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 Research Universities for Computer Science Degrees

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 RESEARCH UNIVERSITIES

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

Published: Nov 5, 2021
Updated: Oct 23, 2024

Key Takeaways

We’ve identified the best research universities in the United States that invest heavily in research and provide extensive opportunities for students to participate in research.
The best research universities for computer science degrees maximize a student’s opportunity to interact with outstanding math faculty.
A computer science degree from one of the best research universities allow interdisciplinary collaboration and cutting-edge research projects for students.

Table of Contents

Top 10 Research Universities Computer Science Programs in 2025

Harvard University
+2
University of California, Berkeley
+2
Columbia University
+4
Stanford University
–2
University of Chicago
+9
Yale University
+3
Princeton University
–1
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
–7
University of Michigan
+1
New York University
+8

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.

Harvard University, UC Berkeley, and Columbia move into the top 3 positions in our 2025 ranking of the best research universities for computer science majors.

Harvard has expanded and provides increased access to their cutting-edge research facility in the John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences. The university has also intensified its focus on interdisciplinary research, integrating artificial intelligence and machine learning across fields such as bioinformatics and computational neuroscience.

Likewise, Berkeley has expanded their Artificial Intelligence Research Lab and enhanced their research capabilities in AI and machine learning. Additionally, the university has launched new interdisciplinary programs connecting computer science with environmental sustainability, robotics, and ethical AI.

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.

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.

Featured Programs

Best Research Universities for Computer Science Degrees

Last Year’s Ranking:
1. Massachusetts Institute of Technology
2. Stanford University
3. Harvard University
4. University of California, Berkeley
5. Carnegie Mellon University
6. Princeton University
7. Columbia University
8. Cornell University
9. Yale University
10. University of Michigan
11. California Institute of Technology
12. University of Pennsylvania
13. Brown University
14. University of Chicago
15. University of Southern California
16. Duke University
17. University of California, Los Angeles
18. New York University
19. University of Washington
20. Georgia Tech
21. University of Texas at Austin
22. Johns Hopkins University
23. Rice University
24. Dartmouth College
25. Northwestern University
#1
Harvard University
Cambridge , MA
#1 Online Colleges with the Most Generous Financial Aid in 2025 #1 50 Best Private Grad Schools 2025 #1 50 Best Private Colleges and Universities for Undergrads 2025 #1 50 Best Colleges and Universities Ranked for Undergrads in 2025
Other Rankings
Tuition + fees
$57K
Acceptance
3%
Graduation
98%
Student body
39K
Median SAT/ACT
1535/35
Career Outlook for Computer Science degree at Harvard University
Cost of Degree: $59,076
Expenses: $27,629
Starting Salary: $200,057
Salary after 4 years: $272,625
Cost Recoup Time: 7 years
Paid back at 15% of annual salary
What is Harvard University known for?

Harvard University’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:

Philosophy
Law
Biology
Political Science
Literature
Business
Economics
Medical
Psychology
Communications

Most Influential Alumni

Jacques Derrida
William James
Noam Chomsky
Charles Sanders Peirce
T. S. Eliot
Norbert Wiener
Marvin Minsky
Daniel Dennett
Ralph Waldo Emerson
Willard Van Orman Quine
Paul Samuelson
Hilary Putnam
Harvard University Computer Science Major:
Research areas:
- Architecture
- Artificial Intelligence
- Computational and Data Science
- Computational Neuroscience
- Economics and Computation
- Graphics, Vision, Visualization, and Interaction
- Information and Society
- Programming Languages
- Systems, Networks, and Databases
- Theory of Communication
- Theory of Computation
Source
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#2
University of California, Berkeley
Berkeley , CA
#1 50 Best Public Colleges and Universities Ranked for Students in 2025 #1 Most Affordable Colleges and Universities in the U.S. 2025 #1 50 Best Public Grad Schools 2025 #1 Best Value Colleges and Universities Ranked for Students in 2025
Other Rankings
Tuition + fees
$14K
Acceptance
11%
Graduation
94%
Student body
48K
Career Outlook for Computer Science degree at University of California, Berkeley
Cost of Degree: $14,850
Expenses: $30,203
Starting Salary: $110,816
Salary after 4 years: $142,877
Cost Recoup Time: 7 years
Paid back at 15% of annual salary
What is University of California, Berkeley known for?

