Computer science continues to reign as one of the most popular and sought-after undergraduate majors nationwide. As artificial intelligence and other new forms of technology storm the world, the demand for skilled computer science professionals is only growing, attracting a competitive pool of applicants. Meanwhile, prospective students in computer science are increasingly focused on finding colleges that offer exceptional resources, cutting-edge research opportunities, and specialized programs to help them succeed in their chosen field.
However, the popularity of computer science means that admission to these programs is more competitive than ever. Acceptance rates for computer science programs at top colleges are often significantly lower than the overall university acceptance rates. This trend highlights the importance of understanding which schools offer the best fit and opportunities for aspiring computer scientists.
Why Study Computer Science at Top Colleges?
The benefits of earning an undergraduate degree in computer science are immense. These computer science programs offer:
- Access to World-Class Research: Gain hands-on experience in artificial intelligence, machine learning, robotics, and other cutting-edge fields.
- Exceptional Curriculum: Tailored courses that prepare students for high-demand roles in tech.
- Industry Connections: Build a professional network with leading professors and alumni who are pioneers in computer science programs.
These advantages position graduates for successful careers in academia, technology, and entrepreneurship, especially when combined with computer science extracurriculars such as hackathons, coding competitions, and tech clubs.
Top 10 Undergraduate Computer Science Schools in 2027
Here are the top-ranked computer science schools for undergraduate computer science programs based on the 2027 edition of the U.S. News & World Report undergraduate computer science rankings, released in September 2026. Several schools tie: Carnegie Mellon, MIT and Stanford share first place; Georgia Tech, Princeton and the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign tie for fifth; and Caltech, Cornell and the University of Washington tie for eighth.
Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)
MIT’s Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science ties for first in the U.S. News computer science rankings. Its ranking is no surprise, given that the computer science degree is among the most popular options among undergraduates at MIT. The university offers a robust selection of different computer science majors, including Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, Computer Science and Engineering, Artificial Intelligence and Decision Making, Computer Science and Molecular Biology, and Computer Science, Economics, and Data Science.
MIT also has outstanding research divisions in computer science, including AI for Healthcare and Life Sciences, Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning, Communications Systems, Computational Fabrication and Manufacturing, Computer Architecture, Educational Technology, Graphics and Vision, Human-Computer Interaction, Security and Cryptography, and more. The expansive breadth and depth of MIT’s resources and opportunities make it a compelling choice for any undergraduate looking to pursue computer science at the highest level.
Given the high demand for computer science talent, MIT computer science graduates are renowned for securing competitive positions across diverse industries. Widely known for its excellence in computer science education, MIT sits at or near the top of most rankings of computer science schools in the United States. With one of the finest undergraduate computer science programs nationally, if not globally, the institution’s reputation speaks for itself.
Carnegie Mellon University
Carnegie Mellon’s School of Computer Science, renamed the Kenneth C. Griffin School of Computer Science in September 2026, was established in 1988, building on one of the first computer science departments in the world, founded at Carnegie Mellon in 1965. Students admitted directly into the school choose from five primary majors: Artificial Intelligence (the first undergraduate AI major in the United States), Computational Biology, Computer Science, Human-Computer Interaction, and Robotics. Students can also pursue the intercollege Bachelor of Computer Science and Arts.
Computer science undergraduates can apply to several named summer research programs, including Carnegie Mellon’s university-wide Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF), the Security and Privacy Undergraduate Research (SPUR) Scholars program, the Research Experiences for Undergraduates in Software Engineering (REUSE) program, and the Amazon-supported Summer Undergraduate Research Experience (SURE), a 10-week program for first- and second-year students from groups underrepresented in computing.
The Computer Science Department conducts research in artificial intelligence, graphics, programming languages, security, systems, and theory, and the school also houses separate departments for machine learning, robotics, and human-computer interaction. Please note that admission to these specific majors is granted through direct application to the School of Computer Science; general university admission does not guarantee a spot in the CS program.
Stanford University
Stanford University‘s undergraduate computer science program ties for first in the U.S. News rankings alongside MIT and Carnegie Mellon. Stanford offers outstanding, high-level research opportunities to its undergraduate students, and its research projects are renowned for being cutting-edge.
