Best colleges for Computer Science in Massachusetts
Ranked by graduate earnings
Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Harvard University and Williams College are the top bachelor's Computer Science programs in Massachusetts by graduate earnings. Massachusetts Institute of Technology leads with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $154,492, College Scorecard. University of Massachusetts-Amherst, Boston University and Massachusetts Institute of Technology award the most Computer Science degrees in Massachusetts: 901, 694 and 684 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 42 Massachusetts colleges offer Computer Science and award 5,223 degrees and certificates a year in all.
The Computer Science program focuses on the study of computation, information, and automation. This field encompasses both theoretical and applied disciplines, making it suitable for individuals interested in technology and…
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 | Massachusetts Institute of Technology Cambridge Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $154,492 | 684 | 96% | $11,666 | $12,000 |
| 2 | Harvard University Cambridge Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $152,251 | 318 | 98% | $15,013 | — |
| 3 | Williams College Williamstown Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $110,814 | 62 | 94% | $10,747 | $12,208 |
| 4 | Tufts University Medford Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $105,659 | 353 | 94% | $23,570 | $15,500 |
| 5 | Amherst College Amherst Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $100,596 | 59 | 94% | $16,081 | $16,750 |
| 6 | Worcester Polytechnic Institute Worcester Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $93,888 | 401 | 90% | $32,926 | $27,000 |
| 7 | Boston University Boston Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $90,050 | 694 | 89% | $21,956 | $23,250 |
| 8 | University of Massachusetts-Amherst Amherst Public · Bachelor's degree | $88,554 | 901 | 83% | — | $23,569 |
| 9 | Boston College Chestnut Hill Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $86,749 | 150 | 91% | $21,126 | $19,000 |
| 10 | University of Massachusetts-Lowell Lowell Public · Bachelor's degree | $86,167 | 265 | 65% | — | $27,000 |
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 | Bunker Hill Community College Boston Public · Associate degree | $30,332 | 76 | 13% | — | $9,000 |
Colleges awarding the most Computer Science 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 | University of Massachusetts-Amherst Amherst Public | 901 | $88,554 |
| 2 | Boston University Boston Private not-for-profit | 694 | $90,050 |
| 3 | Massachusetts Institute of Technology Cambridge Private not-for-profit | 684 | $154,492 |
| 4 | Worcester Polytechnic Institute Worcester Private not-for-profit | 401 | $93,888 |
| 5 | Tufts University Medford Private not-for-profit | 353 | $105,659 |
| 6 | Harvard University Cambridge Private not-for-profit | 318 | $152,251 |
| 7 | University of Massachusetts-Lowell Lowell Public | 265 | $86,167 |
| 8 | Clark University Worcester Private not-for-profit | 193 | Not reported |
| 9 | University of Massachusetts-Boston Boston Public | 188 | Not reported |
| 10 | Boston College Chestnut Hill Private not-for-profit | 150 | $86,749 |
ShowHide the other 32 Massachusetts colleges offering Computer Science
| Institution | City | Control | Graduates / yr |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wentworth Institute of Technology | Boston | Private not-for-profit | 130 |
| Fitchburg State University | Fitchburg | Public | 108 |
| Brandeis University | Waltham | Private not-for-profit | 102 |
| Merrimack College | North Andover | Private not-for-profit | 97 |
| Bunker Hill Community College | Boston | Public | 76 |
| Bridgewater State University | Bridgewater | Public | 65 |
| Williams College | Williamstown | Private not-for-profit | 62 |
| Amherst College | Amherst | Private not-for-profit | 59 |
| Smith College | Northampton | Private not-for-profit | 52 |
| Mount Holyoke College | South Hadley | Private not-for-profit | 44 |
| Western New England University | Springfield | Private not-for-profit | 34 |
| Quincy College | Quincy | Public | 27 |
| Massasoit Community College | Brockton | Public | 25 |
| Massachusetts Bay Community College | Wellesley Hills | Public | 24 |
| Suffolk University | Boston | Private not-for-profit | 21 |
| Springfield Technical Community College | Springfield | Public | 17 |
| Stonehill College | Easton | Private not-for-profit | 15 |
| Endicott College | Beverly | Private not-for-profit | 11 |
| Gordon College | Wenham | Private not-for-profit | 11 |
| Bristol Community College | Fall River | Public | 10 |
| Curry College | Milton | Private not-for-profit | 10 |
| Quinsigamond Community College | Worcester | Public | 10 |
| Westfield State University | Westfield | Public | 10 |
| Wheaton College (Massachusetts) | Norton | Private not-for-profit | 10 |
| North Shore Community College | Danvers | Public | 9 |
| University of Massachusetts-Dartmouth | North Dartmouth | Public | 9 |
| College of Our Lady of the Elms | Chicopee | Private not-for-profit | 7 |
| Assumption University | Worcester | Private not-for-profit | 6 |
| Hampshire College | Amherst | Private not-for-profit | 6 |
| Mount Wachusett Community College | Gardner | Public | 4 |
| Cape Cod Community College | West Barnstable | Public | 3 |
| Emmanuel College | Boston | Private not-for-profit | 2 |
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 Science programs in Massachusetts.
Which Massachusetts colleges award the most Computer Science degrees?+
University of Massachusetts-Amherst (901 graduates a year), Boston University (694 graduates a year) and Massachusetts Institute of Technology (684 graduates a year) award the most Computer Science degrees in Massachusetts, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 42 Massachusetts colleges offer Computer Science.
What is the best college for Computer Science in Massachusetts?+
By graduate earnings, Massachusetts Institute of Technology leads among bachelor's Computer Science programs in Massachusetts, with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $154,492, College Scorecard. Harvard University and Williams College follow. By degrees awarded, University of Massachusetts-Amherst is the largest, with 901 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25).
Which Computer Science program in Massachusetts has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, Massachusetts Institute of Technology tops the list at $154,492. 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 Science program?+
The Computer Science program focuses on the study of computation, information, and automation. This field encompasses both theoretical and applied disciplines, making it suitable for individuals interested in technology and…
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.
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