University of California, Berkeley’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:

Chemistry
Biology
Physics
Earth Sciences
Computer Science
Mathematics
Psychology
Anthropology
Engineering
Communications

Most Influential Alumni

Daniel Kahneman
John Kenneth Galbraith
Timothy Leary
Shing-Tung Yau
Ken Thompson
Niklaus Wirth
Douglas Engelbart
Theodosius Dobzhansky
Betty Friedan
George Dantzig
Octavio Paz
Gary Snyder
UC Berkeley Computer Science Majors:
- BS Electrical Engineering & Computer Sciences (EECS)
- BA Computer Sciecne
Source
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#3
Columbia University
New York , NY
#2 50 Best Private Grad Schools 2025 #2 50 Best Private Colleges and Universities for Undergrads 2025 #2 America's 15 Most Technologically Advanced Colleges #3 50 Best Colleges and Universities Ranked for Undergrads in 2025
Other Rankings
Tuition + fees
$66K
Acceptance
4%
Graduation
95%
Student body
37K
Median SAT/ACT
1535/34
Career Outlook for Computer Science degree at Columbia University
Cost of Degree: $68,171
Expenses: $20,542
Starting Salary: $166,258
Salary after 4 years: $226,567
Cost Recoup Time: 9 years
Paid back at 15% of annual salary
What is Columbia University known for?

Columbia University’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:

Social Work
Nursing
Literature
Political Science
Communications
Business
Education
History
Medical
Law

Most Influential Alumni

Milton Friedman
Herbert Marcuse
Murray Rothbard
Stephen Jay Gould
Carl Rogers
Kenneth Arrow
B. R. Ambedkar
Isaac Asimov
Robert Nozick
Margaret Mead
Thomas Sowell
Jerry Fodor
Columbia University Computer Science Majors:
- BS in Computer Science
- BS in Computer Engineering
- BA in Computer Science
- BA in Computer Science and Mathematics
- BA in Data Science
- BA in Information Science
Source
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#4
Stanford University
Stanford , CA
#3 50 Best Private Grad Schools 2025 #3 50 Best Private Colleges and Universities for Undergrads 2025 #3 America's 15 Most Technologically Advanced Colleges #4 50 Best Colleges and Universities Ranked for Undergrads in 2025
Other Rankings
Tuition + fees
$58K
Acceptance
4%
Graduation
95%
Student body
20K
Median SAT/ACT
1540/34
Career Outlook for Computer Science degree at Stanford University
Cost of Degree: $62,484
Expenses: $25,349
Starting Salary: $203,221
Salary after 4 years: $276,937
Cost Recoup Time: 7 years
Paid back at 15% of annual salary
What is Stanford University known for?

Stanford University’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:

Computer Science
Psychology
Biology
Engineering
Business
Chemistry
Law
Education
Medical
Mathematics

Most Influential Alumni

Allen Newell
Douglas Hofstadter
Vint Cerf
Sandra Day O'Connor
Hans Moravec
John Harsanyi
Gérard Debreu
Rodney Brooks
Anthony Kennedy
Stuart J. Russell
Garrett Hardin
Stewart Brand
Stanford University Computer Science Major Tacks:
- Artificial Intelligence
- Theory
- Systems
- Human-Computer Interaction
- Graphics
- Information
- Biocomputation
- Unspecialized
- Individually Designed
Source
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#5
University of Chicago
Chicago , IL
#4 50 Best Private Grad Schools 2025 #4 50 Best Private Colleges and Universities for Undergrads 2025 #4 50 Best Research Universities Ranked for Undergrads in 2024 #5 50 Best Colleges and Universities Ranked for Undergrads in 2025
Other Rankings
Tuition + fees
$64K
Acceptance
5%
Graduation
96%
Student body
21K
Median SAT/ACT
1540/34
Career Outlook for Computer Science degree at University of Chicago
Cost of Degree: $65,619
Expenses: $23,421
Starting Salary: $148,137
Salary after 4 years: $201,872
Cost Recoup Time: 9 years
Paid back at 15% of annual salary
What is University of Chicago known for?

University of Chicago’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:

Anthropology
Sociology
Economics
Philosophy
Religious Studies
Social Work
Mathematics
Political Science
Law
Psychology

Most Influential Alumni

Milton Friedman
Herbert A. Simon
Paul Samuelson
Joseph Stiglitz
Richard Rorty
James Watson
Martin Gardner
Thomas Sowell
George Lakoff
John B. Watson
Gary Becker
Philip Roth
UChicago Computer Science Majors:
- BA and BS Computer Science
- BA/MS and BS/MS degree options:
  Research-oriented option for Computer Science majors
  Professionally-oriented option for Computer Science majors
  Professionally-oriented option for non-CS majors
Source
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#6
Yale University
New Haven , CT
#5 50 Best Private Grad Schools 2025 #5 50 Best Private Colleges and Universities for Undergrads 2025 #6 50 Best Colleges and Universities Ranked for Undergrads in 2025 #6 Best Universities in the US Ranked for Prospective Students in 2025
Other Rankings
Tuition + fees
$62K
Acceptance
5%
Graduation
98%
Student body
16K
Median SAT/ACT
1540/34
Career Outlook for Computer Science degree at Yale University
Cost of Degree: $64,700
Expenses: $23,600
Starting Salary: $178,915
Salary after 4 years: $243,815
Cost Recoup Time: 8 years
Paid back at 15% of annual salary
What is Yale University known for?

