### SUMMARY

 A degree in Computer Science is a valuable choice and generally a necessary first step for pupils hoping to enter a career as a software developer, an offensive cyber security analyst, or a front end developer. In fact, computer science is an extremely popular degree choice, coming in at the 19th most popular major. Last year, there were 31,737 computer science graduates. In-state tuition for computer science at private institutions is, on average, 4.1 times more spendy than their public rivals.

 There are 664 schools that offer computer science. This number of institutions is on par with other majors offered in the United States. If you're looking to immerse yourself with other computer science undergrads, consider looking at colleges in California which have more undergraduates admitted to computer science than any other state. Zooming out, the best region to major in computer science is in the Far West region with [University of California-Berkeley](/colleges/university-of-california-berkeley), [University of California-Irvine](/colleges/university-of-california-irvine), and [Oregon State University](/colleges/oregon-state-university) best representing the region. Interestingly, our selection for the best conference to study computer science is the Pacific-12 Conference with [Arizona State University-Tempe](/colleges/arizona-state-university-tempe), [University of California-Berkeley](/colleges/university-of-california-berkeley), and [Oregon State University](/colleges/oregon-state-university) representing the conference. Based on our comprehensive list on the [best colleges](/rankings/best-colleges), our choice for the best school for computer science is [Massachusetts Institute of Technology](/colleges/massachusetts-institute-of-technology).

 The overall best school does not have to be the 'best' school for every student. There are a bunch of factors to weigh when choosing college. Things such as campus amenities, transportation services, and food might definitely alter one's thoughts on which college to attend. Here at Authority, we have weighed the pros and cons for you. If, for example, you want to know which computer science university is home to the top campus, the answer is [Harvard University](/colleges/harvard-university). If you are primarily interested in which school has the finest campus, we have a whole page [dedicated to that](/rankings/best-college-campuses). We have carefully pored through student reviews, government databases, professor reviews, and more so we can compare every major in the United States in an unbiased and informative way. You can explore our well researched list for the schools with the [best student life](/rankings/best-student-life)&nbsphere and, from that list, our selection for the school with the best student life for computer science is [Cornell University](/colleges/cornell-university). Are you curious why? Keep scrolling to find out more about our top recommendations. Many of our decisions will probably surprise you.

 If cost is a significant factor in your choice of where you attend university, you might consider avoiding [Columbia University in the City of New York](/colleges/columbia-university-in-the-city-of-new-york). [Columbia University in the City of New York](/colleges/columbia-university-in-the-city-of-new-york)&nbspappears to be our most expensive college for computer science, at least for out of state attendance. We do have a page for the [most expensive](/rankings/most-expensive-colleges)&nbspschools that could put the price tag of [Columbia University in the City of New York](/colleges/columbia-university-in-the-city-of-new-york)&nbspinto perspective. You could also care to know that computer science is the 30th most expensive major in America, with an average associated cost of $52,300. To zoom out a little, the most costly state for computer science in the nation is Vermont with tuition and fees at the primary three colleges equalling $41,728 at Champlain College, adding up to $55,790 at Middlebury College, and costs of $55,790 at Landmark College. Even more broadly, the most expensive region of the country for computer science is the New England region which is best demonstrated with [Amherst College](/colleges/amherst-college) with a cost of $57,640, [Tufts University](/colleges/tufts-university) with a cost of $57,324, and [Landmark College](/colleges/landmark-college) with a cost of $59,100.

 Our cheapest region for computer science is the Rocky Mountains region which is represented by [Brigham Young University-Idaho](/colleges/brigham-young-university-idaho) with a cost of $4,208, [Brigham Young University-Provo](/colleges/brigham-young-university-provo) with a cost of $5,790, and [Western Governors University](/colleges/western-governors-university) with a cost of $6,380. In better news, the most affordable college for computer science is [Purdue University-Main Campus](/colleges/purdue-university-main-campus). Authority.org's full list of the most affordable schools can be explored [here](/rankings/most-affordable-colleges).

 In-state learners can anticipate paying about $9,700 for a degree in computer science. The price balloons by a lot to a median of $22,600 for an out-of-state public-school undergraduate. Our selection for the college with the best value for computer science: [Massachusetts Institute of Technology](/colleges/massachusetts-institute-of-technology). Here you can find our comprehensive list of the schools we believe to be the [best value](/rankings/best-value-colleges)&nbspoverall. Bear in mind, this discussion is based on being an out-of-state student. The value proposition changes when in-state tuition is considered, but as we do not know what state(s) you might qualify for in-state tuition, we are approaching this discussion through out-of-state tuition costs.

