- Start Here: MS Computer Science vs MS Software Engineering
- MS Computer Science vs MS Software Engineering at a Glance
- Curriculum, Skills, and Career Direction
- Computing Career and Labor-Market Context
- Cost, Salary, and ROI: How to Compare the Investment
- MS Computer Science vs MS Software Engineering: Which Degree Fits You Better?
- Explore MS Computer Science and MS Software Engineering Programs
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Edited By Jeevan D'Souza
- Expert Reviewed By Sai Yallapragada
Start Here: MS Computer Science vs MS Software Engineering
An MS in Computer Science (MS CS) and an MS in Software Engineering (MS SE) can both provide advanced education related to computing and software, but they approach that education from different academic perspectives.
Computer science generally covers a broader range of computing topics. Depending on the program, graduate study may include areas such as algorithms, artificial intelligence, machine learning, computer systems, databases, cybersecurity, programming languages, and software development.
Software engineering focuses more specifically on the processes, methods, and technical practices involved in designing, developing, testing, deploying, and maintaining software systems. Individual programs vary, but coursework may include software architecture, requirements, testing and quality assurance, software design, development processes, project-based engineering, and related topics.
That creates a useful starting distinction:
An MS in Computer Science generally provides broader graduate study of computing, while an MS in Software Engineering concentrates more specifically on the engineering and development of software systems.
The distinction is not absolute. Curricula can overlap substantially, and individual programs may emphasize very different areas even when they carry the same degree title.
That is why choosing between the degrees requires more than deciding whether computer science or software engineering sounds closer to your career goal.
It also requires asking:
Which specific program is the better investment for the education and career outcome I am pursuing?
There is no defensible single “MS Computer Science salary,” “MS Software Engineering salary,” or universal ROI that answers that question.
Graduates can work across multiple computing occupations, and many of those occupations are accessible through more than one educational pathway. Earnings can also vary substantially by occupation, specialization, industry, location, prior experience, employer, and level of responsibility.
The financial comparison therefore depends on factors such as:
- The actual cost of each program.
- Scholarships or employer tuition assistance.
- How long each program takes to complete.
- How much income you expect to retain while enrolled.
- Your current earnings and expected earnings without graduate school.
- The career outcome you reasonably expect after each program.
- Your expected post-degree earnings.
- How those earnings may change over time.
- The number of years over which you evaluate the investment.
A lower-cost MS in Computer Science could produce the better financial result in one scenario, while an MS in Software Engineering could produce the better result in another. Either degree could also produce similar financial outcomes if the programs support the same intended career path.
Later on this page, OMC’s MS Computer Science vs MS Software Engineering ROI calculator allows students to compare the two paths using their own program costs, employment assumptions, and expected post-degree earnings.
MS Computer Science vs MS Software Engineering at a Glance
| Decision Factor | MS Computer Science | MS Software Engineering |
|---|---|---|
| Degree | Master of Science in Computer Science | Master of Science in Software Engineering |
| Primary Academic Orientation | Broader graduate study of computing | More concentrated study of software engineering |
| Common Areas of Study | Algorithms, computing systems, databases, AI/ML, programming languages, software development, and other computing areas | Software design, architecture, requirements, testing, quality assurance, development processes, and software systems |
| Computing Breadth | Generally broader | Generally more concentrated around software development and engineering |
| Software Development | Can be a substantial part of the curriculum | Central area of study |
| Theory and Computing Foundations | Can receive greater emphasis depending on the program | Varies by program |
| Research or Thesis Options | Vary substantially by program | Vary substantially by program |
| Project/Capstone Options | Vary substantially by program | Vary substantially by program |
| Specialization Options | Can extend across multiple computing areas | Generally centered more closely on software and related engineering areas |
| Single Degree-Level Salary? | No | No |
| Single Degree-Level ROI? | No | No |
| Financial Return Depends On | Program cost, foregone earnings, funding, career outcome, salary change, and time horizon | Program cost, foregone earnings, funding, career outcome, salary change, and time horizon |
| Consider More Closely If… | You want broader graduate study across computing or want to explore areas beyond software engineering alone | You want graduate study centered more specifically on software development, engineering processes, and software systems |
These are general degree-level distinctions rather than required characteristics of every program .
