Bachelor’s in Software Engineering Degree Programs

Simplify your search for a bachelor’s degree in software engineering with our comprehensive guide! Discover the structure & benefits of a BS program. Dig into details on typical coursework, admission requirements, credit transferability, skills learned, career opportunities, and job prospects. Compare software engineering & computer science degrees and find answers to FAQs. If you are interested in exploring a future in software engineering, this resource is designed for you.

Already know what you’re looking for? Skip ahead to our state-by-state listings of BS in software engineering programs!

What is a Bachelor’s in Software Engineering?

A traditional four-year undergraduate degree with a major in software engineering will prepare you to manage the software development cycle. You’ll acquire an in-depth knowledge of project management, computing skills (e.g. networking, database management, and programming), and engineering principles.

Graduates with a BS in software engineering are eligible for a wide variety of jobs, including software developer, computer network architect, computer programmer, database administrator & architect, and computer systems analyst. If you fall in love with the subject, you may wish to pursue a master’s degree in a specialty field such as web engineering, game engineering, data engineering & analytics, or mobile and cloud computing.

Software-Focused Majors: Your BS Degree Options

Before you apply for a program, it pays to know the difference between the various software majors—software engineering, software development, and computer science. Because the coursework for these undergraduate programs overlaps extensively, employers will consider applicants with a BS in a software-related major for a software engineering position. However, your career prospects will increase substantially with a targeted degree.

• BS in Software Engineering: Prepares you for solving large-scale problems related to overseeing the entire production of software applications.
• BS in Computer Science & Software Engineering: Offers a blend of coursework in computational theory and the study of engineering principles to complete software construction.
• BS in Software Development: Focuses on designing, coding, and testing software.

Each degree draws on a particular skill set. Choose a role that aligns best with your aptitude and nature:

• Software Engineer: Enjoys using engineering concepts and scientific reasoning, leading and interacting with different groups, and mapping out the requirements for the entire software architecture as well as delegating the necessary roles.
• Computer Scientist: Loves to pursue interests in research and development using computational methods.
• Software Developer: Appreciates working individually and collectively, using creative and logical thinking patterns to design and code software.

You may also wish to explore the section on Software Engineering vs. Computer Science Degrees.

BS Program Overview: Curriculum, Admission Requirements & Costs

Structure & Timeline

A bachelor’s degree in software engineering takes four years to complete on a full-time schedule. Each school year is divided into fall and spring semesters beginning in September and January. Bachelor’s degree programs in software engineering typically require 120-130 credits, with the bulk of these credits coming from your major. Core courses will make up most of your first and second years. Your final two years will focus on coursework in your software engineering major, including electives.

BS in Software Engineering: Curriculum

Core Requirements

No two software engineering degree programs are the same. In our listings, you’ll find that universities like to vary their educational approaches. However, a sizeable portion of the core requirement courses will be in subjects such as math, science, and communication, including college-level credits in Calculus, Physics, Writing, and Public Speaking.

Courses in the Major

Over the course of your BS degree, you’ll also be required to take courses in software & computing. Common courses in a software engineering major include:

• Data Structures and Algorithmic Analysis
• Database Management Systems
• Object-Oriented Programming
• Systems Programming
• Software Architecture and Design
• Software Testing, Verification, and Quality Assurance
• Software Project Planning and Management

Electives

Schools may expect you to complete 3-5 major elective courses focusing on an advanced area of software engineering. Some examples of these courses include:

• Machine Learning
• Introduction to Artificial Intelligence
• Network Performance Analysis
• Image Processing and Computer Vision
• Computer Network and Security

BS Admission Requirements

Software engineering program admission requirements typically exceed general admission requirements. Universities & colleges will expect a strong performance in college preparatory courses for all students. In addition, BS in software engineering programs usually require additional prerequisite classes in science and math. For example:

Rochester Institute of Technology recommends computing electives and requires:

