University campus in New York
Updated July 13, 2026

Best Software Engineering Degree Programs in New York, 2026 Rankings

Compare the top software engineering colleges in New York. 82 accredited software engineering schools ranked by graduation rate, career outcomes, and value, from CUNY Borough of Manhattan Community College to Cornell University.

#1 ProgramCornell
Avg Salary$130,710
Tuition From$4,800/yr
Job Growth+22%
On this page
Reviewed by Taylor Rupe, Founder & EditorSee methodology

6

Programs ranked

IPEDS 2024

$130,710

New York median software engineering salary

BLS OEWS 2024

86.7/100

Top program score

Hakia methodology

17%

U.S. job growth (2023–33)

BLS projections

Key Takeaways

Best software engineering degree programs: Cornell, Columbia University in th..., Stony Brook

Ranked by graduation rates, program outcomes, and institutional quality

IPEDS 2024

Tuition ranges from $4,800 to $66,622/year

CUNY Borough of Manhattan... offers the most affordable option at $4,800/yr

IPEDS 2024

Software Engineering degree programs available: 34 associate's, 27 master's, 10 doctoral in New York

From community college pathways to advanced research degrees

IPEDS 2024

25 online software engineering degree programs in New York

Flexible scheduling for working professionals

IPEDS 2024

New York community college transfer can save 40-60% on total degree costs

34 associate's programs provide transfer pathways to bachelor's degrees

Education Commission of the States

Major employers: Google, Amazon, IBM, JPMorgan

Tech hubs in New York City and Albany

Hakia Research 2026

Software Engineering degree programs near 153+ cities across New York

Search by city to find programs within 200 miles of your location

IPEDS 2024

Updated July 13, 2026

How we ranked New York Software Engineering programs

We rank 119 accredited software engineering programs in New York using IPEDS 2024 institutional data, BLS OEWS 2024 state salary data, and College Scorecard outcomes. A 4-factor weighted composite is normalized to a 0–100 score. Schools cannot pay for placement; rankings are produced algorithmically.

Program completions (35%)Graduation rate (25%)Selectivity (20%)Career outcomes (20%)
See full methodology

Are Software Engineering Degree Programs in New York Worth It?

Answer
$130,710
Yes. The best software engineering degree programs in New York deliver strong ROI, graduates earn $130,710 median salary with +22% job growth through 2032. In-state tuition averages $19,792/year.

Source: BLS OEWS May 2024

Software Engineering Degree Rankings in New York

Compare the top-ranked Software Engineering programs in New York by degree level. Tuition, graduation rate, and Hakia Score for every accredited program.

Best Bachelor's Software Engineering Programs in New York

4
Programs ranked
$37,730
Avg tuition/yr
59%
Avg grad rate

Program Landscape

New York ranks among the nation's top destinations for software engineering education, with 48 accredited bachelor's degree programs across 21 public and 27 private institutions. The highest-ranked programs are Cornell, Columbia University in th..., Stony Brook, recognized for academic excellence, research opportunities, and strong industry connections.

Career Outcomes

Graduates from New York software engineering programs earn a median salary of $111,104, 13% above the national average. The state's robust technology sector, anchored by the New York City, Albany, Rochester metropolitan areas, provides abundant internship and employment opportunities with companies including Google, Amazon, IBM.

Costs & Value

Tuition ranges from $6,930 to $66,622 annually, with an average of $29,698/yr. Top programs maintain graduation rates above 89%, with the highest reaching 100%. Many programs hold ABET accreditation, the gold standard for computing education, ensuring curriculum meets rigorous industry standards.

Curriculum & Specializations

Students can choose from specializations including software engineering, cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, data science, and systems architecture. Strong industry partnerships provide access to co-op programs, capstone projects with real companies, and direct recruiting pipelines to New York's leading technology employers. For students seeking software engineering degrees in New York, these top-ranked software engineering schools offer the strongest combination of academic rigor and career preparation.

🥈
Clarkson University
Potsdam, NYPrivate nonprofit
$58,058
Tuition/yr
75%
Grad rate
80.2
Hakia Score
#4
Villa Maria College
Buffalo, NYPrivate nonprofit
$27,530
Tuition/yr
31%
Grad rate
57.1
Hakia Score

Best Master's Software Engineering Programs in New York

2
Programs ranked
$54,931
Avg tuition/yr
65%
Avg grad rate

Program Landscape

New York offers 27 master's degree programs in software engineering, designed for professionals seeking to advance into senior engineering, technical leadership, and specialized roles. The top programs, Columbia University in th..., Cornell, New York, combine advanced technical training with research opportunities and leadership development.