The overlap between the degrees can be substantial. An MS in Computer Science may include extensive software engineering coursework, while an MS in Software Engineering may include advanced computing, systems, data, or other technical coursework.
The degree title alone therefore does not establish which program provides stronger preparation for a particular job.
Students should compare the actual required courses, electives, specialization options, projects or research opportunities, admissions requirements, and program outcomes of the programs they are considering.
OMC Finding
An MS in Computer Science generally provides broader graduate study across computing, while an MS in Software Engineering concentrates more specifically on software development and engineering. The curricula can overlap substantially, and neither degree maps to one occupation, salary, or financial return. Students should first determine which program better provides the education they need and then compare the economic investment, career assumptions, payback, and potential return associated with each option.
Curriculum, Skills, and Career Direction
MS Computer Science and MS Software Engineering programs can overlap substantially in areas such as programming, software development, systems, databases, and technical problem-solving.
The main distinction is generally one of academic scope and concentration .
Computer science can extend across a broader range of computing disciplines, while software engineering focuses more directly on the methods and practices used to design, develop, test, deploy, and maintain software systems.
Individual programs can differ significantly, however. Students should compare actual curricula rather than assuming the degree title determines every course they will take.
How the Curriculum Can Differ
| Area of Study | MS Computer Science | MS Software Engineering |
|---|---|---|
| Algorithms and Computational Methods | Common area of graduate study | May be included; emphasis varies |
| Computer Systems | Common in many curricula | May be included depending on program focus |
| Artificial Intelligence / Machine Learning | Common specialization or elective area in many programs | May be available depending on the program |
| Databases / Data Systems | Common area of study | May be included |
| Software Design and Development | Common, with depth varying by program | Central area of study |
| Software Architecture | May be required or offered as an elective | Common area of emphasis |
| Requirements and Software Processes | Varies substantially | Common area of emphasis |
| Testing / Quality Assurance | Varies by program | Common area of emphasis |
| Software Project / Lifecycle Management | Varies by program | More commonly integrated into the curriculum |
| Research / Thesis Opportunities | Available in some programs | Available in some programs |
| Project / Capstone Options | Available in many programs | Available in many programs |
| Overall Orientation | Broader study across computing | More concentrated study of software engineering |
The important difference is not that one degree contains theory while the other contains only practical work.
Both can include theoretical and applied coursework.
Instead, an MS in Computer Science generally gives students more opportunity to study computing beyond software engineering itself. Depending on the university, that can include areas such as artificial intelligence, machine learning, computing systems, security, data, algorithms, or other computer science specialties.
An MS in Software Engineering generally devotes more of the curriculum specifically to software systems and the processes used to develop them. That can include architecture, requirements, design, testing, quality, development processes, and management of complex software projects.
The amount of overlap depends on the programs being compared.
How the Academic Direction Can Differ
The broader scope of an MS in Computer Science can give students more opportunity to study across computing disciplines, while an MS in Software Engineering generally concentrates more of the graduate curriculum on software systems and engineering practices.
That distinction can matter when a student wants access to areas such as AI/ML, algorithms, systems, data, or other computer science specialties, or alternatively wants more concentrated study of software architecture, requirements, testing, quality, and development processes.
Neither orientation establishes a better employment outcome. Software development can draw from multiple educational backgrounds, and preparation for specialized computing work depends on the specific coursework, technical skills, prior education, experience, projects, and other qualifications a student brings.
What About Research vs. Applied Study?
The distinction should be evaluated at the program level rather than assumed from the degree title .
Some MS Computer Science programs offer thesis or research options, while others emphasize coursework or applied projects. MS Software Engineering programs can also use different structures, including coursework, capstones, projects, or research components.
Students considering doctoral study or research-intensive work should therefore examine whether a particular program provides:
- Faculty research opportunities.
- Thesis or research tracks.
- Advanced coursework in the intended research area.
- Opportunities to conduct independent research.
- Preparation aligned with the requirements of the doctoral programs or research positions they may pursue.
Students primarily interested in applied software development can instead examine the depth of coursework and projects in areas such as software architecture, design, testing, development processes, and software systems.
The important question is not simply “Is CS research-oriented and SE applied?”
It is:
Does this specific program provide the type of advanced technical preparation I need for the work or further education I intend to pursue?
