U.S. News & World Report has released the latest and best computer science schools in the US as the authoritative ranking institution. U.S. News CS Ranking is a good criterion for the students, scholars, and industry experts to measure each university’s strength.
The ranking assesses the overall academic performance and focuses on the research level, teacher sources, educational effects, career prospects and other factors in the computer science fields. Students can choose their ideal schools based on the best computer science schools ranking.
In addition, by learning more about the advantages and characteristics of this top school, you can have better plans for your future career.
What is Computer Science?
Computer Science is a subject to learn about computer and its applications, include computing theory, programming technique, algorithm design, data processing, and more. The following shows a few key points about computer science:
- Programming and Software Development: The core of computer science is to write the computer programme. You can learn to write code in a programming language like Python, Java, and C++ to solve problems. These programs can be used in various fields like websites, games, and mobile applications.
- Data Structure and Algorithms: Computer Sciences research how to design a sufficient programme. To utilize minimal sources(time and internal storage) to deal with complicated problems. The data structure is a way to organize and store data, such as arrays, linked lists, piles, trees, and more.
- Computing Theory: Computer Science is not only about writing codes but also about studying the theoretical basis, including automata theory, Turing machine, and complexity theory. These theories help us to understand which problems we can solve through computing and which questions we cannot solve.
- Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning: Artificial Intelligence is a rapidly developed field that involves making computers reflect and study as humans. Machine Learning is the technique of training computers to make predictions and decisions within a wide range of data.
- Network and Security: Computer Science also includes information on how to transmit, store, and protect the information in the network, such as network safety, encryption techniques, and a firewall. In this way, you can protect the privacy and protection of the data.
U.S. News CS Ranking-Top 15
| Ranking in the US | Institution | U.S.News Ranking 2026-US University |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Massachusetts Institute of Technology | 1 |
| 2 | Carnegie Millon University | 52 |
| 2 | Standford University | 3 |
| 2 | University of California, Berkeley | 17 |
| 5 | University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign | 70 |
| 6 | Carnegie Millon University | 52 |
| 7 | Cornell University | 16 |
| 7 | Princeton University | 25 |
| 7 | University of Texas–Austin | 68 |
| 7 | University of Washington | 81 |
| 11 | University of Michigan–Ann Arbor | 45 |
| 12 | California Institute of Technology | 10 |
| 13 | Columbia University | 38 |
| 13 | University of California-San Diego | 66 |
| 13 | University of Wisconsin–Madison | 110 |
U.S. News CS Ranking-Artificial Intelligence
| Ranking in the US | Institution |
|---|---|
| 1 | Carnegie Millon University |
| 2 | Massachusetts Institute of Technology |
| 3 | Stanford University |
| 4 | University of California, Berkeley |
| 5 | University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign |
| 6 | Georgia Institute of Technology |
| 7 | Cornell University |
| 8 | University of Washington |
| 9 | University of Michigan-Ann Arbor |
| 10 | University of Texas–Austin |
| 11 | University of California-San Diego |
| 12 | University of Maryland-College Park |
| 13 | University of California-Los Angeles |
| 13 | University of Massachusetts–Amherst |
| 15 | California Institute of Technology |
| 14 | University of California-Los Angeles |
Best Computer Science Schools-Programming Language
| Ranking in the US | Institution |
|---|---|
| 1 | Carnegie Millon University |
| 2 | Massachusetts Institute of Technology |
| 3 | Cornell University |
| 4 | University of Illinois–Urbana-Champaign |
| 5 | Stanford University |
| 6 | University of California–Berkeley |
| 7 | University of Washington |
| 8 | University of Texas–Austin |
| 9 | Princeton University |
| 9 | University of Pennsylvania |
| 11 | University of California–San Diego |
| 12 | University of Wisconsin–Madison |
| 13 | Georgia Institute of Technology |
| 13 | Purdue University–West Lafayette |
| 13 | University of Michigan–Ann Arbor |
U.S. News Computer Science Rankings-Systems
| Ranking in the US | Institution |
|---|---|
| 1 | Carnegie Millon University |
| 2 | Massachusetts Institute of Technology |
| 3 | University of California–Berkeley |
| 4 | Georgia Institute of Technology |
| 4 | Stanford University |
| 4 | University of Illinois–Urbana-Champaign |
| 7 | University of Michigan-Ann Arbor |
| 8 | University of Washington |
| 9 | Cornell University |
| 10 | University of California–San Diego |
| 11 | University of Texas–Austin |
| 12 | University of Wisconsin–Madison |
| 13 | Purdue University–West Lafayette |
| 14 | Princeton University |
| 15 | Columbia University |
CS Ranking US News -Theory
| Ranking in the US | Institution |
|---|---|
| 1 | Massachusetts Institute of Technology |
| 2 | University of California–Berkeley |
| 3 | Cornell University |
| 4 | Carnegie Millon University |
| 4 | Stanford University |
| 6 | Princeton University |
| 7 | University of Texas–Austin |
| 8 | University of Illinois–Urbana-Champaign |
| 9 | Columbia University |
| 9 | Harvard University |
| 9 | University of Washington |
| 12 | Georgia Institute of Technology |
| 13 | New York University |
| 14 | University of California, Los Angeles |
| 15 | University of California, San Diego |
Criteria for Best Computer Science Schools
The criteria for U.S. News CS Ranking is based on some points:
- Peer Assessment Score: To send the questionnaires to academic specialists like the department head and senior professors in the computer science field to collect their comments on each university’s computer science project. The rating range is from 1-5 and reflects the overall perspectives on the reputation and strength of the project.
