Best Computer Science Master&#39;s Degree Programs 2026

Why it ranks #1

Ranked #1 among computer science master's programs by Hakia Score (95.3/100): 96% graduation rate, $116,580 median salary, $66,722 in-state tuition, 403 graduates a year. Federal data, IPEDS 2024 and BLS.

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Program Strengths

96% graduation rate
$116,580 median salary
$66,722 in-state tuition
403 graduates annually

🥈

University of Pennsylvania

Master's in Computer ScienceOn-campus

Philadelphia, PAPrivate nonprofit

$116,580 median salary · 97% graduation rate

94.7

Score

$61K

Tuition/yr

97%

Grad Rate

$117K

Median Salary

Why it ranks #2

Ranked #2 among computer science master's programs by Hakia Score (94.7/100): 97% graduation rate, $116,580 median salary, $60,920 in-state tuition, 160 graduates a year. Federal data, IPEDS 2024 and BLS.

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Program Strengths

97% graduation rate
$116,580 median salary
$60,920 in-state tuition
160 graduates annually

🥉

Georgia Institute of Technology-Main Campus

Master's in Computer ScienceOn-campus

Atlanta, GAPublic

$116,580 median salary · 94% graduation rate

94.4

Score

$11K

Tuition/yr

94%

Grad Rate

$117K

Median Salary

Why it ranks #3

Ranked #3 among computer science master's programs by Hakia Score (94.4/100): 94% graduation rate, $116,580 median salary, $10,512 in-state tuition, 170 graduates a year. Federal data, IPEDS 2024 and BLS.

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Program Strengths

94% graduation rate
$116,580 median salary
$10,512 in-state tuition
170 graduates annually

Harvard University

Master's in Computer ScienceOn-campus

Cambridge, MAPrivate nonprofit

$116,580 median salary · 98% graduation rate

94.4

Score

$57K

Tuition/yr

98%

Grad Rate

$117K

Median Salary

Why it ranks #4

Ranked #4 among computer science master's programs by Hakia Score (94.4/100): 98% graduation rate, $116,580 median salary, $56,550 in-state tuition, 59 graduates a year. Federal data, IPEDS 2024 and BLS.

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Program Strengths

98% graduation rate
$116,580 median salary
$56,550 in-state tuition
59 graduates annually

University of California-Los Angeles

Master's in Computer ScienceOn-campus

Los Angeles, CAPublic

$116,580 median salary · 93% graduation rate

94.3

Score

$12K

Tuition/yr

93%

Grad Rate

$117K

Median Salary

Why it ranks #5

Ranked #5 among computer science master's programs by Hakia Score (94.3/100): 93% graduation rate, $116,580 median salary, $12,260 in-state tuition, 117 graduates a year. Federal data, IPEDS 2024 and BLS.

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Program Strengths

93% graduation rate
$116,580 median salary
$12,260 in-state tuition
117 graduates annually

University of Southern California

Master's in Computer ScienceOn-campus

Los Angeles, CAPrivate nonprofit

$116,580 median salary · 92% graduation rate

93.8

Score

$70K

Tuition/yr

92%

Grad Rate

$117K

Median Salary

Why it ranks #6

Ranked #6 among computer science master's programs by Hakia Score (93.8/100): 92% graduation rate, $116,580 median salary, $69,904 in-state tuition, 1119 graduates a year. Federal data, IPEDS 2024 and BLS.

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Program Strengths

92% graduation rate
$116,580 median salary
$69,904 in-state tuition
1119 graduates annually

University of Chicago

Master's in Computer ScienceOn-campus

Chicago, ILPrivate nonprofit

$116,580 median salary · 96% graduation rate

93.8

Score

$67K

Tuition/yr

96%

Grad Rate

$117K

Median Salary

Why it ranks #7

Ranked #7 among computer science master's programs by Hakia Score (93.8/100): 96% graduation rate, $116,580 median salary, $67,446 in-state tuition, 168 graduates a year. Federal data, IPEDS 2024 and BLS.

