What jobs can I do with a computer science major?–

Earning a degree in computer science can qualify you for an extremely wide variety of well-paying jobs in nearly any professional setting from business and healthcare to engineering and entertainment. Your computer science major can lead down a wide range of career paths, including these top jobs: Computer and Information Research Scientists. Computer Network Architects. Information Security Analysts. Computer Systems Analysts. Computer Programmers. Network and Computer Systems Administrators. Web Developers. Computer and Information Technology Occupations. Software Developers

Is a research university right for me?–

Research universities are colleges and universities whose faculty are active in research and publishing. Research universities offer a wide array of doctoral programs, especially in the sciences. They tend to be big, with tens of thousands of students. Do you prefer a larger university setting, such as largest public university in your state? Research universities are typically big, offering degrees in many different disciplines. Is a big high-powered research environment the thing for you? If not, you should think about a liberal arts college. In deciding on an undergraduate institution, ask yourself what sort of environment will best help you to be happy and excel. Consider whether you are self motivated enough to be a face in the crowd for some classes and largely unknown on campus at a large university. Of course you can find clubs and friends at a large university, but often liberal arts colleges have a more personal quality to them. If you want the community feel, a research university may not fit you well. Are you interested in STEM fields? Research universities have that name for a reason – real research is happening there. This can create an exciting atmosphere for students interested in STEM. Attending a research university can give you a better chance of getting into better programs for graduate degrees, although a lot of that depends on your performance.

Is an online college right for me?–

Online colleges are typically the same colleges and universities you could attend in-person, but for certain degree programs the college or unviersity has made the degree programs available to be completed online. For over 5 million students, online degree programs allow students to earn their degrees in the most flexible format available. Online degrees are as respected as the on-campus degrees you could earn from the same schools. There’s usually no distinction between the two degrees, and your degree and transcript will not say that the degree was earned online. Online degree programs are offered by a vast majority of colleges and universities, and the number of offering continues to grow. Whether you are searching for an associate, bachelor’s, master’s, or doctorate, there’s a good chance you can earn your degree online from a respectable online college. Are you a self-driven student? Perhaps the hardest aspect of obtaining an online degree is whether you will be disciplined enough to manage your time and course demands. Many online students report that online college made them more disciplined in all areas of their lives, but the flexible, self-paced learning that makes online colleges attractive can often be the same qualities that make it difficult. If you tend to be a procrastinator, you need to be honest with yourself. You can change your habits and propensities, or you can throw money down the drain. Do you need the flexibility of an online degree program? Most online students study online because of time demands of balancing work and life, or because the online college affords them the chance to attend a better school without moving. If you are serious about earning your degree for career advancement, online colleges make it possible. The most flexible options among online degrees are those that are asynchronous, meaning you don’t have scheduled times to meet with your class online. However, many students seek synchronous online degree programs so that they have some structure – set meeting times, scheduled exams, etc. The good news is that attending an online college doesn’t mean you will miss out on getting to know your professors and classmates. In fact, many online students who have experienced both online and on-campus courses report having easier access to their professors. Since most communication with your professor is expected to be in text – via email or your class learning management system – it makes asking your questions easier. The same students also report that they got to better know the thoughts of their classmates. While in-person course conversations can be dominated by a few extroverts, online courses that require online discussions make it so that you see all of your classmates’ thoughts and questions. If you’re interested in an online bachelor’s degree, check out what the best online colleges offer, or search our online degrees for the exact program that interests you. In either case, you will find well respected colleges and universities that offer online degrees.

Best Liberal Arts Colleges for Earning Computer Science Degrees 2025

Q: Is a liberal arts college right for me?–

Often referred to as “teaching colleges” liberal arts colleges put a premium on undergraduate studies and offers a broad range of subjects for students to study. A college of liberal arts typically provides smaller class sizes, more direct engagement with professors, and, most importantly, the opportunity to sample a wide range of subject areas on the way to a bachelor’s degree. Do you want your professors to know you? Liberal arts colleges strive to cultivate campus cultures that encourage tight bonds between professors and students. Professors at these schools will typically conduct original research. Yet the best of these schools offer their faculty reduced teaching loads so that they can both be productive researchers and still have plenty of time for students (both in and outside the classroom). Do you want to feel like you know everybody? One of the most enticing features of a liberal arts college is that in very little time, you can feel like you know who’s who, which can create strong friendships and make walks across campus more fun. While your sports teams may never be on ESPN, it’s more likely that you’ll know the athletes as your peers. Beyond student and faculty relationships, it’s not unusual for the school president and other administrators to learn who you are. When faced with problems with your student account or the need to switch classes, this can be comforting during a stressful moment.

