See the top 10 computer science colleges for 2026, ranked with acceptance rates, costs, and salaries, plus expert strategies to get accepted.
What are the best colleges for computer science?
What You'll Learn
Leading Undergraduate CS Programs
A detailed look at elite computer science institutions, featuring key applicant metrics like average GPAs, standardized test scores, acceptance rates, tuition costs, and postgraduate earnings.
Specialized Subfields & Concentrations
An overview of top-ranked programs categorized by technical focus areas, including artificial intelligence, data science, robotics, computer systems, and theory.
Selecting the Best-Fit School
Key factors to evaluate when narrowing down college choices, including academic rigor, campus culture, internship opportunities, location, and overall financial investment.
Admissions Strategies for Success
Proven strategies to strengthen an application, from excelling in advanced math and science coursework to building impactful technical passion projects and securing standout letters of recommendation.
Introduction to the best computer science colleges/universities
Best computer science programs quick facts
The top 10 computer science colleges and universities in 2026
Best computer science schools by specialty
How to choose the right computer science college for your child
How to get into a top computer science college
Frequently asked questions
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Introduction to the best computer science colleges/universities
If your child loves technology and has strong critical thinking and problem-solving skills, they might be well suited for a career in computer science. And it’s certainly a promising field for them to pursue, since computer science occupations have strong career outlooks and high earning potential. Even more, the computer science landscape is continuously evolving, guaranteeing an exciting and fulfilling career for those who love lifelong learning and facing new challenges.
So, if your child is interested in this rapidly growing field, what are the best computer science colleges for them to attend?
Graduating from one of the top computer science colleges will grant your child significant career advantages: instant name recognition, access to an expansive alumni network with members holding top positions in the industry, and direct pipelines to prestigious tech companies such as Google, Facebook, Apple, and Amazon.
To ensure your child has the greatest career opportunities available to them, you’ll want to direct them toward the best computer science colleges. Continue reading to discover expert strategies to get into prestigious computer science programs, as well as a detailed list of the 10 best computer science colleges in the United States.
Want to know exactly what it takes to get into America's most selective colleges?
Get our free 110-page guide we use to help our students routinely get admitted to schools like Harvard, Yale, and Stanford: How to Get into America's Elite Colleges: The Ultimate Guide
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Best computer science programs quick facts
| Rank | School | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MIT | |||||||
| Carnegie Mellon | |||||||
| Stanford | |||||||
| UC Berkeley | $93,944 out-of-state |
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| Cornell | $99,734 out-of-state |
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| Princeton | |||||||
| U of Illinois Urbana-Champaign | $69,516 out-of-state |
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| Georgia Tech | $55,314 out-of-state |
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| U of Washington | 8% out-of-state |
$55,098 out-of-state |
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| U of Texas–Austin | $64,204–$72,916 out-of-state |
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The top 10 computer science colleges and universities in 2026
Below, we’ve listed the top 10 computer science colleges, informed by 2026 rankings of the best computer science programs for undergraduates from U.S. News and World Report, Times Higher Education, QS TopUniversities, and CSRankings. We’ve also provided key details about each school—including average GPAs and SAT and ACT scores of accepted students—to help you determine which to add to your child’s college list.
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Rank: 1
Location: Cambridge, MA
Private or Public: Private
Undergraduate acceptance rate: 4.6% (There is not a separate CS admissions process or acceptance rate.)