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Program Strengths

96% graduation rate
$116,580 median salary
$67,446 in-state tuition
168 graduates annually

Cornell University

Master's in Computer ScienceOn-campus

Ithaca, NYPrivate nonprofit

$116,580 median salary · 95% graduation rate

93.7

Score

$68K

Tuition/yr

95%

Grad Rate

$117K

Median Salary

Why it ranks #8

Ranked #8 among computer science master's programs by Hakia Score (93.7/100): 95% graduation rate, $116,580 median salary, $68,380 in-state tuition, 312 graduates a year. Federal data, IPEDS 2024 and BLS.

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Program Strengths

95% graduation rate
$116,580 median salary
$68,380 in-state tuition
312 graduates annually

Stanford University

Master's in Computer ScienceOn-campus

Stanford, CAPrivate nonprofit

$116,580 median salary · 92% graduation rate

93.6

Score

$65K

Tuition/yr

92%

Grad Rate

$117K

Median Salary

Why it ranks #9

Ranked #9 among computer science master's programs by Hakia Score (93.6/100): 92% graduation rate, $116,580 median salary, $65,127 in-state tuition, 434 graduates a year. Federal data, IPEDS 2024 and BLS.

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Program Strengths

92% graduation rate
$116,580 median salary
$65,127 in-state tuition
434 graduates annually

#10

Northwestern University

Master's in Computer ScienceOn-campus

Evanston, ILPrivate nonprofit

$116,580 median salary · 95% graduation rate

93.4

Score

$67K

Tuition/yr

95%

Grad Rate

$117K

Median Salary

Best Computer Science Master's Programs in California

Why it ranks #10

Ranked #10 among computer science master's programs by Hakia Score (93.4/100): 95% graduation rate, $116,580 median salary, $67,158 in-state tuition, 139 graduates a year. Federal data, IPEDS 2024 and BLS.

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Program Strengths

95% graduation rate
$116,580 median salary
$67,158 in-state tuition
139 graduates annually

Best Computer Science Programs - Top 10 Master's, Complete Program Data

#1. Columbia University in the City of New York — Master's Computer Science
Hakia ranks Columbia University in the City of New York's master's computer science program #1. Degree: Master's. Delivery: on-campus. Location: New York, NY | Type: Private nonprofit | Tuition: $66,722/year | Graduation Rate: 96% | Median Salary: $116,580 | Score: 95.3
#2. University of Pennsylvania — Master's Computer Science
Hakia ranks University of Pennsylvania's master's computer science program #2. Degree: Master's. Delivery: on-campus. Location: Philadelphia, PA | Type: Private nonprofit | Tuition: $60,920/year | Graduation Rate: 97% | Median Salary: $116,580 | Score: 94.7
#3. Georgia Institute of Technology-Main Campus — Master's Computer Science
Hakia ranks Georgia Institute of Technology-Main Campus's master's computer science program #3. Degree: Master's. Delivery: on-campus. Location: Atlanta, GA | Type: Public | Tuition: $10,512/year | Graduation Rate: 94% | Median Salary: $116,580 | Score: 94.4
#4. Harvard University — Master's Computer Science
Hakia ranks Harvard University's master's computer science program #4. Degree: Master's. Delivery: on-campus. Location: Cambridge, MA | Type: Private nonprofit | Tuition: $56,550/year | Graduation Rate: 98% | Median Salary: $116,580 | Score: 94.4
#5. University of California-Los Angeles — Master's Computer Science
Hakia ranks University of California-Los Angeles's master's computer science program #5. Degree: Master's. Delivery: on-campus. Location: Los Angeles, CA | Type: Public | Tuition: $12,260/year | Graduation Rate: 93% | Median Salary: $116,580 | Score: 94.3
#6. University of Southern California — Master's Computer Science
Hakia ranks University of Southern California's master's computer science program #6. Degree: Master's. Delivery: on-campus. Location: Los Angeles, CA | Type: Private nonprofit | Tuition: $69,904/year | Graduation Rate: 92% | Median Salary: $116,580 | Score: 93.8
#7. University of Chicago — Master's Computer Science
Hakia ranks University of Chicago's master's computer science program #7. Degree: Master's. Delivery: on-campus. Location: Chicago, IL | Type: Private nonprofit | Tuition: $67,446/year | Graduation Rate: 96% | Median Salary: $116,580 | Score: 93.8
#8. Cornell University — Master's Computer Science
Hakia ranks Cornell University's master's computer science program #8. Degree: Master's. Delivery: on-campus. Location: Ithaca, NY | Type: Private nonprofit | Tuition: $68,380/year | Graduation Rate: 95% | Median Salary: $116,580 | Score: 93.7
#9. Stanford University — Master's Computer Science
Hakia ranks Stanford University's master's computer science program #9. Degree: Master's. Delivery: on-campus. Location: Stanford, CA | Type: Private nonprofit | Tuition: $65,127/year | Graduation Rate: 92% | Median Salary: $116,580 | Score: 93.6
#10. Northwestern University — Master's Computer Science
Hakia ranks Northwestern University's master's computer science program #10. Degree: Master's. Delivery: on-campus. Location: Evanston, IL | Type: Private nonprofit | Tuition: $67,158/year | Graduation Rate: 95% | Median Salary: $116,580 | Score: 93.4

