Compare 80 Computer Science. programs in the Northeast. Average earnings: $97,870.
With top graduates earning $256,539, Computer Science stands out as a field where program choice matters more than school name. The gap between the best and median programs exceeds $160K—proof that evaluating programs individually beats relying on institutional prestige.
Harvard's Computer Science program leads with graduates earning $256,539, followed by Carnegie Mellon at $247,552 and Brown at $218,525. Against the $97,870 average across all 80 Northeast programs, these results demonstrate how specific program quality drives outcomes regardless of overall institutional rankings.
High earnings don't tell the whole story—debt burden matters. Harvard graduates borrow just $14,000 and face a 0.8% payment burden, landing in the 'Excellent' category. Even when including parent loans ($42,000 total family debt), the 2.7% family burden remains easily manageable for $256K earners.
| 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 | $199,774 | 424 | $14,768 | Excellent | $42,501 | Excellent | |
| #5 | Amherst CollegePrivate | $194,751 | 46 | $13,740 | Excellent | $47,598 | Excellent |
| #6 | Cornell UniversityPrivate | $185,679 | 396 | $14,000 | Excellent | $38,000 | Excellent |
| #7 | $160,457 | 341 | $21,500 | Excellent | $35,000 | Excellent | |
| #8 | Dartmouth CollegePrivate | $157,053 | 99 | $17,500 | Excellent | $44,481 | Excellent |
| #9 | Princeton UniversityPrivate | $146,624 | 158 | $10,320 | Excellent | $41,000 | Excellent |
| #10 | University Of PennsylvaniaPrivate | $146,438 | 107 | $15,715 | Excellent | $33,124 | Excellent |
| #11 | Tufts UniversityPrivate | $139,886 | 194 | $16,250 | Excellent | $38,325 | Excellent |
| #12 | University Of RochesterPrivate | $136,559 | 120 | $21,000 | Excellent | $30,000 | Excellent |
| #13 | Boston CollegePrivate | $131,399 | 94 | $19,000 | Excellent | $45,000 | Good |
| #14 | $129,412 | 255 | $23,750 | Excellent | $52,241 | Good | |
| #15 | Bowdoin CollegePrivate | $128,937 | 25 | $18,500 | Excellent | $52,337 | Good |
| #16 | $125,429 | 188 | $26,778 | Excellent | $35,625 | Good | |
| #17 | $124,359 | 201 | $27,000 | Excellent | $53,567 | Good | |
| #18 | Williams CollegePrivate | $119,517 | 64 | $12,761 | Excellent | $31,178 | Excellent |
| #19 | Boston UniversityPrivate | $119,493 | 232 | $23,250 | Excellent | $39,000 | Good |
| #20 | $117,107 | 72 | $27,000 | Excellent | $53,192 | Manageable | |
| #21 | Ithaca CollegePrivate | $115,841 | 23 | $24,000 | Excellent | $53,476 | Manageable |
| #22 | Brandeis UniversityPrivate | $115,672 | 98 | $25,648 | Excellent | $35,451 | Good |
| #23 | Binghamton UniversityPublic | $114,997 | 90 | $18,500 | Excellent | $27,270 | Excellent |
| #24 | $111,935 | 310 | $22,763 | Excellent | $26,243 | Good | |
| #25 | $109,547 | 154 | $23,704 | Excellent | $18,400 | 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 →
