Software Engineering vs. Computer Science: Which Degree Fits You in 2027?

What is the difference between software engineering and computer science? Computer science is the study of computation: algorithms, the math behind them and how computers work. Software engineering takes that foundation and adds the practice of building large software with a team: requirements, design, testing and process. Both degrees lead to the same jobs, and employers hire from both.

The national curriculum guidelines make the difference measurable. About 50% of a software engineering curriculum goes to engineering practice, against 2% of the computer science core. Computer science is also far more common: there are 9 times as many bachelor’s programs. Software engineering programs also cost less at the median. The sections below show each difference with its source.

Graduates a year: three-year average of federal completions. Graduation rate: the whole school’s six-year rate, not the program’s. Tuition: before fees and aid.

What will you actually study in each major? Each field has its own national curriculum guideline, written by the computing societies, and they divide their time very differently.

Where does computer science spend its core hours instead? Mostly on mathematical and statistical foundations (55 hours), software development fundamentals (43 hours) and algorithmic foundations (32 hours). Math and statistics alone take 55 of the 270 core hours, the largest single area. Programming is not neglected either: software development fundamentals is the second largest, at 43 hours.

A software engineering program covers the computing and math foundations too, 232 hours of them, and then adds practice areas on top. The full breakdown:

Source: SE2014, ACM and IEEE Computer Society, minimum hours as set by the guideline.

In plain terms, a computer science graduate has spent more time on why things work: algorithms, proofs and the theory of computation. A software engineering graduate has spent more time on how to build things that last: gathering requirements, designing for change, testing systematically and working inside a team process.

How easy is each degree to find? Computer science is everywhere; software engineering is not. In federal data we list 85 bachelor’s programs titled software engineering, against 752 in computer science. At the master’s level it is 53 against 299.

The gap in graduates is wider still. Software engineering bachelor’s programs produce about 2,011 graduates a year, against 42,117 in computer science, roughly 21 to 1. So most new graduates heading into software jobs come from computer science, whatever title they end up with.

What does each cost? The median in-state tuition for 2023–24 was $14,564 a year across the 85 software engineering bachelor’s programs with a federal figure, against $26,454 across 750 computer science programs. Compare the specific schools you can attend, since tuition varies widely within each group. These are tuition figures only, before fees, housing and aid.

Graduation rates are close. The median six-year graduation rate at schools offering a software engineering bachelor’s is 64%, against 61% for computer science. That is each school’s overall rate, not the program’s, so treat it as a sign of the school rather than the major.

Are both degrees accredited the same way? No. ABET reviews software engineering degrees through its engineering commission, which sets engineering minimums: at least 30 credits of math and basic sciences, at least 45 credits of engineering topics, and a culminating design project. Most accredited computer science degrees go through ABET’s computing commission instead, which has its own criteria.

In our data, 39 software engineering bachelor’s programs are ABET-accredited, and 208 computer science bachelor’s programs are. Because there are so many more computer science programs, that is a much smaller share: 28% of computer science programs against 46% of software engineering programs.

Accreditation matters most if you might want an engineering license or certification later, since those often ask for an accredited degree. For most software jobs, employers hire from both accredited and unaccredited programs.

Will one degree get you a better job? Not by itself. Software developers, the occupation that includes software engineers, “typically need a bachelor’s degree in computer and information technology or a related field, such as engineering or mathematics”, and both majors qualify. Federal job data even files the title “Software Engineer” under the software developers occupation, alongside titles like “Applications Developer” and “Systems Software Developer.”

That means there is no federal pay figure by major. The occupation both degrees feed had a median of $135,980 in May 2025. What moves pay is the job: the employer, the city and the level of the role. The software engineer career guide covers the work and where the jobs are.

The titles themselves are mostly interchangeable. Software engineer vs software developer covers how employers use them and where pay really splits between occupations.

Is one major harder than the other? They are hard in different ways. Computer science puts more weight on math and theory: 55 of its core hours are mathematical and statistical foundations, and the algorithms area adds 32 more. Software engineering keeps a large math share too, 80 minimum hours of math and engineering fundamentals, and adds design, testing and team process work that takes time in a different way.

If proofs and abstract problems come easily to you, computer science may feel lighter; if you like building and organizing things, software engineering may. Is software engineering hard? goes deeper on the math, the workload and how many students finish.

1. You’ll often read that software engineering graduates earn more than computer science graduates.

   There is no federal pay figure by major. Both degrees feed the same occupation, with one median of $135,980.

2. You’ll often read that you need a software engineering degree to be a software engineer.

   The typical requirement is a bachelor’s in computer and information technology or a related field, and most software engineers studied computer science: its programs produce about 21 times as many graduates.

3. You’ll often read that computer science is all theory and no programming.

   Software development fundamentals is the second largest area of the computer science core, 43 hours, behind only math.

4. You’ll often read that software engineering skips the hard math.

   An accredited program needs at least 30 credits of math and science, and SE2014 sets 80 minimum hours for math and engineering fundamentals.

• You want to build software for a living and like teamwork. Software engineering is the direct route, with design, testing and a team capstone built in. Start with the bachelor’s rankings and check ABET status.
• You like math and want options beyond building software. Computer science keeps more doors open toward research, data and theory-heavy work, and it is offered almost everywhere.
• No software engineering program near you. Computer science gets you to the same jobs. Add electives in software design, testing and requirements, and join a team project.
• Cost is the deciding factor. Software engineering programs had the lower median tuition in federal data, but compare the specific schools you can attend, including in-state public options.

• Software Engineering Degree Requirements› The credits, math, courses and capstone the degree asks for.
• Software Engineering Programs by State› Software engineering and computer science programs in every state.
• Software Engineer Salary› Pay by percentile, state, metro and industry.
• Best Bachelor’s in Software Engineering› Every bachelor’s titled software engineering, scored and compared.