Computer Science major
Computer Science: courses, careers, and where to study
Computer Science combines the mathematical foundations of computation with practical software engineering, preparing graduates for careers in software, AI/ML, security, data, and research.
Nationally, bachelor's graduates in Computer Science earn a median $107,009 four years after graduating; the middle half of programs ranges from $74,830 to $152,038 (2017-19 graduates, measured 2022-23, College Scorecard). By credential and college
A Computer Science (CS) major covers algorithms, data structures, operating systems, computer architecture, programming languages, databases, and the mathematics behind them, discrete math, linear algebra, and probability. Most CS programs require 3–4 semesters of math and physics in addition to the major.
By the time graduates leave, they can write production code in multiple languages, reason about algorithmic complexity, design and reason about distributed systems, and have at least one specialization (AI/ML, security, systems, theory, or applications). Many CS programs offer concentrations or BS-vs-BA tracks; the BS typically requires more math and engineering coursework.
Academic classification (CIP)
In the federal Classification of Instructional Programs, Computer Science maps to CIP 11.0701, Computer Science, within the COMPUTER AND INFORMATION SCIENCES AND SUPPORT SERVICES family. The official definition:
A program that focuses on computer theory, computing problems and solutions, and the design of computer systems and user interfaces from a scientific perspective. Includes instruction in the principles of computational science, computer development and programming, and applications to a variety of end-use situations.
Source: U.S. Department of Education (NCES), Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP) 2020. View on nces.ed.gov
What credential Computer Science is awarded as
Of the 89,591 Computer Science credentials U.S. colleges reported conferring in 2024-25:
- Certificate: <1%, 597 credentials.
- Associate: 7%, 6,673 credentials.
- Bachelor's: 59%, 52,964 credentials.
- Graduate: 33%, 29,357 credentials.
This mix is fairly consistent nationally: across the 49 states reporting it, the certificate share moves by about 2 percentage points between the 10th and 90th percentile state, so the credential is more a property of the field than of where you study it. See the full study.
Credentials conferred in 2024-25, U.S. Department of Education IPEDS completions. A certificate is a different credential from a degree, not a lesser one, and this counts what was awarded rather than what a college currently offers.
What you'll study
- Programming foundations in languages like Python, Java, C/C++, and JavaScript
- Algorithm design and analysis (Big-O, dynamic programming, graph algorithms)
- Data structures (arrays, trees, hash tables, heaps, graphs)
- Operating systems, networks, and computer architecture
- Databases and distributed systems
- Discrete mathematics, linear algebra, probability, and statistics
- Software engineering practices: version control, testing, code review, agile workflows
- A specialization track such as AI/ML, security, theory, systems, or HCI
Typical careers
- Software Engineer
- Data Engineer
- Machine Learning Engineer
- Site Reliability Engineer
- Security Engineer
- Research Scientist (CS PhD)
Typical salary range: $78,000–$135,000 early-career (BLS, 2024 software developers median $133,080)Ranges are early-career estimates. Any BLS figure shown is the occupation-wide median across all experience levels, not a starting wage, and is informational only.
How much do Computer Science graduates earn?
Nationally, bachelor's graduates in Computer Science earn a median $107,009 four years after graduating; the middle half of programs ranges from $74,830 to $152,038 (2017-19 graduates, measured 2022-23, College Scorecard).
| Credential | National median | Middle half of programs |
|---|---|---|
| Bachelor's | $107,009 | $74,830 to $152,038 |
| Associate's | $62,283 | $37,466 to $91,416 |
| Undergraduate certificate | $77,690 | $34,871 to $111,585 |
| Master's | $145,571 | $108,475 to $208,641 |
| Doctoral | $178,476 | $122,550 to $261,974 |
Compare Computer Science programs in your state
Highest-earning bachelor's Computer Science programs
- Carnegie Mellon University (PA): $268,121, median federal debt $21,442
- Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MA): $225,141, median federal debt $11,077
- Cornell University (NY): $223,309, median federal debt $14,750
- Princeton University (NJ): $217,973
- Stanford University (CA): $214,907, median federal debt $10,399
- Brown University (RI): $214,479, median federal debt $11,500
- Williams College (MA): $209,574, median federal debt $12,208
- University of California, Berkeley (CA): $204,379, median federal debt $13,750
- Harvard University (MA): $203,169
- Dartmouth College (NH): $201,702, median federal debt $18,490
Ordered by median earnings: one federal measure, not a ranking of program quality. Federal program group: Computer Science. Earnings: graduates of 2017-18 and 2018-19, earnings measured in 2022 and 2023, in 2024 dollars, for graduates who received federal aid, worked and were not enrolled. Programs need at least 30 graduates in the earnings cohort to be listed; multi-state systems whose figures pool campuses are not listed. Source: U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard, 10 June 2026. How much the college matters, by major. Graduate programs over the new federal loan caps.