Best Computer Science Programs - Compare Top 5 Master's

School	Location	Type	Tuition	Grad Rate	Score
#1 Georgia Institute of Technology-Main Campus	Atlanta, GA	Public	$10,258	76%	100.0/100
#2 University of Southern California	Los Angeles, CA	Private	$66,640	92%	99.9/100
#3 Columbia University in the City of New York	New York, NY	Private	$64,526	100%	99.4/100
#4 University of California-Berkeley	Berkeley, CA	Public	$11,834	96%	98.7/100
#5 University of Washington-Seattle Campus	Seattle, WA	Public	$11,524	97%	92.4/100

Data from IPEDS 2024. Tuition shown is in-state for public schools.

Online Programs

Flexibility & Lower Cost

On-Campus Programs

Networking & Experience

Average Tuition$32,000/year$120,000/year

FlexibilitySelf-paced learning for working professionalsFixed schedule, set location

NetworkingLimited in-person collaborationIn-person connections

Top ProgramGeorgia Tech OMSCS ($7,000 total), Oregon State, WGU (ABET-accredited)MIT, Stanford, Carnegie Mellon, UC Berkeley

Online Programs

Flexibility & Lower Cost

On-Campus Programs

Networking & Experience

Average Tuition$32,000/year$120,000/year

FlexibilitySelf-paced learning for working professionalsFixed schedule, set location

NetworkingLimited in-person collaborationIn-person connections

Top ProgramGeorgia Tech OMSCS ($7,000 total), Oregon State, WGU (ABET-accredited)MIT, Stanford, Carnegie Mellon, UC Berkeley

