Compare 348 Computer Science. programs ranked by graduate earnings. Average earnings: $103,246. Top programs: $268,121+.
The highest-earning Computer Science program isn't at the most prestigious school. With a $232K earnings gap across 348 programs — from $36K to $268K — the data confirms: program-level factors drive outcomes more than institutional brand. Where you study CS matters; which CS program you choose matters more.
Carnegie Mellon's Computer Science program leads all 348 programs with graduates earning $268K — well above the $103K national average. MIT follows at $225K and Cornell at $223K, but the more telling data point is UC Berkeley at $204K: a public university out-earning a dozen private institutions and serving 848 students versus CMU's 255.
Princeton's CS graduates borrow just $10,320 and carry a 0.7% student payment burden — the lowest in the dataset and firmly in the 'Excellent' tier. For families weighing parent loans, Pomona College leads with a 3.1% combined family burden on $39,643 in total debt, against $217K in median earnings. The debt clears fast at either school.
| Rank | School | Program Earnings | Cohort Size | Student Debt | Student GPS | Parent Debt | Parent GPS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Carnegie Mellon UniversityPrivate | $268,121 | 255 | $21,750 | Excellent | $37,130 | Excellent |
| #2 | $225,141 | 384 | $14,768 | Excellent | $42,501 | Excellent | |
| #3 | Cornell UniversityPrivate | $223,309 | 504 | $14,000 | Excellent | $38,000 | Excellent |
| #4 | Princeton UniversityPrivate | $217,973 | 172 | $10,320 | Excellent | $41,000 | Excellent |
| #5 | Pomona CollegePrivate | $217,051 | 50 | $11,782 | Excellent | $27,861 | Excellent |
| #6 | Stanford UniversityPrivate | $214,907 | 277 | $12,000 | Excellent | $38,333 | Excellent |
| #7 | Brown UniversityPrivate | $214,479 | 250 | $11,428 | Excellent | $48,245 | Excellent |
| #8 | Williams CollegePrivate | $209,574 | 49 | $12,761 | Excellent | $31,178 | Excellent |
| #9 | $204,379 | 848 | $13,000 | Excellent | $28,508 | Excellent | |
| #10 | Harvard UniversityPrivate | $203,169 | 173 | $14,000 | Excellent | $28,000 | Excellent |
| #11 | Dartmouth CollegePrivate | $201,702 | 130 | $17,500 | Excellent | $44,481 | Excellent |
| #12 | $200,511 | 77 | — | — | — | — | |
| #13 | Harvey Mudd CollegePrivate | $198,257 | 49 | $25,000 | Excellent | $33,386 | Excellent |
| #14 | Duke UniversityPrivate | $195,809 | 370 | $13,000 | Excellent | $27,998 | Excellent |
| #15 | $192,897 | 287 | $18,000 | Excellent | $31,803 | Excellent | |
| #16 | $188,265 | 357 | $21,500 | Excellent | $35,000 | Excellent | |
| #17 | $181,981 | 292 | $19,500 | Excellent | $34,511 | Excellent | |
| #18 | University Of ChicagoPrivate | $178,068 | 126 | $15,000 | Excellent | $33,297 | Excellent |
| #19 | $177,066 | 205 | $17,500 | Excellent | $24,585 | Excellent | |
| #20 | $175,616 | 494 | $14,615 | Excellent | $24,883 | Excellent | |
| #21 | Colgate UniversityPrivate | $161,980 | 49 | $15,000 | Excellent | $59,463 | Good |
| #22 | Vanderbilt UniversityPrivate | $160,021 | 205 | $14,000 | Excellent | $30,844 | Excellent |
| #23 | Emory UniversityPrivate | $159,541 | 82 | $18,250 | Excellent | $30,480 | Excellent |
| #24 | $159,487 | 591 | $15,500 | Excellent | $24,257 | Excellent | |
| #25 | Tufts UniversityPrivate | $156,343 | 171 | $16,250 | Excellent | $38,325 | 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 May 2026 refresh for 2026 rankings, based on Department of Education reporting standards. Learn about our methodology →