Related occupations
Occupations the federal CIP–SOC crosswalk associates with Computer Science, with what each one pays and how many openings it is projected to average each year. Ordered by projected annual openings, largest first. Linked titles open the full CampusPin career page.
| Occupation | Median pay | Openings / yr | Projected change | Most entrants hold |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Software Developers | $133,080 | 115,200 | +15.8% | Bachelor's degree |
| Computer and Information Systems Managers | $171,200 | 55,600 | +15.2% | Bachelor's degree |
| Computer Occupations, All Other | $108,970 | 31,300 | +8.2% | Bachelor's degree |
| Data Scientists | $112,590 | 23,400 | +33.5% | Bachelor's degree |
| Information Security Analysts | $124,910 | 16,000 | +28.5% | Bachelor's degree |
| Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers | $102,610 | 14,000 | +10% | Bachelor's degree |
| Computer Network Support Specialists | $73,340 | 9,600 | +1.8% | Associate's degree |
| Web and Digital Interface Designers | $98,090 | 9,100 | +7% | Bachelor's degree |
| Computer Programmers | $98,670 | 5,500 | -6% | Bachelor's degree |
| Web Developers | $90,930 | 5,400 | +7.5% | Bachelor's degree |
| Database Architects | $135,980 | 4,000 | +8.7% | Bachelor's degree |
| Computer Science Teachers, Postsecondary | $96,690 | 3,500 | +5.3% | Doctoral or professional degree |
| Computer and Information Research Scientists | $140,910 | 3,200 | +19.7% | Master's degree |
Crosswalk: U.S. Department of Education (NCES), CIP 2020 to SOC 2018. Pay, openings and projections: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (2024 wages, Employment Projections). 13 of these 13 occupations report a median wage.
“Most entrants hold” is what BLS observes about people already working in the occupation. It is not a legal requirement, not an admission rule, and not a guarantee of entry. Studying Computer Science does not guarantee any specific occupation, and many of these roles are entered from several different fields. Projected openings are a projection, not jobs promised.
Before you commit to a Computer Science major
CampusPin does not rank programs. Use these prompts to pressure-test whether a specific Computer Science program fits your goals, they are decision questions, not claims about any school.
Ask the Computer Science department
- Which concentrations or specializations are offered, and which faculty lead them?
- What does the typical course sequence look like, and how much is required vs. elective?
- What labs, studios, clinical placements, or research opportunities are available to undergraduates?
- Is there a capstone, thesis, internship, or co-op requirement?
Ask current students & check the curriculum
- How heavy is the workload, and how accessible is the faculty?
- What internships or co-ops did you do, and where do recent graduates end up?
- Does the required curriculum actually match the careers listed above?
- How easy is it to add a minor, double major, or switch tracks later?
Find a Computer Science program
CampusPin lists U.S. universities and community colleges by state, tuition, school size, acceptance rate, and campus setting, no account required.
Colleges that awarded the most Computer Science credentials
Largest by credentials conferred in 2024-25. This measures the size of the graduating class, not quality, and it is not a ranking.
- University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, IL · 1,684 credentials
- Arizona State University Campus Immersion, AZ · 1,652 credentials
- University of Central Missouri, MO · 1,608 credentials
- University of Southern California, CA · 1,551 credentials
- Southern New Hampshire University, NH · 1,530 credentials
- Western Governors University, UT · 1,439 credentials
- University of Maryland-College Park, MD · 1,339 credentials
- Oregon State University, OR · 1,299 credentials
- University of North Carolina at Charlotte, NC · 1,216 credentials
- University of California-Berkeley, CA · 1,109 credentials
- Stanford University, CA · 1,018 credentials
- Cornell University, NY · 970 credentials
Based on credentials this institution reported conferring in the federal IPEDS completions collection for 2024-25. It confirms the field was awarded that year, not that the program currently accepts students, and it covers only the fields CampusPin tracks. Confirm current offerings with the institution.
Where Computer Science credentials were awarded
39 states have a distinct enough set of Computer Science colleges to be worth its own page.
