It should come as no surprise that computer science and all of its subfields are going to be more important than ever in the future. The computer science field is rich, and if you follow this path, you could land a career at a Fortune 500 company. To accomplish this, you will need to be able to keep company image and products looking fresh through your web development skill or make sure security measures are up to date.
The career possibilities are nearly endless, but you must have the right degree type and concentrate on the path you want to follow. Not only do you have a bevy of paths to choose from under computer science’s broad scope, but many companies don’t always have requirements in hiring employees.
Why Choose a Computer Science Degree?
Getting employed at a top tech company may seem like a daunting task, but everyone in the computer science field had to start somewhere.
Arguably, the most significant step for a tech student is learning how to program and code. Coding and programming skills will allow you to create the building blocks of websites, mobile applications, and video games. Computer science is the perfect college major to take if you want to assist in building a virtual world.
However, learning the basics of computer science is no walk in the park; chances are you’ll need a helping hand now and then. There are luckily a vast number of resources and people that you can count on to boost your computer science journey.
According to the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics, many careers in the computer sciences are extremely lucrative and provide a healthy salary, with some tech companies paying over $120,000 a year. Know that some of these jobs are with well-known tech companies that have ever existed.
A bachelor of computer science degree is the ideal qualification to have if you are job hunting in this field, but many companies have and will accept people with merely an associate degree and some experience. But, where is the best place to get your degree in computer science in the first place? It’s not a decision to be taken lightly!
Let’s look at the top computer science schools that have earned fantastic reputations through their detailed computer science degree programs.
1. Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)
There’s probably no better-known technology institute in the US than MIT. Not only that, but MIT consistently comes out on top of university rankings worldwide for technology studies.
MIT’s Electrical Engineering and Computer Science Department is their largest undergraduate program and provides all you need to know about computer science.
The school is also famous for its fantastic research projects into cancer, nuclear science, engineering, nanoscience, nanotechnology, robotics, and artificial intelligence (AI). You can always count on MIT to be on the frontlines of scientific and technological breakthroughs.
2. Harvard University
It’s no secret Harvard graduates enjoy a higher level of employment due to their alma mater, but it’s with good reason. Harvard University is much more than just a famous name.
Students at the university will explore, research, and execute concepts in the field by studying computer science at the Harvard School of Engineering, where they can earn an A.B. in Computer Science, A.B./S.M. in Computer Science, or enter the Mind, Brain, and Behavior Program (MBB).
The university also allows students to participate in important research projects, and provide world-class career guides.
3. Stanford University
Located in the heart of Silicon Valley in California, it’s no surprise that Stanford is a staple in the computer science department. Here, you’ll join approximately 17,000 other students, including those enrolled at the Stanford engineering school, where bachelor’s, master’s, and doctorate degrees in science and philosophy are offered.
Stanford is dedicated to meticulous research and furthering human knowledge, as exhibited by their in-depth projects involving AI, robotics, and more. Students of computer science at Stanford are also given fantastic teaching and postgraduate opportunities, while graduates are regularly being scouted by companies like Google and Apple.
4. Carnegie Mellon University
Another fantastic technological powerhouse in the eastern US, Carnegie Mellon in Pittsburgh is world-renowned for its dedication to furthering technology in all fields.
The university is consistently ranked as one of the best in the country. If you can see yourself studying here, you can expect to be enrolled in their School of Computer Science, which ranked #1 in graduate programs for computer science. The school also specializes in AI, so if you see yourself working in this field in the future, you should consider applying.
5. University of California Berkeley (UC Berkeley)
UC Berkeley is one of the original 14 schools of the Association of American Universities, dedicated to furthering public research. The university has lived up to that ideal by putting millions into research and development annually.
They have strong ties with world-class laboratories, as well as the US Department of Energy.
Students will study their major in the Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Sciences. You can choose between the EECS Bachelor of Science and a CS Bachelor of Arts programs. The latter is better for having a more comprehensive education, while the BS is more suited towards those learning engineering.
6. Princeton University
Founded in the mid-1700s, Princeton is another great example of a storied and celebrated university dedicated to amazing research. Its Department of Computer Science is the branch where computer science students will follow in the footsteps of famous alumni like Alan Turning, Jeff Bezos, and John von Neumann.
Princeton University offers multiple degrees in computer science, as well as fantastic graduate programs and job opportunities after you’ve finished your studies.
7. Columbia University
Located amid the hustle and bustle of Morningside Heights in Manhattan, Columbia University is the premier university in New York City.
If you are interested in learning programming and coding here, you can expect to make your way to the Department of Computer Science, where you can take part in six BA/BS programs, three master’s programs, and a doctoral program heavily emphasizing research.
Columbia University also offers its Life After CS@CU initiative, a program that allows students to access career resources such as workshops. The university also has a robust alumni network to give you a helping hand.
8. University of Illinois
The University of Illinois’ system is made up of three branches in Chicago, Springfield, and Urbana-Champaign, all offering computer science degrees.
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Computer science is taught at The Grainger College of Engineering. There are degrees like a BS in Computer Science, as well as unique and comprehensive options like CS + X Degree Programs. The CS + X programs allow students to focus on computer science along with other major subjects at the university like arts and sciences to help students earn a more well-rounded education.
They also offer the valuable Illinois Computing Accelerator for Nonstudents (ICAN). This valuable resource aims to help students with no computer science degree to broaden their horizons with a year-long certificate program. This is a great resource for someone who’s on the fence about attending a university full-time.
9. University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA)
Thanks in part to UCLA, the internet was born. UCLA researchers were the first to create a network connection, consisting of two computers, in 1969. They went even further by transmitting the first internet message to Stanford via ARPANET. UCLA has been at the forefront of computer science greatness for decades and it hasn’t looked back since.
Computer science students will enroll in the Samueli School of Engineering, which has over 30 research labs and a team of talented faculty to help you earn your degree.
Studying here could give you employment access to some of the biggest tech companies in the country. UCLA has a fantastic reputation with multiple huge companies like Microsoft, Google, IBM, and Facebook, meaning that those companies are more alert for talented computer science graduates emerging from the institution.
Wrapping Up with the Best Computer Science Schools
If you choose any of these institutions as a place to study computer science, you will find some of the most impressive, noteworthy, and comprehensive programming and coding programs in the world.
While computer science may not come easily at first, the plethora of resources you would have at your disposal, as well as the help of faculty members like advisors and career coaches, will allow you to earn your computer science degree in no time.
Are you interested in hardcore scientific research dealing with AI and nanotechnology? Or are you a dedicated programmer that wants to help develop software and change the face of the internet? These fantastic schools and different degree programs offer so much variety that you can find something that is uniquely YOU at any of these world-class institutions.
About us: Career Karma is a platform designed to help job seekers find, research, and connect with job training programs to advance their careers. Learn about the CK publication.
