Computer Science is a field worth a close look when choosing where to study. The schools below stand out for the quality of their computer science programs.
College Factual analyzed 1091 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best computer science schools.
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Choosing a Great Computer Science School
The school you choose for computer science can shape your career. That is why we developed our collection of Best Schools for Computer Science rankings. Our overall ranking combines our degree-level rankings, weighted by degrees awarded at each level.
In order to find the schools that are the best fit for you, you may want to filter to one of the degree levels below.
We offer several rankings, including this Best Computer Science Schools list, to help you decide. Want schools in a particular part of the country? Narrow the list by region or state.
To further help you make the college decision, we have developed a unique tool called College Combat that lets you compare schools on the factors that matter most to you.
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Best Schools for Computer Science in the United States
If you are not interested in a particular degree level and want to know which schools are the overall best at delivering an education for the computer science degrees they offer, see the list below.
Leading the list is University Of California Berkeley, our #1 school for computer science. This very large public university is located in the city of Berkeley. University Of California Berkeley graduates 93% of students within six years. About 846 computer science degrees were awarded at University Of California Berkeley in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, computer science degree recipients from University Of California Berkeley generally make around $149,866. University Of California Berkeley graduates carry a median of $13,900 in student loans.
More information about a degree in computer science from University Of California Berkeley
A rank of #2 makes Duke University one of the top schools for computer science. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Durham. Duke University graduates 97% of students within six years. About 337 computer science degrees were awarded at Duke University in the most recent year. Computer Science graduates of Duke University earn a median of $133,356 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $13,500.
Read more about the computer science program at Duke University
Students looking for a strong computer science program will find one at Cornell University, which ranked #3. Located in the city of Ithaca, Cornell University is a very large private not-for-profit university. Roughly 95% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 814 computer science degrees were awarded at Cornell University in the most recent year. Students who receive their computer science degree from Cornell University earn around $153,122 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $14,698 to complete this degree.
See the full computer science program report for Cornell University
A rank of #4 makes University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill one of the top schools for computer science. University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill is a very large public school located in the city of Chapel Hill. About 91% of students finish within six years. University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill awarded about 384 computer science degrees in the most recent data year. Computer Science graduates of University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill earn a median of $90,293 early in their careers. University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill graduates carry a median of $14,131 in student loans.
See the full computer science program report for University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill
A rank of #5 makes Massachusetts Institute Of Technology one of the top schools for computer science. Massachusetts Institute Of Technology is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Cambridge. About 96% of students finish within six years. About 645 computer science degrees were awarded at Massachusetts Institute Of Technology in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, computer science degree recipients from Massachusetts Institute Of Technology generally make around $154,492. Typical student debt for the program is $12,000.
More information about a degree in computer science from Massachusetts Institute Of Technology
Harvard University came in at #6 for computer science this year. Set in the city of Cambridge, Harvard University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 98% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 266 computer science students who graduated with this degree at Harvard University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their computer science degree from Harvard University earn around $152,251 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $16,616 to complete this degree.
Get the full computer science details for Harvard University
Stanford University placed #7 among the best computer science schools. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Stanford. Stanford University graduates 92% of students within six years. There were roughly 828 computer science students who graduated with this degree at Stanford University in the most recent data year. Computer Science graduates of Stanford University earn a median of $169,187 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $10,399 to complete this degree.
Get the full computer science details for Stanford University
University Of Maryland College Park placed #8 among the best computer science schools. University Of Maryland College Park is a very large public school located in the suburb of College Park. University Of Maryland College Park graduates 89% of students within six years. There were roughly 1,074 computer science students who graduated with this degree at University Of Maryland College Park in the most recent data year. Graduates of the computer science program make about $99,756 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $20,000 to complete this degree.
Get the full computer science details for University Of Maryland College Park
University Of California Los Angeles placed #9 among the best computer science schools. Set in the city of Los Angeles, University Of California Los Angeles is a very large public institution. About 93% of students finish within six years. About 514 computer science degrees were awarded at University Of California Los Angeles in the most recent year. Computer Science graduates of University Of California Los Angeles earn a median of $63,833 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $16,097.
Read more about the computer science program at University Of California Los Angeles
California Institute Of Technology placed #10 among the best computer science schools. Set in the city of Pasadena, California Institute Of Technology is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. About 94% of students finish within six years. California Institute Of Technology awarded about 94 computer science degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their computer science degree from California Institute Of Technology earn around $173,344 in the first couple years of their career.
Read more about the computer science program at California Institute Of Technology
Georgetown University came in at #11 for computer science this year. Set in the city of Washington, Georgetown University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 95%. Georgetown University awarded about 74 computer science degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, computer science degree recipients from Georgetown University generally make around $92,974. Georgetown University graduates carry a median of $16,007 in student loans.
Read more about the computer science program at Georgetown University
Carnegie Mellon University came in at #12 for computer science this year. Set in the city of Pittsburgh, Carnegie Mellon University is a large private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 94% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 333 computer science degrees were awarded at Carnegie Mellon University in the most recent year. Graduates of the computer science program make about $171,264 in their early career. Carnegie Mellon University graduates carry a median of $21,442 in student loans.
