Bright outlook
Management
Computer and Information Systems Managers
- Median pay
- $175,140
- Outlook
- Much faster than average
Bachelor's degree
- Critical Thinking
- Active Listening
- Reading Comprehension
ProgramsComputer and Information Sciences and Support Services
Computer Science
CIP11.07
751 colleges offer Computer Science. See what it covers, which degree levels are available and what graduates earn and borrow.
Data verified Nov 2026 · CollegesRef 2026–27 edition
- Colleges offering it
- 751
- at its most common level
- Bachelor's earnings
- $99,177
- median, 4 years after
- Bachelor's debt
- $20,500
- median federal loans
Colleges offering it, by degree level
- Certificate
- 88
- Associate's
- 299
- Bachelor's
- 751
- Master's
- 298
- Post-baccalaureate certificate
- 5
- Doctoral
- 125
- First professional
- 1
- Graduate/professional certificate
- 45
What it covers
About Computer Science
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.
Definition: National Center for Education Statistics, Classification of Instructional Programs 2020, code 11.07.
By degree level
Earnings and debt by degree level
Medians across colleges of each college's own program median. Earnings are for graduates who received federal aid and were working.
| Degree level | Colleges | Median earnings | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Certificate | 88 | $104,2704 yrs after · 2 colleges | $16,6001 college |
| Associate's | 299 | $64,0474 yrs after · 21 colleges | $11,18714 colleges |
| Bachelor's | 751 | $99,1774 yrs after · 336 colleges | $20,500335 colleges |
| Master's | 298 | $151,6034 yrs after · 47 colleges | $34,50029 colleges |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 5 | Not reported | Not reported |
| Doctoral | 125 | $165,7504 yrs after · 1 college | $74,3381 college |
| First professional | 1 | Not reported | Not reported |
| Graduate/professional certificate | 45 | $118,5364 yrs after · 1 college | Not reported |
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard field-of-study data, 2025. Colleges with too few graduates have their earnings and debt suppressed, so the number of colleges reporting is smaller than the number offering the program.
Bachelor's programs
Where Computer Science graduates earn the most
Median earnings four years after finishing, among programs with at least 10 graduates in the latest year. Earnings are one measure; cost and graduation rate matter too.
- 1
Pittsburgh, PA · Private nonprofit · 255 graduates
$268,121
debt $19,000
- 2
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Cambridge, MA · Private nonprofit · 366 graduates
$225,141
debt $10,000
- 3
Ithaca, NY · Private nonprofit · 527 graduates
$223,309
debt $12,500
- 4
Princeton, NJ · Private nonprofit · 213 graduates
$217,973
debt not reported
- 5
Claremont, CA · Private nonprofit · 66 graduates
$217,051
debt not reported
- 6
Stanford, CA · Private nonprofit · 341 graduates
$214,907
debt $12,000
- 7
Providence, RI · Private nonprofit · 287 graduates
$214,479
debt $15,000
- 8
Williamstown, MA · Private nonprofit · 63 graduates
$209,574
debt $12,000
- 9
University of California-Berkeley
Berkeley, CA · Public · 890 graduates
$204,379
debt $13,289
- 10
Cambridge, MA · Private nonprofit · 208 graduates
$203,169
debt $13,000
Careers
Careers this program leads to
Occupations linked to Computer Science by the NCES CIP–SOC crosswalk, highest national median pay first. Pay and outlook are BLS figures for each occupation.
- Bright outlook
Computers and math
Computer and Information Research Scientists
- Median pay
- $140,300
- Outlook
- Much faster than average
Master's degree
- Complex Problem Solving
- Critical Thinking
- Judgment and Decision Making
- Bright outlook
Computers and math
Data Warehousing Specialists
- Median pay
- $139,500
- Outlook
- Much faster than average
Bachelor's degree
- Critical Thinking
- Reading Comprehension
- Programming
- Bright outlook
Computers and math
Database Architects
- Median pay
- $139,500
- Outlook
- Much faster than average
Bachelor's degree
- Complex Problem Solving
- Critical Thinking
- Judgment and Decision Making
- Bright outlook
Computers and math
Software Developers
- Median pay
- $135,980
- Outlook
- Much faster than average
Bachelor's degree
- Programming
- Critical Thinking
- Judgment and Decision Making
- Bright outlook
Computers and math
Information Security Analysts
- Median pay
- $129,180
- Outlook
- Much faster than average
Bachelor's degree
- Reading Comprehension
- Critical Thinking
- Active Listening
- Bright outlook
Computers and math
Business Intelligence Analysts
- Median pay
- $120,230
- Outlook
- Much faster than average
Bachelor's degree
- Reading Comprehension
- Active Learning
- Active Listening
- Bright outlook
Computers and math
Clinical Data Managers
- Median pay
- $120,230
- Outlook
- Much faster than average
Bachelor's degree
- Critical Thinking
- Active Listening
- Reading Comprehension
More in Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services
Other programs in the same area of study, by how many colleges offer them.
Every program in this area- Computer and Information Sciences, General866 colleges
- Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management642 colleges
- Computer Software and Media Applications419 colleges
- Computer Programming405 colleges
- Computer Systems Networking and Telecommunications372 colleges
- Information Science/Studies265 colleges
- Data Entry/Microcomputer Applications109 colleges
- Data Processing101 colleges
Questions about Computer Science
How many colleges offer Computer Science?
Published colleges on CollegesRef report Computer Science at these degree levels: certificate (88 colleges), associate's (299 colleges), bachelor's (751 colleges), master's (298 colleges), post-baccalaureate certificate (5 colleges), doctoral (125 colleges), first professional (1 college), graduate/professional certificate (45 colleges). Counts are from College Scorecard field-of-study data (2025).
What do Computer Science graduates earn?
At the median college, bachelor's graduates in Computer Science earn $99,177 a year four years after finishing, across 336 colleges that report earnings. Figures cover graduates who received federal aid.
Where do Computer Science graduates earn the most?
Carnegie Mellon University reports the highest median earnings for bachelor's graduates in Computer Science: $268,121 four years after finishing, among programs with at least 10 graduates.