• Four years of math, including Pre-Calculus
• Chemistry or Physics (preferably both)

East Carolina University requires:

• Unweighted high school grade point average (GPA) of 3.0
• ACT composite score of 27 (or SAT equivalent) with a minimum score of 24 (or SAT equivalent) on the math portion
• Eligibility for the school’s College Algebra course, determined by the ECU Department of Mathematics

Tuition Costs for Bachelor’s in Software Engineering Programs

To estimate the total cost of your BS in software engineering, you will need to make some initial decisions about your program. Before you lay your money down, consider the following:

• Public vs. Private: As a rule, tuition rates at public universities & colleges will be cheaper than tuition rates at private schools. But this is only a general rule! Ivy League & big tech schools are expensive, but they may also offer outstanding scholarships & funding packages to promising students from underrepresented groups. Public universities that have an international reputation may be just as pricey as small private schools.
• In-State vs. Out-of-State: Public universities usually have two tuition rates—students who live within the state pay much less than students who live outside of the state. If you’re anywhere near a public university with a strong Department of Computer Science, see if it offers a BS in software engineering or a related major. You’ll save yourself a ton of money.
• AS to BS in Software Engineering: Are you really struggling with BS prices? Consider earning your AS in software engineering at a local community or technical college and then transferring those credits into a BS program after two years. You will need to make sure all of your credits will transfer, so talk to the AS program coordinator and your proposed school for the BS before you go down this route. They may have ideas on scholarships & funding sources as well.

Once you’ve narrowed down your search, you can put together a shortlist of 4-5 promising BS degrees from our listings and then use the costs links to start drawing up a budget. Be sure to include tuition & associated costs in your numbers (e.g. fees, course materials, room & board, etc.). Here are a few ballpark tuition rates to get you started:

• Low Range: In-state tuition at public colleges could be as low as $8,000-$10,000 per year for undergraduates. For instance, in 2023, Farmingdale State College was charging New York State students $3,535 per semester.
• Mid-Range: BS tuition at large public universities & small private universities could be $20,000-$40,000 per year. For instance, in 2023, the University of Indianapolis was charging undergraduates $34,416 per year. That was similar to the University of Illinois Chicago and its out-of-state tuition rate of $33,624.
• High Range: Prestigious private universities will have the highest tuition rates—think upwards of $50,000 per year. In 2023, Carnegie Mellon University had an undergraduate tuition rate of $62,260 per year. At the Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT), it was $53,720 per year.

How to Transfer From an Associate’s to Bachelor’s in Software Engineering Program

Transfer Requirements

If you have an associate’s degree in a software-related field from a regionally accredited college or university, talk to the BS program coordinator about your transfer options. Many schools will be willing to accept your previous credits; some schools will have specific guidelines for transfer students. For instance:

Penn State University requires transfer students to have:

• Minimum cumulative GPA of 2.7
• 8 credits of Calculus with Analytic Geometry
• 4 credits of Calculus-based Physics
• 3 credits of Introductory Chemistry

East Carolina University requires transfer students to have:

• Minimum cumulative GPA of 2.5
• Eligibility for the school’s Elements of Calculus course, determined by the ECU Department of Mathematics

Credit Transferability

You can evaluate transferable credits from an associate’s degree to a BS in software engineering in three different ways:

1. Check if your associate degree school has transfer partnerships with any four-year colleges.
   • Miami University collaborates with five local community colleges to provide a seamless transfer process. This partnership guarantees admission into Miami University’s software engineering program, as long as you earned at least a 2.0 cumulative GPA in your two-year program.
   • Iowa State University has community college transfer plans with 28 community colleges across Iowa, Illinois, and Minnesota for its software engineering program.
2. Use the service provided by Transferology.
   • Transferology allows you to check the transfer eligibility of your completed credits to several schools simultaneously. This process offers the fastest assessment for getting the largest number of your credits transferred.
   • It’s important to note that only certain schools participate in this service.
3. Request that your prospective four-year college or university determine your transferable credits.
   • Miami University offers a “Transfer Credit Evaluation” form on its website. Upon submission, the Office of the University Registrar reviews your specific situation.
   • University of Colorado Boulder provides a “Transfer Credit Review Form.” The school takes two to three weeks to determine the transferability of your credits.

