Updated at: 19-03-2023 - By: Eden Wise

Overview

Those who enjoy putting their technical skills to use in order to solve problems should consider a career in software engineering. A prosperous and secure professional future in this growing industry is anticipated, as are a plethora of financially rewarding job openings.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, software developers have a median annual salary of $105,590. Furthermore, the field is expected to experience a faster-than-average rate of growth in employment (24%).

Software engineers are responsible for creating and maintaining the processes and algorithms used in the development, design, implementation, testing, and maintenance of software and web applications. Their primary function is to provide the framework upon which businesses, smartphones, automobiles, and home appliances run in terms of navigation, network distribution, and operating systems.

Systems engineers, web developers, software engineers, and developers, and computer analysts are all common occupations for these experts. Some of them are involved in cybersecurity; their job is to ensure that client information is kept private and secure at places like banks, hospitals, governments, businesses, and universities. Programmers’ primary responsibility is to create the blueprints by which computers carry out desired tasks.

A bachelor’s degree in software engineering is the entry level for many positions in the industry and can be earned entirely online. A bachelor’s degree is not only a stepping stone to employment, but also to advanced study at the master’s and doctoral levels.

A bachelor’s degree in software engineering can serve as a stepping stone to further education at the master’s and doctoral levels, which are often required for certain types of teaching and specialized research.

An online software engineering degree program will teach you the fundamentals of computer science, software design, and engineering. Students acquire and hone the core competencies necessary for successful employment in software engineering and related fields of IT.

Best Software Engineering Schools Online

Best software engineering schools online

Brigham Young University-Idaho

Brigham Young University-Idaho

Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints members established Brigham Young University in 1888; it is now the largest private university in Idaho. The institution’s commitment to its Mormon heritage and its scholarly excellence remains unwavering. The Software Engineering concentration within the Bachelor of Science in Computer Science degree at BYU-Idaho was introduced that same year (Fall 2014). Ever since then, it has been widely recognized as one of the industry’s most comprehensive and ground-breaking initiatives.

Given that the Software Engineering curriculum can be completed entirely online, students can start the program at any time of the year or even skip semesters if necessary. Asynchronous learning allows students to access course materials whenever they like. Most classes have weekly deadlines on Fridays or Saturdays for assignments and projects. Students at BYU Online are urged to maintain regular communication with their professors and classmates for the sake of both their academic development and the greater good.

Kennesaw State University

According to a recent ranking by U.S. News & World Report, Kennesaw State University is among the South’s most progressive educational facilities. There is a secondary campus in Marietta, and the main one is in Kennesaw, which is about 20 miles northwest of Atlanta. About 35,000 students are served by these two campuses and the university’s extensive online and distance learning offerings. It is only at Kennesaw State that Georgia residents can earn a bachelor’s degree in Software Engineering from a state institution.

During the 2016 fall semester, 279 students were enrolled in the Bachelor of Science in Software Engineering program. There are also online and evening options for this program’s courses. A BS in Video Game Design and Development can also be earned at Kennesaw State. When ranking states by salary for software engineers, Georgia ranks in the top ten.

Western Governors University

Western Governors University offers courses and degrees tailored to busy adults. The university’s undergraduate courses are available entirely online and can be completed at your own pace. As with all of WGU’s degree options, the Software Development program emphasizes hands-on learning and experience. WGU’s competency-based approach is unique in that it values prior work experience and lets students earn credit toward their degrees without repeating material they already know.

The Software Development program culminating project is mandatory. For their final project, students will be tasked with coming up with a workable solution to a problem that actually exists. Cybersecurity and Information Assurance, Data Management/Data Analytics, Information Technology (both with and without a Network Administration concentration), Network Operations/Security, and Health Information Management are all available as fully online bachelor’s degrees from WGU.

American InterContinental University

American InterContinental University

The American InterContinental University distance learning program aims to provide degrees that combine the ease of online learning with the advantages of individualized instruction from qualified professors. The institution accomplishes this by offering 50 bachelor’s, master’s, and associate’s degrees that can all be completed online. U.S. News & World Report has recognized American InterContinental University’s online bachelor’s degree programs as some of the best in the country. The Bachelor of Science in Software Analysis and Development degree program at AIU is a shining example of the university’s commitment to providing high-quality education to students in their own time and place.

Information Assurance and Security, Digital Investigations, Technology Management, and Network Administration are all available concentrations within the BSIT program. These subfields of study were developed with actual business requirements in mind. They make it possible for students to earn a bachelor’s degree while focusing on a subject that truly interests them. The BSIT program at American InterContinental University has been recognized by the ACBSP.

Bellevue University

Bachelor of Science in Software Development students at Bellevue University are well-prepared for professional careers in software engineering. It’s created with input from experts in the field and top IT employers, so it gives students a chance to hone their software design and programming chops and gain self-assurance along the way.

Students in this software engineering degree program can expect to gain the knowledge and skills necessary to create and manage relational database processes, design and code software, and upgrade and maintain computer applications and software.

University of Maryland Global Campus

The University of Maryland Global Campus offers a Bachelor of Science in Software Development and Security that prepares students to work on their programming and database management skills while also learning about and practicing government and industry-recognized security best practices.

The 120-hour program is meant to equip students with the programming skills and knowledge of software engineering best practices necessary for success in today’s job market. In addition, the program places an emphasis on software security, providing training in detecting and fixing flaws in computer programs and networks.

UMass Global

UMass Global

The Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) in Information Systems Management degree program at UMass Global gives students the knowledge and training to secure and maintain a company’s information technology infrastructure. To aid in the management of websites and networks, troubleshoot computer systems, and understand cutting-edge technology, they employ their technological expertise.