Career Outcomes

Master's graduates in New York earn a median salary of $130,710, approximately 20-30% higher than bachelor's degree holders. The concentration of technology companies in New York City, Albany, Rochester creates strong demand for graduate-level talent, with Google, Amazon, IBM actively recruiting from these programs.

Costs & Value

Program formats include traditional full-time study (typically 2 years), part-time options for working professionals (2-3 years), and accelerated tracks. Tuition averages $32,462/yr, with many employers offering tuition reimbursement for graduate education. Some programs offer thesis and non-thesis tracks, allowing students to focus on research or professional development based on their career goals.

Curriculum & Specializations

Curriculum covers advanced topics including machine learning, distributed systems, software architecture, and technical management. Many programs include practicum experiences, industry capstone projects, or consulting engagements that provide real-world application of advanced concepts. Among New York's software engineering schools at the graduate level, these programs stand out for both academic quality and career outcomes.

🥈
Pace University
New York, NYPrivate nonprofit
$51,602
Tuition/yr
60%
Grad rate
70.5
Hakia Score

Software Engineering Degree Costs & Tuition in New York

MetricValue
Average in-state tuition$19,792/year
Average out-of-state tuition$49,480/year
Community college tuition$4,948/year
4-year savings for residents$118,752
2+2 transfer pathway savings$29,688

Source: IPEDS 2024

Financial Aid for New York Software Engineering Students

Verdict: New York software engineering students benefit from the strong NY state aid stack (TAP, Excelsior, STEM Incentive Program) plus the standout US ABET-EAC SE program at Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT), one of the strongest US undergraduate software engineering programs by industry placement and ABET-EAC accreditation depth. For NY-resident SE-track students, the combined SUNY/CUNY aid stack plus RIT institutional aid creates multiple competitive paths to high-quality SE education.

Tuition Assistance Program (TAP) provides up to $5,665/year for NY residents at qualifying NY institutions. The Excelsior Scholarship covers SUNY and CUNY tuition for NY residents with family income up to $125,000. The STEM Incentive Program is particularly relevant for SE-bound students: top 10% NY HS graduating class members entering STEM at SUNY/CUNY receive full SUNY/CUNY tuition coverage in exchange for a 5-year STEM employment commitment in New York post-graduation.

Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT)'s Software Engineering Program is one of the strongest US ABET-EAC SE programs, RIT's combined Department of Software Engineering plus its Golisano College of Computing and Information Sciences offer comprehensive SE-specific curriculum (software architecture, software requirements engineering, formal methods, software project management). RIT's mandatory co-op program produces graduates with multiple 6-month industry placements before graduation, substantially more applied SE experience than typical 4-year programs. Substantial institutional aid is available for admitted students with demonstrated need.

Stevens Institute of Technology (Hoboken NJ, NYC commute) offers ABET-EAC SE programs. Other NY options: NYU Tandon's Computer Engineering and Software Engineering programs offer ABET-CAC accredited SE-track curriculum within CE/CS. Columbia's CS offers software engineering as a track within CS (ABET-CAC). Stony Brook, SUNY Buffalo, and SUNY Albany offer SE within CS programs. Federal Pell stacks on top. Industry-track scholarships from NYC-based SE employers (Bloomberg LP, Goldman Sachs technology, JPMorgan, Citadel, Two Sigma, Jane Street) provide additional industry-track funding most students don't pursue.

Software Engineering Degree ROI Calculator, New York

Use our interactive ROI calculator to estimate your return on investment for a software engineering degree in New York. Enter your expected tuition costs, financial aid, and career goals to see projected payback periods and lifetime earnings. The calculator uses current salary data from BLS and tuition data from IPEDS to provide accurate estimates.

Software Engineering Degree ROI Calculator

Estimate your return on investment for a software engineering degree

Leave blank to use average cost for selected program type

20 years
10 years20 years30 years
20-Year ROI

+1116%

Net gain divided by total investment. ROI above 200% is considered excellent for education investments.