Once you’re satisfied with your prospective school’s acceptance of credits, you’ll be able to submit an online application for transfer, along with official transcripts from your associate degree school.

Software Engineering vs Computer Science Degrees: What’s the Difference?

Skills Learned

A software engineering degree improves your ability to solve hardware and software problems during product development. BS students in this field develop the following skills:

• Working productively across multiple disciplines
• Contributing detailed work in each phase of the software development cycle
• Communicating software objectives and results effectively with technical and non-technical people
• Analyzing data to solve a host of software and hardware-related issues

A computer science degree teaches you to apply abstract computational theory during research and development. BS students in this field develop the following skills:

• Creating and improving computational algorithms
• Using scientific methods in a research setting
• Communicating research data to technical and non-technical people

Real-World Applications

Software Engineers manage and play an active role in the full development of a software application by:

• Applying engineering principles to write a client’s software contract detailing the specifications of the end product
• Breaking apart the large scale of the contract into actionable tasks for software developers, quality assurance analysts, and testers
• Solving large-scale problems dealing with networks, databases, operating systems, and software development problems

Computer Scientists increase computing efficiencies by creating or improving new software tools. Specifically, computer scientists push the boundaries of the computing industry by:

• Developing new programming languages
• Simplifying complex algorithms applied to cryptography, machine learning, and artificial intelligence
• Testing and enhancing software systems through controlled experiments
• Authoring white papers and presenting research at conferences

Pros & Cons of Software Engineering and Computer Science Degrees

Software Engineering Degree

Pros:

• Provides the skill set to make an immediate impact in the workplace
• Allows you to build software products with tangible results

Cons:

• Focuses on managing the construction of software applications, limiting opportunities in more specialized computational fields

Computer Science Degree

Pros:

• Covers a broad spectrum of computer knowledge and applications
• Makes graduates marketable to various jobs and industries

Cons:

• Requires further education to specialize in some cutting-edge technologies, like machine learning, image processing, and artificial intelligence
• Offers job opportunities where research takes years to manifest tangible results

Which Bachelor’s Degree Is Right For You?

Identify your career goals and consider your personality & aptitude before you decide on a BS in software engineering or a BS in computer science:

• Software Engineering: Graduates with a software engineering bachelor’s degree acquire practical and real-world knowledge, making an entry-level job immediately following graduation a viable option. Because it’s a job that is full of project management opportunities, this field is ideal for someone who enjoys working with many people.
• Computer Science: Graduates with a computer science bachelor’s degree transition more easily into research and development, making further education a promising path (e.g. MS or PhD). Computer scientists often work on theoretical tasks that are suited to people who prefer to work individually.

Nevertheless, these degrees contain some interchangeable parts. Computer science majors successfully seek advanced software engineering degrees or project management jobs. And software engineer majors successfully pursue graduate degrees in computer science education or occupations as a research and developer. Although they do not align perfectly, the degrees have enough overlapping concepts to make a change in careers possible.

Bachelor’s in Software Engineering Career Outlook

Job Opportunities

There are always openings for software engineers on job boards. Better yet, a bachelor’s degree in software engineering also qualifies you for several other high-paying positions in related fields. These technical positions are forecast to have strong job demand as the computer industry experiences continued growth.

Occupation	Median Pay (per year), 2021	Number of jobs, 2021	Job Outlook (projected growth rate from 2021-31)
Software Developers, Quality Assurance Analysts, and Testers	$109,020	1,622,200	25%
Computer Network Architects	$120,520	174,800	4%
Computer Systems Analysts	$99,270	538,800	9%
Database Administrators and Architects	$101,000	144,500	9%

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) – May 2021

Job Descriptions

Software Developers, Quality Assurance Analysts, and Testers: Software developers design and build software to specifications provided by a software engineer. Quality assurance analysts and testers design testing methods to verify an application’s soundness.

