Design, develop, test, and maintain software applications. Work with systems used to control technologies for aviation, biomedical instrumentation, defense, robotics, toys, the automotive industry, and beyond. Learn software engineering at Michigan Tech by working alongside faculty in specialty areas including human-robot interaction, virtual reality, cybersecurity, and programmable logic control (PLC).
College of Computing Huskies learn in our state-of-the-art facilities, which include a motion-tracking immersive visualization studio, high-performance GPU and computer clusters, neurophysiological equipment for brain imaging, heart rate monitoring, and muscle movement monitoring, and a robotics lab where you don't have to wait to be a graduate student to take Balto the robot dog greeter for a walk.
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In general, software engineers apply engineering principles and knowledge of programming languages to build software solutions for end users. That broad definition means the possibilities for your career path are endless. Besides outstanding faculty and facilities, the reasons Tech is the place to pursue your bachelor's degree in software engineering include our team-based learning model that replicates how you'll work in the real world. Another thing to consider: we frequently appear in the lists of top software engineering and computer science programs along with degree programs that show a good return on investment.
Our software engineering degree is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET, ensuring the program meets rigorous standards and produces graduates who are career-ready when they complete their degree.
Benefit from meaningful support from advisors and faculty who are dedicated to your success. Take advantage of frequent office hours, one-on-one advising, research mentorship, and other avenues to connect, including paid research opportunities.
What Will I Study?
During your first two years at Tech, you'll gain a solid foundation in computer science. Then, in your final two years, you'll specialize in software engineering, focusing on the practical, technical, and security sides of software. There's plenty of hands-on work, lab time, collaboration, and team building. Course topics include:
- Design
- Reliability
- Quality
- Usability
- Modeling and analysis
- Requirements and testing
- Cost effectiveness
- Teamwork and management
- Domain knowledge of an application area
View the software engineering course list.
Tomorrow Needs Software Engineers.
Software engineering is one of the best-paid careers out there. The mean entry-level salary for a Software Developer is $68,973 (Payscale) with a mean annual wage of $144,570 (BLS) and the top 10 percent making $211,450 (BLS). And the career outlook for software developers, quality assurance analysts, and testers is projected to grow 17% from 2023 to 2033, much faster than average.
See additional computing salary information.
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Figures from payscale.com, accessed April 2025.
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Figures from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), dated May 2024.
Career Opportunities
MTU software engineering graduates choose to work in a variety of fields and industries developing and testing computer games, business applications, operating systems, network control systems, and more. Professional positions held by recent graduates include:
- Programmer/Analyst
- Scientific Programmer
- Software Engineer
- Software Quality Engineer
- Program Manager
- Project Leader
- Quality Assurance Coordinator
- Senior Computer Applications Engineer
- Senior Software Engineer
- Senior Systems Analyst
Great Jobs, Great Employers
Each year, more than 400 employers come to campus to recruit Huskies at our Career Fairs. Our grads go on to work at Fortune 500 companies, tech start-ups, small businesses, and everything in between. Some of the companies that employ Michigan Tech software engineering graduates include:
- American Express
- Argonne National Laboratory
- Boeing
- Blue Cross Blue Shield
- Burlington North Santa Fe Corporation
- Citizens Bank
- Cray Research
- Eastman Kodak
- Epic
- General Electric
- Lockheed Martin
- Microsoft
- Motorola
- Orbitz.com
- SBC Telecommunications Inc.
- Texas Instruments
- US Air Force
Enterprise, Only at Michigan Tech
Michigan Tech Enterprises are student-run business teams providing end-to-end original product development through real-world experiences in engineering design, team building, and project management. Enterprise teams work under the direction of a faculty advisor. Students from across campus participate in Enterprise program teams.
- Students in the Husky Game Development Enterprise design and develop games for business, education, and fun. Earn credit, gain experience, and build your resume, all while creating quality software that will attract and satisfy industry sponsors. Who says you can’t work and play?
- Humane Interface Design Enterprise (HIDE) students design, develop, and evaluate human-centered computer interfaces to make daily work more efficient and easier to manage.
- IT Oxygen Enterprise students—from numerous majors—provide Information Technology help to both student organizations and businesses, working on real projects for real companies that foster skills in development, problem-solving, and business.
"One of my favorite things about the College of Computing is the number of opportunities there are to find your niche and go out and explore. I've attended conferences and learned all sorts of technologies that I don't think I would have had the chance to do elsewhere."