Net Gain

$2,064,777

Your additional lifetime earnings with this degree vs. working without one, minus the total investment.

Break-Even

5 years

Years until your cumulative earnings exceed total investment. Shorter programs often break even faster due to lower opportunity cost.

COL-Adjusted Salary

$94,118

Your starting salary adjusted for local cost of living. This shows real purchasing power compared to a $100K national baseline.

Why does break-even change with program type? Your "total investment" includes both tuition AND opportunity cost (foregone earnings while in school). A 4-year full-time public university (in-state) means 4 years of not earning a salary ($140,000 in opportunity cost). Shorter full-time programs may have higher tuition but lower total investment because you return to the workforce sooner.

Detailed Breakdown

How we calculate your degree ROI using real salary data

Total Investment$185,000

Tuition plus opportunity cost (earnings you miss while in school)

Program Cost (Tuition)$45,000

Direct cost of the degree program

Opportunity Cost$140,000

4 years × $35K/year foregone salary while studying full-time

20-Year Earnings (with degree)$3,100,185

Projected career earnings starting after graduation, with salary growth

20-Year Earnings (without degree)$850,408

What you'd earn working at $35K/year with 2% annual growth

Starting Salary (New York City, NY)$160,000

Median salary for this role in your selected location (BLS 2024)

Annualized Return5.6%

Your investment's compound annual growth rate (similar to stock market returns)

Data sources: BLS OEWS May 2024, IPEDS 2024. Calculations use median salaries, 3% discount rate, and assume salary growth declines from 6% to 2% over career. Individual results will vary. | Powered by Hakia.com

Software Engineering Salaries by Metro Area

Median annual salary in New York metro areas

New York City$144K
Albany$137K
Rochester$131K
View data table
CategoryValue
New York City$144K
Albany$137K
Rochester$131K

Source: BLS OEWS May 2024

Hakia.com

Top Employers Hiring Software Engineering Graduates in New York

New York's diverse economy creates opportunities across multiple industries beyond traditional tech companies. Major financial services firms like JPMorgan Chase, Goldman Sachs, and Morgan Stanley employ thousands of software engineers to develop trading platforms, risk management systems, and mobile banking applications. Media companies including NBCUniversal, ViacomCBS, and The New York Times hire engineers for content management systems, streaming platforms, and digital advertising technologies. Healthcare systems like NewYork-Presbyterian and Mount Sinai Health System need engineers for electronic health records, telemedicine platforms, and medical device integration.

Traditional technology companies maintain significant New York presence, including Google, Amazon, Facebook (Meta), and Microsoft, which have expanded their New York offices substantially in recent years. The city's startup ecosystem, documented by the NYC Comptroller's office, shows continued growth in fintech, healthtech, and AI companies (NYC Comptroller Tech Sector Report). These companies often offer competitive salaries and stock options, plus exposure to advanced technologies and rapid career advancement opportunities.

Government agencies and contractors also provide stable employment opportunities. The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA), and New York City government employ software engineers for infrastructure management, public safety systems, and citizen services platforms. Defense contractors with New York operations need engineers with security clearances for specialized projects. Students interested in exploring different career paths can research data scientist roles, which often overlap with software engineering skills and offer additional career flexibility across these same industries.

Transfer Pathways for New York Software Engineering Students

Verdict: New York's SUNY Transfer Path and CUNY ASAP support SE-track transfer pathways well for in-state students. The SE-specific consideration is that RIT's ABET-EAC software engineering program has accessible transfer admission (substantially more open than its CS transfer admission), for NY community college students who specifically want ABET-EAC SE, RIT is the strongest available pathway.

Best New York community college SE-feeder schools: Monroe Community College (MCC, Rochester, strong RIT transfer pipeline, geographically adjacent), Nassau Community College, Westchester Community College, Suffolk County Community College, and CUNY community colleges (BMCC, Queensborough, Bronx CC, La Guardia). Each has refined CS/SE prerequisite sequences via SUNY Transfer Path or CUNY ASAP articulation.

The Monroe Community College → RIT Software Engineering pathway is the most reliable NY ABET-EAC SE transfer progression, MCC is geographically adjacent to RIT, has dedicated transfer counseling for RIT engineering admissions, and RIT's SE transfer admission is competitive but accessible (30-50% for qualified applicants). MCC's refined CS/SE prerequisite sequences plus dedicated co-op program awareness substantially improve student preparation for RIT's mandatory co-op SE curriculum.

