Software Engineering Degree in Glendale, AZ — Salary & ROI 2026
Software Engineering degree analysis for Glendale, AZ. 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
1.9 yrs
in Glendale
Cost of Living
105
index (100 = avg)
Software Engineering in Glendale, AZ Overview
Glendale, Arizona (pop. 248,325) has 16 colleges offering Software Engineering programs. The local cost of living index of 105 is near the national average, with average rent near campus at $1,370/month. Software Engineering has seen growing enrollment nationally, reflecting rising employer demand for Software Design and Testing skills. The adjusted starting salary in Glendale is approximately $92,400.
Category
STEM
Local Colleges
16
Public Tuition
$12,652/yr
Private Tuition
$44,500/yr
Room & Board
$13,685/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$14,168/yr
Unemployment
4.8%
Graduation Rate
53%
Software Engineering Salary in Glendale (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Glendale'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.Glendale adjustment factor: 1.05x based on the local cost of living index.
Software Engineering ROI Calculator for Glendale
Estimate your return on investment for a Software Engineering degree using local Glendale tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $12,652 | Private avg: $44,500
Glendale avg aid: $14,168/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$105,348
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$55,650
vs HS diploma in Glendale
ROI Payback Period
1.9 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Glendale
$1,133,652
Lifetime earnings premium ($1,239,000) minus total education cost ($105,348)
Student Loan Payoff for Software Engineering in Glendale
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Glendale for Software Engineering
Midwestern University
private
$44,500/yr
$178,000 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Glendale Community College
$2,580/yr
Top Employers for Software Engineering in Glendale
Glendale offers opportunities in Tech companies, Research labs, Government agencies for Software Engineering graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Glendale Hiring Sectors for STEM
Tech companies
Research labs
Government agencies
Startups
Consulting firms
Common Software Engineering Job Titles
Software Engineering in Nearby Arizona Cities
Phoenix, AZ
$134K starting · COL 152
72 colleges
Tucson, AZ
$102K starting · COL 116
24 colleges
Mesa, AZ
$97K starting · COL 110
31 colleges
Chandler, AZ
$109K starting · COL 124
22 colleges
Gilbert, AZ
$105K starting · COL 119
26 colleges
Scottsdale, AZ
$111K starting · COL 126
16 colleges
Peoria, AZ
$91K starting · COL 103.8
7 colleges
Tempe, AZ
$99K starting · COL 113
5 colleges
Other STEM Majors in Glendale
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 Glendale — 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 Glendale.