What can you do with a Software Engineering degree from San Jose State University?

First, some facts. Of the Software Engineering graduates from San Jose State University we've analyzed , here's how many have used (or NOT used) their degree in their career:


These are estimates based on AI analysis of 12 LinkedIn profiles (see below).

The verdict? Great! Overall, with an average relevance score of 88%, Software Engineering graduates from San Jose State University have a substantially higher likelihood (+21%) of finding work in this field compared to the average graduate across all fields:

Average score: 88%
Average relevance score across all fields: 67%

And for comparison, here's the chart for all profiles we've looked at across all degrees.

× Chart

Also, after graduating, only 33% of these graduates have pursued further education other than another Bachelor's degree (such as a Masters degree or other), compared to the average across all profiles of 35%. This suggests a Bachelors degree is enough for most Software Engineering graduates, and it's normal to look for work straight after graduation.

See the details:

View a random Software Engineering graduate from San Jose State University and our analysis:


Relevance score: 95%

We think this person has gone into a career highly relevant to their degree.

DEGREE INFO

Graduated in 2021 from San Jose State University with a Bachelor of Science - BS in Software Engineering. No other secondary education since.

JOB HISTORY SINCE GRADUATION
Enterprise Architecture Intern
Bank of the West
May 2021 - Aug 2021
The role of Enterprise Architecture Intern may involve some transferable skills in software engineering, but it does not directly utilize the specific technical skills and knowledge typically associated with a Software Engineering degree.

Software Engineer Associate
Bank of the West
Nov 2021 - Present
The Software Engineer Associate position directly aligns with the skills and knowledge gained from a Bachelor's in Software Engineering, requiring the application of software development principles on a daily basis.

ABOUT

Studious third-year university student at San Jose State looking for an opportunity to leverage my technological and interpersonal skills in any work environment, while also gaining valuable skills through my experiences.

What jobs can you get with a Software Engineering degree from San Jose State University?

The top 10 most common jobs done by the graduates we've analyzed (ranked most common to least) are:


The most common types of jobs for graduates from the Software Engineering program at San Jose State University are roles explicitly titled as Software Engineer or Software Developer. These positions, found at reputable companies like Google, IBM, and Nike, focus heavily on applying the technical skills and principles taught during their degree, which shows a strong connection to the curriculum. Even roles like Software Quality Assurance Engineer and Software Consultant align well with the core competencies of software engineering, highlighting that many of these graduates are landing jobs that directly use what they've learned in school.

However, there are a few exceptions where graduates have taken positions that don't tap into their software engineering background, like the Marketing Specialist role at Silicon Valley Investment Club. While it's great that these graduates are finding jobs, it signals that not every career path taken by these alumni is directly related to their field of study. Overall, it seems that while most of these SJSU grads are thriving in relevant technical roles, there's still a small percentage that veers off the path into jobs that don't utilize their software engineering skills as directly.

Here is a visual representation of the most common words in job titles for Software Engineering graduates (this is across all Software Engineering graduates we've analyzed, not just those who went to San Jose State University):

What kind of career trajectories do Software Engineering graduates from San Jose State University have? What do they do 1, 5 or 10 years out?

Based on the LinkedIn profiles of graduates from San Jose State University with degrees in Software Engineering, it looks like many of them have kicked off their careers in solid positions related to software development. For instance, several graduates right after school secured roles as software engineers at reputable companies like Google, Cisco, and Nike. Even those who started out as junior software engineers or software developers seem to be transitioning quickly into more established roles, suggesting a favorable job market and a solid return on their education. It’s encouraging to see that many 2019 and 2021 grads are already in noteworthy positions, hinting that they are finding their footing early on in their careers.

As for the longer-term outlook, we see a pattern of growth and advancement among these professionals. Those who graduated in 2019 and 2021 have moved up to significant companies and roles within just a few years, and it's likely that they will continue to escalate in their respective fields. Of course, there's one or two outliers, like the Marketing Specialist who graduated in 2020, which suggests that not everyone is sticking to a strictly technical path. However, the overall trajectory appears positive for most of these graduates, hinting at a bright future filled with opportunities in the tech industry. So it seems like pursuing a degree in Software Engineering from San Jose State can definitely lay a strong foundation for a successful and relevant career in the field.

How hard is a Software Engineering degree from San Jose State University?

Getting a Bachelor’s degree in Software Engineering at San Jose State University can definitely be challenging, but it’s not unmanageable if you’re really into the subject. You'll be diving into programming, algorithms, and systems design, which can get pretty tricky, especially if math isn’t your strong suit. The workload can be intense at times, with projects that require a lot of teamwork and problem-solving. That said, if you have a passion for coding and you put in the effort, you’ll likely find it rewarding. Overall, it’s about on par with other engineering degrees in terms of difficulty, so be ready to hit the books and collaborate with classmates, but it’s absolutely doable if you're committed!

How long does it take?

Most commonly, in the LinkedIn profiles we've looked at, it takes people 4 years to finish a Bachelor degree in Software Engineering.

Do Software Engineering graduates from San Jose State University tend to make good money?

Looking at these San Jose State University grads, it seems like quite a few have landed some pretty decent jobs, especially those who graduated more recently. The grads from 2019 and beyond are stepping into roles at major companies like Google, Cisco, and Nike, which usually pay well, especially in tech hot spots like Silicon Valley. Even the earlier graduates, like the one who started as a Junior Software Engineer, likely kicked off their career on a solid footing, though it's tougher to say if they’re making bank right now. The 2020 and 2022 grads are a mix of marketing roles and internships, which might not hit the high salary marks as the engineering roles, so it’s a bit of a mixed bag overall. But in general, if you’re in software engineering and rocking it in companies like Google and IBM, you’re probably doing alright financially!

What buzzwords do Software Engineering graduates use to describe themselves?

Here is a visual representation of the most common words seen in the "about" section of LinkedIn profiles who have a Bachelor degree in Software Engineering (this is across all Software Engineering graduates we've analyzed, not just those who went to San Jose State University). This may or may not be useful:

What are the best colleges for Software Engineering?

Here are all colleges offering a Bachelor degree in Software Engineering (ordered by the average relevance score of their Software Engineering graduates, best to worst) where we have analyzed at least 10 of their graduates:

College Score Count
San Jose State University 88 12
Iowa State University 87 10
The University of Texas at Dallas 86 15
Brigham Young University - Idaho 85 19
Arizona State University 83 13
Florida Gulf Coast University 72 17
University of Phoenix 64 17
Kennesaw State University 62 10
Western Governors University 60 10