Beyond RIT: Stevens Institute of Technology (Hoboken NJ) offers ABET-EAC SE with NYC-metro accessibility, substantial transfer admission for qualified applicants. NYU Tandon offers ABET-CAC accredited SE-track curriculum within CE/CS but transfer admission is competitive (~10-15%). SUNY Buffalo and SUNY Albany offer SE within CS with accessible transfer admission and strong state aid integration via Excelsior. Stony Brook University has growing SE-track CS programs. For NY SE-track students, the RIT pathway is the ABET-EAC optimization with mandatory co-op industrial experience; Stevens is the NYC-metro ABET-EAC alternative; SUNY Buffalo/Albany are the affordable SUNY-system optimizations; NYU Tandon is the NYC-private optimization with financial-services SE placement.

Software Engineering Program Availability in New York

82 Programs
New York offers 82 accredited software engineering programs across public universities, private colleges, and community colleges. Top tech hubs include New York City, Albany, Rochester.

Source: IPEDS 2024

New York Software Engineering Job Market & Salary

Verdict: New York's software engineering job market is dominated by financial-services SE, one of the highest-paying US SE subsectors. NYC's combined hedge fund / trading firm SE (Citadel, Two Sigma, D.E. Shaw, Jane Street, Hudson River Trading), investment bank SE (Goldman Sachs Strats and Engineering, JPMorgan Chase Technology, Morgan Stanley, Bank of America NYC technology), and Bloomberg LP's massive engineering organization (one of the largest US enterprise SE operations) create SE employment with senior compensation that routinely exceeds Bay Area Big Tech at the staff/principal engineer level, $400,000-$700,000+ total comp at top financial-services SE roles.

By metro: New York City averages ~$185,000-$240,000 for software engineer roles per Levels.fyi and industry compensation surveys, with substantial premiums at trading firms and senior financial-services SE roles. Major NYC SE employers: Bloomberg LP (one of the largest US enterprise SE operations, fixed-income trading systems, data infrastructure, terminal software at scale), Goldman Sachs (Marquee + Strats + Engineering, substantial SE workforce with strong technical reputation), JPMorgan Chase Technology, Morgan Stanley Technology, Citadel Securities (substantial trading-systems SE at extreme compensation), Two Sigma (trading-and-research-systems SE), D.E. Shaw, Jane Street Capital, Hudson River Trading, plus substantial NYC engineering operations of Google, Meta, Microsoft, Amazon, and Apple.

Beyond financial services: Bloomberg LP is distinctively important, its substantial enterprise SE organization is one of the largest US private-company SE workforces, with technically demanding work (real-time financial data systems, large-scale data infrastructure, terminal software) and compensation comparable to Big Tech. Media/ad-tech SE at NBCUniversal, NYT digital, Spotify NYC, Disney NYC operations, Verizon Media, Twitter (X) NYC. Healthcare/biotech SE at Memorial Sloan Kettering, Mount Sinai Health System, Pfizer's NYC tech operations.

Two distinctive NYC SE dynamics: (1) Financial-services SE compensation exceeds Bay Area Big Tech for senior practitioners, for SE graduates with strong technical chops and tolerance for finance-industry culture, NYC quant/bank SE is the highest-compensation US SE career path. Staff/principal engineer roles at Citadel, Two Sigma, and similar regularly clear $500,000-$1,000,000+ total comp. (2) NYC's combined financial services + media + healthcare SE markets are structurally counter-cyclical to consumer-tech downturns, when Bay Area Big Tech SE hiring slows, NYC financial-services SE hiring continues. For NY SE-track graduates, the structural employment-stability advantage of NYC over the Bay Area in volatile macro environments is real. See Software Engineer Career Guide and AI/ML Engineer Career Guide.

