The country has dozens of top-quality undergraduate computer science schools to choose from, but the ten on this list are the cream of the crop, according to CS Rankings, U.S. News & World Report, and other sources.
The scope of this post centered on the top computer science universities in the U.S, their rankings, acceptance rate, and accreditation. So if you are at a crossroads not knowing which schools to enroll in – do not worry much. This post got you covered.
Here are the top 10 best undergraduate computer science schools you can choose.
| S/N | SCHOOL | ACCEPTANCE RATE |
| 1 | Carnegie Mellon University | 17% |
| 2 | Massachusetts Institute of Technology | 7% |
| 3 | Stanford University | 5% |
| 4 | Cornell University | 11% |
| 5 | The University of California, Berkeley | 18% |
| 6 | Georgia Institute of Technology | 21% |
| 7 | The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign | 69% |
| 8 | The University of Texas at Austin | 32% |
| 9 | The University of California-Los Angeles | 14% |
| 10 | Princeton University | 6% |
The Top Undergraduate Computer Science Schools in The U.S
10) Princeton University
- Acceptance Rate: 6%
- Undergraduate Enrollment: 4,773
- Tuition: $56,010
Founded in 1746, Princeton University is a private college located in Princeton, New Jersey. Princeton was initially established to train ministers but evolved into a four-year college after just three years. The school offers top-quality higher education and it is one of the best undergraduate computer science schools in the U.S.
The school has a strong reputation for its computer science degree programs, and its graduates are having successful careers in the industry. Princeton is one of eight private universities that make up The Ivy League and has an endowment of over $19 billion.
It ranked #1 on U.S. News & World Report’s list of top national universities. However, Princeton’s computer science program ranks 26th according to CS Rankings and 9th according to US News & World Report based on student evaluations, admission selectivity, graduation rate, post-grad success, and faculty resources. (Princeton review -best colleges for computer science).
The ABET accredits Princeton university’s Engineering Department.
9) University of California-Los Angeles
- Acceptance Rate: 14%
- Undergraduate Enrollment: 31,636
- Tuition: $43,022
The University of California-Los Angeles is one of the best undergraduate computer science schools in the U.S. Founded in 1919, The University of California, Los Angeles is a top university in the University of California system.
The Acceptance rate of UCLA is 14%, making admission very selective. The student-faculty ratio is 18:1, with 48% of its classes having fewer than 20 students.
UCLA’s Samueli School of Engineering ranks as one of America’s top engineering schools. The department of computer science is one of the seven departments under the school of Engineering.
UCLA also has a robust research program, with many faculty members working on cutting-edge projects. According to CS Rankings, UCLA computer science is ranked highly among the best computer science degree programs.
Over 70% of undergraduate students graduate with honors. In addition to classroom instruction, undergraduates can take advantage of hands-on learning opportunities through internships and study abroad programs.
UCLA Computer science degree is accredited by the Computing Accreditation Commission (ABET). Consider the University of California-Los Angeles for the best education in Computer science.
8) The University of Texas at Austin
- Acceptance Rate: 32%
- Undergraduate Enrolled: 40,048
- Tuition: $40,032
The University of Texas at Austin is the flagship institution of The University of Texas System. It is a public research university that can compete against any top schools in the world. The school is among the best undergraduate computer science schools in the U.S and Texas.
The University of Texas at Austin offers quality computer science programs, because the computer science school is ranked #15 according to CS rankings. Also, the university is highly rated and ranked as #38 in national universities by U.S News & World Report.
Located in Austin, Texas, the University of Texas at Austin was established in 1883 and has over 40,048 undergraduate enrollments in the fall.
The university’s out-of-state tuition is $40,032, while its in-state tuition is $11,448. Admission is selective with an acceptance rate of 32%. It one of the best schools in Texas for computer science.
ABET has not accredited the University of Texas at Austin’s computer science degree. However, the Engineering Accreditation Commission (ABET) accredited the Computer Engineering program.
7) University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
- Acceptance Rate: 69%
- Undergraduate Enrollment: 33,683
- Tuition: $34,316
Located in Urbana-Champaign, Illinois, the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign is one of the best undergraduate computer science schools, ranking among several top-tier universities in the United States.