Computer Network Architects: These skilled professionals design and manage the build of small-scale (office-to-office) or large-scale (cloud computing) networks. They maintain the network infrastructure by gathering and analyzing traffic data. Architects also use this data to grow the network based on a client’s demands.

Computer Systems Analysts: Computer systems analysts improve a business’s computer systems to meet its storage, memory, and computing needs. Implementing these improvements involves:

• Configuring hardware and software for increased efficiency
• Working with multidisciplinary teams to manage the installation of a new system
• Testing systems to validate specifications

Database Administrators and Architects: Database administrators work directly with data analysts to ensure access to appropriate data. Database architects design and construct database applications to meet a business’s needs.

Salary Numbers

Software engineers remain in high demand as software applications continue to grow. According to PayScale, the entry-level salary for a software engineer was $78,268 in early 2023. The yearly income for those in mid-career positions (5–9 years’ experience) was $98,346. With 20+ years of experience, a software engineer can earn $116,541.

BS in Software Engineering: Frequently Asked Questions

What Accreditation Should Software Engineering Programs Have?

We always recommend that you earn your undergraduate degree from a regionally accredited university or college. Almost every reputable employer will specify that they want to see a regionally accredited degree on your résumé. Regional accreditation will also be important if you decide to pursue a master’s degree or PhD.

The Accrediting Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET) also accredits software engineering programs in the United States. The ABET accreditation process involves an evaluation team that examines course content and interviews school administrators. ABET-accredited programs will:

• Provide knowledgeable faculty & coursework that thoroughly covers software engineering
• Require you to participate in a senior design project to develop a real-world application
• Offer career advisement to facilitate your transition to industry

Search for an ABET-accredited program.

Note: Most states do not issue software engineering licenses. Nevertheless, an accredited degree will prepare you for any changes in licensing regulations. Licensing exams require candidates to graduate from an accredited school.

Which Programming Languages Should You Learn in a BS in Software Engineering?

A bachelor’s degree in software engineering typically covers several programming languages:

• Java: Java is an introductory programming language used to build software applications.
• C++ or C#: C++ or C# readily communicates with hardware, allowing software engineers to develop operating systems efficiently.
• JavaScript: Software engineers use JavaScript to make websites interactive and responsive to users.
• Python or R: Python or R languages provide tools to simplify data analysis.

Are There Accelerated Software Engineering Degree Programs?

Yes, but they are rare. For instance, Bellarmine University offers an accelerated Bachelor of Science in Software and Data Engineering. Students with a bachelor’s degree in another field are permitted to complete a 37-credit curriculum. This immersive program results in a software and data engineering degree after one year of enrollment.

Some universities offer 4+1 programs, which allow students to earn bachelor’s and master’s degrees in just five years. For example, Arizona State University’s 4+1 program awards students a BS in Software Engineering and MS in Software Engineering in five years. You will find similar programs at Bowling Green State University, East Carolina University, and Saint Louis University.

What Qualifications Can I Pursue After I Earn a Bachelor’s in Software Engineering?

If you fall in love with the field of software engineering and would like to pursue graduate studies, you have a couple of options:

• Master’s of Science in Software Engineering: An MS in software engineering will accelerate your path to senior management and executive roles through advanced coursework. You’ll also be able to apply software engineering principles to specific fields of interest, including mobile and cloud computing, embedded systems, and game engineering.
• Graduate Certificates: Postbaccalaureate certificates in software engineering, software development, or computer science will provide some breadth to your résumé, making you stand out above the competition. At some schools, certificate credits can be applied to a master’s degree if you desire to pursue further graduate work.