Entry-Level (0-2 yrs)

New graduates and career changers

Senior (8+ yrs)

Technical leads and architects

Median Salary in New York$84,962$189,530
Typical RolesJunior Developer, AnalystStaff Engineer, Architect
Remote Work AccessLimitedCommon
Degree ExpectationBachelor's sufficientMaster's preferred

Online vs On-Campus Software Engineering Programs in New York

Online Programs

25 available in New York

On-Campus Programs

Traditional classroom experience

Typical Tuition$17,813/yr$19,792/yr
Schedule FlexibilitySelf-paced or asyncFixed schedule
NetworkingVirtual cohortsIn-person, career fairs
Best ForWorking professionalsTraditional students
Completion Time2-4 years (flexible)4 years (standard)

Compare Software Engineering Programs in Other States

New York Tech Industry & Infrastructure

New York's tech economy is anchored by financial services, media, ad-tech, and a growing AI/fintech startup ecosystem. The state ranks behind only California in tech-sector GDP contribution and is unique in the country for the depth of its financial-services tech employer base (Goldman Sachs, JPMorgan Chase, Bloomberg, Two Sigma, Citadel) alongside major consumer-tech offices for Google, Meta, and Amazon.

New York City

Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens

Dominant US fintech hub. Engineering hiring concentrated at Goldman Sachs, JPMorgan, Bloomberg, Citadel, Two Sigma, Jane Street, plus major NYC offices for Google, Meta, Amazon, Spotify. NYU and Columbia are the principal feeders.

Albany / Capital Region

Albany metro

Anchored by GlobalFoundries' chip fabrication and SUNY Polytechnic Institute. Growing semiconductor and AI-research footprint; state-government IT employs heavily.

Excelsior Jobs Program offers tax credits to qualifying tech employers. State income tax is high relative to other tech-heavy states.

New York Regulation Affecting Software Engineering Graduates

New York has one of the strictest US regulatory environments for tech, particularly in financial services. The state's cybersecurity rules for financial institutions are widely considered the US baseline, and NY has been an early mover on biometric, AI, and algorithmic-hiring legislation.

NY SHIELD Act (Stop Hacks and Improve Electronic Data Security)

Requires reasonable administrative, technical, and physical safeguards for private information of NY residents. Expanded breach-notification requirements.

Every consumer-facing tech company serving NY users must maintain a documented security program; this drives security-engineer hiring at NY-resident employers.

Read more

NY DFS Cybersecurity Regulation (23 NYCRR 500)

Cybersecurity requirements for banks, insurance companies, and other DFS-regulated financial institutions operating in NY.

The US baseline for financial-services security engineering. Engineers at NY-based banks/insurers operate under this framework daily; the regulation is a major driver of security-team hiring.

Read more

NYC Local Law 144 (Automated Employment Decision Tools)

NYC employers using automated hiring tools must complete a bias audit and disclose use to candidates. Applies to any employer hiring for NYC-based positions.

ML/AI engineers building hiring/HR-tech products serving NYC employers must implement bias-audit logging and candidate-notification flows.

Read more

NY Privacy Act (proposed) and biometric notice requirements

NY has not yet passed a comprehensive consumer privacy law, but biometric-notice and facial-recognition disclosure rules apply in specific contexts (schools, commercial establishments).

Engineers building biometric features for NY users must implement consent and notice flows; broader NY privacy legislation is an active area to watch.

Read more

Professional Engineer Licensure in New York

New York does not currently offer a separate Professional Engineer license in software engineering. ABET accreditation is still recognized for federal and consulting work that requires engineering credentials, but PE licensure is not a practical consideration for most NY software engineers.

New York licensing board

New York Financial Aid Programs

Up to $5,665/yr

NY residents attending NY colleges/universities with financial need

Excelsior Scholarship

State scholarship

Covers tuition after other aid (up to ~$6,470/yr at SUNY)

NY residents attending SUNY/CUNY with family income up to $125,000

Up to $3,000/yr

NY residents attending private (non-SUNY/CUNY) NY colleges with family income up to $125,000

STEM Incentive Program

State scholarship (STEM-specific)

Full SUNY/CUNY tuition coverage

Top 10% of NY high-school graduating class entering STEM at SUNY/CUNY; service obligation: work in STEM in NY for 5 years post-grad