- Scientific Achievement: The university has some outstanding scientific research output, which is crucial to the U.S. News computer science ranking. These outputs include the quantity, quality, and citation rate of research paper publishing and the availability of scientific research funds. The amount and effectiveness of scientific payoffs reflect the university’s position at the forefront of academics.
- Faculty Resources: The academic history research achievement is as crucial as the influences for the essential indicators of best computer science colleges U.S. News.
- Academic Reputations: Besides the peer assessments, there are other indicators, including the graduate’s reputation in the industry, performance at educational conferences and cooperation with other universities or research institutions.
- Student Selectivity: The quality of the students admitted to the university is also considered in the CS college’s U. S. News ranking.
- Career and Salary Development: Graduates’ employment rate and salary level are other criteria for the U.S. News World ranking in computer science. U.S. News ranking uses these data to assess each project’s actual output and market value.
Specialized for Best Computer Science Schools
Stanford University:
This school has a good reputation for network security and innovation, and its advantageous location near Silicon Valley gives students more chances to participate in practice.
Carnegie Mellon University
Carnegie Mellon University stands at #2 in U.S. News computer science rankings, has a world-class robotics lab and plenty of internship opportunities, and attracts more students interested in robotics and automation.
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
MIT is in a leading position in artificial intelligence and is known for its open courses and innovative research projects.
UC Berkeley
The University of California Berkeley has a solid academic background in data science and machine learning, and it attracts more students who want to do data analytic jobs in the future to come to study.
Princeton University:
Renowned in the fields of theoretical computer science and cryptography, its deep research in mathematics and computer sciences has attracted some students who are interested in the fields of computational complexity and security.
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
UIUC is #5 of the best computer science schools in the USA and is skilled in computer vision and network technology. There are many related research projects and laboratories.
Cornell University
Cornell University has apparent advantages in computer graphics and human-computer interaction, and its diversified courses and interdisciplinary research attract more students.
Georgia Institute of Technology：
Georgia has the advantage in computer networking and software engineering, especially in network safety and system design.
University of Washington：
The University of Washington has a leading position in cloud computing and big data analytics for students who want to study cloud technology.
California Institute of Technology
Students who like to study algorithms and theoretical computer science can apply to Caltech. It is known for its rigorous academic atmosphere and high-level research.
University of Michigan-Ann Arbor：
In the fields of computer science, including engineering, artificial intelligence, and data science, the University of Michigan- Ann Arbor has a strong reputation.
Recent Changes and Trends of U.S. News CS Ranking
In the U.S. News computer science rankings for 2025-2026, some top universities has attract more students, and there are some apparent changes of these best computer science schools.
Continue dominated by top universities: MIT, Stanford University and Carnegie Mellon University are still in the forefront of U.S. News cs ranking. The overall strength of these top schools is extreme, especially in artificial intelligence, programming language, and system areas.
Rapid Rise of Artificial Intelligence: As the importance of artificial intelligence has increased a lot, many universities have performed outstandingly in the U.S. News computer science ranking. For example, the University of Texas-Austin ranks in the Top 10 for AI research in the United States, reflecting that more universities are paying attention to this field and putting more effort into it.
Strong Performances of Public Universities: Some public universities stand out from the crowd for the U.S. News computer science ranking, except for the private universities. Universities like the Georgia Institute of Technology and the University of Texas-Austin has performance well in this year ranking, and step into top 10 of the best computer science schools. Public universities invest more in research, and their effectiveness in computer science has dramatically increased.