Yale University’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:

Law
Religious Studies
Nursing
Political Science
Literature
History
Medical
Biology
Anthropology
Philosophy

Most Influential Alumni

Richard Rorty
Harold Bloom
Judith Butler
Josiah Willard Gibbs
Murray Gell-Mann
Thorstein Veblen
Alvin Plantinga
Fredric Jameson
Alan Dershowitz
Grace Hopper
Lawrence Lessig
W. Edwards Deming
Yale University Computer Science Majors:
- BS or BA in Computer Science
Combined Majors:
- Electrical Engineering and Computer Science
- Computer Science and Economics
- Computer Science and Mathematics
- Computer Science and Psychology
Source
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#7
Princeton University
Princeton , NJ
#4 America's 15 Most Technologically Advanced Colleges #6 50 Best Private Grad Schools 2025 #6 50 Best Private Colleges and Universities for Undergrads 2025 #7 50 Best Colleges and Universities Ranked for Undergrads in 2025
Other Rankings
Tuition + fees
$57K
Acceptance
6%
Graduation
97%
Student body
9K
Median SAT/ACT
1535/34
Career Outlook for Computer Science degree at Princeton University
Cost of Degree: $59,710
Expenses: $24,330
Starting Salary: $167,265
Salary after 4 years: $227,939
Cost Recoup Time: 8 years
Paid back at 15% of annual salary
What is Princeton University known for?

Princeton University’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:

Mathematics
Philosophy
Physics
Religious Studies
Computer Science
Political Science
Economics
History
Literature
Education

Most Influential Alumni

Richard Feynman
Marvin Minsky
John Rawls
Alonzo Church
Robert Mueller
Allen Newell
Edward Witten
John McCarthy
Robert Nozick
John Bardeen
Edward Said
Gary Becker
Princeton University Computer Science Majors:
- AB Computer Sciecne
- BSE Computer Science
Interdisciplinary and Independent Study options available
Source
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#8
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Cambridge , MA
#5 America's 15 Most Technologically Advanced Colleges #7 50 Best Private Grad Schools 2025 #7 50 Best Private Colleges and Universities for Undergrads 2025 #8 50 Best Colleges and Universities Ranked for Undergrads in 2025
Other Rankings
Tuition + fees
$58K
Acceptance
4%
Graduation
95%
Student body
13K
Median SAT/ACT
1555/35
Career Outlook for Computer Science degree at Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Cost of Degree: $60,156
Expenses: $22,574
Starting Salary: $220,911
Salary after 4 years: $301,044
Cost Recoup Time: 7 years
Paid back at 15% of annual salary
What is Massachusetts Institute of Technology known for?

Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:

Computer Science
Engineering
Economics
Chemistry
Physics
Mathematics
Earth Sciences
Business
Biology
Communications

Most Influential Alumni

Noam Chomsky
Richard Feynman
Paul Krugman
Claude Shannon
Joseph Stiglitz
Richard Stallman
Ben Bernanke
George Lakoff
William Shockley
Vannevar Bush
Murray Gell-Mann
Lawrence Summers
MIT Computer Science Major:
Research areas:
- AI for Healthcare and Life Sciences
- Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning
- Communications Systems
- Computational Fabrication and Manufacturing
- Computer Architecture
- Educational Technology
- Graphics and Vision
- Human-Computer Interaction
- Programming Languages and Software Engineering
- Quantum Computing, Communication, and Sensing
- Robotics
- Security and Cryptography
- Systems and Networking
- Theory of Computation
Source
Compare school
#9
University of Michigan
Ann Arbor , MI
#2 50 Best Public Colleges and Universities Ranked for Students in 2025 #2 Most Affordable Colleges and Universities in the U.S. 2025 #2 50 Best Public Grad Schools 2025 #2 Best Value Colleges and Universities Ranked for Students in 2025
Other Rankings
Tuition + fees
$18K
Acceptance
18%
Graduation
93%
Student body
52K
Median SAT/ACT
1440/32
Career Outlook for Computer Science degree at University of Michigan
Cost of Degree: $18,309
Expenses: $17,554
Starting Salary: $110,816
Salary after 4 years: $142,877
Cost Recoup Time: 6 years
Paid back at 15% of annual salary
What is University of Michigan known for?

University of Michigan’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:

Sociology
Psychology
Engineering
Anthropology
Computer Science
Medical
Education
Mathematics
History
Social Work

Most Influential Alumni

Claude Shannon
Arthur Miller
Alvin Plantinga
George Dantzig
Edgar F. Codd
Hans-Hermann Hoppe
Jonas Salk
Stephen Smale
Urie Bronfenbrenner
John Henry Holland
Amos Tversky
Marshall Sahlins
UMich Computer Science Majors:
- Computer Science
- Computer Engineering
- Data Science
Source
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#10
New York University
New York , NY
#8 50 Best Private Grad Schools 2025 #8 50 Best Private Colleges and Universities for Undergrads 2025 #10 50 Best Colleges and Universities Ranked for Undergrads in 2025 #10 Best Universities in the US Ranked for Prospective Students in 2025
Other Rankings
Tuition + fees
$58K
Acceptance
12%
Graduation
87%
Student body
65K
Median SAT/ACT
1520/34
Career Outlook for Computer Science degree at New York University
Cost of Degree: $60,438
Expenses: $27,314
Starting Salary: $113,044
Salary after 4 years: $154,050
Cost Recoup Time: 11 years
Paid back at 15% of annual salary
What is New York University known for?

