The Best
Computer Science Undergraduate Programs of 2021

Caltech is one of the best destinations for computer science and engineering education. The private research institute has been around since 1891. The Bachelor of Science in Computer Science program is just one of the many tech programs you can take at Caltech.

Expect to learn advanced computer science concepts, programming languages, data structures, algorithms, tractability, and more. By the end of the four-year program, you will be able to apply computational thinking in solving real-world problems.

Carnegie Mellon University is a research school located in Pittsburgh. Its information systems program is a joint offering between Carnegie Mellon’s Heinz College of Information Systems and Public Policy and the Dietrich College of Humanities and Social Sciences.

The collaboration between the two academic units gives this degree program a holistic touch. Aside from the expected computer science and information technology concepts, the program also includes elements of social science and humanities.

This combination equips students with a deeper understanding of how computer science can be used to solve or improve real-world situations.

Columbia University is an Ivy League research institute located in New York. Since its creation in 1754, it has maintained a reputation as one of the world’s best schools. The computer science program at Columbia University offers a curriculum that goes beyond theoretical computer science concepts.

To produce a pool of versatile computer scientists, Columbia University’s CS program also touches on more advanced fields. This includes artificial intelligence, algorithm analysis, evaluation of mathematical models, and natural language processing, to name a few.

Cornell University is another Ivy League school in New York. Its CS program is offered by the university’s Computing and Information Systems Department and is in the same standard as Caltech’s program.

To complete the program, you’ll have to go through a series of theoretical and applied computer science courses. That includes two programming fundamentals courses, five immersive courses, three electives, and a computer science practicum or capstone project.

Duke is another renowned university that has one of the best computer science and engineering programs in the United States. Its curriculum covers data structures and algorithms, computer architecture, design and analysis of algorithms, mathematics, and statistics.

You can also declare a concentration for your degree. You can choose from either of the three pathways: software systems, data science, and AI and machine learning.

You’ll be hard-pressed to find a list of schools with the best computer science programs in the United States that doesn’t mention Harvard University. The Ivy League university has a state-of-the-art faculty for computer science.

You will learn the core principles of computing and how to design systems that can be used across industries. This will give you more legroom when choosing which company or industry to work for.

MIT is a globally recognized technology institute for prospective engineers and STEM professionals. Its computer science bachelor’s degree program is extensive and covers robotics, artificial intelligence, cryptography, financial analysis, games, and computational biology. The program runs for four years.

Stanford University is another reliable private research institute in the United States. Its four-year computer science program covers computer architecture, systems programming, complexity theory, web development, algorithms, automata, and a host of other subjects.

Because of the range of computer science subjects you’re expected to master, you’ll be able to come out of the program ready for multiple opportunities.

The University of Michigan was founded in 1817. Its Department of Computer Science and Engineering offers different programs, but you can get a job in tech right after completing the computer science bachelor’s degree program. This program prepares you for a job in software engineering, data science, computer architecture, and cyber security.

Aside from being one of the oldest colleges in the United States, the University of Pennsylvania also prides itself on having one of the best computer science programs. The curriculum is highly specialized and integrates technology and liberal arts, a mix that’s rarely seen in tech-related degree programs.

This university’s computer science degree program offers six different learning pathways, all of which will lead up to a degree from the university. Additional coursework will vary by the track that you choose. Perhaps the most significant track is the integrated program which paves the way for further computer science studies.

The University of California – Berkeley is one of the most prestigious schools in the United States for good reason. Its computer science program has one of the most rigorous curriculums in the country, combining the fundamentals of computer science with electrical engineering.

This allows graduates to choose from a wider pool of jobs whether in electrical engineering or IT. The university also gives students the option to do a five-year Bachelor/Master Program, through which students can earn two degrees at an accelerated pace.

The University of Washington is a public research university in Seattle. It offers a computer science program that merges computer science with liberal arts components. If you’re looking for a more technical program, consider taking the computer engineering program. This dwells more on the math and science of things as well as computing hardware.

This is one of the best public schools in Illinois and an amazing option for pursuing computer science and computer engineering. The undergraduate and graduate schools for CS follow top-class curriculums, covering modern technologies like machine learning, and artificial intelligence.

The University of Florida has been in existence since 1853 with an academic crew that’s made up of globally renowned experts in technology. Classes for computer science are part of the computer science and engineering department.

It is made up of high level technical courses and non-technical courses that emphasize computer science, communication, and business skills.

The University of Southern Florida has campuses in different parts of the state. It is a public research institute and one of the foremost members of the university system in Florida. Its Computer Science and Engineering Department offers programs in computer science, cyber security, computer engineering, and information technology.

A quick look at the computer science curriculum shows immersion in mathematics, physics, and programming concepts. The last one includes discussions on computer logic design, computer architecture, analysis of algorithms, and discrete structures.

The University of Southern California is a private research institute and one of the best in California. Since it is located in rising tech hub Los Angeles, plenty of opportunities await those who graduate from the university.

To earn a computer science degree, students must complete at least 128 units. The main bulk of the program focuses on computer science concepts with an introduction to electrical engineering. Students get to choose between two capstone projects: building large software systems and creating a high-tech startup.

Located in Amherst, the University of Massachusetts began as an agricultural institute in 1863. Since then, it has evolved into a multi-disciplinary school that offers programs in fields like computer science.

While its computer science program focuses on software development, it nevertheless equips students with the skills they’ll need to explore other areas in tech. By the end of the program, you’ll know how to code in at least one in-demand programming language, write and test programs, navigate different computer architectures, and work in teams.

The University of Pittsburgh’s computer science degree program is only one of four major tech undergraduate programs offered by its School of Computing and Information. Like other CS programs, this program promises to equip students with theoretical knowledge and practical skills essential in computing.

What sets it apart, however, is the rigor that it places on the latter. For their capstone project, students may choose among four options. These require the completion of an academic internship, a directed research project, a designated capstone course, or at least two rotations of an engineering co-op program.

This university has been around since 1785 and is one of the oldest public schools in the United States. The Computer Science Department offers research-oriented CS programs for both undergraduate and graduate levels.

Its undergraduate program walks you through computer architecture and computer science best practices. It also allows students to choose between a software engineering course and a database management course.