by our College Data Analytics Team
[Computer Science](/majors/computer-information-sciences/computer-science/) is a field where your choice of school can shape what you earn after graduation. The schools below stand out for the salaries their computer science graduates go on to command.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 7 schools on the early-career earnings of their computer science graduates.
What’s on this page:
Below are the schools whose computer science graduates go on to earn the most.
Leading the list is University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign, our #1 for computer science graduate salaries in the Great Lakes Region. Located in the city of Champaign, University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a public institution. After graduating, computer science degree recipients from University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign typically earn about $201,739 annually.
Strong graduate earnings at University Of Chicago earned it the #2 place for computer science. University Of Chicago is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Chicago. After graduating, computer science degree recipients from University Of Chicago typically earn about $151,585 annually.
Northern Illinois University produces some of the highest-paid graduates in computer science, landing the #3 spot this year. Set in the suburb of Dekalb, Northern Illinois University is a public institution. Early-career computer science graduates from Northern Illinois University make a median of around $111,770 per year.
Strong graduate earnings at Illinois Institute Of Technology earned it the #4 place for computer science. Illinois Institute Of Technology is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Chicago. After graduating, computer science degree recipients from Illinois Institute Of Technology typically earn about $124,701 annually.
A rank of #5 makes University Of Illinois At Springfield one of the highest-paying schools for computer science. Located in the city of Springfield, University Of Illinois At Springfield is a public institution. Students who complete the computer science program here go on to a median salary of roughly $117,171.
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University Of Illinois At Chicago placed #6 among the highest-paying schools for computer science. Located in the city of Chicago, University Of Illinois At Chicago is a public institution. After graduating, computer science degree recipients from University Of Illinois At Chicago typically earn about $101,886 annually.
Lewis University ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying computer science schools. Set in the suburb of Romeoville, Lewis University is a private not-for-profit institution. Early-career computer science graduates from Lewis University make a median of around $89,109 per year.
This ranking is produced by College Factual, 2026 edition. Schools are ranked on the median early-career earnings of their computer science graduates, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (College Scorecard field-of-study earnings and IPEDS).
Ranking method: College Major Earnings · 7 schools evaluated.
*Salary figures reflect median early-career earnings (about 5 years after graduation) and may vary by how long a person takes to complete their degree.
More about our data sources and methodologies.