The Best Computer Science Colleges

Top 15 Computer Science Colleges to Attend in the US Right Now

Congratulations! If you’re reading this, then you probably have decided to further your education in the computer sciences on a four-year program. While this decision might have been easy, the next ones might have you doing a little more research. 

The next step is to decide which university to attend. This is a significant decision as this will essentially set up the rest of your tech career.

You not only want to go to a college that best suits you, but you will also want to attend a college that is highly ranked for a computer science program. It is beneficial to attend a highly ranked university because this will help to further your career upon graduation. Furthermore, if you earn a degree from a highly ranked program then this will lead to a position in a highly regarded technology company, research institute, or government agency. 

It is a difficult task to research and to narrow down the top educational institutes, so we have done it for you. Read on for 15 colleges with the best computer science programs in the US. One interesting fact about this list is that the top four listed below are all tied for first place.

1.      Carnegie Mellon University

Carnegie Mellon University is located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and is listed, along with four others, as number one computer science college to attend. Carnegie Mellon’s School of Computer Science is universally recognized as one of the first computer science programs in the world. Additionally, the School of Computer Science is a private school that began in 1988.

In this program, they train the next generation to solve real-world problems and improve the way people work. Not only is Carnegie Mellon ranked top for their undergraduate computer science program, but they are also ranked number one for their computer science graduate programs.

2.      Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Massachusetts Institute of Technology, also known as MIT, is tied as number one for the best computer science colleges to attend. MIT is located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, and is a private research university. The beautiful campus extends along the Charles River. 

MIT is known for its specific course dubbed Electrical Engineering and Computer Sciences (EECS) which has been around for 130 years. MIT believes its students will change the world after receiving a degree. Along with Carnegie Mellon University, MIT is also worldly renowned for their master’s programs.

3.      Stanford University

Stanford University is also tied for the first place. Stanford University is of course located in Stanford, California but more specifically in Silicon Valley. Obviously, this location makes it extremely unique in comparison with the other computer science schools. 

Stanford University was founded in 1965 and has consistently been at the top for its computer science program since the beginning. Additionally, the Department of Computer Science is the center for research for both undergraduate and graduate levels. This program also includes areas of artificial intelligence and robotics that are all related to computer science functions.

4.       University of California (Berkeley)

The University of California (Berkley) is a public research university located in Berkeley, California. This is actually a flagship campus of the University which was founded in 1868. This fact makes the school the oldest of all the 10 campuses. It prides itself on providing the most comprehensive research program in the computer science field throughout the world.

5.      University of Illinois (Urbana-Champaign)

The University of Illinois (Urbana-Champaign) is a public land grant research university located between the two cities, Urbana and Champaign. This University was founded in 1867 as a flagship institution of the University of Illinois. Moreover, the Illinois Computer Science program considers its faculty to be pioneers in the computational revolution and believe it will supply its students with the best education to perform world-changing research.

6.      Cornell University

Number six on the list of best computer science colleges is Cornell University. Cornell is a private Ivy League research university in Ithaca, New York. It was founded in 1865 on the ground that it would teach and make contributions to sciences and additional fields of knowledge. Cornell is always listed among the best computer science colleges due to its contributions to the computer science industry.

7.     University of Washington

The University of Washington is tied for the number six spot with Cornell University. It is a public research university located in Seattle, Washington. This University was founded in 1861 and has been consistently ranked amongst the leading computer science programs in the nation. The University specifically calls its program the Paul G. Allen School of Computer Science & Engineering. The campus is uniquely placed alongside the Bill & Melinda Gates Center for Computer Science & Engineering, which are both located in the heart of the University. The Paul G. Allen School of Computer Science & Engineering is nationally recognized for its success in promoting diversity.

8.     Georgia Institute of Technology

This university shares the number 8 spot with Princeton University. The Georgia Institute of Technology, also known as Georgia Tech, is a public research university located in Atlanta, Georgia. The College of Computing is one of the newer colleges on the list as it was recently founded in 2007. Georgia Tech is known for conducting its research and teaching activities at both undergraduate and graduate levels.