Average GPA: 4.0
Average SAT score: *1520–1580
Average ACT score: *34–36
Annual cost of attendance: $92,760
Student-faculty ratio: 3:1
Average starting salary: $220,064
Degree options: B.S. in Electrical Science and Engineering; B.S. in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science; B.S. in Computer Science and Engineering; B.S. in Artificial Intelligence and Decision Making; B.S. in Computer Science and Molecular Biology; B.S. in Computation and Cognition; B.S. in Computer Science, Economics, and Data Science; B.S. in Urban Science and Planning with Computer Science
Notable alumni: Drew Houston '05 and Arash Ferdowsi '08 — Founders of Dropbox
*Note: Range of 25th–75th percentile scores
(Essential reading: How to Get into MIT)
Carnegie Mellon University
Rank: 2
Location: Pittsburg, PA
Private or Public: Private
Undergraduate acceptance rate: 11.1% (5.2% for Computer Science majors in 2015)
Average GPA: 3.9
Average SAT score: *1500–1570
Average ACT score: *34–35
Annual cost of attendance: $93,614
Student-faculty ratio: 6:1
Average starting salary: $251,632
Degree options: B.S. in Artificial Intelligence, B.S. in Computational Biology, B.S. in Computer Science, B.S. in Human-Computer Interaction, B.S. in Robotics, Bachelor’s in Computer Science and the Arts; B.S. in Music and Technology
Notable alumni: Mark Russinovich ‘89 — CTO of Microsoft Azure
*Note: Range of 25th–75th percentile scores
Stanford University
Rank: 3
Location: Stanford, CA
Private or Public: Private
Undergraduate acceptance rate: 3.8%
Average GPA: 3.9
Average SAT score: *1510–1580
Average ACT score: *34–35
Annual cost of attendance: $97,545
Student-faculty ratio: 6:1
Average starting salary: $247,797
Degree options: B.S. in Computer Science; B.S. in Mathematical and Computational Science; B.S. in Symbolic Systems
Notable alumni: Reed Hastings ‘88 — Co-founder and CEO of Netflix
*Note: Range of 25th–75th percentile scores
(Essential reading: How to Get into Stanford)
University of California–Berkeley
Rank: 4
Location: Berkeley, CA
Private or Public: Public
Undergraduate acceptance rate: 10.5% (1.9% for Computer Science majors in 2024)
Average GPA: 3.9
Average SAT score: * N/A
Average ACT score: * N/A
Annual cost of attendance: $54,674 (in-state); $93,944 (out-of-state)
Student-faculty ratio: 18:1
Average starting salary: $225,140
Degree options: B.A. in Computer Science; B.S. in Electrical Engineering & Computer Sciences
Notable alumni: Steve Wozniak ‘87 — Co-founder of Apple
*Note: UC Berkeley no longer accepts standardized test scores.
(Essential reading: How to Get into UC Berkeley)
Cornell University
Rank: 5
Location: Ithaca, NY
Private or Public: Private
Undergraduate acceptance rate: 9.2%
Average GPA: N/A
Average SAT score: *1500–1570
Average ACT score: *33–35
Annual cost of attendance: $75,604 (in-state); $99,734 (out-of-state)
Student-faculty ratio: 9:1
Average starting salary: $140,860
Degree options: B.A. or B.S. in Computer Science; B.S. in Information Science, Systems, and Technology; B.S. in Operations Research and Engineering; B.A. in Statistical Science
Notable alumni: Lars Backstrom ‘04 — VP of Engineering at Facebook
*Note: Range of 25th-75th percentile scores
(Essential reading: How to Get into Cornell)
Princeton University
Rank: 6
Location: Princeton, NJ
Private or Public: Private
Undergraduate acceptance rate: 4.6%
Average GPA: 3.9
Average SAT score: *1510–1580
Average ACT score: *34–35
Annual cost of attendance: $94,624
Student-faculty ratio: 5:1
Average starting salary: $204,500
Degree options: A.B. or B.S.E. in Computer Science
Notable alumni: Jeff Bezos ‘86 — Founder and CEO of Amazon
*Note: Range of 25th-75th percentile scores
(Essential reading: How to Get into Princeton)
University of Illinois–Urbana-Champaign
Rank: 7
Location: Urbana and Champaign, IL
Private or Public: Public
Undergraduate acceptance rate: 36.6% (7.4% for Computer Science majors in 2026)
Average GPA: *3.7–4.0
Average SAT score: *1380–1540
Average ACT score: *30–34
Annual cost of attendance: $43,576 (in-state); $69,516 (out-of-state)
Student-faculty ratio: 20:1
Average starting salary: $170,405
Degree options: B.S. in Computer Science; B.S. in Mathematics and Computer Science; B.S. in Statistics and Computer Science, B.S. in Computer Engineering; CS + X (interdisciplinary major with 14 degree options); X + Data Science (interdisciplinary major with 5 degree options)
Notable alumni: Jeremy Stoppelman ‘99 — Co-founder and CEO of Yelp
*Note: Range of 25th-75th percentile GPA and scores
Georgia Institute of Technology
Rank: 8
Location: Atlanta, GA
Private or Public: Public
Undergraduate acceptance rate: 12.8%
Average GPA: 3.7
Average SAT score: *1370–1540
Average ACT score: *30–34
Annual cost of attendance: $30,928 (in-state); $55,314 (out-of-state)
Student-faculty ratio: 21:1
Average starting salary: $155,126
Degree options: B.S. in Computer Science; B.S. in Computational Media; B.S./M.S. Program in Computer Science
Notable alumni: Craig Mundie ‘72 — Senior Advisor to the CEO at Microsoft
*Note: Range of 25th-75th percentile scores
University of Washington
Rank: 9
Location: Seattle, WA
Private or Public: Public
Undergraduate acceptance rate: 39% (41% in-state and 8% out-of-state for Computer Science majors in 2026)
Average GPA: 3.8
Average SAT score: * N/A
Average ACT score: * N/A
Annual cost of attendance: $24,044 (in-state); $55,098 (out-of-state)
Student-faculty ratio: 20:1
Average starting salary: $121,341
Degree options: B.S. in Computer Science; B.S. in Computer Engineering; B.S. in Computer Science: Data Science
Notable alumni: Alex Loddengaard ‘08 — Co-founder of TownSquared
*Note: The University of Washington no longer requires standardized test scores.
