Best Software Engineering Master's Degree Programs 2026

Best Software Engineering Programs - Top 10 Master's — Complete Program Data

1. #1. Carnegie Mellon University Master's Software Engineering Program

   Hakia ranks Carnegie Mellon University as the #1 master's in software engineering degree program. Location: Pittsburgh, PA | Type: Private | Tuition: $62,260/year | Graduation Rate: 98% | Score: 92.7

   What makes Carnegie Mellon University stand out: CMU's MS in Software Engineering is the only program of its kind offered exclusively in Silicon Valley, placing students directly within the world's highest concentration of technology organizations with immediate access to internships and career opportunities at industry leaders.

   Hakia Insight: Carnegie Mellon University leverages partnerships with Google and Facebook to offer students real-world project experience valued by employers.

   Program Overview: Carnegie Mellon's Master of Science in Software Engineering represents a unique blend of rigorous academic foundation and practical industry application. Offered exclusively at CMU's Silicon Valley campus, this program sits at the heart of the world's most concentrated technology ecosystem, providing unparalleled access to industry giants and innovative startups alike. Students enter with strong computer science backgrounds and emerge with deep software engineering expertise, having engaged with real-world projects and cutting-edge practices. The curriculum emphasizes both theoretical foundations and hands-on experience, covering everything from software architecture and verification to emerging AI tools integration across the development lifecycle. What sets this program apart is its location advantage - students regularly interact with companies like Google, Facebook, Microsoft, and Tesla through internships, tech talks, and direct recruiting pipelines.

   Degree Programs: MS in Software Engineering (1.5-2 years); Integrated MS/BS in Software Engineering (5 years total)

   Research Labs: Software Engineering Institute (SEI) - Federally funded R&D center for software engineering, cybersecurity, and AI engineering

   Industry Partners: Google, Facebook, Microsoft, VMWare, Amazon, IBM, Salesforce, Yahoo, SAP, PayPal, LinkedIn, Coursera, Cisco, NVidia, Tesla, Docker

   Career Outcomes: | Top Employers: Google, Facebook, Microsoft, VMWare, Amazon, IBM, Salesforce, Yahoo, SAP, PayPal, LinkedIn, Coursera, Cisco, NVidia, Tesla, Docker

   Notable Faculty: Prof. Hakan Erdogmus (Program Lead)

   Admissions: GPA: 3.0 minimum for IMB pathway | Acceptance Rate: Not specified

2. #2. Northeastern University Master's Software Engineering Program

   Hakia ranks Northeastern University as the #2 master's in software engineering degree program. Location: Boston, MA | Type: Private | Tuition: $62,000/year | Score: 80.6

   What makes Northeastern University stand out: Unlike traditional computer science programs, Northeastern's Software Engineering Systems program takes an explicitly engineering approach to software development, focusing on the three-way intersection of computer science, engineering, and ethics to create systems for societal impact.

   Hakia Insight: Northeastern University's industry network — including Google and Microsoft — provides students with internship and hiring pathways.

   Program Overview: Northeastern University's Master of Science in Software Engineering Systems is a distinctive program that approaches software development from the analytical and methodological perspective of an engineer, rather than traditional computer science. The 32-credit hour program uniquely positions itself at the intersection of computer science, engineering, and ethics, preparing students to engineer complex software systems for societal impact. Students can choose from coursework-only, project-based, or thesis options, with flexibility for full-time (2 years) or part-time study. The program is available on three campuses: Boston, Arlington VA, and Toronto Canada. The curriculum heavily emphasizes Big Data engineering and analytics, covering advanced topics like multi-threaded concurrent computing, Scala programming, Spark programming, and map-reduce techniques for large-scale analytics. Students learn to configure Hadoop environments, integrate data from diverse sources, and manage data through big-data platforms both in-house and in the cloud. The program's engineering foundation enables students to work with high-level mathematical operations that make algorithms execute efficiently enough to get optimal results - a capacity the program argues only software engineers possess.