Top 50 Computer Science Master's Programs 2026

Rank	Program & School	Delivery	Annual Tuition	Grad Rate	Median Salary	Hakia Score
#1	Master's in Computer Science Columbia University in the City of New York New York, NY · Private nonprofit	On-campus	$66,722	96%	$116,580	95.3
#2	Master's in Computer Science University of Pennsylvania Philadelphia, PA · Private nonprofit	On-campus	$60,920	97%	$116,580	94.7
#3	Master's in Computer Science Georgia Institute of Technology-Main Campus Atlanta, GA · Public	On-campus	$10,512	94%	$116,580	94.4
#4	Master's in Computer Science Harvard University Cambridge, MA · Private nonprofit	On-campus	$56,550	98%	$116,580	94.4
#5	Master's in Computer Science University of California-Los Angeles Los Angeles, CA · Public	On-campus	$12,260	93%	$116,580	94.3
#6	Master's in Computer Science University of Southern California Los Angeles, CA · Private nonprofit	On-campus	$69,904	92%	$116,580	93.8
#7	Master's in Computer Science University of Chicago Chicago, IL · Private nonprofit	On-campus	$67,446	96%	$116,580	93.8
#8	Master's in Computer Science Cornell University Ithaca, NY · Private nonprofit	On-campus	$68,380	95%	$116,580	93.7
#9	Master's in Computer Science Stanford University Stanford, CA · Private nonprofit	On-campus	$65,127	92%	$116,580	93.6
#10	Master's in Computer Science Northwestern University Evanston, IL · Private nonprofit	On-campus	$67,158	95%	$116,580	93.4
#11	Master's in Computer Science Massachusetts Institute of Technology Cambridge, MA · Private nonprofit	On-campus	$61,990	96%	$116,580	93.1
#12	Master's in Computer Science University of California-San Diego La Jolla, CA · Public	On-campus	$12,260	86%	$116,580	92.6
#13	Master's in Computer Science Boston University Boston, MA · Private nonprofit	On-campus	$66,670	89%	$116,580	92.6
#14	Master's in Computer Science University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Chapel Hill, NC · Public	On-campus	$7,019	91%	$116,580	92.4
#15	Master's in Computer Science Brown University Providence, RI · Private nonprofit	On-campus	$68,612	96%	$116,580	92.3
#16	Master's in Computer Science Duke University Durham, NC · Private nonprofit	On-campus	$66,325	97%	$116,580	92.2
#17	Master's in Computer Science University of California-Irvine Irvine, CA · Public	On-campus	$12,260	87%	$116,580	92.1
#18	Master's in Computer Science Washington University in St Louis St. Louis, MO · Private nonprofit	On-campus	$64,500	94%	$116,580	91.4
#19	Master's in Computer Science Princeton University Princeton, NJ · Private nonprofit	On-campus	$62,400	98%	$116,580	91.4
#20	Master's in Computer Science University of California-Berkeley Berkeley, CA · Public	On-campus	$12,260	93%	$116,580	91.3
#21	Master's in Computer Science North Carolina State University at Raleigh Raleigh, NC · Public	On-campus	$6,535	85%	$116,580	91.3
#22	Master's in Computer Science Vanderbilt University Nashville, TN · Private nonprofit	On-campus	$65,008	94%	$116,580	91.3
#23	Master's in Computer Science University of Maryland-College Park College Park, MD · Public	On-campus	$10,087	89%	$116,580	91.2
#24	Master's in Computer Science University of Georgia Athens, GA · Public	On-campus	$10,034	90%	$116,580	91.1
#25	Master's in Computer Science University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Champaign, IL · Public	On-campus	$14,975	85%	$116,580	91.1
#26	Master's in Computer Science Carnegie Mellon University Pittsburgh, PA · Private nonprofit	Online	$64,596	94%	$116,580	91.1
#27	Master's in Computer Science Tufts University Medford, MA · Private nonprofit	On-campus	$69,146	94%	$116,580	90.6
#28	Master's in Computer Science Georgetown University Washington, DC · Private nonprofit	On-campus	$67,896	95%	$116,580	90.5
#29	Master's in Computer Science California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo San Luis Obispo, CA · Public	On-campus	$6,084	86%	$116,580	90.4
#30	Master's in Computer Science University of Washington-Seattle Campus Seattle, WA · Public	On-campus	$11,869	85%	$116,580	90.4
#31	Master's in Computer Science Binghamton University Vestal, NY · Public	On-campus	$7,070	82%	$116,580	90.2
#32	Master's in Computer Science University of California-Davis Davis, CA · Public	On-campus	$12,260	86%	$116,580	89.8
#33	Master's in Computer Science Dartmouth College Hanover, NH · Private nonprofit	On-campus	$66,123	96%	$116,580	89.7
#34	Master's in Computer Science San Diego State University San Diego, CA · Public	On-campus	$6,084	76%	$116,580	89.5
#35	Master's in Computer Science Emory University Atlanta, GA · Private nonprofit	On-campus	$63,400	91%	$116,580	89.3
#36	Master's in Computer Science Purdue University-Main Campus West Lafayette, IN · Public	On-campus	$9,718	83%	$116,580	88.9
#37	Master's in Computer Science University of California-Santa Barbara Santa Barbara, CA · Public	On-campus	$12,260	83%	$116,580	88.6
#38	Master's in Computer Science Stony Brook University Stony Brook, NY · Public	On-campus	$7,070	76%	$116,580	88.3
#39	Master's in Computer Science Case Western Reserve University Cleveland, OH · Private nonprofit	On-campus	$66,020	87%	$116,580	88.1
#40	Master's in Computer Science George Washington University Washington, DC · Private nonprofit	On-campus	$67,420	84%	$116,580	87.8
#41	Master's in Computer Science Texas A&M University-College Station College Station, TX · Public	Online	$9,092	84%	$116,580	87.8
#42	Master's in Computer Science University of Massachusetts-Amherst Amherst, MA · Public	Online	$17,006	83%	$116,580	87.7
#43	Master's in Computer Science California State University-Long Beach Long Beach, CA · Public	On-campus	$6,084	69%	$116,580	87.4
#44	Master's in Computer Science Villanova University Villanova, PA · Private nonprofit	On-campus	$66,838	92%	$116,580	87.4
#45	Master's in Computer Science University of South Florida Tampa, FL · Public	On-campus	$4,559	77%	$116,580	87.3
#46	Master's in Computer Science Stevens Institute of Technology Hoboken, NJ · Private nonprofit	On-campus	$61,028	87%	$116,580	87.2
#47	Master's in Computer Science Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus University Park, PA · Public	On-campus	$20,066	86%	$116,580	86.9
#48	Master's in Computer Science University of Rochester Rochester, NY · Private nonprofit	On-campus	$65,870	85%	$116,580	86.5
#49	Master's in Computer Science Arizona State University Digital Immersion Scottsdale, AZ · Public	Online	$11,478	—	$116,580	86.4
#50	Master's in Computer Science Lehigh University Bethlehem, PA · Private nonprofit	On-campus	$63,930	88%	$116,580	86.2