 Earnings for computer science majors vary a lot, but two-years after graduation students will often earn around $64,200. While there can be a lot of variation in earnings; highest paid earners can enjoy pay up to $109,500. Even right out of school, the lowest earning opportunities within the computer science field earn $38,000, which could be worse. The top earning graduates from computer science studied at [Massachusetts Institute of Technology](/colleges/massachusetts-institute-of-technology)&nbspand if you are looking for schools with all of the [highest earning graduates](/rankings/highest-earning-graduates), we have that too.

 The overall diversity of computer science sits quite high, ranking within the 91st percentile of all majors. The college with the highest composite diversity for computer science is [Massachusetts Institute of Technology](/colleges/massachusetts-institute-of-technology)&nbspand here you can find our general list of the colleges with the [most diversity](/rankings/most-diverse-colleges). The overall financial diversity of the Computer Science major only is in the 50th percentile of all majors. Racial diversity is greater than financial diversity, in the 93rd percentile. Students who are not white, black, latino, or asian compose the largest proportion at 37% of those majoring in computer science. Additionally, 77% of scholars seeking a computer science degree are men.

 The median rating of computer science professors is 3.8 stars, a rating that is 5% worse than the median score across all majors; this is a subpar score. If you are looking for the most popular computer science instructor nationally, look no further than Michael Rahni at [Los Angeles Valley College](/colleges/los-angeles-valley-college). This might be shocking, but the highest ranked professors for computer science by student are at [Southeastern Louisiana University](/colleges/southeastern-louisiana-university). If we consider data beyond basic rankings it becomes clear that the college possessing comprehensively the best professors for computer science is [Massachusetts Institute of Technology](/colleges/massachusetts-institute-of-technology). You will find an explanation of our ever evolving ranking methodology for the [best overall professors here](/rankings/best-professors), as well as some of the top examples of professors in the U.S.

 Finally, the most difficult university to get into for computer science is [Stanford University](/colleges/stanford-university). While we do not necessarily see the value in it, we have a general list of the [hardest colleges to get into](/rankings/hardest-colleges-to-get-into). That being said, here at Authority we hope you believe that considering the higher education world through a lens mainly informed by superlatives could be said to be the root of many of higher education's fundamental issues. We at Authority hope you read our more focused pages on individual colleges and read a few of our insightful background pages on important things to consider as you continue your college search.



 ### POPULARITY

 Computer science is the 19th most popular degree in America, with 31,737 students receiving their bachelors degree last year. It just beat out #20 [Sociology](/rankings/best-colleges-for-sociology), and narrowly lost to #18 [English Language and Literature](/rankings/best-colleges-for-english-language-and-literature).

 The degree is offered at a total of 664 colleges across the nation, and is the 29th most widely offered degree. Given that computer science is offered at 65% of the Top 100 [Best Colleges](/rankings/best-colleges) in America, you can be sure this is a critical degree and the skillsets acquired are likely to last for a long time.

 It is also worth noting that a tad less than 1/2 of colleges offering computer science are public making it a pretty accessible field.

 The far west produces the most computer science graduates, largely led by [University of California-Berkeley](/colleges/university-of-california-berkeley), while it’s the Pacific-12 Conference that leads conference totals. As far as states, California ranks highest, with particular help from [University of California-Berkeley](/colleges/university-of-california-berkeley) and [University of California-Irvine](/colleges/university-of-california-irvine).

 All that being said, no individual school produces more computer science graduates than [Cochise County Community College District](/colleges/cochise-county-community-college-district), which graduated 701 students last year alone. Although size is critical, another important factor to consider is the program’s density (the percent of all students that study computer science). More students studied computer science as a percentage of total students at [CollegeAmerica-Phoenix](/colleges/collegeamerica-phoenix) than any other college.



 ### COST

 Computer science is the 30th most expensive major in the US, with a median cost of $52,320 for the top 50 programs (just ahead of #31, [Chemistry](rankings/best-colleges-for-chemistry), with a median cost of $52,145).

 New England has the most expensive schools with top 50 computer science programs led by [Amherst College](/colleges/amherst-college) with an annual cost of $57,640. The most expensive state for computer science is Vermont led by [Champlain College](/colleges/champlain-college) and [Middlebury College](/colleges/middlebury-college).

 Public schools with solid programs by and large charge 75.55% less than private schools for in-state students. When looking at out-of-state tuition however, the median top 50 Public school charges 42.84% less than the median private school. So make sure to look into public shools in your state as soon as possible.

 The most costly option in the top 25 is [Columbia University in the City of New York](/colleges/columbia-university-in-the-city-of-new-york), which is the 3rd most expensive college in the nation. The most affordable option in the top 100 is [Brigham Young University-Provo](/colleges/brigham-young-university-provo). It costs just $5,790 per year, but it is ranked 91st for its computer science program. If you’re looking for a higher ranked, but still affordable option, [Purdue University-Main Campus](/colleges/purdue-university-main-campus)  could be a good fit for you, ranked #23 with an in-state cost of just $9,208. Another more affordable option would be #16, [University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign](/colleges/university-of-illinois-at-urbana-champaign) in Champaign County, IL with a cost of $12,036 for in-state students and $29,178 for out-of-state students.