Which Academic Direction Fits Better?
| If You Want… | Degree to Examine More Closely |
|---|---|
| Broader graduate study across computing disciplines | MS Computer Science |
| Graduate study centered specifically on software engineering | MS Software Engineering |
| Greater ability to explore areas such as AI/ML, systems, algorithms, data, or other CS specialties | MS Computer Science programs deserve closer consideration |
| Greater curricular emphasis on software architecture, development processes, testing, and software systems | MS Software Engineering programs deserve closer consideration |
| Research or thesis preparation | Compare individual program options |
| Applied project or capstone experience | Compare individual program options |
| Preparation for software development | Either may fit, depending on curriculum |
| A guaranteed advantage in the technology job market | Neither |
| A guaranteed higher salary | Neither |
| The better financial investment | Cannot be determined from curriculum alone |
Students interested in broader graduate computing education can explore online master’s in computer science programs , while students seeking a more software-engineering-focused curriculum can explore online master’s in software engineering programs .
If both degree structures could provide the technical preparation you need, the comparison becomes increasingly dependent on the specific program, cost, time commitment, funding, and career outcome you reasonably expect after graduation .
OMC Finding
An MS in Computer Science generally provides greater breadth across computing, while an MS in Software Engineering concentrates more directly on designing, developing, testing, and maintaining software systems. The distinction is useful for narrowing programs, but actual curricula can overlap substantially. Neither degree guarantees a particular occupation, salary, or career advantage. Students should compare the technical preparation of individual programs first and then evaluate the financial investment required to obtain it.
Computing Career and Labor-Market Context
The curriculum differences between MS Computer Science and MS Software Engineering can help students identify which type of graduate education better fits their goals, but they do not create separate labor markets for the two degrees.
Computing work spans software development, data, cybersecurity, systems analysis, research, infrastructure, and other functions. Educational expectations also differ substantially among occupations.
That makes occupational labor-market data useful for understanding possible career directions — but not for assigning a salary or employment outcome to either graduate degree.
Computing Occupations: Salary and Growth Context
The occupations below illustrate several directions within the broader computing labor market.
They are not MS Computer Science or MS Software Engineering outcomes . BLS reports wages and employment projections by occupation rather than graduate degree, and completing either degree does not guarantee entry into these occupations.
| Illustrative Occupation | SOC Code | 2025 Median Annual Pay | Projected Employment Growth, 2025–2035 | Typical Entry-Level Education |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Software Developers | 15-1252 | $135,980 | 10% | Bachelor’s degree |
| Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers | 15-1253 | $104,300 | 6% | Bachelor’s degree |
| Data Scientists | 15-2051 | $120,230 | 35% | Bachelor’s degree |
| Information Security Analysts | 15-1212 | $129,180 | 21% | Bachelor’s degree |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook and Employment Projections. Wage data are May 2025; employment projections are for 2025–2035 .
The range illustrates why there is no defensible single “MS Computer Science salary” or “MS Software Engineering salary.”
It also shows why occupation-level earnings should not automatically be treated as the financial return produced by earning either master’s degree.
BLS identifies a bachelor’s degree as the typical entry-level education for each of the occupations shown above. For software developers, BLS notes that some employers prefer candidates with a master’s degree. For data scientists, BLS similarly notes that some employers require or prefer a master’s or doctoral degree. Information security analysts typically need a bachelor’s degree along with related work experience.
The education associated with a particular worker or position can therefore differ from the typical entry-level requirement reported for the occupation.
A master’s degree may be relevant to a student’s career strategy without being universally required for the occupation itself.
Some Computing Occupations Do Have Different Educational Expectations
Graduate education can matter more directly in some areas of computing.
BLS identifies a master’s degree as the typical entry-level education for computer and information research scientists , for example. The occupation had a $140,300 median annual wage in May 2025 .
That does not make $140,300 an “MS Computer Science salary,” nor does it establish that every MS Computer Science program prepares students equally for research-scientist positions.
Instead, it shows why the student’s intended occupation and the preparation required for that occupation should be part of the degree decision.
A student pursuing research-intensive computing work may evaluate graduate education differently from a software developer who is already employed in an occupation where a bachelor’s degree is the typical entry credential.
The relevant comparison is therefore not:
Which degree is associated with the highest-paying occupation?