Showing all 50 ranked programs.

How Much Does a Computer Science Masters Degree Cost?

The total cost of a masters's degree in Computer Science ranges from $119,640 at public universities to over $168,200 at elite private institutions. Financial aid, scholarships, and in-state tuition significantly reduce out-of-pocket costs (College Board Trends in College Pricing 2024-25, IPEDS 2024-24).

Public University (In-State): $11,610/year × 2 years = $23,220 total
Public University (Out-of-State): $30,780/year × 2 years = $61,560 total
Private University: $42,051/year × 2 years = $84,102 total
Online Programs: $8,000/year × 2 years = $16,000 total

With median starting salaries of $133,080, most graduates achieve positive ROI within 3-5 years. Financial aid recipients often pay 30-50% less than sticker price.

Calculate Your ROI

Enter your details to estimate your degree return on investment

Program Type

Total Program Cost$

Leave blank to use average cost for selected program type

Target Career

Work Location

Career Timeline20 years

10 years20 years30 years

20-Year ROI

+907%

Net gain divided by total investment. ROI above 200% is considered excellent for education investments.

Net Gain

$1,677,254

Your additional lifetime earnings with this degree vs. working without one, minus the total investment.

Break-Even

5 years

Years until your cumulative earnings exceed total investment. Shorter programs often break even faster due to lower opportunity cost.

COL-Adjusted Salary

$133,333

Your starting salary adjusted for local cost of living. This shows real purchasing power compared to a $100K national baseline.

Why does break-even change with program type? Your "total investment" includes both tuition AND opportunity cost (foregone earnings while in school). A 4-year full-time public university (in-state) means 4 years of not earning a salary ($140,000 in opportunity cost). Shorter full-time programs may have higher tuition but lower total investment because you return to the workforce sooner.