Badge for BEST FOR COMPUTER SCIENCE LIBERAL ARTS COLLEGES

By Dr. Winston Ewert and Dr. James Barham
Reviewed By Jenn Finley

Published: Nov 5, 2021
Updated: Oct 3, 2024

Key Takeaways

Since almost every industry relies on technology to do business, skilled people who can create software are in-demand, making computer science one of the most popular undergraduate degrees.
Computer science degrees in liberal arts colleges are often overlooked due to the popularity of public universities with computer science majors.
Liberal arts colleges, because of their small student-to-faculty ratio and supportive environment, give students more personalized attention and offer a more comprehensive and diverse computer science degree.

Table of Contents

Top 10 Liberal Arts Colleges Computer Science Programs in 2025

Wesleyan University
+4
Amherst College
+1
Swarthmore College
–2
United States Military Academy
+2
Williams College
+5
Oberlin College
+12
Wellesley College
+2
Barnard College
+14
United States Naval Academy
+3
Vassar College
+9

2025 Ranking Update

Our Influence Ranking Engine™ leverages machine learning to track the real-world influence of colleges and universities over time. Below you’ll see which schools gained or lost ground for the 2025 school year.

Barnard College, Oberlin College, and Vassar College were the biggest movers in our 2025 ranking of the best liberal arts colleges for computer science degrees. All 3 schools moved up into the top 10.

Barnard College is focusing on enhancing their students’ experience through increased academic resources and campus sustainability, while Oberlin College has added new financial aid packages to support a more diverse student body, and launched a number of interdisciplinary programs that bridge the arts and sciences.

Vassar College has developed a number of new interdisciplinary programs that encourage collaborative learning across fields also made strides to increasing access to financial aid offerings or underrepresented students.

Featured Programs

Computer Science Liberal Arts College: Choosing The Best Option

Students in the best liberal arts colleges for computer science degrees enjoy the benefits of a more customized curriculum that aligns with their interests and today’s job market demands.

A computer science education aims to prepare students for a career in software, and a quality liberal arts education in computer science exposes students to diverse areas of study that can break down organizational silos.

Luckily, liberal arts colleges help students develop skills beyond their majors.

A liberal arts college prepares CS students for more than simply a successful career in the top tech companies. Computer science students will obtain academic excellence by getting a liberal arts education that prepares them to contribute to society as technology experts who understand technology’s role in addition to computer science courses.

A bachelor’s degree in computer science is an excellent starting point for a career in programming, video game design, cybersecurity, and a host of other rapidly growing fields. As a computer science major, you’ll study algorithms, data structure, operating systems, networking, and much more.

With a bachelor’s in computer science, you’ll qualify for well-paying roles such as network architect, information security analyst, or computer systems administrator.

The best schools for computer science are those which are regionally accredited, which offer a full array of computer science concentrations, and which give you the chance to work with the best and most influential professors and classmates.

Degree popularity: Computer science bachelor’s degrees are the 14th most popular undergraduate degrees across all student demographics. It is much more popular among men, ranking 6th across men of all demographics. For women, it doesn’t rank among the top 25 degrees. It is the 3rd most popular degree for Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders men, and 11th for Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders women, according to the number of degree earners reported by the National Center for Educational Statistics.

Computer Science Bachelor’s Degree Careers

Computer science is growing in popularity among students looking to get a well-paying career after graduation because people who know how to design and modify software are extremely valuable in today’s economy. Students with undergraduate degrees in computer science can have a successful career as:

Software or Web Developer: A web developer is an expert in creating web-based programs, including websites, e-commerce platforms, and mobile applications. On the other hand, a software developer will focus on developing software for the underlying platform, network, or operating system.

Database Administrator: Database administrators ensure databases function correctly. Database administrators and architects create or organize systems for storing and protecting different types of data, like financial data and customer shipping records. Additionally, they guarantee that only authorized individuals have access to the data.

Systems analyst: An IT specialist known as a systems analyst works at a senior level inside a company to ensure that computer systems, infrastructures, and other systems are operating as effectively and efficiently as possible.