It is:
What career outcome do I reasonably expect this specific program to help me pursue, and how would that earnings path compare with the path available to me without the degree?
That question provides a more defensible basis for the ROI comparison that follows.
OMC Finding
Computing occupations can have strong salaries and employment growth, but those occupational outcomes should not be assigned to MS Computer Science or MS Software Engineering as degree-level outcomes. BLS identifies a bachelor’s degree as the typical entry-level education for several major computing occupations, while some research-oriented occupations have different educational expectations. Students should therefore use occupational data to research a realistic career and salary assumption for their circumstances rather than treating an occupation’s full salary as the return produced by either master’s degree.
Cost, Salary, and ROI: How to Compare the Investment
An MS in Computer Science and an MS in Software Engineering do not have one universal cost, salary, or ROI.
Programs carrying the same degree title can differ substantially in tuition, required fees, program length, delivery structure, financial aid, and employer funding. Students also enter graduate school with different salaries and pursue different occupations afterward.
That means the useful financial question is not:
Which degree has the better ROI?
It is:
Which degree produces the better financial result under the program costs and career assumptions that apply to me?
What Goes Into the Investment?
Tuition is only one part of the financial commitment.
| Investment Factor | Why It Matters |
|---|---|
| Tuition and required fees | Establish the direct educational cost |
| Other direct costs | Capture additional required program expenses |
| Scholarships and grants | Reduce the student’s direct cost |
| Employer tuition assistance | Can materially change the economics of either program |
| Program duration | Determines how long the student remains enrolled and when post-degree earnings begin |
| Income retained while enrolled | Captures how much employment income continues during graduate study |
| Foregone earnings | Reflect income sacrificed by reducing or leaving work |
| Expected post-degree earnings | Provide the earnings assumption for the career outcome being modeled |
| Earnings growth | Affects the comparison across longer time horizons |
This distinction is particularly important for online programs.
A student who remains fully employed while completing a higher-tuition degree could sacrifice less income than someone who substantially reduces work during a less expensive program. Scholarships or employer tuition assistance could reverse the comparison again.
The program with the lower advertised tuition is therefore not necessarily the one requiring the lower economic investment .
Students who need to estimate the underlying cost of a particular program can first use OMC’s Graduate School Cost Calculator .
Choosing a Salary Assumption for the ROI Comparison
As the occupational data above show, there is no single salary associated with an MS in Computer Science or MS in Software Engineering.
For the ROI comparison, use an expected post-degree salary that reflects the specific career outcome you reasonably expect to pursue after each program .
Relevant evidence can include:
- BLS wage data for the occupation you are targeting.
- Compensation information for the industry and location in which you expect to work.
- Salary information from relevant employers or job postings.
- Your current occupation and compensation.
- Your prior technical and professional experience.
- The responsibilities and seniority of the positions you expect to pursue.
Do not automatically use the full median salary of a computing occupation as the financial benefit produced by the master’s degree.
For example, BLS occupational earnings for software developers include workers with different education levels, experience, employers, industries, locations, and responsibilities. If you are already working as a software developer, your relevant financial question may be how your expected earnings path could change after graduate school compared with continuing your current career without the degree.
The salary assumption can differ between MS Computer Science and MS Software Engineering if you reasonably expect the programs to support different career outcomes.
It can also be the same if either program could support the same intended path.
These figures remain scenario assumptions rather than predicted degree outcomes . The calculator uses them to test how different program and career assumptions affect investment, payback, and ROI.
What the ROI Comparison Measures
OMC’s comparison evaluates three financial paths:
- Continue without either degree
- Complete the MS in Computer Science
- Complete the MS in Software Engineering
Both graduate-degree paths are evaluated against the same no-degree earnings baseline.
The comparison examines several different measures:
| Measure | What It Answers |
|---|---|
| Net Direct Cost | What remains after tuition, fees, other direct costs, grants, and employer assistance are accounted for? |
| Foregone Earnings | How much employment income is modeled as sacrificed while completing the program? |
| Economic Investment | How much direct cost and foregone income does the degree require? |
| Initial Salary Lift | How does the assumed post-degree salary compare with the projected no-degree salary at graduation? |
| Payback Period | When does the modeled cumulative financial benefit recover the investment? |
| 5-Year Net Benefit | What is the modeled cumulative financial result over five years? |
| 5-Year ROI | How large is the five-year modeled benefit relative to the economic investment? |
| 10-Year Net Benefit | What is the modeled cumulative financial result over ten years? |
| 10-Year ROI | How large is the ten-year modeled benefit relative to the economic investment? |
| Incremental Comparison | What additional modeled benefit results from choosing the higher-investment option? |
One degree does not have to perform better on every measure.