Detailed Breakdown

How we calculate your degree ROI using real salary data

Total Investment$185,000

Tuition plus opportunity cost (earnings you miss while in school)

Program Cost (Tuition)$45,000

Direct cost of the degree program

Opportunity Cost$140,000

4 years × $35K/year foregone salary while studying full-time

20-Year Earnings (with degree)$2,712,662

Projected career earnings starting after graduation, with salary growth

20-Year Earnings (without degree)$850,408

What you'd earn working at $35K/year with 2% annual growth

Starting Salary (Austin, TX)$140,000

Median salary for this role in your selected location (BLS 2024)

Annualized Return4.9%

Your investment's compound annual growth rate (similar to stock market returns)

Data sources: BLS OEWS May 2024, IPEDS 2024. Calculations use median salaries, 3% discount rate, and assume salary growth declines from 6% to 2% over career. Individual results will vary. | Powered by Hakia.com

Computer Science Master's Programs Overview

A computer science master's degree represents one of the most valuable investments in today's technology-driven economy. With software engineering roles experiencing 25% growth and data scientist positions growing 36% through 2032, advanced CS education provides the specialized knowledge and research experience that top employers demand.

analysis of 487 accredited programs reveals significant variation in outcomes, costs, and specializations. Elite programs like MIT and Stanford command premium tuition but deliver exceptional ROI through higher starting salaries, extensive research opportunities, and industry connections. Public universities like UC Berkeley and Georgia Tech offer education at substantially lower costs for in-state residents.

Master's programs offer thesis and non-thesis tracks, with thesis options better suited for students considering PhD programs or research careers. Professional master's programs focus on industry-relevant skills and often include internship requirements. Online programs have gained significant credibility, with institutions like Georgia Tech's OMSCS delivering the same curriculum as on-campus programs at a fraction of the cost.

$115,000

Starting Salary

$165,000

Mid-Career

+25%

Job Growth

162,900

Annual Openings

Career Paths

Principal/Staff Engineer

SOC 15-1252

+25%

Technical leadership roles involving system architecture, cross-team coordination, and strategic technical decisions.

Median Salary:$180,000

Research Scientist

SOC 15-1221

+21%

Conduct applied research in corporate R&D labs, develop new technologies, and publish in top-tier venues.

Median Salary:$135,000

Technology Consultant

SOC 15-1199

+13%

Advise organizations on technology strategy, lead digital transformation initiatives, and solve complex technical challenges.

Median Salary:$125,000

Top States for Computer Science Master's Programs

Total Programs: 67
Median Tuition: $16,200

Best Computer Science Master's Programs in New York

Stanford University

Total Programs: 42
Median Tuition: $28,400

Best Computer Science Master's Programs in Texas

Columbia University

Total Programs: 38
Median Tuition: $12,800

University of Texas at Austin

Best Computer Science Master's Programs in Massachusetts

Total Programs: 31
Median Tuition: $32,600

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Best Computer Science Master's Programs in Pennsylvania

Total Programs: 29
Median Tuition: $24,100

Carnegie Mellon University

Best Computer Science Master's Programs in Illinois

Total Programs: 26
Median Tuition: $19,500

University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

Best Computer Science Master's Programs in Florida

Total Programs: 24
Median Tuition: $14,200

Best Computer Science Master's Programs in Georgia

University of Florida

Total Programs: 18
Median Tuition: $15,600

Georgia Institute of Technology

Best Computer Science Master's Programs in Washington

Total Programs: 16
Median Tuition: $18,900

Best Computer Science Master's Programs in Michigan

University of Washington

Total Programs: 15
Median Tuition: $22,800

Best Computer Science Master's Programs in Ohio

University of Michigan

Total Programs: 14
Median Tuition: $16,400

Best Computer Science Master's Programs in North Carolina

Ohio State University

Total Programs: 13
Median Tuition: $12,600