The Best Liberal Arts and Computer Science Major Combination

Liberal arts colleges offer broader courses compared to computer science schools. Students interested in computer science should take the following liberal arts courses:

English: Students majoring in computer science know that English is the dominant language on the Internet. They will need to become fluent in reading and writing in English to utilize these resources and interact with others properly.

History: Computer science majors can better grasp how the world has evolved and how technology has influenced it by taking a history course.

Philosophy: Logical reasoning is the cornerstone of both computer science and philosophy. Philosophy employs language to logically investigate ideas and concepts, whereas computer scientists and programmers use mathematical and symbolic logic to create hardware and software products.

Psychology: Numerous areas of computer science are increasingly reliant on psychology, as the ultimate purpose of computing is to develop systems that support, improve, or compensate for human limitations. Psychology courses can help computer science students understand how the human mind works.

Sociology:As a future tech engineer, you can better grasp a society’s social, moral, and human values by knowing about sociology. This will enable you to effectively manage and interact with coworkers, clients, and the general public.

How do we determine the best computer sciecne research universities?

Methodology

The people affiliated with a school are ultimately what make it great. This is why we rank the best colleges and universities based on what we call “Influence”.

The influence of a college or university is based on the schools’s top academic influencers related to the discipline in this ranking. We track the influence of faculty and alumni affiliate with these school counting not only the publications and citations of the school’s affiliated people, but we also consider the overall web presence of the faculty and alumni. The greater the citations, authority of web links, web searches, and page views, the greater the individuals’s influence. Those combined make up the departments’s influence in the field of study. We believe tracking the academic influence of the people affiliated with a school is the best indicator of academic excellence.

If you are serious about finding the best colleges and universities, you should be asking where the most influential professors are teaching, and whether their graduates themselves are advancing the school’s reputation for academic excellence. Most ranking sites rely on an opaque combination of reputation surveys and misused performance metrics. Influence, as measured by our InfluenceRanking engine, provides a ranking that is more insulated from manipulation, and more reflective of real-world educational outcomes.

Best Liberal Arts Colleges for Computer Science Degree

Career Outlook for Students with Computer Science Degree

Go to Degree Finder tool

Computer Science

Degree Level: Bachelor's

Location: The U.S. (Private Schools)
Avg. Starting Salary*: $69,556
Avg. Salary after 4 Years*: $89,679
* denotes ‘annually’

Career Salaries

Career	Job Growth	Avg. Salary
Computer and Information Systems Managers	17.42%	$169,510
Computer and Information Research Scientists	25.68%	$145,080
Database Architects	10.75%	$134,700
Software Developers	17.94%	$132,270
Information Security Analysts	32.71%	$120,360
Data Scientists	36.03%	$108,020
Computer Occupations, All Other	10.85%	$104,920
Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers	11.80%	$101,800
Computer Programmers	-9.61%	$99,700
Web and Digital Interface Designers	7.93%	$98,540

Top Industries

Industry	Avg. Salary
Computer and Information Systems Managers	$169,510
Computer and Information Research Scientists	$145,080
Database Architects	$134,700
Software Developers	$132,270
Information Security Analysts	$120,360
Data Scientists	$108,020
Computer Occupations, All Other	$104,920
Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers	$101,800
Computer Programmers	$99,700
Web and Digital Interface Designers	$98,540

Data from The Bureau of Labor Statistics, The Department of Education College Scorecard, The Department of Education NCES, and The Council for Community and Economic Research.

Go to all Liberal Arts Colleges for Computer Science programs

Frequently Asked Questions About Computer Science Bachelor’s Degrees

Computer science is a highly logical and analytical field that develops critical thinking skills applicable in all aspects of life. Moreover, computers are a constant presence in our daily lives, professionally and personally. Computer science majors have the knowledge and skills to understand how this technology functions, how to maintain and repair it, and how to make important decisions regarding the use of this technology.

The technology and application methods developed by computer science majors wield tremendous influence throughout the world, affecting key business decisions, supporting information security, and analyzing data. Today, top influencers in computer science are breaking new ground in artificial intelligence, data analysis, information security, and much more.

Computer science is a popular major because it can provide pathways into countless fields and career opportunities. If you’re looking for a well-paying and secure job, a computer science degree is a great place to start. In the next ten years, computer and information technology occupations are projected to grow by 11%, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. With that kind of growth, job security is high, and so are salary rates, even if you only have an associate degree. The world runs on computers, and computers run with the help of computer science majors.

