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.
For its 2026 ranking, College Factual looked at 1091 schools in the United States to determine which ones were the best for computer science students pursuing a degree.
No school ranked higher than University Of California San Diego this year for computer science. This very large public university is located in the city of La Jolla. Roughly 86% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 393 computer science degrees were awarded at University Of California San Diego in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, computer science degree recipients from University Of California San Diego generally make around $148,262. Typical student debt for the program is $16,550.
More information about a degree in computer science from University Of California San Diego
A rank of #2 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. Massachusetts Institute Of Technology graduates 96% of students within six years. About 236 computer science degrees were awarded at Massachusetts Institute Of Technology in the most recent year. Computer Science graduates of Massachusetts Institute Of Technology earn a median of $154,492 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $12,000 to complete this degree.
See the full computer science program report for Massachusetts Institute Of Technology
University Of California Berkeley came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best computer science schools. Located in the city of Berkeley, University Of California Berkeley is a very large public university. Roughly 93% of students complete a degree within six years here. University Of California Berkeley awarded about 11 computer science degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their computer science degree from University Of California Berkeley earn around $149,866 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $13,900.
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A rank of #4 makes Cornell University one of the top schools for computer science. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Ithaca. Cornell University graduates 95% of students within six years. About 312 computer science degrees were awarded at Cornell University in the most recent year. Computer Science graduates of Cornell University earn a median of $153,588 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $14,698 to complete this degree.
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Students looking for a strong computer science program will find one at Northwestern University, which ranked #5. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Evanston. About 95% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 139 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. Northwestern University graduates carry a median of $14,600 in student loans.
See the full computer science program report for Northwestern University
Duke University landed the #6 spot for computer science this year. Located in the city of Durham, Duke University is a large private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 97%. There were roughly 49 computer science students who graduated with this degree at Duke University in the most recent data year. Computer Science graduates of Duke University earn a median of $133,356 early in their careers. Duke University graduates carry a median of $13,500 in student loans.
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Stanford University ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best computer science schools. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Stanford. The six-year graduation rate is 92%. About 434 computer science degrees were awarded at Stanford University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, computer science degree recipients from Stanford University generally make around $199,761. Stanford University graduates carry a median of $10,399 in student loans.
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University Of Pennsylvania came in at #8 for computer science this year. Located in the city of Philadelphia, University Of Pennsylvania is a very large private not-for-profit university. Roughly 96% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 160 computer science degrees were awarded at University Of Pennsylvania in the most recent year. Computer Science graduates of University Of Pennsylvania earn a median of $120,693 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $13,500 to complete this degree.
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University Of California Los Angeles placed #9 among the best computer science schools. Located in the city of Los Angeles, University Of California Los Angeles is a very large public university. University Of California Los Angeles graduates 93% of students within six years. University Of California Los Angeles awarded about 117 computer science degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the computer science program make about $63,833 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $16,097.
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Georgetown University landed the #10 spot for computer science this year. Located in the city of Washington, Georgetown University is a very large private not-for-profit university. About 95% of students finish within six years. Georgetown University awarded about 28 computer science degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, computer science degree recipients from Georgetown University generally make around $92,974. Students borrow a median of $16,007 to complete this degree.
See the full computer science program report for Georgetown University
Carnegie Mellon University came in at #11 for computer science this year. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Pittsburgh. Carnegie Mellon University graduates 94% of students within six years. Carnegie Mellon University awarded about 81 computer science degrees in the most recent data year. Computer Science graduates of Carnegie Mellon University earn a median of $171,264 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $21,442 to complete this degree.
See the full computer science program report for Carnegie Mellon University
Columbia University In The City Of New York placed #12 among the best computer science schools. Set in the city of New York, Columbia University In The City Of New York is a very large private not-for-profit institution. About 96% of students finish within six years. About 403 computer science degrees were awarded at Columbia University In The City Of New York in the most recent year. Graduates of the computer science program make about $161,851 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $20,397.
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University Of California Davis came in at #13 for computer science this year. This very large public university is located in the suburb of Davis. About 86% of students finish within six years. University Of California Davis awarded about 69 computer science degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their computer science degree from University Of California Davis earn around $53,749 in the first couple years of their career. University Of California Davis graduates carry a median of $14,404 in student loans.