Students study not only computer programming and systems, but also data communications, quality assurance, network implementation, security, and project management from a theoretical and practical perspective. The 120-credit-hour minimum for this degree includes both the General Education and the major-specific requirements.

Western Governors University

Western Governors University, located in Salt Lake City, Utah, offers a Bachelor of Science in Software Development with two concentrations: C# and Java. The ultimate goal of the curriculum is to produce professional-caliber software developers.

Experts in the field contributed to its ongoing development and updating, guaranteeing that its students always have access to the most up-to-date information on best practices for IT services and systems, programming and scripting, IT administration, network security, and data management.

Penn State World Campus

Students who are highly motivated by the fields of computer science, mathematics, chemistry, and physics will thrive in the online Software engineering programs accredited by the American Society for Engineering Education (ASEE). Senior design projects often feature collaboration with actual businesses in exchange for funding.

The online Bachelor of Science in Software Engineering degree program at Penn State’s World Campus provides students with a strong foundation in the field through a combination of lecture, practical application, and design projects.

To better prepare students for careers or further education in the field, the undergraduate program integrates engineering principles with computing skills, project management, and software development.

Students have the chance to hone their communication, problem-solving, and teamwork abilities through participation in this program.

Arizona State University

Online courses at Arizona State University are highly regarded, and the university boasts a reputation as one of the world’s top programs for software engineering.

The institution prioritizes providing you with as much leeway as possible in terms of when and where you study as possible. Whether you’re interested in a versatile career in software engineering or not, you can now pursue studies online.

This bachelor’s degree program will give you the groundwork in programming, mathematics, and systems management that you’ll need to understand and direct modern computing infrastructures. Fundamentals of cyber security, coding languages, and software development will all be covered.

Saint Leo University

Saint Leo University

The Saint Leo University Bachelor of Science in Computer Science program prepares students to make meaningful contributions to the expanding fields of information and computer science.

They gain practical experience in areas such as multimedia design, development, maintenance, and support; system integration services; and software and hardware development.

Students hone their computing prowess in a dynamic, online, and technologically advanced learning space.

Some examples of the specialization’s distinctive core courses are Database Concepts and Programming, Network Defense and Security, Computer Systems, Computer Forensics, and Programming Logic and Design. In order to help students find employment after graduation, Saint Leo University provides them with a number of internship and other career development programs.

Oregon State University

Bachelor of Science in Computer Science is a post-bachelor’s degree program at Oregon State University.

The purpose of the program is to give interested students from a wide range of disciplines the opportunity to earn a degree in computer science. Students must take 60 quarter credits of required coursework in the major in order to graduate with a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science.

Students will be able to focus on their education and complete their degrees more rapidly if they are required to take only computer science courses.

The university offers customizable study plans so that students can take as many or as few classes as they can afford each term.

Strayer University-Virginia

The Arlington, Virginia campus of Strayer University attracts students from the greater Washington, D.C. area and beyond.

All the advantages of a large research university, like success coaches and career services, are available to students enrolled in this school’s fully online degree programs.

The Virginia campus is a good option for undergraduates looking to pursue a career in software engineering because of the availability of fully online technology degrees.

The school offers baccalaureate programs in both Information Systems and Information Technology. The Information Systems major allows students to focus on areas like Computer Forensics, Cybersecurity, Enterprise Data, Homeland Security, IT Project Management, Technology, GIS, and Software Engineering.

FAQs

What Is the prospect of a software engineering program?

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) predicts a much faster-than-average 22% increase in demand for software developers, quality assurance analysts, and testers between 2020 and 2030 (www.bls.gov).

There were two types of software engineers represented by this number.

This predicted increase in employment was spurred by the expectation that new software and applications will be required as mobile technology develops.

What are the differences between bachelor’s degrees in software engineering and computer engineering?

By studying software engineering, students can gain the knowledge and skills necessary to design, develop, and improve software systems, including applications, modules, and other components.

Hardware and its associated systems are given more attention in computer engineering. This course will teach students the science, technology, and tools that go into the planning, creation, and diagnosis of hardware problems.

Why Should I Get a Software Engineering Degree?

Learning about engineering, mechanics, and software architecture are just some of the things you can expect to learn in a software engineering program that set it apart from others in the field of computer science. In addition to teaching you how to code, this course will help you develop an eye for aesthetics and an aptitude for system design.

After gaining a foundational understanding of software engineering, one can specialize in a subfield within the field, such as mobile or game development. Degrees in software engineering also provide students with the opportunity to learn a variety of useful programming languages and develop other transferable skills valued by employers.

Is a Software Engineering Degree Worth It?

The return on investment for a degree in software engineering is substantial. In May 2021, software developers earned an average of $168,570, with the top 10% earning more than twice that amount. Entry-level positions paid $64,470.

For the foreseeable future, businesses in the tech industry will require the services of skilled software developers. The BLS expects software developer jobs to grow by 26% between 2021 and 2031.

However, fixing bugs and meeting deadlines can be extremely busy times for a software developer. It’s also possible that you won’t always find inspiration while working. High levels of stress in the workplace can be unpleasant for some workers.

Conclusion

We assume you’ve given our recommendations for top online software engineering programs careful consideration and have already made a decision.

This bachelor’s degree program will provide you with the groundwork in programming, mathematics, and systems management that you’ll need to comprehend and direct the operation of modern computing infrastructure. Key concepts in cyber security, as well as the languages used to write code and build software, will be accessible to you.