Once you’ve declared your major in computer science, you will likely be required to complete a set of core courses in a number of STEM-related subject areas. While your concentration will give you a chance to choose from a wide range of highly-specialized computer science electives, there are a number of common courses that most computer science majors will be required to take, including:

Data Structures and Algorithms
Discrete Mathematics
Computer Architecture
Operating Systems
Databases
Computer Security
Computer Network Architecture
Computer Hardware
Computer Software
Programming
Human-Computer Interaction and Design

Earning a degree in computer science can qualify you for an extremely wide variety of well-paying jobs in nearly any professional setting from business and healthcare to engineering and entertainment. Your computer science major can lead down a wide range of career paths, including these top jobs:

Frequently Asked Questions About Research Universities, Liberal Arts Colleges, Online Colleges

In pursuing a bachelor’s degree, you will need to choose between three kinds of schools: research universities, liberal arts colleges, and online colleges.

Research universities are colleges and universities whose faculty are active in research and publishing. Research universities offer a wide array of doctoral programs, especially in the sciences. They tend to be big, with tens of thousands of students.

Do you prefer a larger university setting, such as largest public university in your state? Research universities are typically big, offering degrees in many different disciplines.

Is a big high-powered research environment the thing for you? If not, you should think about a liberal arts college. In deciding on an undergraduate institution, ask yourself what sort of environment will best help you to be happy and excel.

Consider whether you are self motivated enough to be a face in the crowd for some classes and largely unknown on campus at a large university. Of course you can find clubs and friends at a large university, but often liberal arts colleges have a more personal quality to them. If you want the community feel, a research university may not fit you well.
Are you interested in STEM fields? Research universities have that name for a reason – real research is happening there. This can create an exciting atmosphere for students interested in STEM. Attending a research university can give you a better chance of getting into better programs for graduate degrees, although a lot of that depends on your performance.

Learn more about research universities by reading about the best research universities in the US.

Often referred to as “teaching colleges” liberal arts colleges put a premium on undergraduate studies and offers a broad range of subjects for students to study. A college of liberal arts typically provides smaller class sizes, more direct engagement with professors, and, most importantly, the opportunity to sample a wide range of subject areas on the way to a bachelor’s degree.

Do you want your professors to know you? Liberal arts colleges strive to cultivate campus cultures that encourage tight bonds between professors and students.

Professors at these schools will typically conduct original research. Yet the best of these schools offer their faculty reduced teaching loads so that they can both be productive researchers and still have plenty of time for students (both in and outside the classroom).

Do you want to feel like you know everybody? One of the most enticing features of a liberal arts college is that in very little time, you can feel like you know who’s who, which can create strong friendships and make walks across campus more fun. While your sports teams may never be on ESPN, it’s more likely that you’ll know the athletes as your peers.

Beyond student and faculty relationships, it’s not unusual for the school president and other administrators to learn who you are. When faced with problems with your student account or the need to switch classes, this can be comforting during a stressful moment.

Learn more about liberal arts colleges by reading about the best liberal arts colleges in the US.

Online colleges are typically the same colleges and universities you could attend in-person, but for certain degree programs the college or unviersity has made the degree programs available to be completed online. For over 5 million students, online degree programs allow students to earn their degrees in the most flexible format available.

Online degrees are as respected as the on-campus degrees you could earn from the same schools. There’s usually no distinction between the two degrees, and your degree and transcript will not say that the degree was earned online.

Online degree programs are offered by a vast majority of colleges and universities, and the number of offering continues to grow. Whether you are searching for an associate, bachelor’s, master’s, or doctorate, there’s a good chance you can earn your degree online from a respectable online college.

Are you a self-driven student? Perhaps the hardest aspect of obtaining an online degree is whether you will be disciplined enough to manage your time and course demands.

Many online students report that online college made them more disciplined in all areas of their lives, but the flexible, self-paced learning that makes online colleges attractive can often be the same qualities that make it difficult. If you tend to be a procrastinator, you need to be honest with yourself. You can change your habits and propensities, or you can throw money down the drain.

Do you need the flexibility of an online degree program? Most online students study online because of time demands of balancing work and life, or because the online college affords them the chance to attend a better school without moving.

If you are serious about earning your degree for career advancement, online colleges make it possible. The most flexible options among online degrees are those that are asynchronous, meaning you don’t have scheduled times to meet with your class online. However, many students seek synchronous online degree programs so that they have some structure – set meeting times, scheduled exams, etc.