The university emphasizes undergraduate study, with 60% of its faculty members serving as professors for undergraduates and 15% serving as graduate students.
The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign is one of the best computer science schools in the Midwest. The school has a long tradition of excellence in computer science and offers a wide range of degree programs at the undergraduate and graduate levels.
The computer science program offered at The Grainger College of Engineering is one of the best in the country. The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign’s computer science is ranked among the top 10 schools and the school’s acceptance rate is 69%.
The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign has a history of innovation and provides a challenging, progressive environment to help you achieve your goals.
The computer science department is home to world-renowned faculty members, research facilities, and state-of-the-art laboratories. In addition, the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign offers a variety of degree programs that prepare students for careers in computer science.
The University of Illinois computer science program is accredited by the Computing Accreditation Commission of ABET.
6) Georgia Institute of Technology
- Acceptance Rate: 21%
- Undergraduate Enrollment: 16,561
- Tuition: $33,794
Founded in 1885, the Georgia Institute of Technology is a public university in Atlanta, Georgia. The Georgia Institute of Technology is a world-renowned research institution and one of the country’s top ten computer science schools.
It offers computer science, software engineering, and systems engineering degrees and employs some of the best faculty members nationally known for their work.
The undergraduate program in computer science emphasizes core knowledge about computing technology, coding, data analysis, and modeling with classes on programming languages such as Java, Python, and C++.
Students can also explore other aspects of the course, such as game design. And due to its reputation as one of the best undergraduate computer science schools in the country, there are plenty of opportunities to intern at top companies like Amazon or Apple before graduating.
Admission at Georgia Institute of Technology is very selective, with an acceptance rate of 21%. The student-faculty ratio is 18:1, with 33.3% of its classes having fewer than 20 students.
Overall, the computer science program at Georgia Institute of Technology is accredited by the Computing Accreditation Commission (ABET).
If you are looking for a school with special attention to students’ well-being, consider choosing the Georgia Institute of Technology.
5) University of California Berkeley
- Acceptance Rate: 18%
- Undergraduate Enrollment: 30,980
- Tuition: $44,115
UC Berkeley is one of the best undergraduate computer science schools because they offer diverse graduate degree programs and have deep expertise in four major areas: mobile computing, information retrieval, distributed systems, and machine learning.
Founded in 1868, UC Berkeley is a public university in Berkeley, California. The college has an undergraduate enrollment of 30,980 in the fall.
The acceptance rate at the University of California, Berkeley is 18%, making Admission very selective. The student-faculty ratio is 19:1, with 54.7% of its classes having fewer than 20 students.
Getting a computer science degree from UC Berkeley is either through the College of Letter and Science or EESC. The L&SC gives you a bachelor of Arts degree after graduation, and EESC awards you a bachelor of science degree.
The school has an excellent reputation, and its computer science program is consistently ranked highly by various publications. UC, Berkeley is one of the best colleges for computer science in California.
Computer science at the University of California – Berkeley ranks among the top best CS colleges in the nation according to CS Rankings. The school also ranked #22 in national universities by the US News & World Report.
If you’re looking for a top-notch education in computer science, Berkeley is worth considering.
4) Cornell University
- Acceptance Rate: 11%
- Undergraduate Enrollment: 14,743
- Tuition: $61,015
Cornell University is my all-time favorite Ivy League school in Ithaca, New York. It has top-notch programs in engineering and computer science, making the school one of the best undergraduate computer science schools in the U.S.
Founded in 1865 by Ezra Cornell and Andrew Dickson White as a coeducational, non-denominational institution. Cornell University is one of 4 universities that made steps towards desegregation before the 1950s when it accepted 14 black students between 1865 and 1868.
Cornell is a prestigious private university focusing on research and student well-being. Admission is very selective, with an acceptance rate of 11%. The student-faculty ratio is 9:1, with 62.5% of its classes having fewer than 20 students.
Cornell University is among the top schools with quality computer science degree programs. The school ranks #17 in the best national universities by U.S. News & World Report. The school has also won lots of awards from Forbes and PayScale.
The college offers various computer science courses, from artificial intelligence to database systems. The faculty are world-renowned researchers, and the computer science department has strong ties with top industry experts.
