Learn More About How We Rank Our Computer Science Programs
Updated January 8, 2025
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Students need reliable, up-to-date data to select the right computer science programs. Our unique ranking methodology for computer science programs uses the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) as our primary data source. This federal agency collects, analyzes, and publishes research about educational institutions.
In rankings on ComputerScience.org, we analyze program data according to four primary ranking factors: academics, affordability, reputation, and program availability. To rank well, schools should feature robust faculty, high graduation and retention rates, generous financial aid packages, and a high return on investment (ROI) for emerging computer science professionals.
When evaluating online programs, we also consider the percentage of online students enrolled at the school and in the relevant computer science program. When creating our bootcamp rankings, we consider the length and popularity of the programs.
Schools cannot pay for a spot in our rankings, which keeps our rankings free of bias. While our site does include advertising partners, we do not consider those relationships when compiling our lists.
About the Data We Use
Our computer science program ranking data comes from NCES and its Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS). NCES is an independent, nonpartisan data source from the U.S. Department of Education that offers accurate, accessible education statistics.
NCES maintains rigorous statistical standards and a thorough peer review process. The organization also has a diversity and inclusion policy to help keep its data free of racial, cultural, gender, and regional biases.
IPEDS is a series of interrelated survey responses from postsecondary institutions across the United States. IPEDS' survey components include graduation rates, outcome measures, and student financial aid.
IPEDS data does not rely on schools' desire to participate in the survey. Because NCES is a federal agency, it can require mandatory reporting from every college or university that receives federal financial assistance. As a result, the data is comprehensive — our lists exclude schools that do not provide enough IPEDS data.
Users sometimes ask if we simply rebrand our old rankings every new year. Nope — we typically update our rankings annually. With each update, we revisit the ranking process and recalibrate using the most recent data available.
Our rankings on this site use the most current data available at the time of publication. We used data pulled in October 2024 to create our 2025 ranked lists.
Our Exclusion Criteria
Before calculating our rankings, we automatically exclude schools from our database that do not meet certain minimum requirements or provide insufficient data. For example, schools that do not provide the complete set of data points used in our methodology are ineligible for earning a number one ranking spot in our lists. We do this to ensure that we are featuring schools that are transparent about their data and to set a benchmark for school and program quality.
Schools are ineligible for our database if they:
- Have a graduation rate of less than 10%
- Have a retention rate of less than 10%
- Have a four-year completion rate for low-income students of less than 10%
- Do not provide any of the above data to IPEDS or Peterson’s
- Do not meet our inclusion criteria for LGTBQ+-friendly campuses
Schools are ineligible for our Affordable lists if they:
- Do not provide data specifying the average net price after aid
Our Methodology for Ranking Computer Science Programs
We begin ranking computer science programs by selecting factors related to ROI. We then assess their impact on different degrees, modalities, and student priorities.
Our rankings consider academic performance, affordability, reputation, and availability through documented NCES and IPEDS statistics. Online program rankings reflect both full-time and part-time enrollees.
The following charts illustrate our primary online and on-campus program ranking methodology.
How to Rank Computer Science Schools: Our Ranking Factors
The best programs offer accessible, affordable education that can help students choose the best program for their personal and professional goals.
Along with student engagement, we want to know if schools can deliver their programs effectively and add value to learners' lives after graduation. At ComputerScience.org, we account for academic performance subfactors like class size, retention and graduation rates, and the number of programs available.
By combining these factors and weighing them appropriately, we can provide accurate information about which schools offer strong education at an affordable price. Our rankings offer computer science students the insights to make informed choices.
In addition to the weighted ranking factors above, we also consider several subfactors. We determine a school's affordability by comparing financial aid rates, alum loan default rates, and aid received to average enrollment costs.
Subfactors for Academics
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Retention Rate: This figure measures the percentage of students who either re-enrolled or completed their program.
To measure retention rates, schools compare the number of students who enrolled at the beginning of the fall semester with those who enrolled in the previous fall semester. A higher-than-average retention rate suggests a high-quality, high-performing program that supports student success.
