Best colleges for Computer and Information Sciences in Massachusetts
Ranked by graduate earnings
Northeastern University, Wellesley College and University of Massachusetts-Dartmouth are the top bachelor's Computer and Information Sciences programs in Massachusetts by graduate earnings. Northeastern University leads with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $115,587, College Scorecard. Northeastern University, Clark University and University of Massachusetts-Boston award the most Computer and Information Sciences degrees in Massachusetts: 2,151, 302 and 195 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 36 Massachusetts colleges offer Computer and Information Sciences and award 3,981 degrees and certificates a year in all.
The Computer and Information Sciences program focuses on the intersection of computing and informatics, treating computers as essential tools for problem-solving and innovation. This program is designed for students interested in…
Top 10 bachelor's programs, ranked by graduate earnings
Ranked by median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard. Programs with fewer than 20 graduates a year, a graduation rate under 30%, or online, degree-completion or graduate-only status rank after the rest.
| # | Institution | Starting salary (1 yr) | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Northeastern University Boston Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $115,587 | 2,151 | 91% | $18,925 | $23,001 |
| 2 | Wellesley College Wellesley Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $100,644 | 55 | 92% | $19,292 | $13,350 |
| 3 | University of Massachusetts-Dartmouth North Dartmouth Public · Bachelor's degree | $77,970 | 140 | 52% | — | $27,000 |
| 4 | Bentley University Waltham Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $72,227 | 54 | 87% | $31,677 | $26,000 |
| 5 | Framingham State University Framingham Public · Bachelor's degree | $63,538 | 31 | 48% | — | $25,673 |
| 6 | University of Massachusetts-Boston Boston Public · Bachelor's degree | $58,909 | 195 | 49% | — | $24,391 |
| 7 | Salem State University Salem Public · Bachelor's degree | $57,706 | 37 | 50% | — | $27,000 |
| 8 | Worcester State University Worcester Public · Bachelor's degree | $54,477 | 41 | 61% | — | $24,250 |
| 9 | Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts North Adams Public · Bachelor's degree Small program | $80,332 | 12 | 56% | — | $22,500 |
| 10 | Fitchburg State University Fitchburg Public · Bachelor's degree Small program | $47,508 | 9 | 55% | — | $27,875 |
Top certificate or associate program
Shorter credentials, ranked separately so they are not compared with four-year degrees. Ranked by median earnings one year after completion (often called starting salary), College Scorecard.
| # | Institution | Starting salary (1 yr) | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mount Wachusett Community College Gardner Public · Associate degree Small program | $38,975 | 15 | 24% | — | $9,834 |
Colleges awarding the most Computer and Information Sciences degrees in Massachusetts
Top 10 by graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25 completions). Certificate and associate programs, online, degree-completion and graduate-only schools, and schools with a graduation rate under 30% are listed in full below.
| # | Institution | Graduates / yr | Starting salary (1 yr) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Northeastern University Boston Private not-for-profit | 2,151 | $115,587* |
| 2 | Clark University Worcester Private not-for-profit | 302 | Not reported |
| 3 | University of Massachusetts-Boston Boston Public | 195 | $58,909 |
| 4 | Northeastern University Professional Programs Boston Private not-for-profit | 171 | $115,587* |
| 5 | Massachusetts Institute of Technology Cambridge Private not-for-profit | 150 | Not reported |
| 6 | University of Massachusetts-Dartmouth North Dartmouth Public | 140 | $77,970 |
| 7 | Boston University Boston Private not-for-profit | 133 | Not reported |
| 8 | University of Massachusetts-Amherst Amherst Public | 75 | Not reported |
| 9 | Harvard University Cambridge Private not-for-profit | 55 | Not reported |
| 10 | Wellesley College Wellesley Private not-for-profit | 55 | $100,644 |
ShowHide the other 26 Massachusetts colleges offering Computer and Information Sciences
Career outlook
What this program leads to: Computer and Information Research Scientists (SOC 15-1221).
Top skills
What Computer and Information Research Scientists earn in Massachusetts
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing Computer and Information Sciences programs in Massachusetts.
Which Massachusetts colleges award the most Computer and Information Sciences degrees?+
Northeastern University (2,151 graduates a year), Clark University (302 graduates a year) and University of Massachusetts-Boston (195 graduates a year) award the most Computer and Information Sciences degrees in Massachusetts, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 36 Massachusetts colleges offer Computer and Information Sciences.
What is the best college for Computer and Information Sciences in Massachusetts?+
By graduate earnings, Northeastern University leads among bachelor's Computer and Information Sciences programs in Massachusetts, with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $115,587, College Scorecard. Wellesley College and University of Massachusetts-Dartmouth follow. By degrees awarded, Northeastern University is the largest, with 2,151 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25).
Which Computer and Information Sciences program in Massachusetts has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, Northeastern University tops the list at $115,587. Compare it against graduates a year, graduation rate, cost, and debt in the ranked table above.
How much do Computer and Information Research Scientists earn in Massachusetts?+
The average annual wage for Computer and Information Research Scientists in Massachusetts is $170,470 (median $170,510), across about 1,760 jobs. Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025.
What is the focus of the Computer and Information Sciences program?+
The Computer and Information Sciences program focuses on the intersection of computing and informatics, treating computers as essential tools for problem-solving and innovation. This program is designed for students interested in…
What skills will I develop in this program?+
You will develop critical thinking, reading comprehension, active listening, speaking, and related professional skills.
What is the job outlook for Computer and Information Research Scientists?+
The national job outlook is about +19.7% growth with around 3,200 annual openings (BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034).
What is the typical education requirement?+
A Master's degree is the typical entry-level education for this field (BLS).
About the data on this page
Every figure comes from an official federal or public source. Here is each one and the release it is currently on.
Explore every U.S. college in one conversation
Clema turns plain-language questions into sourced answers across every U.S. institution — earnings, aid, acceptance, graduation, safety, and athletics from IPEDS, College Scorecard, and 10+ federal datasets, built in.
Free for teams up to 3 · No credit card