Best Colleges for Computer Science in 2025–26

30 colleges with strong computer science programs, ranked by size and selectivity.

Southern New Hampshire University

Manchester, NH

99.5% acceptance$17,200 in-state

University of Washington

Seattle, WA

48% acceptance$12,643 in-state

Purdue University

West Lafayette, IN

53% acceptance$10,002 in-state

Georgia Institute of Technology

Atlanta, GA

16% acceptance$12,682 in-state

University of California, Berkeley

Berkeley, CA

11.6% acceptance$15,602 in-state

Purdue University-Main Campus

West Lafayette, IN

49.9% acceptance$9,992 in-state

Kennesaw State University

Kennesaw, GA

69.2% acceptance$5,808 in-state

Virginia Tech

Blacksburg, VA

57% acceptance$14,626 in-state

NC State University

Raleigh, NC

47% acceptance$9,991 in-state

University of Wisconsin-Madison

Madison, WI

45.2% acceptance$11,603 in-state

University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

Champaign, IL

42.4% acceptance$16,004 in-state

University of California-San Diego

La Jolla, CA

26.7% acceptance$16,758 in-state

University of Pittsburgh

Pittsburgh, PA

57% acceptance$21,040 in-state

University of California-Berkeley

Berkeley, CA

11% acceptance$16,347 in-state

Northern Virginia Community College

Annandale, VA

$5,891 in-state

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Chapel Hill, NC

16.8% acceptance$9,021 in-state

SUNY Buffalo

Buffalo, NY

72% acceptance$10,546 in-state

The University of Texas at Arlington

Arlington, TX

79.9% acceptance$11,950 in-state

University of Washington-Seattle Campus

Seattle, WA

39.2% acceptance$12,973 in-state

Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

Blacksburg, VA

54.8% acceptance$15,948 in-state

University of Maryland-College Park

College Park, MD

44.8% acceptance$11,809 in-state

University of California-Irvine

Irvine, CA

28.6% acceptance$15,722 in-state

The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley

Edinburg, TX

94.2% acceptance$9,987 in-state

Utah Valley University

Orem, UT

$6,507 in-state

Colorado Technical University-Colorado Springs

Colorado Springs, CO

$12,750 in-state

George Mason University

Fairfax, VA

87.5% acceptance$14,220 in-state

San Jose State University

San Jose, CA

84.6% acceptance$8,410 in-state

SUNY Stony Brook

Stony Brook, NY

49% acceptance$10,556 in-state

University of Utah

Salt Lake City, UT

86% acceptance$9,620 in-state

Georgia State University

Atlanta, GA

55.4% acceptance$8,664 in-state

How to choose a computer science program

Look for programs with strong industry partnerships, internship pipelines, and faculty who are active researchers. Consider whether you prefer a theoretical CS program (more math-heavy) or an applied one (more project-based). Co-op programs that alternate semesters of study with paid work experience are especially valuable in CS.

Common career paths for computer science graduates

Software Engineer, Data Scientist, Product Manager, Cybersecurity Analyst, AI/ML Engineer

Scholarships for computer science students

There are scholarships specifically for students studying computer science. Search our database to find awards you qualify for.

Find computer science scholarships →
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KidToCollege is free to use and editorially independent. Data sourced from public records including IPEDS, Common Data Sets, College Board and FAFSA.gov. Always verify deadlines and requirements directly with institutions. Not a guarantee of admission or financial aid.