Pay More Attention to Emerging Fields: Emerging fields like data science and machine learning have received more attention than traditional computer science. Some universities get a higher U.S. News World Ranking in computer science due to the significant research in these fields.
Some Honorable Mentions for U.S. News CS Ranking
Harvard University:
Harvard University is famous for its superior academic resources and scientific environment. Even the U.S. News computer science ranking is lower than that of other universities that focus on engineering technology, while the Harvard University project is still at the forefront worldwide, specifically in artificial intelligence, machine learning, and data science. The mode of interdisciplinary learning gives students more study opportunities.
University of California, San Diego:
The programs of UCSD have a good ranking among the best computer science schools in the USA, especially in the areas of systems, networks, and security. UCSD closely connects with the technology industries and provides more internship opportunities for students to increase their internship experiences.
Yale University:
The computer science programs at Yale University are relatively small. However, the courses are detailed and flexible. It covers artificial intelligence, quantum computing, and programming languages. Yale also encourages students to participate in more interdisciplinary Biology, Psychology, and Economics studies. The aim is to foster a more comprehensive quality of talent.
University of Southern California, USC:
University of Southern California‘s computer science programs have a high reputation in entertainment technology and game development. The engineering college of USC offers innovation courses and emphasizes practical applications and industry partners. Students also have a chance to participate in the technology and entertainment industries in Los Angeles. In addition, USC has made connections with many well-known enterprises. They can give students more career chances.
How to Choose the Best Computer Science Schools?
When you consider which university is best for you, there are some factors for you to consider:
Academic Reputations: The reputation of each university in the computer science field is very important. According to the U.S. News, the best computer science colleges depend on peer assessment. Choosing a school with a good reputation in computer science provides you with better educational sources and career opportunities.
Courses Setting: Check the course outlines of each school and ensure that they cover what you are interested in, including Artificial Intelligence, data science or software engineering. Different universities have advantages in various fields.
Faculty Resources: The professor teams in the schools decide your educational quality. Check the research directions of each professor and the research paper published.
Sources and Amenities: Learn about the laboratories, computing sources, technology support, and more to ensure enough support to meet your needs.
Location and Tuition Fee: The city, cost of living, and tuition fee are crucial factors for you when considering the best computer science school for you. Knowing that the university meets your academic needs and budget constraints.
Conclusion
The 2024-2025 U.S. News CS ranking gives you the answers to the best computer science schools in the USA. These universities not only perform well in terms of the quality of teaching, research level, and faculty teams, but they also have a good connection with many enterprises, innovative sources, and employment opportunities. From Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Stanford University to the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, these universities have fostered many successful graduates. Moreover, the CS U.S. News ranking also shows the effectiveness of each university in the business. Attending these top universities for computer science majors is the most important thing for students.
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FAQ
The schools for computer science schools include the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Stanford University and UC Berkeley in the USA. These universities are highly regarded for their high research level, innovative environment and closed connections industry. In addition, Carnegie Mellon University (CMU) and the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zurich (ETH Zurich) are also renowned.
The best universities in the USA to study computer science include the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Carnegie Mellon University and UC Berkeley. MIT’s Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory is renowned in the research community, and Carnegie offers unique internship and career opportunities.
In the University of California system, UC Berkeley has the highest ranking in computer science fields, often among the top five in the world. According to US News & World Report rankings, UCBerkeley’s computer science excels in artificial intelligence, programming languages and systems.
The most useful degrees in computer science are artificial intelligence, data science, software engineering, and cybersecurity. Artificial intelligence and machine learning drive the development of automated and intelligent systems, while data science is widely used in various industries to process and analyze big data.
Georgia Tech’s Computer Science (CS) program stands out for its high rankings. Its undergraduate program is recognized as #5 nationally by U.S. News & World Report (based on 2025/2026 data). Similarly, the graduate program is also ranked #5, according to Times Higher Education (based on 2026 rankings).
It’s generally true that Computer Science (CS) is a field demanding a strong mathematical foundation, particularly within formal degree programs. Students often encounter required foundational courses such as Calculus, Linear Algebra, and Discrete Mathematics
The Computer Science (CS) degrees currently seeing the highest demand are those that focus on fields like Software Development, Information Security, Data Science, and Artificial Intelligence/Machine Learning. This popularity is directly tied to the strong job prospects and projected high growth in these areas.
If you’re planning to study Computer Science (CS) at the university level, you’ll typically need a background in A-level Maths, Computer Science, or another science/technology-based subject. It’s worth noting that some universities may even require Further Maths.