- California: 134 colleges
- New York: 78 colleges
- Pennsylvania: 54 colleges
- Texas: 45 colleges
- Massachusetts: 43 colleges
- Illinois: 42 colleges
- Ohio: 37 colleges
- Virginia: 35 colleges
- Washington: 34 colleges
- Minnesota: 32 colleges
- Indiana: 30 colleges
- Michigan: 25 colleges
- North Carolina: 24 colleges
- Tennessee: 24 colleges
- Florida: 22 colleges
- Missouri: 18 colleges
- New Jersey: 18 colleges
- Iowa: 18 colleges
- Colorado: 17 colleges
- Georgia: 17 colleges
- Louisiana: 17 colleges
- Maryland: 16 colleges
- Wisconsin: 16 colleges
- Arkansas: 13 colleges
- South Carolina: 13 colleges
- Oregon: 12 colleges
- Oklahoma: 12 colleges
- Alabama: 11 colleges
- Kansas: 11 colleges
- Mississippi: 10 colleges
- Connecticut: 8 colleges
- Vermont: 8 colleges
- Maine: 8 colleges
- New Hampshire: 7 colleges
- Rhode Island: 7 colleges
- Nebraska: 7 colleges
- Hawaii: 5 colleges
- Montana: 5 colleges
- West Virginia: 5 colleges
Computer Science by state
Every Computer Science program with its own CampusPin page
144 programs in 37 states, A to Z by state and then by college. Each page gives what the program's graduates earned four years after finishing, what they borrowed in federal loans, the monthly payment, and how the program compares with others in its state and the nation. The figure beside each college is the median for its largest credential with at least 30 graduates (U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard, 2017-19 graduates, measured 2022-23). The list is alphabetical; it is not a ranking.
Computer Science programs in Arizona, 3 programs
- Arizona State University Campus Immersion Bachelor's, $114,868
- Northern Arizona University Bachelor's, $99,067
- University of Arizona Bachelor's, $117,451
Computer Science programs in California, 25 programs
- California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo Bachelor's, $154,784
- California State Polytechnic University-Pomona Bachelor's, $103,494
- California State University-Channel Islands Bachelor's, $100,887
- California State University-Chico Bachelor's, $127,498
- California State University-Dominguez Hills Bachelor's, $59,603
- California State University-East Bay Bachelor's, $119,900
- California State University-Fullerton Bachelor's, $87,460
- California State University-Long Beach Bachelor's, $101,428
- California State University-Los Angeles Bachelor's, $87,525
- California State University-Monterey Bay Bachelor's, $101,787
- California State University-Northridge Bachelor's, $101,348
- California State University-Sacramento Bachelor's, $92,519
- California State University-San Bernardino Bachelor's, $74,845
- California State University-San Marcos Bachelor's, $97,827
- California State University-Stanislaus Bachelor's, $71,601
- San Diego State University Bachelor's, $100,586
- San Francisco State University Bachelor's, $105,166
- Sonoma State University Bachelor's, $106,181
- University of California-Irvine Bachelor's, $127,404
- University of California-Riverside Bachelor's, $117,705
- University of California-San Diego Bachelor's, $159,487
- University of California-Santa Barbara Bachelor's, $149,190
- University of California-Santa Cruz Bachelor's, $123,422
- University of California, Berkeley Bachelor's, $204,379
- University of Southern California Master's, $188,871
Computer Science programs in Colorado, 5 programs
- Colorado School of Mines Bachelor's, $127,217
- Metropolitan State University of Denver Bachelor's, $111,187
- Regis University Bachelor's, $114,098
- University of Colorado Boulder Bachelor's, $121,952
- University of Colorado Colorado Springs Bachelor's, $97,001
Computer Science programs in Connecticut, 1 program
- University of Connecticut Bachelor's, $108,934
Computer Science programs in Florida, 1 program
- Full Sail University Bachelor's, $77,512
Computer Science programs in Georgia, 3 programs
- Georgia State University Bachelor's, $100,582
- Kennesaw State University Bachelor's, $96,481
- University of Georgia Bachelor's, $107,397
Computer Science programs in Hawaii, 1 program
- University of Hawaii at Manoa Bachelor's, $77,502
Computer Science programs in Idaho, 1 program
- Boise State University Bachelor's, $112,120
Computer Science programs in Illinois, 12 programs
- Illinois Institute of Technology Bachelor's, $120,953
- Illinois State University Bachelor's, $111,099
- Lewis University Bachelor's, $82,159
- Northeastern Illinois University Bachelor's, $88,917
- Northern Illinois University Bachelor's, $93,438
- Northwestern University Bachelor's, $155,106
- Southern Illinois University-Carbondale Bachelor's, $91,299
- Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville Bachelor's, $106,082
- University of Chicago Master's, $169,765
- University of Illinois Chicago Bachelor's, $120,470
- University of Illinois Springfield Master's, $126,156
- University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Master's, $179,395