Software Engineering Degree Programs in New York: FAQ

What are the best software engineering degree programs in New York?
The best software engineering degree programs in New York based on our methodology are: 1) Cornell University (95% graduation rate), 2) Columbia University in the City of New York, and 3) Stony Brook University. Our rankings weight graduation rates (25%), program completions (35%), selectivity (20%), and career outcomes (20%). New York offers 82 total accredited programs across 54 public and 27 private institutions. See our complete rankings for all 48 bachelor's programs.
How much do software engineering degree programs cost in New York?
Software Engineering degree program costs in New York vary significantly by institution type. In-state public tuition averages $19,792/year, while private institutions average $43,542/year. Community colleges offer the most affordable path at approximately $4,948/year for associate's degrees. The total 4-year cost ranges from $79,168 at public schools to $174,170 at private institutions before financial aid. Most students don't pay full sticker price, federal grants, state aid, and institutional scholarships can reduce costs by 30-60%.
What salary can software engineering degree graduates earn in New York?
Software Engineering professionals in New York earn a median salary of $130,710, which is 13% above the national average of $115,500. Entry-level positions typically start around $84,962, while senior roles exceed $189,530. Salaries vary by metro area: New York City ($143,781), Albany ($137,246) offer the highest compensation. Specialized roles like AI/ML engineers and cloud architects command premiums of 15-30% above median.
Are there online software engineering degree programs in New York?
Yes, New York offers 25 accredited online Software Engineering programs from state institutions. These programs award the same degree as on-campus options and include synchronous and asynchronous formats. Top-ranked online programs include offerings from Columbia University in the City of New York and Stony Brook University. Online programs typically cost the same as on-campus tuition for in-state students. Many programs offer flexible scheduling for working professionals, with some offering accelerated completion in 2-3 years. Ensure any online program holds regional accreditation and ideally ABET accreditation for engineering programs.
What companies hire software engineering degree graduates in New York?
Major Software Engineering employers in New York include Google, Amazon, IBM, JPMorgan, Bloomberg. The New York City and Albany metro areas serve as primary tech hubs with thousands of open positions. Top employers maintain recruiting pipelines directly from New York universities, with many offering internship-to-hire programs. Beyond tech giants, opportunities exist in healthcare IT, financial services, defense contractors, and growing startups. New York's tech sector shows +22% projected job growth through 2033, outpacing most other industries.
Is a software engineering degree program worth it in New York?
A software engineering degree program in New York offers strong ROI with a $130,710 median salary and +22% projected job growth. At average in-state tuition of $19,792/year, graduates typically recoup their educational investment within 3-5 years. The degree opens doors to high-paying careers in software development ($147,702), data science, cybersecurity, and AI/ML. Beyond salary, benefits include job security, remote work flexibility, and clear advancement paths. Alternative paths like bootcamps exist for career changers, but bachelor's degrees provide broader career options and higher lifetime earnings.
How long do software engineering degree programs take in New York?
Standard completion times for software engineering degree programs in New York are: Associate's (2 years, 60 credits), Bachelor's (4 years, 120 credits), and Master's (1-2 years, 30-36 credits). However, actual timelines vary based on course load, transfer credits, and program format. Accelerated programs can compress a bachelor's to 3 years or a master's to 12 months. Part-time students typically need 5-6 years for a bachelor's degree. New York community colleges offer a cost-effective "2+2" path: complete your associate's in 2 years, then transfer to a New York university for the final 2 years of a bachelor's program.
What financial aid is available for software engineering degree students in New York?
New York software engineering degree students can access multiple financial aid sources. Federal aid includes Pell Grants (up to $7,395/year for qualifying students) and federal student loans. New York state grants provide additional support for residents attending in-state schools. Institutional scholarships from universities can significantly reduce costs, many schools offer merit-based awards for STEM students. Work-study programs and teaching/research assistantships (especially for graduate students) provide income while building experience. Complete the FAFSA by New York's priority deadline to maximize aid eligibility. Some employers also offer tuition reimbursement for employees pursuing CS degrees.

Data Sources

Institutional characteristics, completions, graduation rates

New York salary and employment data

Official University Websites

Program details and admissions information

Last Updated: June 26, 2026. Rankings based on IPEDS 2024 data. Salary data from BLS OEWS May 2024.

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Taylor Rupe

Taylor Rupe

Co-founder & Editor (B.S. Computer Science, Oregon State • B.A. Psychology, University of Washington)

Taylor combines technical expertise in computer science with a deep understanding of human behavior and learning. His dual background drives Hakia's mission: leveraging technology to build authoritative educational resources that help people make better decisions about their academic and career paths.

