developers, ranking in the top-5, with over 17 jobs per 1,000 statewide. The metropolitan Boston area also ranks high in employment statistics, boasting over 55K total jobs and an average annual salary of nearly $130K.

Massachusetts continues to invest in technology statewide, with a heavy emphasis on developing skilled training programs at area schools and universities. In December 2022, the Baker-Polito Administration announced $51 million in Skills Capital Grants to high schools, colleges, and educational institutions, bringing their total funding over the past eight years to over $200 million.

“We created the Skills Capital Grants to ensure young people and adults in every region of the Commonwealth could learn and gain skills on the most up-to-date technologies and equipment so they would be well-prepared for in-demand careers,” said Governor Charlie Baker.

The administration has also provided new funding for clean energy initiatives as well as a coding program through the Massachusetts Department of Corrections. With a growing emphasis on technology and innovation throughout Massachusetts, there will be many opportunities for software engineers to make a positive impact.

Software Engineering Education in Massachusetts

With top programs in software development and engineering, Massachusetts offers many exciting opportunities for students to pursue undergraduate and graduate degrees or professional certification.

Undergraduate Programs

At Fisher College, students can earn a BS in Information Technology with a concentration in software engineering. Fisher college offers both on-campus and online program options. The on-campus degree can be completed in four years, while the accelerated online track typically takes just over three years.

Curry College’s BS in Computer Science emphasizes career-ready skills while providing resources specifically for first-year students. As part of the First-Year Experience program, Curry offers specialized courses, faculty mentorship, and Living Learning Communities—all designed to put incoming students on the fast track to success.

Worcester State University’s BS in Computer Science prepares students for careers in a variety of fast growing technology fields. With a specialization in software development, students learn to analyze software infrastructure, then design and test solutions.

Graduate Programs

Northeastern University offers an MS in Software Engineering Systems that prepares graduates for high paying, cutting-edge careers in technology. Its Experiential Learning Program connects students to over 1,000 partner organizations for on-the-job training, while its global network includes over 275K alumni and 3K professional organizations, creating vast career opportunities.

Brandeis University offers a graduate-level program for working professionals with a fully online, two-year MS in Software Engineering that can lead to one of many exciting career choices. Brandeis graduates can be found working at many impressive organizations, including Fujifilm, CVS Health, and Collins Aerospace.

Harvard University does not rely on name recognition alone, offering a Master of Liberal Arts in Extension Studies: Software Engineering that rivals any program in the state. Its flexible hybrid model allows working professionals to complete the degree in two years. Graduates have leveraged their education to gain positions such as systems engineer, DevOps engineer, and full-stack developer.

Certificate Programs

At UMass Dartmouth, students can earn a Software Design and Development certificate that can serve as a standalone program or lead to the MS in Computer Science track. Students develop career-focused skills through courses in “the development of parallel and distributed systems, system specification and design, and paradigmatic software development.”

Boston University offers a flexible Graduate Certificate in Software Engineering that can be completed online or on-campus. Optionally, coursework may go toward a master’s degree program. And because Boston University is a certified Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense and Research, students gain valuable knowledge and experience that can later be used in the private sector or in a position with a government agency.

Software Engineering Jobs in Massachusetts

Massachusetts is home to both established and startup tech firms, offering a wide range of career opportunities for software engineers.

As a global leader in CAD software and IoT solutions, PTC continually seeks new software engineers to join its impressive staff. Currently, it has over 100 career opportunities, available both in the United States and at international locations.

UKG provides software solutions for enterprise-level human capital management. With over 100 software engineering positions currently available, UKG is an excellent choice for software engineers looking to begin or advance their careers.

As leaders in artificial intelligence and speech recognition software, Nuance offers software engineers the chance to work on the cutting-edge of emerging technology. They currently have openings for nearly 50 software engineering positions.

Rapid7 has over 40 available positions for software engineers for those who wish to work in cybersecurity. Headquartered in Boston, Rapid7 offers security and analytics products to clients throughout the United States.

With top-ranked universities and a wealth of public and private tech companies, Massachusetts will continue to be an attractive destination for top talent in the coming years.