   Degree Programs: BS in Computer Science (Software Engineering focus) (4 years); MS in Computer Science (1.5-2 years)

   Research Labs: Network Science Institute - Discover fundamentally new ways to measure, model, predict, and visualize meaningful interactions and interconnectivity of social, physical, and technological systems; Cybersecurity and Privacy Institute - Security and privacy implications of online services, algorithmic fairness, bias, and data privacy

   Industry Partners: Google, Microsoft, Amazon, Meta, Apple, Uber, Airbnb

   Career Outcomes: Placement Rate: 95%+

   Notable Faculty: David Kauchak (Machine learning and software systems); Christo Wilson (Software security and privacy)

   Admissions: GPA: 3.0 minimum required

   Accreditations: ABET accredited

3. #3. San Jose State University Master's Software Engineering Program

   Hakia ranks San Jose State University as the #3 master's in software engineering degree program. Location: San Jose, CA | Type: Public | Tuition: $5,742/year | Graduation Rate: 100% | Score: 73.4

   What makes San Jose State University stand out: Located in the epicenter of Silicon Valley, SJSU's Software Engineering program provides direct access to the world's largest concentration of tech companies, with class schedules designed specifically for working engineers at major technology firms.

   Hakia Insight: San Jose State University graduates earn $8,500,095,000, driven by the program's industry connections and hands-on software engineering curriculum.

   Program Overview: San José State University's Master of Science in Software Engineering program offers a distinctive 33-unit graduate degree that bridges traditional computer science with practical software engineering in the heart of Silicon Valley. Housed within the Computer Engineering Department at the College of Engineering, the program serves over 1,600 undergraduate and graduate students with direct connections to tech giants like Google, Apple, and Meta. The curriculum features six specialized tracks: Enterprise Software Technologies, Data Science, Cloud Computing and Virtualization, Software Systems Engineering, Networking Software, and Cybersecurity. Classes are strategically scheduled for working professionals, utilizing state-of-the-art software engineering tools and sophisticated workstations. Students can pursue either a thesis track (Plan A) or project track (Plan B) as their culminating experience, with the program explicitly designed for the globalized software development landscape where large-scale design and component integration dominate.

   Degree Programs: BS in Software Engineering (4 years); MS in Software Engineering (1.5–2 years)

   Research Labs: Collaborative Research Laboratory - Software systems and distributed computing; Human-Computer Interaction Lab - User-centered software design

   Industry Partners: Google, Apple, Cisco Systems, Adobe, Intel, eBay, PayPal

   Career Outcomes: Placement Rate: 92%+

   Notable Faculty: null (Software engineering practices and education)

   Admissions: GPA: 3.0 minimum for classified standing, will consider as low as 2.75

   Accreditations: ABET accredited

4. #4. University of California-Irvine Master's Software Engineering Program

   Hakia ranks University of California-Irvine as the #4 master's in software engineering degree program. Location: Irvine, CA | Type: Public | Tuition: $11,834/year | Graduation Rate: 96% | Score: 69.8

   What makes University of California-Irvine stand out: UC Irvine is the only independent computing school in the University of California system, enabling a uniquely broad, multidisciplinary approach to software engineering that bridges computer science, engineering, mathematics, and behavioral sciences.

   Hakia Insight: University of California-Irvine's industry network — including Amazon and Google — provides students with internship and hiring pathways.

   Program Overview: UC Irvine's Donald Bren School of Information and Computer Sciences offers two distinct Master of Software Engineering pathways designed for different career goals. The Master of Software Engineering (MSWE) is a professionally-oriented program offering both 15-month full-time and 24-month part-time tracks, specifically tailored for working professionals and career changers. This program emphasizes practical skills through internships and industry capstone projects, with comprehensive coverage of AI for Software Engineering (AI4SE) tools and Software Engineering for AI (SE4AI) systems. For those seeking research-focused training, the M.S. Software Engineering (MSSE) program provides a heavily research-oriented experience requiring thesis completion and designed as preparation for doctoral studies or research careers in corporate and government laboratories. The school's faculty lead cutting-edge research through specialized labs including the Software Engineering and Analysis Lab (SEAL), the Software Engineering & Testing Using Artificial Intelligence for Reliable Software (STAIRS) lab, and collaborations with the California Institute for Telecommunications and Information Technology (Calit2).

