Best colleges for Computer and Information Sciences in Pennsylvania
Ranked by graduate earnings
University of Pennsylvania, Swarthmore College and Pennsylvania State University are the top bachelor's Computer and Information Sciences programs in Pennsylvania by graduate earnings. University of Pennsylvania leads with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $146,204, College Scorecard. University of Pennsylvania, Carnegie Mellon University and Pennsylvania State University award the most Computer and Information Sciences degrees in Pennsylvania: 1,061, 1,044 and 613 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 87 Pennsylvania colleges offer Computer and Information Sciences and award 5,119 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 | University of Pennsylvania Philadelphia Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $146,204 | 1,061 | 97% | $22,055 | $15,000 |
| 2 | Swarthmore College Swarthmore Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $103,686 | 52 | 92% | $18,174 | — |
| 3 | Pennsylvania State University University Park Public · Bachelor's degree | $84,050 | 613 | 86% | — | $26,000 |
| 4 | Villanova University Villanova Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $83,455 | 22 | 92% | $33,774 | $26,225 |
| 5 | Temple University Philadelphia Public · Bachelor's degree | $73,393 | 384 | 75% | — | $26,000 |
| 6 | Duquesne University Pittsburgh Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $64,914 | 24 | 77% | $32,060 | $22,557 |
| 7 | East Stroudsburg University of Pennsylvania East Stroudsburg Public · Bachelor's degree | $63,715 | 26 | 43% | — | $28,500 |
| 8 | Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania Slippery Rock Public · Bachelor's degree | $59,430 | 74 | 66% | — | $25,000 |
| 9 | Millersville University of Pennsylvania Millersville Public · Bachelor's degree | $55,402 | 36 | 58% | — | $25,950 |
| 10 | Indiana University of Pennsylvania Indiana Public · Bachelor's degree | $54,561 | 52 | 56% | — | $27,000 |
Top 2 certificate and associate programs
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 | Community College of Allegheny County Pittsburgh Public · Associate degree | $39,461 | 42 | 24% | — | $14,261 |
| 2 | Community College of Philadelphia Philadelphia Public · Associate degree | $21,223 | 121 | 24% | — | $11,375 |
Colleges awarding the most Computer and Information Sciences degrees in Pennsylvania
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 Pennsylvania Philadelphia Private not-for-profit | 1,061 | $146,204 |
| 2 | Carnegie Mellon University Pittsburgh Private not-for-profit | 1,044 | Not reported |
| 3 | Pennsylvania State University University Park Public | 613 | $84,050 |
| 4 | Temple University Philadelphia Public | 384 | $73,393 |
| 5 | University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus Pittsburgh Public | 159 | $49,298 |
| 6 | Gannon University Erie Private not-for-profit | 121 | Not reported |
| 7 | West Chester University of Pennsylvania West Chester Public | 100 | Not reported |
| 8 | Kutztown University of Pennsylvania Kutztown Public | 76 | $48,056 |
| 9 | Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania Slippery Rock Public | 74 | $59,430 |
| 10 | Commonwealth University of Pennsylvania Bloomsburg Public | 55 | $47,235 |
ShowHide the other 77 Pennsylvania 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 Pennsylvania
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing Computer and Information Sciences programs in Pennsylvania.
Which Pennsylvania colleges award the most Computer and Information Sciences degrees?+
University of Pennsylvania (1,061 graduates a year), Carnegie Mellon University (1,044 graduates a year) and Pennsylvania State University (613 graduates a year) award the most Computer and Information Sciences degrees in Pennsylvania, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 87 Pennsylvania colleges offer Computer and Information Sciences.
What is the best college for Computer and Information Sciences in Pennsylvania?+
By graduate earnings, University of Pennsylvania leads among bachelor's Computer and Information Sciences programs in Pennsylvania, with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $146,204, College Scorecard. Swarthmore College and Pennsylvania State University follow. By degrees awarded, University of Pennsylvania is the largest, with 1,061 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25).
Which Computer and Information Sciences program in Pennsylvania has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, University of Pennsylvania tops the list at $146,204. 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 Pennsylvania?+
The average annual wage for Computer and Information Research Scientists in Pennsylvania is $131,430 (median $130,300), across about 330 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.
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