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 61 schools on the early-career earnings of their computer science graduates.
What’s on this page:
If you want to know which schools send computer science graduates into the highest-paying careers, see the list below.
Duke University earned the #1 spot for highest-paid computer science graduates in the Southeast Region. Set in the city of Durham, Duke University is a private not-for-profit institution. Computer Science graduates of Duke University earn a median of about $201,846 a year early in their careers.
Vanderbilt University produces some of the highest-paid graduates in computer science, landing the #2 spot this year. Located in the city of Nashville, Vanderbilt University is a private not-for-profit institution. After graduating, computer science degree recipients from Vanderbilt University typically earn about $122,244 annually.
Strong graduate earnings at Emory University earned it the #3 place for computer science. Emory University is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Atlanta. Early-career computer science graduates from Emory University make a median of around $166,603 per year.
Strong graduate earnings at College Of William And Mary earned it the #4 place for computer science. College Of William And Mary is a public school located in the suburb of Williamsburg. Students who complete the computer science program here go on to a median salary of roughly $145,337.
A rank of #5 makes University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill one of the highest-paying schools for computer science. University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill is a public school located in the city of Chapel Hill. Computer Science graduates of University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill earn a median of about $124,977 a year early in their careers.
Wake Forest University came in at #6 for computer science graduate earnings this year. Located in the city of Winston-Salem, Wake Forest University is a private not-for-profit institution. Early-career computer science graduates from Wake Forest University make a median of around $140,759 per year.
George Mason University earned the #7 position for computer science graduate earnings this year. Set in the suburb of Fairfax, George Mason University is a public institution. Students who complete the computer science program here go on to a median salary of roughly $116,307.
Florida Institute Of Technology landed the #8 spot for computer science salaries this year. Set in the city of Melbourne, Florida Institute Of Technology is a private not-for-profit institution. Students who complete the computer science program here go on to a median salary of roughly $118,106.
Northern Virginia Community College came in at #9 for computer science graduate earnings this year. Northern Virginia Community College is a public school located in the suburb of Annandale. After graduating, computer science degree recipients from Northern Virginia Community College typically earn about $85,960 annually.
Nova Southeastern University came in at #10 for computer science graduate earnings this year. Nova Southeastern University is a private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Fort Lauderdale. Students who complete the computer science program here go on to a median salary of roughly $137,627.
Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus placed #11 among the highest-paying schools for computer science. Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus is a public school located in the city of Atlanta. Early-career computer science graduates from Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus make a median of around $149,706 per year.
University Of Georgia came in at #12 for computer science graduate earnings this year. Set in the city of Athens, University Of Georgia is a public institution. After graduating, computer science degree recipients from University Of Georgia typically earn about $100,784 annually.
University Of Miami earned the #13 position for computer science graduate earnings this year. Located in the suburb of Coral Gables, University Of Miami is a private not-for-profit institution. After graduating, computer science degree recipients from University Of Miami typically earn about $101,751 annually.
North Carolina State University At Raleigh came in at #14 for computer science graduate earnings this year. Located in the city of Raleigh, North Carolina State University At Raleigh is a public institution. Computer Science graduates of North Carolina State University At Raleigh earn a median of about $111,385 a year early in their careers.
Harding University ranked #15 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying computer science schools. Harding University is a private not-for-profit school located in the town of Searcy. Computer Science graduates of Harding University earn a median of about $97,126 a year early in their careers.
Georgia College And State University earned the #16 position for computer science graduate earnings this year. Georgia College And State University is a public school located in the town of Milledgeville. After graduating, computer science degree recipients from Georgia College And State University typically earn about $95,024 annually.
The University Of Tennessee placed #17 among the highest-paying schools for computer science. Set in the city of Knoxville, The University Of Tennessee is a public institution. Computer Science graduates of The University Of Tennessee earn a median of about $101,926 a year early in their careers.
West Virginia University placed #18 among the highest-paying schools for computer science. Set in the city of Morgantown, West Virginia University is a public institution. After graduating, computer science degree recipients from West Virginia University typically earn about $95,524 annually.
University Of North Carolina At Greensboro landed the #19 spot for computer science salaries this year. Set in the city of Greensboro, University Of North Carolina At Greensboro is a public institution. Early-career computer science graduates from University Of North Carolina At Greensboro make a median of around $104,755 per year.
Appalachian State University landed the #20 spot for computer science salaries this year. Located in the town of Boone, Appalachian State University is a public institution. Computer Science graduates of Appalachian State University earn a median of about $102,688 a year early in their careers.
Georgia State University placed #21 among the highest-paying schools for computer science. Located in the city of Atlanta, Georgia State University is a public institution. Students who complete the computer science program here go on to a median salary of roughly $105,149.
Christopher Newport University ranked #22 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying computer science schools. Set in the city of Newport News, Christopher Newport University is a public institution. After graduating, computer science degree recipients from Christopher Newport University typically earn about $94,012 annually.
Grantham University landed the #23 spot for computer science salaries this year. Grantham University is a public school located in the city of LIttle Rock. Early-career computer science graduates from Grantham University make a median of around $101,512 per year.
University Of North Carolina At Wilmington placed #24 among the highest-paying schools for computer science. University Of North Carolina At Wilmington is a public school located in the city of Wilmington. Students who complete the computer science program here go on to a median salary of roughly $98,418.
Radford University landed the #25 spot for computer science salaries this year. Set in the town of Radford, Radford University is a public institution. Students who complete the computer science program here go on to a median salary of roughly $95,921.
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s highest-paid computer science ranking:
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 · 61 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.
