Best Online Software Engineering Degrees of 2024
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2024A bachelor’s in software engineering can be your ticket to a potentially engaging, stable career with a six-figure salary. Companies across nearly all industries need software engineers to build the applications, tools, and programs the world runs on.
Of course, attending college demands commitment, time, money, and attention, but an online degree can help you meet your current obligations while getting ahead in your career. Learning online can also blend hands-on technology work with theory and design.
Popular Online Software Engineering Programs
Learn about start dates, transferring credits, availability of financial aid, and more by contacting the universities below.
Best Online Bachelor’s in Software Engineering Programs 2024
Arizona State University Digital Immersion
Scottsdale, AZ- 4 year
- Online
- In-State$10,710
- Out-of-state$10,820
- In-State$6,516
- Out-of-state$6,516
- Retention RateN/A
- Acceptance Rate73%
- Students Enrolled53,993
- Institution TypePublic
- Percent Online EnrollmentN/A
- AccreditationYes
Pennsylvania State University-World Campus
- University Park, PA
- 4 year
- Campus + Online
- In-StateN/A
- Out-of-stateN/A
- In-StateN/A
- Out-of-stateN/A
- Retention RateN/A
- Acceptance RateN/A
- Students EnrolledN/A
- Institution TypePublic
- Percent Online EnrollmentN/A
- AccreditationYes
University of Arizona
- Tucson, AZ
- 4 year
- Campus + Online
- In-State$10,990
- Out-of-state$33,273
- In-State$11,938
- Out-of-state$32,065
- Retention Rate85%
- Acceptance Rate85%
- Students Enrolled45,601
- Institution TypePublic
- Percent Online Enrollment56%
- AccreditationYes
How We Rank Schools
To create this ranking, BestColleges sourced the most recent data available from the National Center for Education Statistics and the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. We then ranked each school according to the top variables college students selected in our College Choice and Admissions Survey. To learn more, check out our full rankings methodology or read the summary below.
Is an Online Software Engineering Degree Worth It?
A college degree can pay off big — especially when you choose a major in a career-rich field such as software engineering. In Feb. 2024, the Federal Reserve Bank of New York reported that computer engineering had the second-highest median wage for both early and mid-career graduates.
With a software engineering degree, you can pursue a career as a software developer, computer engineer, web developer, or computer systems analyst. Industries from manufacturing to healthcare hire these professionals, paying them much higher than average salaries. You can get started in this field with an online or accelerated bachelor’s in software engineering.
By earning your degree online, you often save time and money. Consider the following benefits of a bachelor’s in software engineering and reasons to think about pursuing your education online.
Benefits of a Bachelor’s in Software Engineering
- Learning to use new DevOps tools
- Receiving a rewarding software engineering salary
- Acquiring in-demand career skills, such as SQL, Ruby, and Objective-C
- Becoming a software developer, database architect, or computer scientist
Reasons to Get Your Software Engineering Degree Online
- Lower costs than many in-person programs
- Flexibility in scheduling and homework
- Hands-on experience in the field while studying
- An entirely distinctive learning experience and environment
How Much Do Online Software Engineering Degrees Cost?
Which costs more — earning a bachelor’s degree or not earning a bachelor’s degree?
In 2022, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) discovered that people with a bachelor’s degree earn a median annual wage of $1,432 per week.
By contrast, people with a high school diploma earned $853 weekly, about 40% less. While college students pay upfront, many people who choose not to earn a degree pay for their choice over a lifetime.
While a college’s sticker price can be shocking, very few students pay everything out of pocket. Grants, scholarships, and other financial aid tools can help cover many expenses, and attending school in state or earning a software engineering degree online can save money.
Average Annual Cost of a Software Engineering Degree
Online
$11,480
In-Person
$17,545
How Much Money Can I Make With an Online Software Engineering Degree?
According to Payscale, the average salary for a bachelor’s degree in software engineering was $88,000 in April 2024. That’s almost double the median annual salary of all occupations, $48,060.
The BLS reports that a software developer’s median annual wage was $132,270 in 2023 — considerably higher than the median for all computer occupations, $104,420. You can often increase your salary by earning a master’s degree or working as a software developer at a manufacturing, insurance, or finance company.
What Can I Do With a Software Engineering Degree?
A software engineering degree can equip you with the versatile technological skills you need to venture down one of many career paths. You may work in database management, network systems, cybersecurity, web development, or video game design.
These careers require you to hold deep knowledge of computer science theory and skills in software design and software systems application. To assume a management-level position, you also need the skills to lead a team of technology experts.
Adding professional certifications or a master’s degree in a related field can also help you achieve career success as a software engineer.
| Career | Median Annual Wage (2023) | Projected Job Growth (2022-2023) |
|---|---|---|
| Computer and Information Systems Managers | $169,510 | 17% |
| Computer Systems Analysts | $103,800 | 11% |
| Database Administrators and Architects | $117,450 | 9% |
| Computer Programmers | $99,700 | -10% |
| Information Security Analysts | $120,360 | 33% |
| Software Developers | $132,270 | 18% |
| Web Developers and Digital Designers | $92,750 | 8% |
Frequently Asked Questions About Software Engineering Programs
As a STEM major, software engineer degrees can be more challenging than many other fields. However, it may be easier than other engineering degrees, especially for students with a technology background.
Taking non-academic courses, studying programming languages, and brushing up on discrete math skills can all help you prepare to pursue a software engineering degree.
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