Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Looking for a major that can basically ensure a solid paycheck upon graduation? Yeah, computer science might be for you. Computer science majors can code their way to the top at a variety of technology companies, or they can spend their days creating cool new apps that will change our lives for the better (Snapchat, anyone?)

If this sounds like a lifestyle you'd be interested in, then you may want to look into pursuing your studies at one of the top 10 computer science schools in the country.

Editor's Note: College Factual bases college rankings by major on a unique selection of characteristics, including the quality of the overall school, Focus Coefficient and the starting and mid-career salaries of graduates within the major, among other factors.[1]

1. Massachusetts Institute of Technology[2]

MIT is home to a broad range of diverse minds from all around the world. The Power Electronic Research Group[3] is focusing on increasing microchip efficiency, seeing the demand will increase 80% by 2030. The Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Lab teamed with Microsoft and Adobe to visually record the minute vibrations of objects and translate them into normally inaudible sound.

Established in 1860, MIT currently has an endowment of $13.475 billion. Its student-to-faculty ratio is 8 to 1, giving students considerable aid in amazing research projects. The on-time graduation rate is 81%, and the school ranks #11 in the nation[4]. Computer science graduates earn an average starting salary of $78,000.

Stanford University is extremely well-known for its engineering and computer science departments[5]. Instead of focusing on a traditional computer science degree, students may want to consider one of Stanford's interdisciplinary programs in computer systems engineering, symbolic systems or mathematical and computational sciences.

Stanford's has a solid reputation for academic excellence and ranks #4 on College Factual's list of overall best nationwide colleges. Additionally, the school has a low student loan default rate, a 10-to-1 student-to-faculty ratio, and offers students a strong earnings boost upon graduation.  Graduates who major in computer science report average starting salaries of $78,000[6].

2. Stanford University[7]

Computer science is the second most popular major here, so when you're staying up all night staring at your computer screen at least you won't be alone. And according to the school's website, these students know how to have fun outside of the classroom too: "We're people, too[8]. Longboards get us around campus, the Honor Code gives us freedom and responsibility, pranks keep us laughing, and parties make us famous. So not only do we know how to get things done, we know how to have a good time."

3. University of California-Los Angeles[9]

California universities are heavily represented on this list, showing the great steps this area of the country is taking in the computer science field. UCLA, in particular, excels in the field of encryption among other things. The university is also known as the birthplace of the Internet. Professor Leonard Kleinrock[10] played a major role in the development of ARPANET, the precursor to our modern-day Internet.

With 42,000 students, UCLA is a bustling and bright institution at the heart of a large global city. The 419-acre campus is located near Hollywood, Pacific beaches and multiple Los Angeles sports arenas. The university supports an ethnically diverse student body, and there are plenty of extracurricular activities for those who enjoy exercising both their bodies and their brains. Computer science graduates[11] earn about $69,000 on average for starting salaries.

4. University of Southern California[12]

This private California school adds to the state's success in computer innovation. Recent accomplishments of the computer science department[13] include advancements in DNA computing, software architectures, human-robot interaction, game theory and statistical natural language processing. Together with the School of Cinema-Television, the largest school of its kind in the country, computer science students can collaborate with Academy Award winners.

Despite the 40,000 student population, USC maintains a 9-to-1 student-to-faculty ratio. About 97% of freshmen stay on for another year and graduate on-time at a 76% rate. Computer science majors start their careers with an average salary of $64,000[14].

Dig deeper into College Factual's rankings

5. University of Pennsylvania[15]

Founded in 1740, the University of Pennsylvania has long been known as a high-quality institution, and ranks #3 on College Factual's list of overall best colleges. The 992-acre campus in the heart of Philadelphia features Collegiate Gothic architecture. It includes the Wistar Institute, the nation's first independent institution devoted to medical research and training, and is near Drexel University and the University of Sciences.

The Computer Science program[16] focuses on teaching product development and entrepreneurship as well as the basic art and science of computers. Graduates from this program earn $79,000 as an average starting salary.

The student-to-faculty ratio is a personal 6 to 1, with 96% of the teachers being full time. Students graduate on time at an 87% rate. Approximately 77% of the students are from outside Pennsylvania and ethnic diversity is high.

6. Carnegie Mellon University[17]

Founded in 1900 by Andrew Carnegie, CMU is a private university with a 144-acre campus that is just three miles from downtown Pittsburgh. Students from all across the country compete to be accepted into this prestigious school due to its excellent academic reputation.

With a student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1[18], classes are small and there are plenty of opportunities for computer science majors to interact with their professors. In addition to offering a major in computer science, CMU also supports eight minors in eight innovative fields of study, including robotics and computational biology.

A degree in computer science from CMU can open a door to a wide range of career paths. The average starting salary for a CMU computer science major is $77,000[19].

7. Worcester Polytechnic Institute[20]

WPI believes computer scientists are integral to all aspects of our everyday lives. The school aims to prepare its computer science students to improve everything. Researchers are working on making virtual reality more tactile[21], allowing interactions to go beyond sight and sound. Worcester students have analyzed the NFL draft and found better ways of selecting players. A revolutionary diabetes app for the Pebble Smart Watch was developed at WPI.

WPI was founded in 1865 by tinware manufacturer John Boynton and Ichabod Washburn, owner of the world's largest wire mill. They aimed to elevate the status of the mechanic and manufacturer. Supporting sophisticated apprenticeships to gain technical skills was the heart of their mission.

The 80-acre campus is home to about 5,000 students. A 90-minute train ride puts you in the heart of Boston, where many other great universities and brilliant students reside. Computer science graduates earn an average starting salary of $68,000[22].

8. Harvey Mudd College[23]

Harvey Mudd is a small school that is highly focused on science and engineering.  It is part of the Claremont Colleges, a consortium of seven institutions of higher learning which share adjoining campus grounds. The school has small class sizes and a high percentage of full-time teachers as well as high retention and graduation rates.

The computer science department[24] is small, yet focused, and frequently collaborates with the computer science departments at neighboring colleges. The department also offers support for related majors in mathematics and computer science, and mathematical and computational biology. Graduates from this program report average starting salaries of $68,000[25].

9. Stevens Institute of Technology[26]

Stevens benefits from its location, minutes from New York City, by working together with numerous Fortune 500 companies and government institutions. SIT students[27] are enabling the healthcare industry to be faster and more mobile with custom-crafted applications for hand-held devices. Other researchers are working outside the current Internet architecture to build a stronger and more secure web.

The school's 5,000 students occupy 55 urban acres overlooking the Hudson River and Manhattan. Computer science majors earn an average of $66,000[28] at the start of their careers and $99,000 in the middle. The quaint campus outside the busy metropolis has a student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1.

10. George Washington University[29]

George Washington University was founded in 1821 and named after the first president of the United States. The computer science department[30] was founded in 1980, and offers degrees up to the Ph.D. level. Students are able to get involved in research that helps improve surgical and medical procedures, increase software security, and make communication more effective.

GWU boasts a high freshmen retention rate and an on-time graduation rate of 72%. The student-to-faculty ratio is 12 to 1, and students report a high earnings boost with computer science majors earning average starting salaries of $72,000[31].

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