Stanford undergrads can get involved with this research through CURIS, the computer science department’s paid summer research program, as well as for-credit independent study during the academic year and the senior honors program. These research pathways are one reason admission to Stanford’s computer science program is so competitive.
University of California – Berkeley
UC Berkeley stands among the elite undergraduate institutions for a computer science degree. It provides aspiring computer science majors with the option to pursue either a Bachelor of Science (BS) or a Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree within the field.
Students seeking the Electrical Engineering and Computer Sciences BS apply through the College of Engineering. Students aiming for the computer science BA apply to the College of Computing, Data Science, and Society, which since fall 2023 has admitted first-year applicants who select computer science directly to the major. The BA lets students study computer science alongside other fields, while the BS integrates computer science with electrical engineering. These two distinct pathways allow Berkeley students to tailor their education to their interests and career goals.
UC Berkeley’s EECS research areas include Artificial Intelligence, Biosystems and Computational Biology, Cyber-Physical Systems and Design Automation, Integrated Circuits, Micro/Nano Electro Mechanical Systems, Physical Electronics, Scientific Computing, and more.
University of Illinois – Urbana-Champaign
The Siebel School of Computing and Data Science at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign offers 20 computer science degree options: the BS in Computer Science, 17 blended CS + X degrees, and joint degrees in Mathematics and Computer Science and in Statistics and Computer Science. Each program encompasses a core foundation of CS courses but also allows students to personalize their degree to align with their own specific interests. This blend of programming reflects the interdisciplinary nature of computer science and the opportunities for innovation across a wide variety of subjects.
The specific major pathways all have a core of CS plus another field: Anthropology, Astronomy, Philosophy, Economics, Chemistry, Animal Sciences, Music, Education, Advertising, and more. This flexibility is a major draw for the 2,535 undergraduates enrolled in CS and CS + X programs in fall 2025.
It is also worth noting that undergraduate computer science majors are treated as critical contributors to the world-renowned research conducted each year at Illinois. Research areas include Artificial Intelligence, Computers and Education, Data and Intelligent Systems, Interactive Computing, Scientific Computing, Systems and Networking, Theory and Algorithms, and more. The university has good reason to boast about its innovative and competitive approach to the world of tech, seeing as its alumni include co-founders of PayPal, YouTube, and Netscape.
Princeton University
Princeton University offers undergraduate students the choice of pursuing a computer science major through either the A.B. or B.S.E. degree programs. This customizable programming ensures comprehensive exposure to algorithms, theoretical computer science, computer system design, and more.
Independent work and hands-on collaboration are key features of Princeton’s undergraduate computer science curriculum. Every computer science major completes faculty-supervised independent work: B.S.E. students complete at least one term of independent work, and A.B. students complete junior independent work and a full-year senior thesis. This applied approach enables students to engage in cutting-edge research and entrepreneurial product design.
Princeton’s research areas include Computational Biology, Computer Architecture, Human-Computer Interaction, Machine Learning, Natural Language Processing, Law and Public Policy, Robotics, Security and Privacy, Theory, Vision and Graphics, and more. Graduates of the computer science program at Princeton are highly secure in their ability to pursue impressive career paths and/or the highest-ranked computer science graduate school programs in the country.
Georgia Institute of Technology
The Georgia Tech College of Computing’s Bachelor of Science in Computer Science (BSCS) equips students with the essential skills and knowledge to emerge as trailblazers in the world of computing. Georgia Tech uses a curriculum known as Threads, in which students combine two of nine threads to customize their path of study: Cybersecurity and Privacy, Embedded Devices, Information Internetworks, Artificial Intelligence, Media, Modeling and Simulation, People, Systems and Architecture, and Theory.
Beyond their threads, students can get involved in research areas including Computer Architecture, Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning, Robotics, Social Computing, Computer Graphics, and Hardware Security, among many others. Students in computer science programs at Georgia Tech are set up for success long after graduation.
