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Best Colleges for Computer Science

The best colleges for a Computer Science degree, led by Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Stanford University and University of Pennsylvania. Each school is shown with its acceptance rate, tuition, and average SAT so you can weigh Computer Science programs side by side.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best college for Computer Science?

Based on our rankings, Massachusetts Institute of Technology is the top-ranked college for Computer Science. Other top choices include Stanford University, University of Pennsylvania, Princeton University.

What are the best Computer Science schools?

The best Computer Science schools, based on program-specific federal data including median earnings and graduate counts, are Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Stanford University, University of Pennsylvania. Our rankings use College Scorecard field-of-study data rather than editorial opinion.

How much does it cost to study Computer Science?

The average out-of-state tuition among top Computer Science programs is approximately $65,092 per year. However, costs vary significantly — many schools offer generous financial aid packages that can reduce the effective cost.

How long does it take to get a Computer Science degree?

A bachelor's degree in Computer Science typically takes four years of full-time study. Some programs offer accelerated tracks or combined bachelor's-to-master's options that can extend or shorten the timeline.

How are these Computer Science rankings determined?

Our major rankings are independently calculated from U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard field-of-study (CIP) data — primarily median earnings 4 years after graduation and program scale (graduate count), with a 10+ annual graduates minimum per program. They are not derived from US News or any other publication.

Career outcomes for Computer Science graduates

Among the top 10 ranked Computer Science programs, the average early-career salary is approximately $111,599 per year. Below are the highest-paying Computer Science programs based on federal College Scorecard earnings data reported by graduates four years after completion.

  1. 1. Massachusetts Institute of Technology — Cambridge, MA · 4.6% acceptance · SAT 1,560 · $62,396 tuition · 96% grad rate
  2. 2. Stanford University — Stanford, CA · 3.6% acceptance · SAT 1,553 · $65,910 tuition · 92% grad rate
  3. 3. University of Pennsylvania — Philadelphia, PA · 5.4% acceptance · SAT 1,553 · $68,686 tuition · 97% grad rate
  4. 4. Princeton University — Princeton, NJ · 4.6% acceptance · SAT 1,553 · $62,688 tuition · 98% grad rate
  5. 5. Cornell University — Ithaca, NY · 8.8% acceptance · SAT 1,535 · $69,314 tuition · 95% grad rate
  6. 6. Carnegie Mellon University — Pittsburgh, PA · 11.7% acceptance · SAT 1,546 · $66,246 tuition · 94% grad rate
  7. 7. Columbia University in the City of New York — New York, NY · 4% acceptance · SAT 1,553 · $71,845 tuition · 96% grad rate
  8. 8. California Institute of Technology — Pasadena, CA · 2.6% acceptance · $65,898 tuition · 94% grad rate
  9. 9. University of Michigan-Ann Arbor — Ann Arbor, MI · 15.6% acceptance · SAT 1,465 · $60,946 tuition · 93% grad rate
  10. 10. Brown University — Providence, RI · 5.4% acceptance · SAT 1,546 · $71,412 tuition · 96% grad rate
  11. 11. University of Chicago — Chicago, IL · 4.5% acceptance · SAT 1,554 · $70,662 tuition · 96% grad rate
  12. 12. University of California-Berkeley — Berkeley, CA · 11% acceptance · $50,547 tuition · 93% grad rate
  13. 13. Harvard University — Cambridge, MA · 3.7% acceptance · SAT 1,553 · $61,676 tuition · 98% grad rate
  14. 14. Duke University — Durham, NC · 5.7% acceptance · SAT 1,548 · $68,758 tuition · 97% grad rate
  15. 15. Rice University — Houston, TX · 8% acceptance · SAT 1,553 · $64,144 tuition · 95% grad rate
  16. 16. Northwestern University — Evanston, IL · 7.7% acceptance · SAT 1,533 · $68,322 tuition · 95% grad rate
  17. 17. University of Southern California — Los Angeles, CA · 9.8% acceptance · SAT 1,495 · $72,097 tuition · 92% grad rate
  18. 18. Yale University — New Haven, CT · 3.9% acceptance · SAT 1,534 · $67,250 tuition · 96% grad rate
  19. 19. Johns Hopkins University — Baltimore, MD · 6.4% acceptance · SAT 1,553 · $65,230 tuition · 94% grad rate
  20. 20. Dartmouth College — Hanover, NH · 5.4% acceptance · SAT 1,534 · $68,268 tuition · 96% grad rate
  21. 21. Washington University in St Louis — St. Louis, MO · 12.1% acceptance · SAT 1,530 · $65,790 tuition · 94% grad rate
  22. 22. New York University — New York, NY · 9.2% acceptance · SAT 1,520 · $62,796 tuition · 88% grad rate
  23. 23. University of Virginia-Main Campus — Charlottesville, VA · 16.8% acceptance · SAT 1,480 · $59,512 tuition · 96% grad rate
  24. 24. Vanderbilt University — Nashville, TN · 5.9% acceptance · SAT 1,549 · $67,498 tuition · 94% grad rate
  25. 25. University of California-Los Angeles — Los Angeles, CA · 9% acceptance · $49,403 tuition · 93% grad rate

Best Colleges for Computer Science on PickACampus