New York University’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:

Literature
Law
Social Work
Nursing
Philosophy
Communications
Anthropology
Mathematics
Business
Economics

Most Influential Alumni

Erich Fromm
Robert Mueller
Martha Nussbaum
John Archibald Wheeler
Glenn Greenwald
Howard Zinn
Jonas Salk
Eric Kandel
Lewis Mumford
Alvin Toffler
Paul Ekman
Louis Nirenberg
NYU Computer Science Majors:
- Computer Science
- Joint – Computer Science and Data Science
- Joint – Computer Sciecne and Mathematics
- Joint – Computer Science and Economics
Source
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#11
Cornell University
Ithaca , NY
#1 Top 15 Best Online Colleges for Transfer Students in 2025 #6 America's 15 Most Technologically Advanced Colleges #9 50 Best Private Grad Schools 2025 #9 50 Best Private Colleges and Universities for Undergrads 2025
Other Rankings
Tuition + fees
$63K
Acceptance
7%
Graduation
95%
Student body
26K
Median SAT/ACT
1520/34
Career Outlook for Computer Science degree at Cornell University
Cost of Degree: $66,014
Expenses: $22,126
Starting Salary: $145,548
Salary after 4 years: $198,344
Cost Recoup Time: 9 years
Paid back at 15% of annual salary
What is Cornell University known for?

Cornell University’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:

Biology
Engineering
Literature
Physics
Computer Science
Psychology
Chemistry
Philosophy
History
Anthropology

Most Influential Alumni

Norbert Wiener
Harold Bloom
Thomas Pynchon
Abraham Maslow
Thomas Nagel
Sheldon Glashow
Anthony Fauci
Francis Fukuyama
Ruth Bader Ginsburg
Steven Weinberg
Leonard Susskind
Gayatri Chakravorty Spivak
Cornell University Computer Science Majors:
- BS for College of Engineering students
- BA for College of Arts and Sciences students
Source
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#12
University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia , PA
#5 Top Schools that Offer Free Master's Degrees Online #10 50 Best Private Grad Schools 2025 #10 50 Best Private Colleges and Universities for Undergrads 2025 #10 50 Best Research Universities Ranked for Undergrads in 2024
Other Rankings
Tuition + fees
$63K
Acceptance
7%
Graduation
96%
Student body
33K
Median SAT/ACT
1535/34
Career Outlook for Computer Science degree at University of Pennsylvania
Cost of Degree: $66,104
Expenses: $22,924
Starting Salary: $189,270
Salary after 4 years: $257,926
Cost Recoup Time: 8 years
Paid back at 15% of annual salary
What is University of Pennsylvania known for?

University of Pennsylvania’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:

Business
Social Work
Nursing
Medical
Communications
Engineering
Anthropology
Psychology
Sociology
Education

Most Influential Alumni

Noam Chomsky
Ezra Pound
Hilary Putnam
Martin Seligman
James McKeen Cattell
John Backus
Lawrence Lessig
Eric S. Raymond
I. M. Pei
Paul R. Ehrlich
Asa Gray
J. Presper Eckert
UPenn Computer Science Majors:
- BSE Computer Science
- BAS Computer Science
- Digital Media Design
- Networked & Social Systems Engineering
- Computer and Cognitive Science
- Computer Engineering
- Computational Biology
Source
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#13
University of California, Los Angeles
Los Angeles , CA
#3 50 Best Public Colleges and Universities Ranked for Students in 2025 #3 Most Affordable Colleges and Universities in the U.S. 2025 #3 50 Best Public Grad Schools 2025 #3 Best Value Colleges and Universities Ranked for Students in 2025
Other Rankings
Tuition + fees
$13K
Acceptance
9%
Graduation
92%
Student body
49K
Career Outlook for Computer Science degree at University of California, Los Angeles
Cost of Degree: $13,747
Expenses: $24,284
Starting Salary: $102,680
Salary after 4 years: $132,387
Cost Recoup Time: 7 years
Paid back at 15% of annual salary
What is University of California, Los Angeles known for?

