Best Colleges for Computer Science

Computer science graduates enter one of today's most in-demand fields, with average starting salaries of $68,386 reflecting strong career prospects across industries. When evaluating programs among the 315 schools offering this major, students should prioritize institutions with updated curricula covering emerging technologies like artificial intelligence and cybersecurity. Look for programs that emphasize hands-on learning through coding projects, internship partnerships with tech companies, and access to modern computing labs. Faculty expertise in current industry practices, opportunities for undergraduate research, and strong alumni networks in the tech sector are additional factors that distinguish top programs. The best computer science programs balance theoretical foundations with practical skills employers actively seek.

Schools Ranked

$115,057

Avg. Program Earnings

91.7%

Avg. Graduation Rate

Top 25 Schools

College rankings
#	School	Median Earnings	Graduation Rate	School Type
1	Carnegie Mellon University Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania	$160,116	92.5%	private-nonprofit
2	Brown University Providence, Rhode Island	$153,718	95.9%	private-nonprofit
3	Harvey Mudd College Claremont, California	$142,581	93.8%	private-nonprofit
4	Stanford University Stanford, California	$136,499	92.8%	private-nonprofit
5	Pomona College Claremont, California	$128,737	93.2%	private-nonprofit
6	Harvard University Cambridge, Massachusetts	$128,737	97.3%	private-nonprofit
7	Massachusetts Institute of Technology Cambridge, Massachusetts	$127,993	96.1%	private-nonprofit
8	University of California-Berkeley Berkeley, California	$125,388	92.9%	public
9	University of Pennsylvania Philadelphia, Pennsylvania	$125,015	96.8%	private-nonprofit
10	Cornell University Ithaca, New York	$122,485	95.1%	private-nonprofit
11	Dartmouth College Hanover, New Hampshire	$113,015	96.0%	private-nonprofit
12	Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology Terre Haute, Indiana	$111,992	81.7%	private-nonprofit
13	Duke University Durham, North Carolina	$106,898	95.8%	private-nonprofit
14	Bowdoin College Brunswick, Maine	$104,192	95.6%	private-nonprofit
15	Columbia University in the City of New York New York, New York	$103,078	95.0%	private-nonprofit
16	Vanderbilt University Nashville, Tennessee	$102,409	92.7%	private-nonprofit
17	University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Champaign, Illinois	$101,592	84.9%	public
18	University of Washington-Seattle Campus Seattle, Washington	$101,221	83.7%	public
19	University of Washington-Bothell Campus Bothell, Washington	$101,221	68.2%	public
20	Washington University in St Louis Saint Louis, Missouri	$99,517	94.4%	private-nonprofit
21	Northwestern University Evanston, Illinois	$98,403	95.9%	private-nonprofit
22	Tufts University Medford, Massachusetts	$97,959	93.3%	private-nonprofit
23	Williams College Williamstown, Massachusetts	$96,183	96.6%	private-nonprofit
24	Worcester Polytechnic Institute Worcester, Massachusetts	$95,207	88.4%	private-nonprofit
25	Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Troy, New York	$92,277	83.2%	private-nonprofit