Software Engineering Degree in Killeen, TX — Salary & ROI 2026
Software Engineering degree analysis for Killeen, TX. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$75K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$109K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
2.2 yrs
in Killeen
Cost of Living
85.2
index (100 = avg)
Software Engineering in Killeen, TX Overview
Killeen, Texas (pop. 153,095) has 6 colleges offering Software Engineering programs. The local cost of living index of 85.2 keeps student expenses low, with average rent near campus at $585/month. Software Engineering has seen growing enrollment nationally, reflecting rising employer demand for Software Design and Testing skills. The adjusted starting salary in Killeen is approximately $74,976.
Category
STEM
Local Colleges
6
Public Tuition
$10,900/yr
Private Tuition
$36,000/yr
Room & Board
$13,516/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$10,816/yr
Unemployment
3.8%
Graduation Rate
58%
Software Engineering Salary in Killeen (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Killeen's cost of living index of 85.2 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Software Engineering salary: $88,000 starting, $128,000 mid-career, $160,000 senior level.Killeen adjustment factor: 0.85x based on the local cost of living index.
Software Engineering ROI Calculator for Killeen
Estimate your return on investment for a Software Engineering degree using local Killeen tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $10,900 | Private avg: $36,000
Killeen avg aid: $10,816/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$97,664
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$45,156
vs HS diploma in Killeen
ROI Payback Period
2.2 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Killeen
$907,696
Lifetime earnings premium ($1,005,360) minus total education cost ($97,664)
Student Loan Payoff for Software Engineering in Killeen
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Killeen for Software Engineering
Killeen State University
public
$10,256/yr
$41,024 total
University of Killeen
public
$10,971/yr
$43,884 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Killeen Community College
$5,619/yr
Top Employers for Software Engineering in Killeen
Killeen offers opportunities in Tech companies, Research labs, Government agencies for Software Engineering graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Killeen Hiring Sectors for STEM
Tech companies
Research labs
Government agencies
Startups
Consulting firms
Common Software Engineering Job Titles
Software Engineering in Nearby Texas Cities
Houston, TX
$101K starting · COL 115
90 colleges
San Antonio, TX
$106K starting · COL 120
58 colleges
Dallas, TX
$92K starting · COL 104
82 colleges
Austin, TX
$94K starting · COL 107
30 colleges
Fort Worth, TX
$89K starting · COL 101
19 colleges
El Paso, TX
$82K starting · COL 93
38 colleges
Arlington, TX
$82K starting · COL 93.5
14 colleges
Corpus Christi, TX
$72K starting · COL 82
22 colleges
Other STEM Majors in Killeen
Prompt Engineering
$43K starting · 1.5 yr ROI
Computational Linguistics
$81K starting · 2 yr ROI
Computer Science
$72K starting · 2.8 yr ROI
Data Science
$70K starting · 3 yr ROI
Astrophysics
$72K starting · 3 yr ROI
Actuarial Science
$43K starting · 3 yr ROI
Cybersecurity
$68K starting · 3 yr ROI
Robotics Engineering
$43K starting · 3 yr ROI
Software Engineering Degree in Killeen — 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 Killeen.