Compare 349 Computer Science. programs ranked by graduate earnings. Average earnings: $87,548. Top programs: $256,539+.
The highest-earning Computer Science program isn't at the most prestigious school. With a $113K earnings gap across 349 programs, the data confirms: program-level factors drive outcomes more than institutional brand.
Harvard's Computer Science program leads with graduates earning $256,539, followed by Carnegie Mellon at $247,552 and Brown at $218,525. The average across all programs is $87,548, yet this variation demonstrates that program quality varies far more than school rankings suggest.
High earnings don't tell the whole story—debt burden matters. Harvard graduates borrow $14,000 and face just a 0.8% payment burden, landing in the 'Excellent' category. That means loan payments take a minimal bite out of their post-grad income.
| Rank | School | Program Earnings | Cohort Size | Student Debt | Student GPS | Parent Debt | Parent GPS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Harvard UniversityPrivate | $256,539 | 190 | $14,000 | Excellent | $28,000 | Excellent |
| #2 | Carnegie Mellon UniversityPrivate | $247,552 | 237 | $21,750 | Excellent | $37,130 | Excellent |
| #3 | Brown UniversityPrivate | $218,525 | 229 | $11,428 | Excellent | $48,245 | Excellent |
| #4 | Stanford UniversityPrivate | $200,950 | 307 | $12,000 | Excellent | $38,333 | Excellent |
| #5 | $199,774 | 424 | $14,768 | Excellent | $42,501 | Excellent | |
| #6 | Amherst CollegePrivate | $194,751 | 46 | $13,740 | Excellent | $47,598 | Excellent |
| #7 | Cornell UniversityPrivate | $185,679 | 396 | $14,000 | Excellent | $38,000 | Excellent |
| #8 | Harvey Mudd CollegePrivate | $183,524 | 47 | $25,000 | Excellent | $33,386 | Excellent |
| #9 | $178,867 | 845 | $13,000 | Excellent | $28,508 | Excellent | |
| #10 | University Of ChicagoPrivate | $175,145 | 93 | $15,000 | Excellent | $33,297 | Excellent |
| #11 | $173,344 | 72 | — | — | — | — | |
| #12 | Vanderbilt UniversityPrivate | $164,139 | 147 | $14,000 | Excellent | $30,844 | Excellent |
| #13 | $160,457 | 341 | $21,500 | Excellent | $35,000 | Excellent | |
| #14 | Duke UniversityPrivate | $159,845 | 339 | $13,000 | Excellent | $27,998 | Excellent |
| #15 | $157,625 | 85 | $25,000 | Excellent | $71,022 | Good | |
| #16 | Dartmouth CollegePrivate | $157,053 | 99 | $17,500 | Excellent | $44,481 | Excellent |
| #17 | Princeton UniversityPrivate | $146,624 | 158 | $10,320 | Excellent | $41,000 | Excellent |
| #18 | University Of PennsylvaniaPrivate | $146,438 | 107 | $15,715 | Excellent | $33,124 | Excellent |
| #19 | $144,297 | 378 | $14,615 | Excellent | $24,883 | Excellent | |
| #20 | $143,775 | 291 | $19,500 | Excellent | $34,511 | Excellent | |
| #21 | $143,152 | 247 | $18,000 | Excellent | $31,803 | Excellent | |
| #22 | Tufts UniversityPrivate | $139,886 | 194 | $16,250 | Excellent | $38,325 | Excellent |
| #23 | University Of RochesterPrivate | $136,559 | 120 | $21,000 | Excellent | $30,000 | Excellent |
| #24 | $136,471 | 163 | $15,000 | Excellent | $20,820 | Excellent | |
| #25 | Emory UniversityPrivate | $133,212 | 69 | $18,250 | Excellent | $30,480 | Excellent |
Our program rankings answer: "Which schools have the best outcomes for graduates of this specific major?"
Unlike traditional rankings that measure overall school quality, these rankings focus on program-level outcomes. A school that's #200 overall might have a top-10 nursing program — and that matters if you're studying nursing.
Data based on 2024-2025 Dept of Education reporting standards. Learn about our methodology →