University of California, Los Angeles’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:

Nursing
Earth Sciences
Social Work
History
Chemistry
Sociology
Anthropology
Philosophy
Mathematics
Communications

Most Influential Alumni

Hilary Putnam
Vint Cerf
Elinor Ostrom
Judea Pearl
Glenn T. Seaborg
Barry Boehm
Stanley Cavell
William F. Sharpe
John Ehrlichman
Stephen Krashen
Edward O. Thorp
Stephen Kosslyn
UCLA Computer Science Majors:
- BS Computer Science
- BS Computer Science and Engineering
Source
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#14
Johns Hopkins University
Baltimore , MD
#11 50 Best Private Grad Schools 2025 #11 50 Best Private Colleges and Universities for Undergrads 2025 #11 50 Best Research Universities Ranked for Undergrads in 2024 #14 50 Best Colleges and Universities Ranked for Undergrads in 2025
Other Rankings
Tuition + fees
$60K
Acceptance
7%
Graduation
94%
Student body
40K
Median SAT/ACT
1545/34
Career Outlook for Computer Science degree at Johns Hopkins University
Cost of Degree: $62,840
Expenses: $22,725
Starting Salary: $128,433
Salary after 4 years: $175,021
Cost Recoup Time: 10 years
Paid back at 15% of annual salary
What is Johns Hopkins University known for?

Johns Hopkins University’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:

Medical
Nursing
Biology
Physics
Political Science
Psychology
Education
History
Anthropology
Economics

Most Influential Alumni

John Dewey
G. Stanley Hall
John Archibald Wheeler
Thorstein Veblen
John Mauchly
Thomas Hunt Morgan
Gertrude Stein
Rachel Carson
Joseph Jastrow
Robert Fogel
Richard E. Bellman
John R. Commons
Johns Hopkins Computer Science Majors:
BS, BA, or CE Focus Areas:
- General Computer Science
- Interactive Systems
- Robotics, Graphics, Vision
- Natural Language Processing
- Computational Biology
- Fundamentals of Computing
- Big Data
- Systems & Networking
- Information Security
- Software Engineering
- Video Game Design
- Entrepreneurship/Business Computing
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#15
California Institute of Technology
Pasadena , CA
#1 50 Best Small Colleges and Universities Ranked for Students in 2025 #8 America's 15 Most Technologically Advanced Colleges #12 50 Best Private Grad Schools 2025 #12 50 Best Private Colleges and Universities for Undergrads 2025
Other Rankings
Tuition + fees
$61K
Acceptance
3%
Graduation
94%
Student body
3K
Career Outlook for Computer Science degree at California Institute of Technology
Cost of Degree: $63,255
Expenses: $23,631
Starting Salary: $152,883
Salary after 4 years: $208,340
Cost Recoup Time: 9 years
Paid back at 15% of annual salary
What is California Institute of Technology known for?

California Institute of Technology’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:

Physics
Chemistry
Earth Sciences
Computer Science
Mathematics
Biology
Engineering
Economics
History
Business

Most Influential Alumni

Donald Knuth
Linus Pauling
John McCarthy
William Shockley
Ivan Sutherland
Kip Thorne
Benoit Mandelbrot
Vernon L. Smith
David Bohm
L. Sprague de Camp
Robert C. Merton
Serge Lang
CalTech Computer Science Major Concentrations:
- Applied + Computational Mathematics
- Computer Science
- Information and Data Sciences
Source
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#16
Duke University
Durham , NC
#1 Best Online Christian Colleges and Universities for Doctoral Degrees 2025 #1 50 Best Christian Colleges and Universities 2024 #6 Top Schools that Offer Free Master's Degrees Online #13 50 Best Private Grad Schools 2025
Other Rankings
Tuition + fees
$63K
Acceptance
6%
Graduation
97%
Student body
18K
Median SAT/ACT
1530/34
Career Outlook for Computer Science degree at Duke University
Cost of Degree: $65,805
Expenses: $21,267
Starting Salary: $164,676
Salary after 4 years: $224,411
Cost Recoup Time: 9 years
Paid back at 15% of annual salary
What is Duke University known for?

Duke University’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:

Nursing
Religious Studies
Political Science
Psychology
Philosophy
Literature
Education
Law
Sociology
Business

Most Influential Alumni

Jerome Bruner
Fred Brooks
Ken Wilber
Charlie Rose
John W. Campbell
Dan Ariely
Paul Farmer
Russell Kirk
David G. Bromley
Michael Tomasello
Peter J. Denning
Charles Tart
Duke Computer Science Majors:
BS Computer Science Concentrations:
- Software Systems
- Data Science
- AI and Machine Learning
BA Computer Science
Source
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#17
University of Southern California
Los Angeles , CA
#9 America's 15 Most Technologically Advanced Colleges #14 50 Best Private Grad Schools 2025 #14 50 Best Private Colleges and Universities for Undergrads 2025 #17 50 Best Colleges and Universities Ranked for Undergrads in 2025
Other Rankings
Tuition + fees
$65K
Acceptance
12%
Graduation
92%
Student body
54K
Median SAT/ACT
1500/33
Career Outlook for Computer Science degree at University of Southern California
Cost of Degree: $68,237
Expenses: $22,216
Starting Salary: $127,714
Salary after 4 years: $174,041
Cost Recoup Time: 11 years
Paid back at 15% of annual salary
What is University of Southern California known for?