Read more about the computer science program at Carnegie Mellon University
University Of California San Diego placed #13 among the best computer science schools. This very large public university is located in the city of La Jolla. The six-year graduation rate is 86%. There were roughly 854 computer science students who graduated with this degree at University Of California San Diego in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, computer science degree recipients from University Of California San Diego generally make around $130,134. Students borrow a median of $16,550 to complete this degree.
Get the full computer science details for University Of California San Diego
Northwestern University ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the best computer science schools. Set in the city of Evanston, Northwestern University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 95%. There were roughly 277 computer science students who graduated with this degree at Northwestern University in the most recent data year. Computer Science graduates of Northwestern University earn a median of $99,981 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $14,600 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in computer science from Northwestern University
University Of Pennsylvania earned the #15 position for computer science this year. Set in the city of Philadelphia, University Of Pennsylvania is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 96% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 255 computer science degrees were awarded at University Of Pennsylvania in the most recent year. Graduates of the computer science program make about $122,686 in their early career. University Of Pennsylvania graduates carry a median of $13,500 in student loans.
More information about a degree in computer science from University Of Pennsylvania
University Of California Davis ranked #16 on our 2026 list of the best computer science schools. This very large public university is located in the suburb of Davis. University Of California Davis graduates 86% of students within six years. University Of California Davis awarded about 432 computer science degrees in the most recent data year. Computer Science graduates of University Of California Davis earn a median of $53,749 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $14,404 to complete this degree.
Get the full computer science details for University Of California Davis
Washington University In St Louis placed #17 among the best computer science schools. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of St. Louis. Roughly 94% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 313 computer science degrees were awarded at Washington University In St Louis in the most recent year. Graduates of the computer science program make about $105,977 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $15,500 to complete this degree.
Read more about the computer science program at Washington University In St Louis
Tufts University earned the #18 position for computer science this year. Located in the suburb of Medford, Tufts University is a large private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 94%. There were roughly 295 computer science students who graduated with this degree at Tufts University in the most recent data year. Computer Science graduates of Tufts University earn a median of $105,659 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $15,500.
Get the full computer science details for Tufts University
University Of Washington Seattle Campus landed the #19 spot for computer science this year. Set in the city of Seattle, University Of Washington Seattle Campus is a very large public institution. Roughly 85% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 577 computer science students who graduated with this degree at University Of Washington Seattle Campus in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, computer science degree recipients from University Of Washington Seattle Campus generally make around $142,074. Typical student debt for the program is $16,118.
Get the full computer science details for University Of Washington Seattle Campus
Vanderbilt University landed the #20 spot for computer science this year. Set in the city of Nashville, Vanderbilt University is a large private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 94%. Vanderbilt University awarded about 277 computer science degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their computer science degree from Vanderbilt University earn around $122,244 in the first couple years of their career. Vanderbilt University graduates carry a median of $14,500 in student loans.
More information about a degree in computer science from Vanderbilt University
Dartmouth College ranked #21 on our 2026 list of the best computer science schools. Set in the town of Hanover, Dartmouth College is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 96%. There were roughly 154 computer science students who graduated with this degree at Dartmouth College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the computer science program make about $132,919 in their early career. Dartmouth College graduates carry a median of $18,490 in student loans.
Get the full computer science details for Dartmouth College
Princeton University ranked #22 on our 2026 list of the best computer science schools. This moderately-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Princeton. Roughly 98% of students complete a degree within six years here. Princeton University awarded about 300 computer science degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, computer science degree recipients from Princeton University generally make around $146,624. Students borrow a median of $10,888 to complete this degree.
Read more about the computer science program at Princeton University
University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign placed #23 among the best computer science schools. Located in the city of Champaign, University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a very large public university. About 85% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 1,555 computer science students who graduated with this degree at University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign in the most recent data year. Graduates of the computer science program make about $135,600 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $20,500.
Read more about the computer science program at University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign
Columbia University In The City Of New York came in at #24 for computer science this year. Located in the city of New York, Columbia University In The City Of New York is a very large private not-for-profit university. Columbia University In The City Of New York graduates 96% of students within six years. About 878 computer science degrees were awarded at Columbia University In The City Of New York in the most recent year. Computer Science graduates of Columbia University In The City Of New York earn a median of $140,244 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $20,397 to complete this degree.
Read more about the computer science program at Columbia University In The City Of New York
Pennsylvania State University Main Campus ranked #25 on our 2026 list of the best computer science schools. Located in the city of University Park, Pennsylvania State University Main Campus is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 86%. There were roughly 80 computer science students who graduated with this degree at Pennsylvania State University Main Campus in the most recent data year.
Read more about the computer science program at Pennsylvania State University Main Campus
Rest of the Top 50 Computer Science Schools
Not far behind, these schools also delivered a strong computer science education:
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and program focus, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 1091 schools evaluated.
The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE), serves as the core of our data about colleges.
Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