Computer Science programs in Indiana, 4 programs
- Indiana University-Bloomington Bachelor's, $114,199
- Indiana University-Indianapolis Bachelor's, $94,380
- Purdue University-Main Campus Bachelor's, $146,685
- Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology Bachelor's, $123,753
Computer Science programs in Iowa, 2 programs
- Iowa State University Bachelor's, $104,211
- University of Northern Iowa Bachelor's, $89,305
Computer Science programs in Louisiana, 3 programs
- Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College Bachelor's, $89,307
- Louisiana Tech University Bachelor's, $96,365
- University of Louisiana at Lafayette Bachelor's, $83,527
Computer Science programs in Maryland, 3 programs
- Towson University Bachelor's, $104,653
- University of Maryland, Baltimore County Bachelor's, $105,706
- University of Maryland, College Park Bachelor's, $137,931
Computer Science programs in Massachusetts, 10 programs
- Boston College Bachelor's, $143,204
- Boston University Bachelor's, $136,667
- Brandeis University Bachelor's, $123,460
- Bridgewater State University Bachelor's, $87,099
- Massachusetts Institute of Technology Bachelor's, $225,141
- Tufts University Bachelor's, $156,343
- University of Massachusetts Amherst Bachelor's, $123,519
- University of Massachusetts Lowell Bachelor's, $111,612
- Wentworth Institute of Technology Bachelor's, $121,671
- Worcester Polytechnic Institute Bachelor's, $134,208
Computer Science programs in Michigan, 4 programs
- Central Michigan University Bachelor's, $89,216
- Davenport University Bachelor's, $76,469
- Michigan Technological University Bachelor's, $105,428
- Western Michigan University Bachelor's, $90,876
Computer Science programs in Minnesota, 4 programs
- Metropolitan State University Bachelor's, $92,342
- University of Minnesota Twin Cities Bachelor's, $111,661
- University of Minnesota-Duluth Bachelor's, $91,911
- Winona State University Bachelor's, $88,164
Computer Science programs in Missouri, 5 programs
- Missouri State University-Springfield Bachelor's, $93,094
- University of Central Missouri Bachelor's, $90,822
- University of Missouri-Kansas City Bachelor's, $97,043
- University of Missouri-St Louis Bachelor's, $102,723
- Washington University in St Louis Bachelor's, $177,066
Computer Science programs in Montana, 1 program
- Montana State University Bachelor's, $111,728
Computer Science programs in Nebraska, 1 program
- University of Nebraska at Omaha Bachelor's, $107,248
Computer Science programs in Nevada, 1 program
- University of Nevada-Las Vegas Bachelor's, $94,475
Computer Science programs in New Hampshire, 1 program
- Dartmouth College Bachelor's, $201,702
Computer Science programs in New York, 11 programs
- Binghamton University Bachelor's, $126,183
- College of Staten Island CUNY Bachelor's, $89,093
- Columbia University in the City of New York Bachelor's, $188,265
- Cornell University Bachelor's, $223,309
- CUNY Hunter College Bachelor's, $102,321
- CUNY Lehman College Bachelor's, $85,351
- CUNY Queens College Bachelor's, $112,903
- Marist College Bachelor's, $111,893
- Rochester Institute of Technology Bachelor's, $135,702
- University at Buffalo Bachelor's, $105,160
- University of Rochester Bachelor's, $155,464
Computer Science programs in North Carolina, 9 programs
- Appalachian State University Bachelor's, $97,670
- Duke University Bachelor's, $195,809
- East Carolina University Bachelor's, $98,406
- North Carolina A & T State University Bachelor's, $105,342
- North Carolina State University at Raleigh Bachelor's, $113,478
- University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Bachelor's, $137,047
- University of North Carolina at Charlotte Bachelor's, $93,037
- University of North Carolina at Greensboro Bachelor's, $86,372
- University of North Carolina Wilmington Bachelor's, $88,219
Computer Science programs in North Dakota, 1 program
- North Dakota State University-Main Campus Bachelor's, $87,562
Computer Science programs in Ohio, 3 programs
- Case Western Reserve University Bachelor's, $143,580
- Kent State University at Kent Bachelor's, $91,614
- Ohio University-Main Campus Bachelor's, $93,282
Computer Science programs in Oklahoma, 2 programs
- Northeastern State University Bachelor's, $67,854
- University of Oklahoma-Norman Campus Bachelor's, $110,853
Computer Science programs in Oregon, 2 programs
- Oregon State University Bachelor's, $121,405
- Portland State University Bachelor's, $113,889
Computer Science programs in Pennsylvania, 4 programs
- Carnegie Mellon University Bachelor's, $268,121
- Drexel University Bachelor's, $113,610
- Lehigh University Bachelor's, $141,691
- University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus Bachelor's, $108,680
Computer Science programs in Rhode Island, 1 program
- Brown University Bachelor's, $214,479
Computer Science programs in Tennessee, 5 programs