University of Texas at Austin
Rank: 10
Location: Austin, TX
Private or Public: Public
Undergraduate acceptance rate: 26.6%
Average GPA: N/A
Average SAT score: 1320–1530
Average ACT score: 29–34
Annual cost of attendance: $32,508–$35,386 (in-state); $64,204–$72,916 (out-of-state)
Student-faculty ratio: 18:1
Average starting salary: $114,620
Degree options: B.S.A. in Computer Science; B.S. in Computer Science
Notable alumni: Neil deGrasse Tyson ‘83 — Astrophysicist and Author
*Note: Range of 25th-75th percentile scores
Other top computer science colleges
Aside from the schools listed above, other excellent, highly regarded undergraduate programs in computer science include:
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Best computer science schools by specialty
"Best overall" and "best for a specific subfield" aren't always the same school. A program can rank outside the top 10 overall and still be the strongest choice for a student set on AI, cybersecurity, or robotics, so once you've built your reach/target/safety list, it's worth cross-checking it against subfield strength for your child's actual interest area.
Best for AI & machine learning
CSRankings and U.S. News both rank Carnegie Mellon University as the best for AI and machine learning, which should come as no surprise given that AI was created by professors at Carnegie Mellon.
Best for computer systems
CSRankings places the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign as the best for computer systems, while U.S. News ranks MIT as the best in this category. These programs have close, long-standing recruiting relationships with major tech employers specifically for systems-focused roles.
Best for data science
U.S. News ranks UC Berkeley as the best for data analytics/science, with Stanford and MIT close behind in second and third place, respectively. UC Berkeley has built one of the largest dedicated undergraduate data science programs in the country, reflecting the scale of student demand for the field.
Best for robotics & other interdisciplinary areas
CSRankings places Carnegie Mellon as the best school for robotics and other interdisciplinary areas like bioinformatics and human-computer interaction. CMU is home to a dedicated Robotics Institute and HCI Institute that are considered among the strongest in the world.
Best for theory
CSRankings ranks Carnegie Mellon as the best for theory, while U.S. News ranks MIT as the best in this category. Both programs overlap heavily with strong pure-math departments, since theoretical CS research often sits right at the boundary between the two fields.
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How to choose the right computer science college for your child
Rankings are a starting point, not an answer. One student might thrive at a research-heavy, cutthroat program, while another would benefit from smaller classes and more hands-on support. Before locking in a college list, it helps to look past the rank number and evaluate fit against a few concrete factors and then organize them by realistic odds of admission.
Building a balanced reach/target/safety list
Because top computer science programs are now often more selective than the university's overall acceptance rate (Carnegie Mellon and UC Berkeley CS admit in the low single digits, and even less "famous" CS programs can have quietly brutal acceptance rates) a CS-specific college list needs its own reach/target/safety breakdown.
3 reach schools: Programs where your child's GPA and coursework are competitive but the CS-specific acceptance rate is in the low single digits to low teens (e.g., CMU, UC Berkeley, and U of Illinois Urbana-Champaign). Even an excellent applicant should expect these to be low-probability, high-upside bets.
4–6 target schools: Programs where your child's academic profile sits at or above the middle 50% of admitted CS students, and the CS acceptance rate is meaningfully higher than the reach tier (many strong public flagships and less-hyped privates fall here).
2–3 safety schools: Programs where admission is highly likely based on GPA and test scores that still offer a strong CS program—not just "a school my child will get into," but one that keeps career options open.
