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Software applications architect education requirements
Updated January 8, 2025
4 min read
There are several educational requirements to become a software applications architect. Software applications architects usually study computer science, electrical engineering, or business. 77% of software applications architects hold a bachelor's degree, and 16% hold an master's degree. We analyzed 58 real software applications architect resumes to see exactly what software applications architect education sections show.
The most common colleges for software applications architects are the Berklee College of Music and the Berklee College of Music.
There are also many online software applications architect courses to help get the education required to be a software applications architect.
What education do you need to become a software applications architect?
What degree do you need to be a software applications architect?
- Bachelor's, 77%
- Master's, 16%
- Associate, 5%
- Diploma, 2%
What should I major in to become a software applications architect?
- Computer Science, 17%
- Business, 10%
- Other Majors, 54%
Most common colleges for software applications architects
| Software applications architect common college | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Berklee College of Music | 9.52% |
| Syracuse University | 4.76% |
| California State University - Fullerton | 4.76% |
| University of Florida | 4.76% |
| Babson College | 4.76% |
Best majors for software applications architects
| Rank | Major | Percentages |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Computer Science | 17.1% |
| 2 | Electrical Engineering | 12.2% |
| 3 | Business | 9.8% |
| 4 | Computer Engineering | 7.3% |
| 5 | Computer Information Systems | 7.3% |
Best colleges for software applications architects
The best colleges for software applications architects are Northwestern University, Carnegie Mellon University, and University of Pennsylvania.
A software applications architect with advanced education typically earns a higher salary and has access to better jobs. That's why Zippia looked into the best colleges for software applications architects. We based this list on several metrics: admissions rate, retention rate, mean earnings of graduates, the ratio of working vs. non-working students ten years after admission, the average cost of attendance, and median debt for graduates who become software applications architects.
1. University of Southern California
Los Angeles, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$56,225
Enrollment
19,548
2. University of California - Los Angeles
Los Angeles, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$13,226
Enrollment
31,568
3. Northwestern University
Evanston, IL • Private
In-state tuition
$54,568
Enrollment
8,451
4. University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, PA • Private
In-state tuition
$55,584
Enrollment
10,764
5. Stanford University
Stanford, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$51,354
Enrollment
7,083
6. Carnegie Mellon University
Pittsburgh, PA • Private
In-state tuition
$55,465
Enrollment
6,483
7. University of Texas at Austin
Austin, TX • Private
In-state tuition
$10,610
Enrollment
40,329
8. University of Minnesota - Twin Cities
Minneapolis, MN • Private
In-state tuition
$14,760
Enrollment
31,451
9. University of California, Berkeley
Berkeley, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$14,184
Enrollment
30,845
10. Pennsylvania State University
University Park, PA • Private
In-state tuition
$18,454
Enrollment
40,108
20 best online courses for software applications architects
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Top 10 most affordable universities for software applications architects
The most affordable schools for software applications architects are University of Florida, california state university - long beach, and city college of new york of the city university of new york, the.
If the best universities for software applications architects are out of your price range, check out these affordable schools. After factoring in in-state tuition and fees, the average cost of attendance, admissions rate, average net price, and mean earnings after six years, we found that these are the most affordable schools for software applications architects.
1. University of Florida
Gainesville, FL • Private
In-state tuition
$6,381
Cost of attendance
21,034
2. California State University - Long Beach
Long Beach, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$6,798
Cost of attendance
18,306
3. City College of New York of the City University of New York, The
New York, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$7,140
Cost of attendance
14,430
4. California State University - Bakersfield
Bakersfield, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$7,309
Cost of attendance
16,714
5. University of South Florida
Tampa, FL • Private
In-state tuition
$6,410
Cost of attendance
20,456
6. California State University - Fullerton
Fullerton, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$6,886
Cost of attendance
17,645
7. California State University - Los Angeles
Los Angeles, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$6,749
Cost of attendance
14,823
8. Baruch College of the City University of New York
New York, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$7,262
Cost of attendance
14,046
9. SUNY Farmingdale
Farmingdale, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$8,306
Cost of attendance
16,091
10. University of Puerto Rico - Mayaguez
Mayaguez, PR • Private
In-state tuition
$4,094
Cost of attendance
14,302
Top 10 hardest universities to get into for software applications architects
The hardest universities for software applications architects to get into are Northwestern University, Carnegie Mellon University, and University of Pennsylvania.
Some great schools for software applications architects are hard to get into, but they also set your career up for greater success. The list below shows the most challenging universities to get into for software applications architects based on an institution's admissions rates, average SAT scores accepted, median ACT scores accepted, and mean earnings of students six years after admission.
1. Northwestern University
Evanston, IL • Private
Admissions rate
8%
SAT average
1,508
2. Carnegie Mellon University
Pittsburgh, PA • Private
Admissions rate
17%
SAT average
1,507
3. University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, PA • Private
Admissions rate
8%
SAT average
1,492
4. Johns Hopkins University
Baltimore, MD • Private
Admissions rate
11%
SAT average
1,513
5. Stanford University
Stanford, CA • Private
Admissions rate
4%
SAT average
1,497
6. Washington University in St Louis
Saint Louis, MO • Private
Admissions rate
15%
SAT average
1,506
7. University of Southern California
Los Angeles, CA • Private
Admissions rate
13%
SAT average
1,445
8. Columbia University in the City of New York
New York, NY • Private
Admissions rate
6%
SAT average
1,512
9. Northeastern University
Boston, MA • Private
Admissions rate
19%
SAT average
1,466
10. University of Notre Dame
Notre Dame, IN • Private
Admissions rate
18%
SAT average
1,502
Top 10 easy-to-apply-to universities for software applications architects
The easiest schools for software applications architects to get into are Barry University, texas a&m; university - kingsville, and oklahoma wesleyan university.
Some schools are much easier to get into. If you want to start your career as a software applications architect without much hassle, check out the list of schools where you will be accepted in no time. We compiled admissions rates, average SAT scores, average ACT scores, and average salary of students six years after graduation to uncover which were the easiest schools to get into for software applications architects.
1. Barry University
Miami, FL • Private
Admissions rate
91%
SAT average
1,006
2. Texas A&M University - Kingsville
Kingsville, TX • Private
Admissions rate
89%
SAT average
1,035
3. Oklahoma Wesleyan University
Bartlesville, OK • Private
Admissions rate
68%
SAT average
964
4. Oregon Institute of Technology
Klamath Falls, OR • Private
Admissions rate
96%
SAT average
1,139
5. Pennsylvania State University - DuBois
DuBois, PA • Private
Admissions rate
85%
SAT average
1,079
6. San Francisco State University
San Francisco, CA • Private
Admissions rate
72%
SAT average
1,054
7. The University of Texas at El Paso
El Paso, TX • Private
Admissions rate
100%
SAT average
1,035
8. La Roche College
Pittsburgh, PA • Private
Admissions rate
99%
SAT average
1,008
9. University of the Incarnate Word
San Antonio, TX • Private
Admissions rate
88%
SAT average
1,044
10. Holy Names University
Oakland, CA • Private
Admissions rate
70%
SAT average
849
Average software applications architect salary by education level
| Software applications architect education level | Software applications architect salary |
|---|---|
| Master's Degree | $124,701 |
| Bachelor's Degree | $115,214 |
| Doctorate Degree | $134,249 |
Software applications architect education FAQs
Have more questions? See all answers to common computer and mathematical questions.
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Updated January 8, 2025
Updated January 8, 2025