   Degree Programs: Master of Software Engineering (MSWE) (15 months full-time, 24 months part-time); M.S. Software Engineering (MSSE) (2 years)

   Research Labs: Software Engineering and Analysis Lab (SEAL) - Software engineering research and analysis; Software Engineering & Testing Using Artificial Intelligence for Reliable Software (STAIRS) - AI-enhanced software testing and reliability; California Institute for Telecommunications and Information Technology (Calit2) - Telecommunications and information technology research

   Industry Partners: Amazon, Google, Microsoft, Meta

   Career Outcomes: | Common Roles: Software Engineer, Programmer, Software Architect, Software Project Leader

   Admissions:

5. #5. Arizona State University Campus Immersion Master's Software Engineering Program

   Hakia ranks Arizona State University Campus Immersion as the #5 master's in software engineering degree program. Location: Tempe, AZ | Type: Public | Tuition: $11,308/year | Graduation Rate: 81% | Score: 62.5

   What makes Arizona State University Campus Immersion stand out: ASU Polytechnic's software engineering program stands apart for embedding industry-sponsored capstone projects and hands-on labs throughout the curriculum, not just at the end.

   Hakia Insight: Arizona State University Campus Immersion's industry network — including Intel and Honeywell — provides students with internship and hiring pathways.

   Program Overview: The Polytechnic campus software engineering program emphasizes applied learning through project-based coursework and real-world problem solving integrated throughout the curriculum. Students work extensively with industry partners on capstone projects that tackle genuine engineering challenges, creating a pipeline where classroom theory immediately connects to practice. The program's strength lies in its hands-on focus—students engage with embedded systems, full-stack development, and cloud infrastructure in dedicated labs before graduation. Faculty bring active industry experience, particularly in manufacturing systems, aerospace applications, and enterprise software, reflecting the Polytechnic campus's historic strength in engineering disciplines. Graduates enter the workforce with portfolios of completed projects and established professional networks, positioning them competitively for roles at companies like Intel, Honeywell, and local Phoenix-area tech firms that actively recruit from campus.

   Degree Programs: Bachelors in Software Engineering

   Research Labs: Polytechnic Engineering Labs - Embedded systems and real-time software; Advanced Manufacturing and Robotics Lab - Software systems for autonomous systems

   Industry Partners: Intel, Honeywell, Microchip Technology, Siemens

   Career Outcomes:

   Notable Faculty: null (Embedded systems and IoT); null (Cloud and distributed systems)

   Admissions:

   Accreditations: Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET

6. #6. Stevens Institute of Technology Master's Software Engineering Program

   Hakia ranks Stevens Institute of Technology as the #6 master's in software engineering degree program. Location: Hoboken, NJ | Type: Private | Tuition: $58,680/year | Graduation Rate: 74% | Score: 62.2

   What makes Stevens Institute of Technology stand out: Stevens integrates cybersecurity and cloud infrastructure into core software engineering curriculum, producing engineers immediately valuable in financial services and defense sectors.

   Hakia Insight: Stevens Institute of Technology graduates earn $85,000, driven by the program's industry connections and hands-on software engineering curriculum.

   Program Overview: Stevens' School of Engineering emphasizes engineering software systems at scale, with a curriculum that threads together cybersecurity, cloud computing, and enterprise architecture from freshman year through graduate specialization. The program integrates security thinking into every layer—from secure coding practices to architected defense-in-depth—reflecting both the Hudson River location opposite Wall Street and Stevens' historical strength in cryptography and secure systems. Students work with contemporary development stacks and cloud platforms (AWS, Azure) throughout their coursework, ensuring exposure to infrastructure and DevOps that many programs treat as electives. Stevens maintains robust partnerships with financial services firms, defense agencies, and major tech companies, creating internship pipelines that often convert to full-time offers. The capstone sequence involves real or realistic projects with external sponsors, and many students publish or present results. Faculty expertise spans distributed systems, security, and machine learning applications to engineering problems. Graduates frequently land senior-track positions at major firms or launch startups, with strong median salaries reflecting the program's emphasis on high-demand specializations.