Fit factors beyond rankings
Once the list is roughly sorted by admission odds, weigh these fit factors within each tier:
Direct admit vs. secondary admission to CS: Some schools admit students directly into the CS major as freshmen while others require applying to the university first and then competing for a CS major later, sometimes after a weed-out GPA threshold. This matters significantly since a "safety" school with a brutal internal CS admission process isn't really a safety school for CS.
Research access and undergraduate involvement: At large research universities, ask whether undergraduates can realistically get into a lab or whether that's mostly reserved for grad students.
Class size and student-faculty ratio for CS specifically (not just the university-wide number): Intro CS classes at some large public colleges run into the hundreds of students.
Internship opportunities: Whether the school's location and recruiting relationships make it easy to get a first internship without already having connections.
Specialization strength, if your child already has a clear interest: "Best overall" and "best for a specific subfield" aren't always the same school.
Cost after aid, not sticker price: A "reach" school with strong need-based aid can end up cheaper than a "safety" school with none.
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How to get into a top computer science college
The best computer science colleges attract the highest-achieving students, so competition to get accepted is fierce. Your child can increase their admissions odds by following these targeted strategies to get into the top computer science programs.
Earn high grades in relevant coursework
When applying to prestigious colleges, having a high grade point average (GPA) is a must. But to have a chance of getting accepted to the best computer science colleges, your child will need something more. They’ll need to prove their ability to be successful in computer science by taking relevant courses in high school.
Most of the top computer science colleges recommend their applicants take advanced high school science and math classes—physics and calculus, for example. If your child’s high school offers courses specifically related to computer science, such as classes in robotics or one of CollegeBoard’s AP Computer Science classes, they should take those as well.
If your child can’t access computer science classes through their high school—or if they breeze through them too quickly—they can explore the courses offered by your local community college. Being successful in college-level computer science coursework will add an extra edge to your child’s college applications.
Engage in computer science-related extracurriculars
Getting into the best colleges for computer science will take more than just outperforming the average GPA. Outside the classroom, your child should seek extracurricular activities to strengthen and showcase their programming skills. If their high school has a computer science or robotics club, your child should join and strive to gain a leadership role. If their high school doesn’t have a club that relates to their interests, your child can start one—a surefire way to impress top computer science colleges.
Your child can also seek out structured training to develop their computer programming skills. They might consider attending a summer program in coding or computer science or competing in a robotics competition. Or maybe they could pursue an internship with a local tech company to gain an inside perspective of what careers in computer science are like.
In addition, your child could choose to show extra initiative by teaching themselves one or more computer programming languages, such as C++, HTML, or Javascript. There are many YouTube channels, books, or online courses they could use to learn how to code. Gaining proficiency in at least one programming language will give your child a leg up on other students applying to the best computer science colleges.
Complete a passion project to demonstrate their expertise
After taking relevant courses and exploring their interests through extracurriculars, hopefully your child’s excitement for computer science will grow. When they’ve developed a specific area of interest, it may be time for them to start a passion project. This project requires long-term dedication and may take months or years to complete. But if your child loves what they’re doing, has the chance to improve their skills, and is able to produce something that demonstrates their competence to top computer science colleges, it will be worth every minute.
A computer science passion project can take many different forms, but here are a few ideas to help you and your child start brainstorming options.
Write a blog or start a YouTube channel about computer programming
Start a website development business to make websites for local companies
Build a robot to complete simple household tasks
Design and market a new app
Develop a simple video game
Create a virtual learning platform
Find a way to make something in life simpler using technology
If your child pours their heart and soul into a compelling passion project, it will advance their career development and boost their admissions odds at the best computer science colleges.
Submit strong letters of recommendation
Letters of recommendation are a must for almost any college application nowadays. If your child is planning on applying to a top computer science school, they will want to strengthen their chances with endorsements from teachers or professionals they have worked with.
If they’ve joined a summer bootcamp, it’s worth reaching out to their teacher to see if they would be willing to vouch for them. Likewise, if they have done well in any AP/IB statistics, physics or calculus classes at their high school, a letter of recommendation from a teacher could give them an extra edge.
Perhaps your child has worked with a CS teacher directly at their high school or in a computer club. If they joined a competition under this teacher’s leadership they would also be a good candidate to ask.
