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 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, but also more pleasurable walks across campus. 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.

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 degress you could earn from the same schools. There’s usually no disctinction 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. Whehter 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 balancing work and life, or becuase the online colleges afford 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 aynchronous, 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 Research Universities for Computer Science Degrees

By James Barham and Dr. Winston Ewert

Published: Nov 5, 2021
Updated: Mar 13, 2023

The best computer science research universities are those with rich histories of influence, proven through the work produced by the program’s faculty and alumni. Beyond demonstrating scholarly impact in the field, the best computer science degree programs maximize your opportunities to interact with outstanding computer science faculty.

Top 10 Research Universities Computer Science Programs

Harvard University

97%

Columbia University

89%

University of Chicago

88%

University of California, Berkeley

87%

Yale University

87%

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

87%

Princeton University

86%

Stanford University

86%

University of Michigan

83%

Cornell University

81%

University of Washington

53%

University of Texas at Austin

29%

University of Michigan

20%

Georgia Tech

16%

University of California, Berkeley

14%

Carnegie Mellon University

14%

University of Southern California

13%

New York University

13%

University of California, Los Angeles

11%

Cornell University

University of Washington

20 to 1

Georgia Tech

19 to 1

University of California, Berkeley

19 to 1

University of California, Los Angeles

18 to 1

University of Texas at Austin

17 to 1

University of Michigan

11 to 1

University of Southern California

9 to 1

9 to 1

8 to 1

7 to 1

$63,530

$62,304

University of Chicago

$62,241

University of Pennsylvania

$61,710

University of Southern California

$61,503

Cornell University

$61,015

Dartmouth College

$60,870

Northwestern University

$60,768

Duke University

$60,244

Yale University

$59,950

University of Chicago

$62,640

Brown University

$60,944

University of Southern California

$60,446

Dartmouth College

$58,953

Johns Hopkins University

$58,720

Duke University

$57,900

California Institute of Technology

$56,364

Northwestern University

$56,067

Princeton University

$56,010

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

$55,510

59%

63%

67%

72%

University of Southern California

72%

University of Texas at Austin

73%

University of Washington

73%

Carnegie Mellon University

73%

Duke University

74%

Northwestern University

74%

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Stanford University

Harvard University

Columbia University

California Institute of Technology

Princeton University

Yale University

University of Pennsylvania

Dartmouth College

University of Chicago

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

3 to 1

California Institute of Technology

3 to 1

Stanford University

4 to 1

Yale University

4 to 1

Princeton University

4 to 1

Carnegie Mellon University

5 to 1

Harvard University

5 to 1

University of Chicago

5 to 1

Northwestern University

6 to 1

Columbia University

6 to 1

Georgia Tech

$10,258

University of Washington

$10,927

University of California, Los Angeles

$11,442

University of California, Berkeley

$11,442

University of Texas at Austin

$11,752

University of Michigan

$16,865

Rice University

$52,895

Harvard University

$55,587

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

$55,878

Princeton University

$56,010

University of California, Los Angeles

$11,442

University of California, Berkeley

$11,442

University of Texas at Austin

$12,050

Georgia Tech

$14,570

University of Washington

$16,605

University of Michigan

$24,902

Cornell University

$29,500

New York University

$35,982

University of Pennsylvania

$38,732

Yale University

$45,700

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 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.

Featured 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, but also more pleasurable walks across campus. 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 degress you could earn from the same schools. There’s usually no disctinction 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. Whehter 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 balancing work and life, or becuase the online colleges afford 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 aynchronous, 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 liberal arts college may be a better fit for you, see our ranking of the best liberal arts colleges for a bachelor’s in computer science.

How do we determine the best computer science 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.