NC State’s Department of Computer Science is the place to be for software engineering! In the latest rankings from U.S. News & World Report, NC State CS is now #11 in the nation for undergraduate software engineering, rising six places from last year’s ranking. 

“We are honored that U.S. News has recognized our department among the nation’s very best,” said Interim Department Head George Rouskas. “This distinction reflects the excellence of our faculty, the dedication of our students and the impact of our research.”

Software engineering (SE) is the process of the design, construction and maintenance of software systems, applications and websites. If that sounds like a lot, it is! SE is essential in today’s digital world, and at NC State, we’re teaching and graduating some of the best.

This latest ranking highlights the strength of the department’s software engineering program in preparing undergraduate students for careers in both industry and academia. Students graduate with the analytical, technical, coding and engineering skills needed to be able to work in cybersecurity, game development, cloud computing, security, DevOps and more. 

When it comes to objective rankings, NC State CS is top in the field as well. From 2014 to 2024, CSRankings (a metrics-based ranking of top computer science institutions) placed the department 3rd among U.S. institutions in SE. Click here to learn more about the department’s success in research output.

The department’s overall undergraduate program ranking improved this year, moving from #50 to #48 in the nation.