Best colleges for Computer and Information Sciences in Virginia
Ranked by graduate earnings
University of Virginia, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University and Virginia Commonwealth University are the top bachelor's Computer and Information Sciences programs in Virginia by graduate earnings. University of Virginia leads with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $98,067, College Scorecard. George Mason University, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University and University of Virginia award the most Computer and Information Sciences degrees in Virginia: 1,385, 991 and 687 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 49 Virginia colleges offer Computer and Information Sciences and award 6,329 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 Virginia Charlottesville Public · Bachelor's degree | $98,067 | 687 | 96% | — | $17,783 |
| 2 | Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University Blacksburg Public · Bachelor's degree | $96,432 | 991 | 86% | — | $20,500 |
| 3 | Virginia Commonwealth University Richmond Public · Bachelor's degree | $84,338 | 240 | 63% | — | $19,050 |
| 4 | James Madison University Harrisonburg Public · Bachelor's degree | $81,761 | 195 | 80% | — | $21,470 |
| 5 | George Mason University Fairfax Public · Bachelor's degree | $78,800 | 1,385 | 68% | — | $23,250 |
| 6 | University of Richmond University of Richmond Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $76,763 | 29 | 85% | $24,049 | $23,381 |
| 7 | University of Mary Washington Fredericksburg Public · Bachelor's degree | $76,301 | 82 | 66% | — | $22,142 |
| 8 | Marymount University Arlington Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $68,364 | 59 | 54% | $25,803 | $27,000 |
| 9 | Old Dominion University Norfolk Public · Bachelor's degree | $64,530 | 234 | 46% | — | $26,125 |
| 10 | Liberty University Lynchburg Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $56,258 | 303 | 65% | $28,911 | $28,068 |
Top 3 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 | Tidewater Community College Norfolk Public · Associate degree | $45,084 | 43 | 32% | — | $11,243 |
| 2 | Brightpoint Community College Chester Public · Associate degree | $40,984 | 68 | 38% | — | $8,250 |
| 3 | Northern Virginia Community College Annandale Public · Associate degree | $39,679 | 789 | 33% | — | $10,490 |
Colleges awarding the most Computer and Information Sciences degrees in Virginia
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 | George Mason University Fairfax Public | 1,385 | $78,800 |
| 2 | Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University Blacksburg Public | 991 | $96,432 |
| 3 | University of Virginia Charlottesville Public | 687 | $98,067 |
| 4 | Washington University of Science and Technology Alexandria Private for-profit | 304 | Not reported |
| 5 | Liberty University Lynchburg Private not-for-profit | 303 | $56,258 |
| 6 | Virginia Commonwealth University Richmond Public | 240 | $84,338 |
| 7 | Old Dominion University Norfolk Public | 234 | $64,530 |
| 8 | James Madison University Harrisonburg Public | 195 | $81,761 |
| 9 | University of Mary Washington Fredericksburg Public | 82 | $76,301 |
| 10 | J Sargeant Reynolds Community College Richmond Public | 69 | Not reported |
ShowHide the other 39 Virginia 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 Virginia
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing Computer and Information Sciences programs in Virginia.
Which Virginia colleges award the most Computer and Information Sciences degrees?+
George Mason University (1,385 graduates a year), Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (991 graduates a year) and University of Virginia (687 graduates a year) award the most Computer and Information Sciences degrees in Virginia, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 49 Virginia colleges offer Computer and Information Sciences.
What is the best college for Computer and Information Sciences in Virginia?+
By graduate earnings, University of Virginia leads among bachelor's Computer and Information Sciences programs in Virginia, with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $98,067, College Scorecard. Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University and Virginia Commonwealth University follow. By degrees awarded, George Mason University is the largest, with 1,385 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25).
Which Computer and Information Sciences program in Virginia has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, University of Virginia tops the list at $98,067. 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 Virginia?+
The average annual wage for Computer and Information Research Scientists in Virginia is $164,260 (median $157,390), across about 3,590 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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