9.      Princeton University

Princeton University is a private Ivy League Research University located in Princeton, New Jersey. It was originally founded as the College of New Jersey in 1746 and later changed its name to Princeton University. Princeton is the fourth oldest University in the United States. Princeton’s computer science program allows its students to enjoy all the advantages of a world-class university while having a strong representation in their specialization. They offer many computer science research specializations including current events comprising bitcoin, cryptocurrencies, and bioinformatics.

10.   University of Texas (Austin)

The University of Texas (Austin) comes in at number ten on the list. It is a public research university located right in Austin, Texas. It is a flagship university from the University of Texas System founded in 1883. It is known for having one of the top undergraduate programs in the country, and it prides itself on its world-class research faculty. Additionally, the University of Texas (Austin) allows its students to tailor their studies to specific fields that they are interested in within computer science.

11.   California Institute of Technology

We have another two-way tie at number 11 with the California Institute of Technology and the University of Michigan (Ann Arbor). The California Institute of Technology is located in Pasadena, California, and is known as a private research university. It was originally founded as a preparatory and vocational school in 1891. The Institute separates itself from others due to the fact that they have a smaller number of professors and peers. This fact allows for more individualized attention that many students enjoy. Currently, the numbers break down into 20 faculty members, 15 staff members, around 70 graduate students, and 80 undergraduate students. The curriculum often applies connections involving computer science to applied physics, bioengineering, economics, and biology.

12.  University of Michigan (Ann Arbor)

The University of Michigan (Ann Arbor) is tied with the California Institute of Technology for the number eleven spot on the list. This public research university is typically referred to as just Michigan. It was founded in 1817 and is, in fact, Michigan’s oldest university. The Computer Science and Engineering program is one of the oldest and most respected computer science programs in the world. Michigan is also known for providing internationally recognized faculty and a progressive curriculum to ensure their students succeed in the future.

13.  Columbia University

Sticking with the common theme of a tie, here is a three-way tie for the number 13 spot. Columbia University is our first which is a private Ivy League research university located right in New York City. It was founded in 1754 in Manhattan, making it the oldest higher education institution in New York and the fifth oldest in the US. Columbia University offers terrific opportunities for its students to further their education and get involved in computer science programs after graduation as well.

14.   University of California, Los Angeles

The University of California, Los Angeles, better known as UCLA, is a public research university located right in the heart of Los Angeles, California. UCLA was founded in 1882 originally as the southern branch of the California State Normal School. The UCLA Computer Science Department always strives for excellence in creating and applying knowledge in computer science through research in collaboration with the industry, the community, the state, and the nation.

15.  University of Wisconsin (Madison)

Finally, the last university on our list—although still tied with Columbia and UCLA for #13—is the University of Wisconsin. The University of Wisconsin was founded in 1848 and is a public research university. UW is the official state university but also considered the flagship campus for the University of Wisconsin System. Moreover, it calls its computer science department a computing powerhouse. It offers students the opportunity to conduct research alongside its prestigious and award-winning faculty members. A unique factor of the University of Wisconsin is that along with its research programs, it also offers students a special class to launch their own software startup company. UW also gives its students many opportunities to push their skills and test their abilities in this program.

Time to Enroll! Which College Will You Choose?

There you have it—these top 15 universities are ranked the best when it comes to their computer science programs. As you can see in the list above, these programs are incredibly competitive with each other. Each college and program offers something different for its students.  Some programs offer computer science certificates while others provide a degree. Both types of programs are very useful when entering the computer science field.

If you are currently deciding which university and program to enroll in, take the time to list down your short-term and long-term goals. Not only is each program vastly different but these universities are all located in unique cities that are scattered throughout the United States. You will need to decide if you want to spend the next four years in the bustling New York City streets, near sunny Silicon Valley, or on the opposite end of the spectrum in rural Ann Arbor, Michigan. No matter which university and program that you decide, you will be receiving the top computer science education in the US—and even the world.