Electrical and Computer Engineering (B.S.) is, among other programs, accredited by the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET).
3) Stanford University
- Acceptance Rate: 5%
- Undergraduate Enrollment: 6,366
- Tuition: $56,169
Founded in 1885, Stanford University is a private university in Stanford, California, in the San Francisco Bay Area. The school is among the best undergraduate computer science schools in the world.
Stanford’s acceptance rate is 5%, making admission very competitive. The tuition and fees are $56,169 per year, and it ranks #6 in the best college for computer science in the country by CS Rankings.
Students at Stanford University have access to some of the world’s biggest IT companies because the school is located in the heart of Silicon Valley. Students at Stanford’s computer science department get the chance to collaborate with some of the field’s top minds, making it one of the most competitive in the nation.
In addition to coursework, students can also get involved with research projects and internships, which can help them land a job after graduation. Stanford is unarguably one of the best colleges for computer science in California.
Stanford alumni earn a starting income of $70,400, with a graduation rate of 95%. In addition, the College of Engineering at Stanford is accredited by the Computing Accreditation Commission of ABET.
2) Massachusetts Institute of Technology
- Acceptance Rate: 7%
- Undergraduate Enrollment: 4,361
- Tuition: $55,878
Massachusetts Institute of Technology is one of the best undergraduate computer science schools in the United States with a 5-year graduate placement rate of 98%.
Founded in 1861, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) is a prestigious university in Cambridge, Massachusetts. MIT’s computer science department is among the top 5 in the country and ranked as one of the best in the world.
The school ranked #2 in National University and #2 in Best Value Schools by US News & World Report. The acceptance rate of MIT is 7% making Admission very selective. Also, it ranked top on the list of best schools for computer science in Massachusetts.
MIT offers bachelor’s, master’s, and Ph.D. degree programs in computer science. The school’s student-faculty ratio is 3:1, with 70.1% of its classes having fewer than 20 students. Some of its most notable alums include Jonathan Ive (Apple’s head designer), Sergey Brin (co-founder of Google), and Joi Ito (chairman of MIT Media Lab).
The computer science degree of MIT is accredited by the Computing Accreditation Commission (ABET). One downside is the high tuition fee, but an MIT degree will set you apart if you can afford it.
1) Carnegie Mellon University
- Acceptance Rate: 17%
- Undergraduate Enrollment: 7,000
- Tuition: $58,924
Carnegie Mellon University, located in Pennsylvania, is arguably one of the best undergraduate computer science schools in the U.S. Founded in 1900, Carnegie Mellon University is a private school with a strong focus on research, and its students have the opportunity to work with leading researchers in the field.
Carnegie Mellon University is well known for its innovative computer science curriculum, which exposes students to all significant fields of computer science, including artificial intelligence and machine learning. In addition, top industry experts, many of whom work at Carnegie Mellon’s Robotics Institute or Software Engineering Institute.
The university offers a bachelor’s degree program in computer science and a master’s degree program. The master’s programs get completed on-campus or online, allowing working professionals to continue their education without interrupting their careers.
Carnegie Mellon University ranked #25 among national universities, according to U.S. News & World Report. The computer science degree program ranked #1 by CS Rankings based on student evaluations, admission selectivity, graduation rate, post-grad success, and faculty resources.
The drawback is that the school’s computer science degree is not accredited by Computing Accreditation Commission (ABET). However, the Electrical and Computer Engineering degree is accredited by ABET.
The Best Undergraduate Computer Science Schools in The World
There are top computer science universities in the USA, Still, we’ve also got great computer science schools in the world with pedigree, highly skilled and research-oriented professors, and high educational standards.
Here are some of the best undergraduate computer science schools globally for your consideration.
- Tsinghua University.
- Stanford University.
- Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
- Nanyang Technological University.
- Carnegie Mellon University.
- The National University of Singapore.
- The University of California-Berkeley.
- Peking University.
- Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zurich.
- Chinese University Hong Kong.
- Shanghai Jiao Tong University.
- The University of Oxford.
- The University of Technology Sydney.
Conclusion on the Best Undergraduate Computer Science Schools
There are a lot of good computer science colleges around, but the ones that stand out include those mentioned in this post. These schools offer quality Computer science programs that prepare students for successful careers in the field.