A lower-investment program could reach payback sooner or produce the higher ROI percentage, while a higher-investment program could eventually generate greater cumulative net benefit.
That is a tradeoff result , not a contradiction.
Compare Your MS Computer Science vs MS Software Engineering ROI
Use the calculator below to compare the two degrees using your own program and career assumptions.
Enter your:
- Current annual salary.
- Expected salary growth without either degree.
- Tuition and required fees for each program.
- Other direct program costs.
- Scholarships or grants.
- Employer tuition assistance.
- Program duration.
- Percentage of income you expect to retain while enrolled.
- Expected post-degree salary for each path.
- Expected post-degree salary growth.
The calculator models the no-degree, MS Computer Science, and MS Software Engineering paths month by month and compares economic investment, payback, 5-year and 10-year net benefit, 5-year and 10-year ROI, and the incremental financial difference between the two degrees .
The results are scenarios, not predictions. Salary, employment, advancement, program costs, and other outcomes can differ from the assumptions entered.
How the Calculator Handles Earnings While You Study
The calculator does not assume that enrolling in an online master’s program requires giving up your entire salary.
Instead, you specify the percentage of employment income you expect to retain while enrolled .
For example:
- A student remaining fully employed can model 100% income retained.
- A student reducing work hours can enter a lower percentage.
- A student leaving employment during the program can model 0% income retained.
Foregone earnings are based on the portion of income not retained during the enrollment period.
This matters because two programs with similar tuition can require very different economic investments if one takes longer to complete or affects the student’s ability to remain employed.
The reduced earnings during enrollment are already incorporated into the modeled earnings path and are not subtracted a second time from the results.
How to Read Your Results
Do not look only for which degree has the higher ROI percentage.
Consider the results together:
- Lower economic investment identifies the option requiring less modeled financial commitment.
- Faster payback identifies which investment is recovered sooner under your assumptions.
- Higher net benefit identifies which path leaves you further ahead financially at the specified time horizon.
- Higher ROI percentage identifies which path produces more modeled benefit relative to its economic investment.
- Incremental return helps evaluate whether spending more on one degree produces enough additional modeled benefit to justify the extra investment.
Payback is determined from the modeled earnings paths rather than by simply dividing investment by an assumed annual salary increase.
The calculator compares cumulative earnings under each graduate-degree path with cumulative earnings from continuing without graduate school, accounts for the program’s net direct cost, and identifies the first month in which the modeled degree path reaches financial break-even. Reduced earnings during enrollment are already reflected in the earnings path and are not subtracted again when calculating payback.
If one degree performs better on every financial measure, the comparison may be relatively straightforward.
If one reaches payback sooner while the other produces greater long-term benefit, the result represents a tradeoff. The decision then depends partly on whether you value lower financial exposure and faster recovery or greater modeled long-term benefit.
If both programs produce similar financial results, differences in curriculum, technical preparation, flexibility, program quality, and career fit can carry more weight.
OMC’s broader Graduate Degree ROI Study explains the framework behind OMC’s graduate-degree ROI analysis.
What the Calculator Does Not Tell You
The calculator measures a financial scenario. It does not determine whether either degree will produce the career outcome entered.
It also does not quantify every possible benefit or cost of graduate education.
Results can differ because of factors such as:
- Actual employment outcomes.
- Promotions or changes in responsibility.
- Industry and geographic differences.
- Bonuses, equity, or other compensation not included in the assumptions.
- Taxes.
- Inflation.
- Student-loan interest.
- Career changes that occur after graduation.
- Nonfinancial benefits of graduate education.
Students should therefore use the results as a decision model based on their assumptions , not as a forecast of what either degree will earn.