The research behind the rankings

In-depth Software Engineering program profiles in New York

Hand-researched detail on the top-ranked programs: degree pathways, research labs, industry partners, career outcomes, and admissions. Tap any school to expand.

Best Bachelor's Software Engineering programs

#1Rochester Institute of TechnologyRochester, NY

Hakia insight. RIT pioneered the first undergraduate software engineering program in America and locked in 40 weeks of mandatory co-op, meaning graduates accumulate nearly a year of paid engineering experience before their diploma, a résumé advantage that compounds across Tier-1 employers like Microsoft and Boeing.

RIT offers the first undergraduate software engineering program in the United States with 40 weeks of required cooperative education providing nearly a year of hands-on experience. The program features specialized facilities including embedded systems labs and integrates AI throughout the curriculum while offering accelerated bachelor's/master's options.

Programs offered

  • Bachelor of Science in Software Engineering · 4 years · on-campus
  • Bachelor of Arts in Software Engineering · 4 years · online

Research labs & institutes

  • 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

MicrosoftTeslaBoeingLockheed MartinIBMJPMorgan Chase & Co.U.S. Department of DefenseAlion Science and TechnologyBoseCollins Aerospace

Admissions

Acceptance rate not specified%. GPA not specified.

Location advantage: Rochester, NY location Access to industry partnerships in the region

Best Master's Software Engineering programs

#1Rochester Institute of TechnologyRochester, NY

Hakia insight. RIT's 40-week cooperative education requirement is industry immersion most master's programs only offer as optional internships, giving graduates nearly a year of paid, supervised engineering experience—a massive signal to employers accustomed to seeing fresh MBAs with no hands-on track record.

RIT offers the first undergraduate software engineering program in the United States with 40 weeks of required cooperative education providing nearly a year of hands-on experience. The program features specialized facilities including embedded systems labs and integrates AI throughout the curriculum while offering accelerated bachelor's/master's options.

Programs offered

  • Master of Science in Software Engineering · 1-2 years · on-campus
  • Master of Arts in Software Engineering · 1-2 years · online

Research labs & institutes

  • 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

MicrosoftTeslaBoeingLockheed MartinIBMJPMorgan Chase & Co.U.S. Department of DefenseAlion Science and TechnologyBoseCollins Aerospace

Admissions

Acceptance rate not specified%. GPA not specified.

Location advantage: Rochester, NY location Access to industry partnerships in the region

#2Pace UniversityNew York, NY

Why it stands out. This program is distinguished by its rigorous, in-depth study of managing, designing, developing, delivering, and maintaining large software systems, with a curriculum regularly updated based on feedback from students, industry partners, and alumni.

Hakia insight. Pace's $96,569 median salary trails Syracuse and Stony Brook, but its location at 15 Beekman in the Financial District means access to quantitative trading and fintech roles paying 20-40% premiums—suggesting the aggregate outcome data masks significant upside for graduates who target that specialized corridor.

At the master's level, pace University's MS in Software Development and Engineering is a comprehensive 30-credit STEM-designated program housed in the Seidenberg School of Computer Science and Information Systems. The program is grounded in the Software Engineering Body of Knowledge (SWEBOK) and emphasizes the application of engineering principles to software development processes. It focuses on three core themes: system and software design, software management and evolution, and managing team resources. The curriculum covers all aspects of the software life cycle including requirements, design, testing, and maintenance. Most courses are group project-based, enabling students to develop professional collaboration and communication skills. The program can be completed in two years part-time and offers both on-campus and 100% online options, making it accessible to working professionals.

Programs offered

  • Master of Science in Software Engineering · 1-2 years · on-campus
  • Master of Arts in Software Engineering · 1-2 years · online

Research labs & institutes

  • Augmented Intelligence Lab — Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning
  • Cybersecurity Education and Research Lab — Cybersecurity Research
  • Digital Forensics Research Lab — Digital Forensics
  • Pace Artificial Intelligence Lab — AI Development and Research
  • Pace Mobile Lab — Mobile Technology
  • Robotics Lab — Robotics and Automation

Career outcomes

$96,569 median salary

Admissions

GPA 3.0. Deadline May 4, 2026.

Accreditation & certifications

STEM-designated program

Location advantage: New York City location with tech industry opportunities State-of-the-art facilities at 15 Beekman in Financial District