Best colleges for Computational Science
Ranked by graduate earnings
Compare 83 U.S. colleges offering Computational Science by graduate earnings, cost, and outcomes. Federal data across 31 states.
Computational Science programs report median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $43,834 (College Scorecard, 2019), and map to CIP 30.30 and the Data Scientists occupation (BLS SOC).
About Computational Science programs
Computational Science is an interdisciplinary program that focuses on using advanced computing capabilities to tackle complex scientific problems. This field combines elements of computer science, mathematics, and various scientific disciplines, making it ideal for students interested in applying computational techniques to real-world challenges in science and engineering. Students in this program will engage with algorithms, computer simulations, and mathematical models to analyze and solve problems across a range of fields. It is suited for those who enjoy working with data and are interested in leveraging technology to drive scientific discovery and innovation.
Core coursework in Computational Science includes training in data analysis, statistical software, and machine learning techniques. Students will learn to clean and manipulate data, apply algorithms for predictive modeling, and evaluate models using statistical performance metrics.
Top 1 institutions, ranked by graduate earnings
Ranked by median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, predominant credential. 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 South Carolina Beaufort Bluffton, SC Public · Bachelor's degree Small program | $43,834 | 16 | 34% | — | — |
Specializations within Computational Science
1 of the 1 6-digit CIP codes under CIP 30.30 have U.S. graduates (NCES CIP 2020, IPEDS 2024–25). Each links to its own page, ranked by graduates.
Offered across 31 states & territories
The same program, compared state by state. Pick a state for in-state earnings and institutions.
| State | Institutions | Median earnings | Top institution by earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| South Carolinalimited | 2 | $43,834 | University of South Carolina Beaufort |
| Arkansaslimited | 2 | — | — |
| California | 6 | — | — |
| Coloradolimited | 1 | — | — |
| Connecticutlimited | 1 | — | — |
| District of Columbialimited | 1 | — | — |
| Florida | 6 | — | — |
| Georgialimited | 2 | — | — |
| Indiana | 10 | — | — |
| Iowalimited | 1 | — | — |
| Maine | 3 | — | — |
| Massachusettslimited | 1 | — | — |
| Michigan | 3 | — | — |
| Minnesota | 3 | — | — |
| Missourilimited | 2 | — | — |
| Nebraskalimited | 1 | — | — |
| New Jerseylimited | 2 | — | — |
| New York | 7 | — | — |
| North Carolinalimited | 2 | — | — |
| Oklahoma | 3 | — | — |
| Oregonlimited | 1 | — | — |
| Pennsylvania | 7 | — | — |
| Rhode Islandlimited | 1 | — | — |
| South Dakotalimited | 2 | — | — |
| Tennesseelimited | 2 | — | — |
| Texas | 4 | — | — |
| Utahlimited | 1 | — | — |
| Virginialimited | 1 | — | — |
| Washingtonlimited | 1 | — | — |
| Wisconsin | 3 | — | — |
| Puerto Ricolimited | 1 | — | — |
Careers & outlook
The payoff after graduation: occupation 15-2051, Data Scientists, and its national outlook.
Graduates of Computational Science can expect a strong job market, with an outlook growth rate of 33.5% and approximately 23,400 annual job openings. The median wage for professionals in this field is around $112,590, and a typical education requirement is a Bachelor's degree.
Top-paying metros
Related careers
CIP-to-SOC crosswalk for Computational Science
The SOC occupations NCES officially maps to CIP 30.30.
Under the NCES CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk, CIP 30.30 (Computational Science) maps to 7 Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) occupations, the jobs the U.S. Department of Labor links to this field of study.
| SOC code | Occupation |
|---|---|
| 11-9121 | Natural Sciences Managers |
| 15-1251 | Computer Programmers |
| 15-1299 | Computer Occupations, All Other |
| 15-2051 | Data Scientistsprimary |
| 15-2099 | Mathematical Science Occupations, All Other |
| 25-1021 | Computer Science Teachers, Postsecondary |
| 25-1199 | Postsecondary Teachers, All Other |
Source: National Center for Education Statistics, CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 Crosswalk.
Skills & knowledge in Computational Science programs
From the U.S. Dept. of Labor for the occupation this program most leads to.
What graduates do on the job
- Analyze, manipulate, or process large sets of data using statistical software.
- Apply feature selection algorithms to models predicting outcomes of interest, such as sales, attrition, and healthcare use.
- Apply sampling techniques to determine groups to be surveyed or use complete enumeration methods.
- Clean and manipulate raw data using statistical software.
- Compare models using statistical performance metrics, such as loss functions or proportion of explained variance.
- Create graphs, charts, or other visualizations to convey the results of data analysis using specialized software.
Common questions
What is Computational Science?+
It is an interdisciplinary field that uses advanced computing to solve complex scientific problems.
What skills will I learn?+
You will learn data analysis, statistical modeling, and how to use algorithms for predictive outcomes.
What is the job outlook for this field?+
The job outlook is much faster than average, with a growth rate of 33.5%.
What degree do I need for a career in Computational Science?+
A Bachelor's degree is typically required for entry-level positions in this field.
How much do Computational Science graduates earn?+
Computational Science graduates report median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $43,834, College Scorecard (2019); the Data Scientists occupation pays about $126,800 on average nationally (BLS OEWS May 2025).
What is the CIP code for Computational Science?+
Computational Science maps to CIP 30.30 in the Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP), the U.S. Department of Education taxonomy used for College Scorecard Field of Study earnings and IPEDS completions.
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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