### SALARY

 Starting college is a huge investment for most people. It is critical to ensure you get a good return on your investment. We hope the following job placement and income information help you in deciding your focus at college.

 Just after university, Computer Science graduates earn $72,297 per year on average, which is the 8th most of any major. After a little time in their careers, they can draw as high as $109,523 down to $37,990, but average about $64,164. For context, that's 66% higher than the American average.

 The most popular work position for a Computer Science graduate is Engineer, which commonly make roughly $59,000; next are Software Development Engineer and Senior Software Engineer, which by and large earn more or less $89,000 and $82,000 respectively.

 The highest grossing region for Computer Science graduates is New England. RI has the highest earning Computer Science graduates of any state. Ivy League has the most well paid Computer Science graduates of any conference..



### PROFESSORS

 Fast Facts for Computer Science: Median Professor Rating: 3.8 / 5, which is below average.

 Instructors constantly have a pivotal impact your college experience, regardless of your focus. An effective teacher may provide inspiration and even make a difficult subject seem fun. Alternatively, an ineffective professor can drive unwelcome anxiety or even worse... flunk you!

 Computer Science professors have a median student rating of 3.8 out of 5, which puts them in the bottom 15 percent in America based on overall professor effectivness. For context that's 5% less than the national median professor rating for all subjects. Professors of Computer Science barely edged-out those from ["Agricultural and Domestic Animal Services"](/rankings/best-colleges-for-agricultural-and-domestic-animal-services), whereas ["Economics"](/rankings/best-colleges-for-economics)&nbspprofessors ranked one slot above Computer Science.

 Now for some statistics about Computer Science professors. Colleges located in large suburbs tend to have the best Computer Science professors. The Mid-American Conference has the highest rated Computer Science professors. The Great Lakes region has the highest rated Computer Science professors. Public institutions tend to have higher rated Computer Science professors than private schools. Finally, Michigan has the highest rated Computer Science professors in the US.

 Michael Rahni, instructor at [Los Angeles Valley College](/colleges/los-angeles-valley-college)&nbspin Valley Glen, CA is the most popular Computer Science professor in the United States. August Kuiper, professor at [Southeastern Louisiana University](/colleges/southeastern-louisiana-university)&nbspin Hammond, LA is the highest rated Computer Science professor in the nation, with a rating of 5 / 5.

 See which schools have the [Best Professors](/rankings/best-professors)!



### STUDENTS

 College is one of the more impactful investments in one's life; it's a time for personal growth and maturation. Students continue to discover what they are capable of and forge the requisite skills to be a prosperous member of society. But learning goes beyond a classroom environment - the discussions which one has with their classmates, the funny story gained from an eccentric instructor, the exposure to a different way of looking it. As such, finding a diverse college vastly enhances what you gain from your time spent at university.

 Computer Science is a more popular subject for students of color than white students. 37% of the US' Computer Science majors are students of other races\*\*, followed by white students (32%), asian students (23%), and latino students (6%). The most racially diverse college\* in the top 100 is [Scripps College](/colleges/scripps-college) located in Claremont, CA.

 Secondly, Computer Science significatly skews male, with nearly 7/9ths of students majoring in Computer Science identifying as men. [Occidental College](/colleges/occidental-college) in Los Angeles, CA has the most gender balanced student body in the top 100.

 Another significant type of diversity is wealth diversity. Computer Science ranks somewhere around the median for income diversity (50th percentile). 30% of its majors come from homes that take home north of $110,000 per year, 16% are from mid-income homes, and 24% grew up in families with a sub $30,000 annual income. [University of North Carolina at Charlotte](/colleges/university-of-north-carolina-at-charlotte) has the most socioeconomically diverse student body in the top 100.

 Considering each type of diversity, overall FL is the most diverse state for Computer Science. The New England is the most diverse region, and the Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference is the most diverse conference.

   \* diversity calculations and comparisons are based on [Simpson's Diversity Index](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diversity_index)   
  \*\* other races is used to refer to non asian, black, latino, or white

  #### Diversity Statistics

  ##### Racial Diversity

 * Asian: 23%
* Black: 2%
* Latino: 6%
* White: 32%
* Other: 37%
  ##### Gender Diversity

 * Male: 77%
* Female: 23%
  ##### Socioeconomic Diversity (By Household Income)

 * Under 30k: 24%
* 30k - 48k: 15%
* 48k - 75k: 16%
* 75k - 110k: 14%
* Over 110k: 30%
  ##### Geographic Diversity

 * In State: 62%
* Out of State: 29%
* International: 9%


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2023 Computer Science Salary

There are about 144,819 students enrolled in Computer Science in the USA.

SALARY