University of Southern California’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:

Social Work
Engineering
Criminal Justice
Business
Communications
Medical
Education
Computer Science
Law
Political Science

Most Influential Alumni

Frank Gehry
Neil Armstrong
Jim Lovell
Jack L. Warner
John Mearsheimer
Boris Podolsky
Michael D. Griffin
Max More
Maulana Karenga
O. J. Simpson
Thom Mayne
Robert Ballard
USC Computer Science Majors:
- BS Computer Science;
- BS Computer Engineering and Computer Science
- BS Computer Science (Games)
- BS Computer Science and Business Administration
Source
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#18
University of Texas at Austin
Austin , TX
#4 50 Best Public Colleges and Universities Ranked for Students in 2025 #4 Most Affordable Colleges and Universities in the U.S. 2025 #4 50 Best Public Grad Schools 2025 #4 Best Value Colleges and Universities Ranked for Students in 2025
Other Rankings
Tuition + fees
$12K
Acceptance
31%
Graduation
88%
Student body
55K
Median SAT/ACT
1365/29
Career Outlook for Computer Science degree at University of Texas at Austin
Cost of Degree: $11,678
Expenses: $19,894
Starting Salary: $103,662
Salary after 4 years: $133,653
Cost Recoup Time: 6 years
Paid back at 15% of annual salary
What is University of Texas at Austin known for?

University of Texas at Austin’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:

Communications
Physics
Law
Literature
History
Earth Sciences
Social Work
Computer Science
Philosophy
Engineering

Most Influential Alumni

Walter Cronkite
Bill Moyers
Edsger W. Dijkstra
Robert Rauschenberg
Bruce Sterling
C. Wright Mills
Neil deGrasse Tyson
Alan Lomax
Steven Best
J. M. Coetzee
Robert Taylor
Abhay Ashtekar
UT Austin Computer Science Major Concentrations:
- Big Data
- Computer Systems
- Cybersecurity
- Game Development
- Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence
- Mobile Computing
Source
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#19
University of Washington
Seattle , WA
#1 15 Best Self-paced Online Colleges Ranked for 2025 #5 50 Best Public Colleges and Universities Ranked for Students in 2025 #5 Most Affordable Colleges and Universities in the U.S. 2025 #5 50 Best Public Grad Schools 2025
Other Rankings
Tuition + fees
$12K
Acceptance
48%
Graduation
84%
Student body
58K
Career Outlook for Computer Science degree at University of Washington
Cost of Degree: $12,643
Expenses: $21,909
Starting Salary: $97,630
Salary after 4 years: $125,876
Cost Recoup Time: 7 years
Paid back at 15% of annual salary
What is University of Washington known for?

University of Washington’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:

Earth Sciences
Computer Science
Social Work
Anthropology
Biology
Medical
Criminal Justice
Physics
Psychology
Engineering

Most Influential Alumni

George Stigler
Frank Herbert
Jerry Pournelle
Ed Diener
Robert Mundell
Michael Hardt
Harold Hotelling
Ted Bundy
Minoru Yamasaki
Lyle Campbell
Dave Cutler
Steven Holl
University of Washington Computer Science Majors:
- BS Computer Science
- BS Computer Engineering
Source
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#20
Northwestern University
Evanston , IL
#14 50 Best Research Universities Ranked for Undergrads in 2024 #15 50 Best Private Grad Schools 2025 #15 50 Best Private Colleges and Universities for Undergrads 2025 #18 50 Best Colleges and Universities Ranked for Undergrads in 2025
Other Rankings
Tuition + fees
$63K
Acceptance
7%
Graduation
97%
Student body
27K
Median SAT/ACT
1530/34
Career Outlook for Computer Science degree at Northwestern University
Cost of Degree: $65,997
Expenses: $25,293
Starting Salary: $134,330
Salary after 4 years: $183,057
Cost Recoup Time: 10 years
Paid back at 15% of annual salary
What is Northwestern University known for?

Northwestern University’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:

Business
Sociology
Law
Economics
Anthropology
Communications
Chemistry
Philosophy
Education
Political Science

Most Influential Alumni

Stephen Colbert
George Stigler
John Paul Stevens
Saul Bellow
Robert Hanssen
Aaron Director
Charles W. Morris
Walter Dill Scott
J. Gordon Melton
Alston Scott Householder
Adam Przeworski
Joseph Greenberg
Northwestern University Computer Science Majors:
- BA Computer Science
- BS Computer Science
- BS Computer Engineering
Source
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#21
Carnegie Mellon University
Pittsburgh , PA
#10 America's 15 Most Technologically Advanced Colleges #15 50 Best Research Universities Ranked for Undergrads in 2024 #16 50 Best Private Grad Schools 2025 #16 50 Best Private Colleges and Universities for Undergrads 2025
Other Rankings
Tuition + fees
$61K
Acceptance
11%
Graduation
92%
Student body
16K
Median SAT/ACT
1530/34
Career Outlook for Computer Science degree at Carnegie Mellon University
Cost of Degree: $63,274
Expenses: $19,868
Starting Salary: $148,137
Salary after 4 years: $201,872
Cost Recoup Time: 9 years
Paid back at 15% of annual salary
What is Carnegie Mellon University known for?