OMC Finding
There is no universal ROI winner between an MS in Computer Science and an MS in Software Engineering. The financial result depends on the specific programs being compared, income retained while enrolled, scholarships or employer funding, expected career outcomes, and earnings assumptions. Comparing both degrees against the same no-degree earnings baseline can reveal whether one requires less investment or reaches payback sooner while another produces greater modeled long-term benefit.
MS Computer Science vs MS Software Engineering: Which Degree Fits You Better?
The MS in Computer Science and MS in Software Engineering can overlap substantially, particularly for students interested in software development.
The better choice depends on what you want to study, what technical preparation you need, and what each specific program requires financially .
The academic distinction provides a useful starting point:
Consider MS Computer Science for broader graduate study across computing. Consider MS Software Engineering for graduate study centered more specifically on software engineering and the development of software systems.
The financial decision requires another layer.
If both degrees could support your intended career direction, compare the actual programs rather than assuming one degree title produces a higher salary or better ROI.
Consider an MS in Computer Science If…
An MS in Computer Science may fit better if you:
- Want graduate education that extends across multiple areas of computing.
- Want greater opportunity to study areas such as algorithms, artificial intelligence, machine learning, systems, data, security, or other computer science specialties.
- Want software development to remain one possible direction without making software engineering the central focus of the entire degree.
- Are considering research or doctoral study and have identified a program with the research preparation you need.
- Want flexibility to shape your technical emphasis through electives or specialization options.
- Have identified an MS Computer Science curriculum that provides stronger preparation for the technical work you intend to pursue.
- Have found an MS Computer Science program whose economic investment is reasonable relative to the outcome you expect.
The broader scope of computer science can be a meaningful advantage when your goals extend beyond software engineering alone.
It does not , by itself, establish higher earnings, greater career potential, or better ROI.
Consider an MS in Software Engineering If…
An MS in Software Engineering may fit better if you:
- Want software engineering to be the central focus of your graduate education.
- Want greater curricular emphasis on areas such as software architecture, design, requirements, testing, quality, development processes, or software systems.
- Prefer a program whose required curriculum is concentrated more directly around building and maintaining software.
- Do not need the same breadth across other computer science specialties.
- Have identified an MS Software Engineering curriculum that better addresses gaps in your current technical preparation.
- Are already working with software and want advanced study specifically related to software-engineering methods and systems.
- Have found an MS Software Engineering program whose economic investment is reasonable relative to the outcome you expect.
A more concentrated curriculum does not make MS Software Engineering inherently better preparation for software employment, nor does it make the degree less valuable than a broader MS Computer Science.
Its value depends on whether that concentration matches what you need to learn and whether the program’s cost is justified by the benefit you expect.
When Either Degree Could Work
For some students, the distinction between the degree titles may matter less than the differences between the individual programs.
Suppose your intended career involves software development and both programs provide advanced coursework relevant to that goal.
In that situation, compare factors such as:
- Required technical courses.
- Available electives and specializations.
- Software-development depth.
- Project, capstone, or research opportunities.
- Faculty expertise in areas important to you.
- Admissions prerequisites.
- Program duration.
- Schedule and delivery structure.
- Tuition and required fees.
- Scholarships or employer assistance.
- How much employment income you can retain while enrolled.
If two programs provide similar preparation for the same intended career outcome, the lower-cost or lower-opportunity-cost option may produce the stronger financial result.
If one program requires greater investment but provides technical preparation that you believe materially changes your expected career path, use the ROI calculator to test whether the additional modeled benefit justifies that investment.
Final Decision Framework
| If Your Priority Is… | Degree to Consider | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Broader graduate computing education | MS Computer Science | Generally extends across more areas of computing |
| Software engineering as the central academic focus | MS Software Engineering | Concentrates more directly on software systems and engineering practices |
| AI/ML, algorithms, systems, data, or other CS specialty options | MS Computer Science deserves closer consideration | These areas commonly fall within the broader computer science discipline |
| Software architecture, testing, requirements, and development processes | MS Software Engineering deserves closer consideration | These topics are more directly associated with software-engineering study |
| Software development career preparation | Compare actual programs | Either degree can provide relevant preparation |
| Research or doctoral preparation | Compare actual program structure | Thesis and research opportunities vary |
| Applied project experience | Compare actual program structure | Both degree types can include project or capstone work |
| Lowest tuition | Compare actual programs | Degree type does not determine price |
| Lowest economic investment | Calculate it | Tuition alone does not capture funding or foregone earnings |
| Fastest payback | Calculate it | Depends on investment and the modeled earnings path |
| Highest 5-year ROI | Calculate it | Depends on individual program and earnings assumptions |
| Highest 10-year net benefit | Calculate it | Longer-term results can differ from short-term payback |
OMC Finding
Consider an MS in Computer Science when broader graduate computing education better matches the technical preparation you need. Consider an MS in Software Engineering when you want graduate study concentrated more specifically on software engineering and software systems. If both degrees can support your intended career direction, compare the actual curricula and economic investment rather than assuming one degree produces a higher salary or stronger ROI.