Furthermore, communicate to your letter writers that something substantial should be mentioned in the letter. If your teacher, Mr. Smith, simply writes, “Andrew is a bright and promising student,” this doesn’t give admissions committees much to work with to assess your child’s application. Instead, when your child requests a letter of recommendation, mention to the writer that something specific should be included. For instance, if Mr. Smith writes that Andrew’s Javascript skills were an invaluable contribution to a project mapping alligator populations in South Florida, this would be immensely useful to adcoms.
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Frequently asked questions
What is the best computer science college in the US?
MIT is most frequently ranked #1 for computer science in the US, followed closely by Carnegie Mellon, Stanford, and UC Berkeley. However, the "best" school depends heavily on your goals, since rankings from U.S. News and World Report, Times Higher Education, QS TopUniversities, and CSRankings weigh research output, teaching, and career outcomes differently.
For students focused on prestige and broad research strength, MIT, CMU, and Stanford consistently top almost every major ranking. For those prioritizing career outcomes relative to selectivity, schools like Georgia Tech, UIUC, and UT Austin deliver comparable outcomes with meaningfully higher acceptance rates. Rather than asking which school is "best" overall, it's more useful to ask which school is best for your specific goals, e.g., research, a particular specialization, cost, or admission odds.
What is the acceptance rate for computer science at top schools like MIT and Carnegie Mellon?
MIT's overall undergraduate acceptance rate is 4.6%, and its computer science program follows the same university-wide admissions process, so there's no separate, lower CS-specific rate. Carnegie Mellon is different: its School of Computer Science is typically far more selective than CMU overall, admitting around 5% of CS applicants even though CMU's overall acceptance rate is closer to 11%.
This distinction matters for list-building: at schools with a unified admissions process (like MIT), your odds are the university's overall rate. At schools with a separate CS admission (like CMU), you need the program-specific rate, not the university-wide number, to gauge your real odds.
Is it better to go to a university or a smaller college for computer science?
Neither is universally "better": large universities typically offer more research funding, broader course offerings, and bigger alumni networks, while smaller colleges (like Harvey Mudd) often provide smaller class sizes, more direct faculty access, and strong outcomes relative to their size.
Large research universities make sense for students who want exposure to cutting-edge research, a wide range of CS specializations, and a big-name alumni network in tech. Smaller colleges make sense for students who want closer mentorship, smaller intro classes, and a tighter-knit CS community. Career outcomes at the strongest smaller colleges can rival or exceed those at bigger-name universities, so school size shouldn't be treated as a predictor of program quality.
What GPA do I need for a top computer science program?
Most top computer science programs expect an unweighted high school GPA of 3.8–4.0, along with a rigorous course load that includes calculus, physics, and AP Computer Science or an equivalent. The most selective programs (e.g., MIT, CMU, and Stanford) see average admitted GPAs at or near 4.0.
GPA alone isn't enough at this level: admissions committees are also weighing the difficulty of the courses behind that GPA, demonstrated computer science experience (coursework, extracurriculars, or projects), and standardized test scores where required. A 4.0 in a light course load is generally viewed less favorably than a 3.8–3.9 earned in the most rigorous math and science classes available.
How should I choose between computer science colleges?
Start by sorting your list into reach, target, and safety schools based on each program's CS-specific acceptance rate (not just the university's overall rate), then compare the remaining options on fit factors like direct admission to CS, research access, class size, and specialization strength.
Beyond admission odds, the most important differentiators are often invisible in a rankings list: whether the school admits students directly into CS or requires a competitive secondary application, how large intro CS classes are, how easy it is for undergraduates to get involved in research, and whether the program's strengths (e.g., AI, systems, and robotics) match your specific interests. Cost after financial aid should also factor into the final decision.
Are public universities good for computer science?
Yes. Several public universities, including UC Berkeley, Georgia Institute of Technology, the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, and the University of Washington, rank among the strongest computer science programs in the country, often at a fraction of the cost of private options.
Public flagship CS programs tend to offer large alumni networks, strong industry recruiting pipelines, and research opportunities comparable to elite private universities, while typically costing significantly less for in-state students. The main trade-off is usually larger class sizes and a more self-directed experience since public programs often have higher student-to-faculty ratios than smaller private schools.
About the Author
Dr. Shirag Shemmassian is the Founder of Shemmassian Academic Consulting and one of the world's foremost experts on college admissions. For over 20 years, he and his team have helped thousands of students get into top programs like Harvard, Stanford, and MIT using his exclusive approach.
Over 90% of our students get into one or more of their top 3 schools
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