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George Washington University landed the #14 spot for computer science this year. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Washington. The six-year graduation rate is 84%. There were roughly 152 computer science students who graduated with this degree at George Washington University in the most recent data year. Computer Science graduates of George Washington University earn a median of $104,200 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $19,500.
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University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign ranked #15 on our 2026 list of the best computer science schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Champaign. University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign graduates 85% of students within six years. University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign awarded about 1,094 computer science degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their computer science degree from University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign earn around $146,670 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $20,500.
See the full computer science program report for University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign
Pennsylvania State University Main Campus earned the #16 position for computer science this year. Set in the city of University Park, Pennsylvania State University Main Campus is a very large public institution. About 86% of students finish within six years. About 59 computer science degrees were awarded at Pennsylvania State University Main Campus in the most recent year.
See the full computer science program report for Pennsylvania State University Main Campus
University Of Southern California earned the #17 position for computer science this year. Located in the city of Los Angeles, University Of Southern California is a very large private not-for-profit university. About 92% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 1,119 computer science students who graduated with this degree at University Of Southern California in the most recent data year. Computer Science graduates of University Of Southern California earn a median of $134,544 early in their careers. University Of Southern California graduates carry a median of $20,178 in student loans.
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Vanderbilt University placed #18 among the best computer science schools. Set in the city of Nashville, Vanderbilt University is a large private not-for-profit institution. Vanderbilt University graduates 94% of students within six years. There were roughly 87 computer science students who graduated with this degree at Vanderbilt University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, computer science degree recipients from Vanderbilt University generally make around $122,244. Students borrow a median of $14,500 to complete this degree.
See the full computer science program report for Vanderbilt University
Tufts University placed #19 among the best computer science schools. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Medford. About 94% of students finish within six years. Tufts University awarded about 85 computer science degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, computer science degree recipients from Tufts University generally make around $105,659. Typical student debt for the program is $15,500.
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University Of Washington Seattle Campus ranked #20 on our 2026 list of the best computer science schools. Located in the city of Seattle, University Of Washington Seattle Campus is a very large public university. Roughly 85% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 62 computer science students who graduated with this degree at University Of Washington Seattle Campus in the most recent data year. Computer Science graduates of University Of Washington Seattle Campus earn a median of $155,261 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $16,118.
See the full computer science program report for University Of Washington Seattle Campus
Purdue University Main Campus placed #21 among the best computer science schools. Located in the city of West Lafayette, Purdue University Main Campus is a very large public university. Purdue University Main Campus graduates 83% of students within six years. About 119 computer science degrees were awarded at Purdue University Main Campus in the most recent year. Computer Science graduates of Purdue University Main Campus earn a median of $94,786 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $19,375 to complete this degree.
See the full computer science program report for Purdue University Main Campus
University Of Chicago landed the #22 spot for computer science this year. Located in the city of Chicago, University Of Chicago is a very large private not-for-profit university. About 96% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 168 computer science students who graduated with this degree at University Of Chicago in the most recent data year. Students who receive their computer science degree from University Of Chicago earn around $135,918 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $15,854.
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Harvard University landed the #23 spot for computer science this year. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Cambridge. Harvard University graduates 98% of students within six years. There were roughly 59 computer science students who graduated with this degree at Harvard University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, computer science degree recipients from Harvard University generally make around $152,251. Harvard University graduates carry a median of $16,616 in student loans.
Read more about the computer science program at Harvard University
University Of Maryland College Park landed the #24 spot for computer science this year. University Of Maryland College Park is a very large public school located in the suburb of College Park. About 89% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 79 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.
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Stony Brook University ranked #25 on our 2026 list of the best computer science schools. Set in the suburb of Stony Brook, Stony Brook University is a very large public institution. Roughly 76% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 163 computer science students who graduated with this degree at Stony Brook University in the most recent data year. Computer Science graduates of Stony Brook University earn a median of $60,047 early in their careers. Stony Brook University graduates carry a median of $20,537 in student loans.
See the full computer science program report for Stony Brook University
Rest of the Top 50 Computer Science Schools
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s computer science ranking:
This list is compiled 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).