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Graduation Rate: The percentage of students who graduate within 150% of the expected time. For example, a bachelor's degree typically takes four years, so an on-time graduate would need to finish their degree within six years.
To determine the graduation rate, IPEDS divides the total number of graduates within 150% of normal time by the cohort of students who entered the program in the same year. The equation accounts for students who transfer out.
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Robust Faculty: To determine the strength of the faculty, we look at the program's number of full-time faculty and the year they began serving at the institution. Longevity in this category typically indicates a strong body of instructors and researchers.
We also look at the student-to-faculty ratio for the most recent year. IPEDS determines this ratio by dividing the number of full-time students by the number of full-time staff. It adds one-third of the part-time students and part-time faculty members to complete the equation. A smaller ratio usually signals a faculty that can devote more time to instruction and student support.
Subfactors for Affordability
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Price for Students With Grants or Scholarships: Sticker price alone typically does indicate affordability, as some schools offset high tuition fees with generous financial aid packages.
To determine the price of education for students with grants or scholarships, we look at their average net price in a given year. IPEDS determines the average net price by subtracting the average amount of grant and scholarship aid from the sum of published tuition and other expenses.
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Students Getting Financial Aid: Financial aid refers to all monies provided to help cover student expenses. This funding may come from scholarships, grants, assistantships, employer aid, fellowships, tuition waivers, federal work-study, public or private loans, or gifts from friends and relatives. It does not include loans to parents.
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Students Getting Federal Aid: Federal aid refers to the financial resources provided by the U.S. government. These include grants, subsidized student loans, federal work-study, and veteran and military member aid.
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Post-Graduation Student Debt: To determine post-graduation student debt for the colleges on our list, we use two specific data points: average loan default rate and median debt for students who complete their degrees on time.
Subfactors for Reputation
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Percent of Applicants Admitted: To find the percent of admitted applicants, IPEDS divides the number of students who receive a letter of admission by the number of first-time applicants. (First-time applicants exclude anyone taking a la carte courses that won't end in a diploma or certification). Generally, highly selective institutions feature a low percentage of applicants admitted.
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Admissions Yield: A college's admissions yield is the percentage of applicants who accepted an admissions offer. It reveals the number of applicants who chose to attend that particular school.
For example, if a college had 10,000 applicants and accepted 2,500, its acceptance rate is 25%. If 1,000 of those people accepted the school's offer, the admissions yield is 40%.
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Return on Investment: While the academic return on a college education may be immeasurable, we can measure salary increases for graduates.
According to the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis, the ROI on a college degree ranged from 13.5% - 35.9% in 2020. For context, investing in the stock market produces an average yearly return of 10%. Though actual returns on higher education can vary based on several factors, it's generally considered an excellent investment.
Subfactors for Program Availability and Online Flexibility
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Percent of Online Students Enrolled: We measure this factor by taking the number of students taking at least one online course and dividing by the total number of students enrolled. NCES reports that in 2022, about 53% of postsecondary students were enrolled in at least one online course. Note that we consider this subfactor only for online-specific degrees.
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Percent of Relevant Degree Level Offered: Colleges and universities offer degrees at different levels. Our methodology assesses which degree levels the school provides and the percentage breakdown of its offerings.
Ranking Factors for Bootcamp Programs
All bootcamp programs featured on ComputerScience.org must fit within certain criteria:
- Be based in the United States
- Offer at least one bootcamp a minimum of 4 weeks in length
- If self-paced, must require at least 10 hours of work a week
- If part-time, must require at least 15 hours of work a week
Certain coding bootcamps must meet additional requirements.
Subject-Specific Bootcamps
- Additional Criteria: Offers at least one bootcamp focused on that subject
Location-Specific Bootcamps
- Additional Criteria: Offers at least one bootcamp located in that area
Payment-Specific Bootcamps
- Additional Criteria: Offers at least one bootcamp that can be paid for using that payment option
Once vetted, we group programs by popularity. We feature the top 10 most popular programs, according to search volume, in alphabetical order. Then, we list the remaining qualifying programs in alphabetical order.
When applicable, our independent third-party panel of experts reviews page content — excluding school descriptions — for accuracy.