Explore MS Computer Science and MS Software Engineering Programs
Once you know which academic direction fits your goals, compare individual programs within that degree category.
For an MS in Computer Science , look closely at the required computer science foundation, available specializations, electives, research or project options, admissions prerequisites, and how much flexibility you have to shape the curriculum around your intended technical direction.
For an MS in Software Engineering , examine the depth of coursework in software architecture, design, requirements, testing, quality, development processes, and software systems, along with available projects, capstones, or research opportunities.
For either degree, also compare:
- Accreditation and institutional recognition.
- Total tuition and required fees.
- Scholarships, grants, and employer tuition assistance.
- Required prerequisite or bridge coursework.
- Program length.
- Full-time and part-time options.
- Online course structure and scheduling.
- Faculty and research opportunities relevant to your interests.
- Project, capstone, or thesis requirements.
- The amount of income you expect to retain while enrolled.
The degree title can help narrow the search, but the final decision should be based on the specific program’s curriculum, requirements, cost, and fit with the technical and career outcome you intend to pursue . Students who are still comparing degree paths can also compare master’s programs across OMC.
Frequently Asked Questions
Neither degree is universally better.
An MS in Computer Science generally provides broader graduate study across computing, while an MS in Software Engineering concentrates more specifically on software engineering and the development of software systems.
The better choice depends on the technical education you need, the curricula of the programs you are considering, their costs, and the career outcome you intend to pursue.
Either degree can provide relevant preparation for software development.
An MS in Software Engineering generally concentrates more directly on software design, architecture, testing, development processes, and related software-engineering topics. An MS in Computer Science can also include substantial software-development coursework while providing broader study across other areas of computing.
Compare the actual required courses and electives rather than assuming the degree title alone determines preparation for software-development work.
There is no single BLS salary for either graduate degree.
BLS reports earnings by occupation rather than by MS Computer Science or MS Software Engineering degree. Computing occupations can also include workers with different educational backgrounds, experience levels, industries, employers, and locations.
For that reason, occupational salaries should not be presented as the salary produced by either degree.
Students comparing financial return should instead identify a realistic career and salary assumption for each path and compare it with the earnings trajectory they expect without graduate school.
There is no universal ROI winner.
ROI depends on factors including the specific program’s cost, scholarships or employer assistance, program duration, income retained while studying, the student’s current earnings, and the post-degree career and salary assumptions being modeled.
One program could require less investment and reach payback sooner while another could produce greater modeled long-term benefit.
Use the ROI calculator on this page to compare the two paths using assumptions relevant to your situation.
An MS in Computer Science can provide education relevant to software development, depending on the curriculum.
However, a master’s degree is not universally required for software developer positions. BLS identifies a bachelor’s degree as the typical entry-level education for software developers, although some employers prefer candidates with a master’s degree.
Students targeting software development should compare the technical skills required for the positions they want with the coursework, projects, and other preparation provided by the programs they are considering.
No.
A graduate degree in software engineering can provide advanced education specifically focused on software systems and engineering practices, but the degree should not be treated as a universal entry requirement for software-related occupations.
Education requirements vary by occupation, employer, position, and level of responsibility. Students should examine the requirements of the positions they intend to pursue rather than assuming a particular master’s degree is required.
Students interested in artificial intelligence or machine learning should examine MS Computer Science programs closely because these subjects are commonly offered within computer science curricula.
However, availability and depth vary substantially by university. The degree title alone does not establish that a program provides advanced AI or machine-learning preparation.
Compare required courses, electives, specialization options, faculty expertise, research opportunities, and prerequisites in the specific programs you are considering.