Software Engineering Degree in Akron, OH — Salary & ROI 2026
Software Engineering degree analysis for Akron, OH. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$92K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$134K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
1.4 yrs
in Akron
Cost of Living
105
index (100 = avg)
Software Engineering in Akron, OH Overview
While Akron has a smaller college scene with 5 institutions, Software Engineering students benefit from lower tuition costs. Room and board averages $8,745/year, and the car-friendly layout shapes the student experience. Software Engineering has seen growing enrollment nationally, reflecting rising employer demand for Software Design and Testing skills. The adjusted starting salary in Akron is approximately $92,400.
Category
STEM
Local Colleges
5
Public Tuition
$11,330/yr
Private Tuition
$45,325/yr
Room & Board
$8,745/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$8,336/yr
Unemployment
3.3%
Graduation Rate
72%
Software Engineering Salary in Akron (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Akron's cost of living index of 105 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Software Engineering salary: $88,000 starting, $128,000 mid-career, $160,000 senior level.Akron adjustment factor: 1.05x based on the local cost of living index.
Software Engineering ROI Calculator for Akron
Estimate your return on investment for a Software Engineering degree using local Akron tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $11,330 | Private avg: $45,325
Akron avg aid: $8,336/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$80,300
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$55,650
vs HS diploma in Akron
ROI Payback Period
1.4 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Akron
$1,158,700
Lifetime earnings premium ($1,239,000) minus total education cost ($80,300)
Student Loan Payoff for Software Engineering in Akron
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Akron for Software Engineering
University of Akron
public
$11,330/yr
$45,320 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Stark State College
$4,344/yr
Top Employers for Software Engineering in Akron
Akron offers opportunities in Tech companies, Research labs, Government agencies for Software Engineering graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Akron Hiring Sectors for STEM
Tech companies
Research labs
Government agencies
Startups
Consulting firms
Common Software Engineering Job Titles
Software Engineering in Nearby Ohio Cities
Columbus, OH
$91K starting · COL 103
31 colleges
Cleveland, OH
$84K starting · COL 96
20 colleges
Cincinnati, OH
$90K starting · COL 102
28 colleges
Toledo, OH
$95K starting · COL 108
16 colleges
Dayton, OH
$92K starting · COL 104
9 colleges
Parma, OH
$79K starting · COL 90
4 colleges
Canton, OH
$74K starting · COL 84
4 colleges
Lorain, OH
$75K starting · COL 85.2
3 colleges
Other STEM Majors in Akron
Prompt Engineering
$53K starting · 1.5 yr ROI
Computational Linguistics
$100K starting · 2 yr ROI
Computer Science
$89K starting · 2.8 yr ROI
Data Science
$86K starting · 3 yr ROI
Actuarial Science
$53K starting · 3 yr ROI
Cybersecurity
$84K starting · 3 yr ROI
Robotics Engineering
$53K starting · 3 yr ROI
Applied Mathematics
$53K starting · 3.5 yr ROI
Software Engineering Degree in Akron — FAQ
Data Sources: Salary data from BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook. Cost of living from BLS Regional Data. College data from NCES/IPEDS. Updated March 2026.
Explore More
Compare Software Engineering ROI in other cities, or explore other majors in Akron.