   Degree Programs: BS in Computer Science (Software Engineering focus) (4 years); MS in Computer Science (Software Engineering concentration) (2 years); PhD in Computer Science (5 years)

   Research Labs: Stevens Center for Secure Systems - Cybersecurity, cryptography, and secure software design

   Industry Partners: Goldman Sachs, IBM, Cisco, U.S. Department of Defense

   Career Outcomes: | Top Employers: Goldman Sachs, IBM, Cisco, Amazon, Google, Morgan Stanley | Common Roles: Software Engineer, Security Engineer, DevOps Engineer, Cloud Architect, Solutions Architect

   Notable Faculty: Andreas Haeberlen (Distributed systems and systems security); Chowdhury (Cybersecurity and network engineering)

   Admissions:

   Accreditations: ABET accredited

7. #7. Rochester Institute of Technology Master's Software Engineering Program

   Hakia ranks Rochester Institute of Technology as the #7 master's in software engineering degree program. Location: Rochester, NY | Type: Private | Tuition: $55,784/year | Graduation Rate: 90% | Score: 62.2

   What makes Rochester Institute of Technology stand out: RIT created the first undergraduate software engineering program in the United States and operates one of the world's oldest and largest cooperative education programs, providing students with nearly a year of full-time paid industry experience.

   Hakia Insight: Through ties with Microsoft and Tesla, Rochester Institute of Technology bridges the gap between academic training and industry practice.

   Program Overview: Rochester Institute of Technology's Software Engineering program stands as a comprehensive educational powerhouse, offering both Bachelor of Science and Master of Science degrees that emphasize hands-on, team-based learning in real-world environments. The MS program accepts students from diverse educational backgrounds and provides flexible learning paths with specializations in data science, full-stack development, AI/machine learning, and DevOps. What sets RIT apart is its integration of cooperative education—one of the oldest and largest co-op programs in the world—requiring 40 weeks of full-time, paid industry experience for undergraduates. The program operates out of state-of-the-art facilities including studio labs, project labs, team rooms, a collaboration lab, and a specialized real-time and embedded systems lab, all designed to simulate industry environments where students work in teams of 20-25 different configurations throughout their studies.

   Degree Programs: Software Engineering BS (4 years); Software Engineering MS (2 years); Software Engineering BS/MS Accelerated (5 years)

   Research Labs: Artificial Intelligence Research Lab - Computer vision, robotics, virtual theatre, sensor networks, data mining; Computer Graphics and Visualization Lab - Advanced graphics programming, image synthesis, computer animation, virtual reality; Security Research Lab - Networking security, cryptography, secure databases

   Industry Partners: Microsoft, Tesla, Boeing, Lockheed Martin, IBM, JPMorgan Chase & Co., U.S. Department of Defense, Alion Science and Technology, Bose, Collins Aerospace

   Career Outcomes:

   Admissions: GPA: 3.0 minimum recommended for MS program | Acceptance Rate: Not specified

8. #8. George Mason University Master's Software Engineering Program

   Hakia ranks George Mason University as the #8 master's in software engineering degree program. Location: Fairfax, VA | Type: Public | Tuition: $10,095/year | Graduation Rate: 80% | Score: 62.0

   What makes George Mason University stand out: The DC area has one of the largest collections of software companies in the world and the workforce is constantly growing, making our graduates in very high demand. Many MS-SWE students work full-time at companies that are constantly hiring, making every class meeting a mini-job fair.

   Program Overview: The MS in Software Engineering (MS-SWE) prepares students to become leaders in engineering high quality, large scale, computing solutions to real life problems. Software engineering spans all aspects of developing software, including requirements analysis, design, construction, testing, usability, security, maintenance, and economics.

