Software Engineering Degree in Kenosha, WI — Salary & ROI 2026
Software Engineering degree analysis for Kenosha, WI. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$93K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$136K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
1.4 yrs
in Kenosha
Cost of Living
106
index (100 = avg)
Software Engineering in Kenosha, WI Overview
Kenosha, Wisconsin (pop. 99,986) has 8 colleges offering Software Engineering programs. The local cost of living index of 106 is near the national average, with average rent near campus at $668/month. Software Engineering has seen growing enrollment nationally, reflecting rising employer demand for Software Design and Testing skills. The adjusted starting salary in Kenosha is approximately $93,280.
Category
STEM
Local Colleges
8
Public Tuition
$7,620/yr
Private Tuition
$37,840/yr
Room & Board
$12,059/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$15,562/yr
Unemployment
4.6%
Graduation Rate
49%
Software Engineering Salary in Kenosha (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Kenosha's cost of living index of 106 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Software Engineering salary: $88,000 starting, $128,000 mid-career, $160,000 senior level.Kenosha adjustment factor: 1.06x based on the local cost of living index.
Software Engineering ROI Calculator for Kenosha
Estimate your return on investment for a Software Engineering degree using local Kenosha tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $7,620 | Private avg: $37,840
Kenosha avg aid: $15,562/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$78,716
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$56,180
vs HS diploma in Kenosha
ROI Payback Period
1.4 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Kenosha
$1,172,084
Lifetime earnings premium ($1,250,800) minus total education cost ($78,716)
Student Loan Payoff for Software Engineering in Kenosha
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Kenosha for Software Engineering
University of Wisconsin-Parkside
public
$7,620/yr
$30,480 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Gateway Technical College
$4,620/yr
Top Employers for Software Engineering in Kenosha
Kenosha offers opportunities in Tech companies, Research labs, Government agencies for Software Engineering graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Kenosha Hiring Sectors for STEM
Tech companies
Research labs
Government agencies
Startups
Consulting firms
Common Software Engineering Job Titles
Software Engineering in Nearby Wisconsin Cities
Milwaukee, WI
$83K starting · COL 94
33 colleges
Madison, WI
$78K starting · COL 89
11 colleges
Green Bay, WI
$76K starting · COL 86
6 colleges
Racine, WI
$76K starting · COL 85.8
4 colleges
Appleton, WI
$70K starting · COL 79
6 colleges
Waukesha, WI
$80K starting · COL 90.5
3 colleges
Eau Claire, WI
$76K starting · COL 86
2 colleges
Oshkosh, WI
$94K starting · COL 107
3 colleges
Other STEM Majors in Kenosha
Prompt Engineering
$53K starting · 1.5 yr ROI
Computational Linguistics
$101K starting · 2 yr ROI
Computer Science
$90K starting · 2.8 yr ROI
Data Science
$87K starting · 3 yr ROI
Actuarial Science
$53K starting · 3 yr ROI
Cybersecurity
$85K starting · 3 yr ROI
Robotics Engineering
$53K starting · 3 yr ROI
Applied Mathematics
$53K starting · 3.5 yr ROI
Software Engineering Degree in Kenosha — 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 Kenosha.