Carnegie Mellon University’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:

Computer Science
Engineering
Economics
Business
Chemistry
Mathematics
Psychology
Physics
Education
Political Science

Most Influential Alumni

Allen Newell
Ivan Sutherland
Oliver E. Williamson
James Gosling
Raoul Bott
Edward Feigenbaum
John Forbes Nash Jr.
Henry Giroux
Edward C. Prescott
Shafi Goldwasser
Kurt Vonnegut
Robert H. Dennard
Carnegie Mellon Computer Science Majors:
- Artificial intelligence
- Computational biology
- Computer science
- Human-computer interaction
- Computational biology
- Computer science
- Human-computer interaction
- Robotics
Source
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#22
Brown University
Providence , RI
#10 15 Colleges with the Happiest Freshmen #16 50 Best Research Universities Ranked for Undergrads in 2024 #17 50 Best Private Grad Schools 2025 #17 50 Best Private Colleges and Universities for Undergrads 2025
Other Rankings
Tuition + fees
$65K
Acceptance
5%
Graduation
95%
Student body
11K
Median SAT/ACT
1535/35
Career Outlook for Computer Science degree at Brown University
Cost of Degree: $68,230
Expenses: $19,418
Starting Salary: $128,146
Salary after 4 years: $174,629
Cost Recoup Time: 10 years
Paid back at 15% of annual salary
What is Brown University known for?

Brown University’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:

Literature
Mathematics
History
Education
Computer Science
Economics
Communications
Political Science
Philosophy
Engineering

Most Influential Alumni

Janet Yellen
John Tukey
Peter Norvig
Aaron Beck
Richard Holbrooke
Andy Hertzfeld
Jacob M. Appel
S. T. Joshi
Lester Frank Ward
Randy Pausch
Jeffrey Eugenides
David Lodge
Brown University Computer Science Majors Concentrations:
- AB Computer Science
- ScB Computer Science
- ScB Math – Computer Science
- ScB Applied Math – Computer Science
- ScB Computational Biology
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#23
Dartmouth College
Hanover , NH
#18 50 Best Research Universities Ranked for Undergrads in 2024 #20 50 Best Private Colleges and Universities for Undergrads 2025 #21 50 Best Private Grad Schools 2025 #24 50 Best Colleges and Universities Ranked for Undergrads in 2025
Other Rankings
Tuition + fees
$63K
Acceptance
6%
Graduation
95%
Student body
7K
Median SAT/ACT
1540/34
Career Outlook for Computer Science degree at Dartmouth College
Cost of Degree: $65,511
Expenses: $22,054
Starting Salary: $158,492
Salary after 4 years: $215,984
Cost Recoup Time: 9 years
Paid back at 15% of annual salary
What is Dartmouth College known for?

Dartmouth College’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:

Business
Literature
Computer Science
Political Science
History
Earth Sciences
Medical
Economics
Mathematics
Religious Studies

Most Influential Alumni

Joseph Campbell
Dr. Seuss
Robert Frost
Daniel Webster
Vincent Canby
Robert Reich
C. Everett Koop
Stuart Kauffman
Jaegwon Kim
Robert Christgau
Michael Gazzaniga
Edward Norton Lorenz
Dartmouth College Computer Science Majors:
- Modified Major with Computer Science as the Primary Part
- Modified Major with Computer Science as the Secondary Part
- Modified Major with Digital Arts as the Secondary Part
- The Computer Science Major Modified with Engineering Sciences
- The Computer Science Major Modified with Digital Arts
Source
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#24
Rice University
Houston , TX
#19 50 Best Research Universities Ranked for Undergrads in 2024 #1 Best Private Colleges in Texas 2024 #2 The Most Influential Universities and Colleges Ranked by State 2024 #3 Best Research Universities in Texas 2024
Other Rankings
Tuition + fees
$55K
Acceptance
9%
Graduation
94%
Student body
9K
Median SAT/ACT
1530/35
Career Outlook for Computer Science degree at Rice University
Cost of Degree: $58,128
Expenses: $20,150
Starting Salary: $131,741
Salary after 4 years: $179,529
Cost Recoup Time: 9 years
Paid back at 15% of annual salary
What is Rice University known for?