   Degree Programs: MS; Accelerated Master's (BS-ACS/MS-SWE) (5 years); Accelerated Master's (BS-CS/MS-SWE) (5 years)

   Career Outcomes: | Common Roles: engineering lead, software architect, director of engineering, CTO, network administrators, database analysts, software applications engineers

   Admissions:

9. #9. Tufts University Master's Software Engineering Program

   Hakia ranks Tufts University as the #9 master's in software engineering degree program. Location: Medford, MA | Type: Private | Tuition: $66,358/year | Graduation Rate: 81% | Score: 61.8

   What makes Tufts University stand out: Tufts integrates research-grade computer science fundamentals with systems-focused practical work, producing engineers equally prepared for graduate study or leadership roles at top tech companies.

   Hakia Insight: Students at Tufts University benefit from active collaborations with Google and Amazon, connecting classroom learning to the workforce.

   Program Overview: Tufts' computer science program, particularly its software systems track, attracts students seeking research-quality education with direct access to faculty advancing the field. The program's distinction emerges from its integration of theoretical foundations—compilers, algorithms, formal methods—with applied systems work that shapes real infrastructure. Students have opportunities to engage in research through the School of Engineering and the broader Tufts computing ecosystem, including work in distributed systems, programming languages, and human-computer interaction. The curriculum supports specialization tracks in areas like networks, security, and data systems, allowing students to build depth in domains where demand is strongest. Tufts' location in Medford/Somerville places it squarely in the greater Boston tech region, providing internship access to leaders like Google, Amazon, Meta, and countless startups in Cambridge and the surrounding area. Faculty are active researchers who bring current work into courses; students often find pathways into graduate school or directly into senior-engineer roles at top-tier tech companies. The program benefits from Tufts' research enterprise and its standing in computer science, meaning recruitment from major tech firms is consistent and robust. Capstone and senior project opportunities often involve real research problems, preparing students for both industry and academic paths.

   Degree Programs: BS in Computer Science (4 years); MS in Computer Science (1-2 years)

   Industry Partners: Google, Amazon, Meta

   Career Outcomes:

   Admissions:

10. #10. DePaul University Master's Software Engineering Program

    Hakia ranks DePaul University as the #10 master's in software engineering degree program. Location: Chicago, IL | Type: Private | Tuition: $43,379/year | Graduation Rate: 86% | Score: 61.6

    What makes DePaul University stand out: DePaul's Software Engineering program offers specialized concentrations in AI and game systems development, with strong industry connections in Chicago's tech hub and flexible course waiver options for experienced professionals.

    Hakia Insight: Through ties with Allstate and Amazon, DePaul University bridges the gap between academic training and industry practice.

    Program Overview: DePaul University's Software Engineering program, housed in the Jarvis College of Computing and Digital Media, offers a comprehensive MS in Software Engineering with three specialized concentrations: Artificial Intelligence in Software Engineering, Real-Time Software and Game Systems, and Software Development and Architecture. The program requires a minimum of 48 graduate credit hours including introductory courses, foundation courses, advanced courses, and major electives. Students can choose from diverse elective areas including software development, architecture, computer security, data science, distributed systems, project management, user-centered development, programming languages, gaming technology, and software engineering research. The program culminates in a capstone project (SE 491) or thesis representing an original contribution to the field. Located in Chicago's Loop business district, students benefit from proximity to major tech companies and internship opportunities.

    Degree Programs: MS in Software Engineering - Artificial Intelligence Concentration (not specified); MS in Software Engineering - Software Development and Architecture Concentration (not specified); MS in Software Engineering - Real-Time Software and Game Systems Concentration (not specified)

    Industry Partners: Allstate, Amazon, Microsoft, JP Morgan Chase, GitHub, State Farm, Abbott Laboratories

    Career Outcomes: | Top Employers: Allstate, Amazon, Microsoft, JP Morgan Chase, GitHub, State Farm, Abbott Laboratories

    Notable Faculty: Ljubomir Perkovic (computational geometry, graph theory and algorithms, distributed computing); James Riely (programming language semantics, type systems and software security); Amber Settle (information technology and computer science education); Michaël Cadilhac (automata theory, formal software verification)

    Admissions:

    Accreditations: STEM-designated program