The good news is that attending an online college doesn’t mean you will miss out on getting to know your professors and classmates. In fact, many online students who have experienced both online and on-campus courses report having easier access to their professors.

Since most communication with your professor is expected to be in text – via email or your class learning management system – it makes asking your questions easier. The same students also report that they got to better know the thoughts of their classmates. While in-person course conversations can be dominated by a few extroverts, online courses that require online discussions make it so that you see all of your classmates’ thoughts and questions.

If you’re interested in an online bachelor’s degree, check out what the best online colleges offer, or search our online degrees for the exact program that interests you. In either case, you will find well respected colleges and universities that offer online degrees.

If you think a research university may be a better fit for you, see our ranking of the best research universities for a bachelor’s in computer sciecne.

The Best Computer Science Schools in Your State

Learn More About Computer Science

If you want to know more about computer science, then check out our related content:

Learn how to major in computer science
Interviews with World-Class Influential Computer Scientists
Find out who are the most influential computer scientists today
Learn about computer science from our expert interviews with world-class influential computer scientists

Do you have a question about this topic? Ask it here

Best Liberal Arts Colleges for Earning Computer Science Degrees 2025

Key Takeaways

Top 10 Liberal Arts Colleges Computer Science Programs in 2025

2025 Ranking Update

Featured Programs

Computer Science Liberal Arts College: Choosing The Best Option

Computer Science Bachelor’s Degree Careers

The Best Liberal Arts and Computer Science Major Combination

Best Liberal Arts Colleges for Computer Science Degree

Last Year’s Ranking:

Career Outlook for Computer Science degree at Wesleyan University

Most Influential Alumni

Wesleyan University Computer Science Majors:

Career Outlook for Computer Science degree at Amherst College

Most Influential Alumni

Amherst College Computer Science Major:

Career Outlook for Computer Science degree at Swarthmore College

Most Influential Alumni

Swarthmore College Computer Science Major:

Most Influential Alumni

West Point Computer Science Major Threads:

Career Outlook for Computer Science degree at Williams College

Most Influential Alumni

Williams College Computer Science Major:

Career Outlook for Computer Science degree at Oberlin College

Most Influential Alumni

Oberlin College Computer Science Major:

Career Outlook for Computer Science degree at Wellesley College

Most Influential Alumni

Wellesley College Computer Science Major:

Career Outlook for Computer Science degree at Barnard College

Most Influential Alumni

Barnard College Computer Science Majors:

Most Influential Alumni

USNA Computer Science Majors:

Career Outlook for Computer Science degree at Vassar College

Most Influential Alumni

Vassar College Computer Science Major:

Career Outlook for Computer Science degree at San Francisco State University

Most Influential Alumni

SFSU Computer Science Major:

Career Outlook for Computer Science degree at Reed College

Most Influential Alumni

Reed College Computer Science Major:

Career Outlook for Computer Science degree at Haverford College

Most Influential Alumni

Haverford College Computer Science Major Concentrations:

Career Outlook for Computer Science degree at Pomona College

Most Influential Alumni

Pomona College Computer Science Major:

Career Outlook for Computer Science degree at Bowdoin College

Most Influential Alumni

Bowdoin College Computer Science Majors:

Career Outlook for Computer Science degree at Middlebury College

Most Influential Alumni

Middlebury College Computer Science Major Tracks:

Career Outlook for Computer Science degree at Colgate University

Most Influential Alumni

Colgate College Computer Science Major:

Most Influential Alumni

USAFA Computer Science Majors:

Career Outlook for Computer Science degree at Colorado College

Most Influential Alumni

Colorado College Computer Science Major:

Career Outlook for Computer Science degree at Davidson College

Most Influential Alumni

Davidson College Computer Science Major:

Career Outlook for Computer Science degree at Harvey Mudd College

Most Influential Alumni

Harvey Mudd College Computer Science Majors:

Career Outlook for Computer Science degree at University of Portland

Most Influential Alumni

University of Portland Computer Science Major Specializations:

Career Outlook for Computer Science degree at Manhattan College

Most Influential Alumni

Manhattan College Computer Science Majors:

Career Outlook for Computer Science degree at California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo

Most Influential Alumni

Cal Poly Computer Science Major:

Career Outlook for Computer Science degree at DigiPen Institute of Technology