Rice University’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:

Chemistry
Mathematics
Engineering
Physics
Computer Science
Economics
Philosophy
Business
History
Earth Sciences

Most Influential Alumni

Herman Daly
Joyce Carol Oates
Robert Woodrow Wilson
Dennis Sullivan
Robert Curl
Matthew Sands
George Mackey
William Sims Bainbridge
Thomas W. Malone
David Eagleman
John Morgan
Henry M. Morris
Rice University Computer Science Majors:
- BA Computer Science
- BS Computer Science
- BS/MS 5-year Master’s in Computer Science
Source
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#25
Georgia Tech
Atlanta , GA
#13 America's 15 Most Technologically Advanced Colleges #15 Best Value Colleges and Universities Ranked for Students in 2025 #25 Most Affordable Colleges and Universities in the U.S. 2025 #1 Most Affordable Colleges in Georgia Ranked for Students in 2024
Other Rankings
Tuition + fees
$12K
Acceptance
17%
Graduation
93%
Student body
52K
Median SAT/ACT
1460/33
Career Outlook for Computer Science degree at Georgia Tech
Cost of Degree: $11,764
Expenses: $16,760
Starting Salary: $120,495
Salary after 4 years: $155,356
Cost Recoup Time: 5 years
Paid back at 15% of annual salary
What is Georgia Tech known for?

Georgia Tech’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:

Engineering
Computer Science
Earth Sciences
Mathematics
Chemistry
Biology
Physics
Business
Economics
History

Most Influential Alumni

Kary Mullis
John Young
Robert H. Frank
Alexandra Elbakyan
Charles Spielberger
Katia Sycara
Thad Starner
Leonard Wood
Gene Spafford
Hagen Kleinert
Rosalind Picard
Joy Buolamwini
Georgia Tech Computer Science Majors:
BS Computer Science Threads:
- Devices
- Info Networks
- Intelligence
- Media
- Modeling and Simulation
- People
- Systems and Architecture
- Theory
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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.

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.

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 mathematics.

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.

Go to all Research Universities for Computer Science programs

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

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Best Research Universities for Computer Science Degrees

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Top 10 Research Universities Computer Science Programs in 2025

2025 Ranking Update

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Best Research Universities for Computer Science Degrees

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Career Outlook for Computer Science degree at Harvard University

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Harvard University Computer Science Major:

Career Outlook for Computer Science degree at University of California, Berkeley

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UC Berkeley Computer Science Majors:

Career Outlook for Computer Science degree at Columbia University

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Columbia University Computer Science Majors:

Career Outlook for Computer Science degree at Stanford University

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Stanford University Computer Science Major Tacks:

Career Outlook for Computer Science degree at University of Chicago

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UChicago Computer Science Majors:

Career Outlook for Computer Science degree at Yale University

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Yale University Computer Science Majors:

Career Outlook for Computer Science degree at Princeton University

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Princeton University Computer Science Majors:

Career Outlook for Computer Science degree at Massachusetts Institute of Technology

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MIT Computer Science Major:

Career Outlook for Computer Science degree at University of Michigan

Most Influential Alumni

UMich Computer Science Majors:

Career Outlook for Computer Science degree at New York University

Most Influential Alumni

NYU Computer Science Majors:

Career Outlook for Computer Science degree at Cornell University

Most Influential Alumni

Cornell University Computer Science Majors:

Career Outlook for Computer Science degree at University of Pennsylvania

Most Influential Alumni

UPenn Computer Science Majors:

Career Outlook for Computer Science degree at University of California, Los Angeles

Most Influential Alumni

UCLA Computer Science Majors:

Career Outlook for Computer Science degree at Johns Hopkins University

Most Influential Alumni

Johns Hopkins Computer Science Majors:

Career Outlook for Computer Science degree at California Institute of Technology

Most Influential Alumni

CalTech Computer Science Major Concentrations:

Career Outlook for Computer Science degree at Duke University

Most Influential Alumni

Duke Computer Science Majors:

Career Outlook for Computer Science degree at University of Southern California

Most Influential Alumni

USC Computer Science Majors:

Career Outlook for Computer Science degree at University of Texas at Austin

Most Influential Alumni

UT Austin Computer Science Major Concentrations:

Career Outlook for Computer Science degree at University of Washington

Most Influential Alumni

University of Washington Computer Science Majors:

Career Outlook for Computer Science degree at Northwestern University

Most Influential Alumni

Northwestern University Computer Science Majors:

Career Outlook for Computer Science degree at Carnegie Mellon University

Most Influential Alumni

Carnegie Mellon Computer Science Majors:

Career Outlook for Computer Science degree at Brown University

Most Influential Alumni

Brown University Computer Science Majors Concentrations:

Career Outlook for Computer Science degree at Dartmouth College

Most Influential Alumni

Dartmouth College Computer Science Majors:

Career Outlook for Computer Science degree at Rice University

Most Influential Alumni

Rice University Computer Science Majors:

Career Outlook for Computer Science degree at Georgia Tech