Cornell University
Among the top computer science schools, Cornell’s Computer Science department has long been a pioneer in education, research, and innovation in the field. Cornell students are given opportunities to engage in research alongside visionary faculty, participate in national and international competitions, and contribute to projects that have real-world effects. With a focus on cutting-edge areas like robotics, artificial intelligence, scientific computing, computer vision, machine learning, and more, Cornell provides many paths to pursue within the scope of undergraduate computer science.
Cornell also has a unique research offering known as the Bowers Undergraduate Research Experience (BURE). BURE is an application-only program that offers Cornell computer science undergraduates a hands-on summer experience, allowing them to acquire new skills and delve into the world of research at a Ph.D. level. This 10-week, paid summer program pairs undergraduates with faculty mentors. Space to participate in BURE is limited, as this is a competitive and highly sought-after program.
University of Washington
When sifting through competitive computer science schools, The Paul G. Allen School of Computer Science & Engineering at the University of Washington offers an exceptional environment for college students who want to study computer science. Due to the high demand and the limited nature of its prestigious resources, the Allen School operates on a capacity-constrained basis and admits about 630 new undergraduates each year across all of its admission pathways. These constraints make entry into the University of Washington’s computer science program extremely competitive, necessitating a thoughtful admissions process to ensure the best possible learning experience for all admitted students. Most students utilize the “Direct to Major” admission pathway as high school applicants when pursuing admission to the Allen School.
Students at the University of Washington can choose between a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science or a Bachelor of Science in Computer Engineering (CE). The CS degree is granted by the College of Arts and Sciences and provides a wider range of liberal arts and general education courses. This degree provides students with greater flexibility to customize their educational path. Alternatively, the CE degree is conferred by the College of Engineering and holds accreditation from ABET. Its focus is more strongly directed towards math, science, and computing hardware, reflecting its engineering-oriented focus. Regardless of the major a student chooses to pursue, there are plenty of opportunities for computer science students to personalize their academic pathways based on their own interests and career aspirations.
The Allen School organizes its research into six areas: Artificial Intelligence; Computing and Biology; Human-Centered Computing; Interaction with the Physical World; Software and Hardware Systems; and Theory and Models of Computation.
California Institute of Technology (Caltech)
Caltech has earned its prestige through its academic focus and expertise across fields of technology. Undergraduates pursue computer science through a single Computer Science option, which offers tracks in Learning and Vision, Networks and Communication, Quantum and Molecular Computing, Robotics, and Programming Languages.
Furthermore, Caltech is renowned for its emphasis on research opportunities for its undergraduate students. Through initiatives like the Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowships (SURF) program and the option’s required project sequence (a thesis, a faculty-mentored project, or a track sequence), undergraduate students are exposed to a variety of research avenues, enabling them to engage in hands-on exploration and contribute to cutting-edge advancements in computer science.
What to Consider When Applying to Top Computer Science Schools
- Selectivity: Many schools on this list have acceptance rates under 10%, especially for their computer science programs. Make sure to diversify your college list with reach, target, and safety schools.
- Specialized Majors: Evaluate program offerings such as AI, robotics, or human-computer interaction to align with your career goals.
- Research Opportunities: Look for hands-on experiences like summer research programs, internships, or capstone projects.
- Related Programs: If you are also considering engineering, compare schools using our undergraduate engineering program rankings.
How to Stand Out When Applying to Competitive Computer Science Programs
Admission to the best undergraduate computer science schools requires strategic preparation. Focus on building a resume that demonstrates your computer technology skills, critical thinking capabilities, and expertise in relevant computer and operating systems. Maintain excellent grades in STEM subjects, especially math and computer science.
In addition, showcase projects, internships, or participation in coding competitions, and build depth through the best extracurriculars for engineering and computing. In personal statements, express your connection to the school while highlighting your passion for computer science and your problem-solving skills. Working with a computer science admissions consultant can help you turn this preparation into a cohesive application.
The Spark Advantage for Aspiring Computer Scientists
Navigating the admissions process for computer science programs can be overwhelming. That’s where our experienced college admissions consultants come in, through dedicated engineering and computer science admissions consulting. At Spark Admissions, we help you build a personalized college list tailored to your goals, develop an application strategy that showcases your strengths, and stand out in the competitive landscape of computer science admissions.
Contact us today to learn more about our Spark Admissions services.