- Middle Tennessee State University Bachelor's, $96,485
- Tennessee Technological University Bachelor's, $90,521
- The University of Tennessee-Chattanooga Bachelor's, $82,644
- The University of Tennessee-Knoxville Bachelor's, $106,312
- Vanderbilt University Bachelor's, $160,021
Computer Science programs in Texas, 3 programs
- Texas A & M University-College Station Bachelor's, $124,283
- Texas State University Bachelor's, $104,127
- The University of Texas at Arlington Bachelor's, $109,197
Computer Science programs in Utah, 3 programs
- Brigham Young University Bachelor's, $142,800
- University of Utah Bachelor's, $137,329
- Utah Valley University Bachelor's, $115,541
Computer Science programs in Vermont, 1 program
- University of Vermont Bachelor's, $81,160
Computer Science programs in Virginia, 2 programs
- Christopher Newport University Bachelor's, $101,900
- Radford University Bachelor's, $87,740
Computer Science programs in Washington, 4 programs
- Central Washington University Bachelor's, $95,368
- Seattle University Bachelor's, $128,314
- University of Washington-Seattle Campus Bachelor's, $175,616
- Washington State University Bachelor's, $119,686
Computer Science programs in West Virginia, 1 program
- West Virginia University Bachelor's, $98,277
Computer Science programs in Wisconsin, 1 program
- University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Bachelor's, $92,342
Related majors
Cybersecurity
Cybersecurity prepares graduates to defend networks, systems, and data, combining computing fundamentals with offensive and defensive security techniques and the policy frameworks that govern them.
Data Science
Data Science combines statistics, programming, and domain expertise to turn raw data into decisions, drawing on machine learning, visualization, and data engineering.
Information Technology
Information Technology (IT) focuses on applying computing systems to organizational needs, administering networks, supporting users, building business systems, and managing IT operations.
Mathematics
Mathematics develops formal proof, abstraction, and quantitative analysis, feeding into research, finance, computing, actuarial science, and graduate programs across STEM.
Electrical Engineering
Electrical Engineering applies physics and math to circuits, power, and electronics, suiting students who want to design the hardware and systems behind modern technology.
Still deciding between Computer Science and something else?
These guides put Computer Science side by side with the major it is most often confused with, using the federal CIP–SOC crosswalk to show where the two actually lead.
Computer Science vs Information Technology
Coursework, shared and distinct occupations, and BLS pay for both.
Computer Science vs Software Engineering
Coursework, shared and distinct occupations, and BLS pay for both.
Computer Science vs Computer Engineering
Coursework, shared and distinct occupations, and BLS pay for both.
Computer Science vs Data Science
Coursework, shared and distinct occupations, and BLS pay for both.
Put this major in context
The salary above is an occupation-wide median from federal data, not a starting wage or a guarantee. These CampusPin guides and reports help you read it well, see where a Computer Science degree can lead, and weigh it against cost and program quality.
Explore Computing & Math careers
Median pay, job outlook, and the occupations this field covers.
Explore Management careers
Median pay, job outlook, and the occupations this field covers.
How one major leads to many careers
Why a single Computer Science degree can open more than one path, and how to read the occupations above.
Why a median wage is not a starting salary
How to read a BLS median, and why early-career pay usually sits below it.
When accreditation and licensure matter
How program accreditation and state licensure can shape a Computer Science path before you enroll.
Does a pricier college pay off?
How college cost lines up with graduation and earnings, an association, not a ranking.
Does picking a major narrow your college list?
Across the federal completions data, most fields barely change which colleges are on the table. Which ones genuinely do.
Certificate or degree?
What credential a field is usually awarded as is mostly set by the field itself, not by the state, with a short list of exceptions.
How this guide is sourced
This is an editorial guide from the CampusPin Editorial Team. Career and wage figures are from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, occupation-wide medians across all experience levels, not starting wages, and link to each career page. Program availability comes from CampusPin's free institution search; CampusPin does not assert that any specific school offers this exact major until that program data is verified. Last reviewed 2026-06-15. How CampusPin sources data · Report a correction.