Best colleges for Computer Science in Virginia
Ranked by graduate earnings
William & Mary, George Mason University and Christopher Newport University are the top bachelor's Computer Science programs in Virginia by graduate earnings. William & Mary leads with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $84,956, College Scorecard. William & Mary, Tidewater Community College and Christopher Newport University award the most Computer Science degrees in Virginia: 141, 91 and 70 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 36 Virginia colleges offer Computer Science and award 1,045 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 7 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 | William & Mary Williamsburg Public · Bachelor's degree | $84,956 | 141 | 89% | — | $19,794 |
| 2 | George Mason University Fairfax Public · Bachelor's degree | $84,632 | 25 | 68% | — | — |
| 3 | Christopher Newport University Newport News Public · Bachelor's degree | $72,128 | 70 | 72% | — | $22,250 |
| 4 | Radford University Radford Public · Bachelor's degree | $66,857 | 25 | 49% | — | $26,000 |
| 5 | Virginia Military Institute Lexington Public · Bachelor's degree | $58,225 | 23 | 76% | — | $26,000 |
| 6 | Longwood University Farmville Public · Bachelor's degree Small program | $78,085 | 17 | 61% | — | — |
| 7 | Bridgewater College Bridgewater Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree Small program | $58,440 | 11 | 53% | $19,485 | $26,000 |
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 | Northern Virginia Community College Annandale Public · Associate degree | $48,889 | 373 | 33% | — | $13,000 |
Colleges awarding the most Computer Science 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 | William & Mary Williamsburg Public | 141 | $84,956 |
| 2 | Tidewater Community College Norfolk Public | 91 | Not reported |
| 3 | Christopher Newport University Newport News Public | 70 | $72,128 |
| 4 | Virginia State University Petersburg Public | 38 | Not reported |
| 5 | Laurel Ridge Community College Middletown Public | 37 | Not reported |
| 6 | Brightpoint Community College Chester Public | 36 | Not reported |
| 7 | George Mason University Fairfax Public | 25 | $84,632 |
| 8 | Radford University Radford Public | 25 | $66,857 |
| 9 | J Sargeant Reynolds Community College Richmond Public | 23 | Not reported |
| 10 | Virginia Military Institute Lexington Public | 23 | $58,225 |
ShowHide the other 26 Virginia colleges offering Computer Science
| Institution | City | Control | Graduates / yr |
|---|---|---|---|
| Northern Virginia Community College | Annandale | Public | 373 |
| University of North America | Fairfax | Private for-profit | 23 |
| Washington and Lee University | Lexington | Private not-for-profit | 21 |
| Longwood University | Farmville | Public | 17 |
| Piedmont Virginia Community College | Charlottesville | Public | 13 |
| Virginia Peninsula Community College | Hampton | Public | 12 |
| Bridgewater College | Bridgewater | Private not-for-profit | 11 |
| Regent University | Virginia Beach | Private not-for-profit | 11 |
| Marymount University | Arlington | Private not-for-profit | 7 |
| Shenandoah University | Winchester | Private not-for-profit | 7 |
| University of Virginia's College at Wise | Wise | Public | 6 |
| University of Management and Technology (Online) | Arlington | Private for-profit | 6 |
| Hampden-Sydney College | Hampden-Sydney | Private not-for-profit | 5 |
| Eastern Mennonite University | Harrisonburg | Private not-for-profit | 4 |
| Virginia Commonwealth University | Richmond | Public | 4 |
| Roanoke College | Salem | Private not-for-profit | 3 |
| Averett University | Danville | Private not-for-profit | 2 |
| New River Community College | Dublin | Public | 2 |
| Virginia Union University | Richmond | Private not-for-profit | 2 |
| Blue Ridge Community College | Weyers Cave | Public | 1 |
| Ferrum College | Ferrum | Private not-for-profit | 1 |
| Mary Baldwin University | Staunton | Private not-for-profit | 1 |
| Paul D Camp Community College | Franklin | Public | 1 |
| Randolph College | Lynchburg | Private not-for-profit | 1 |
| Virginia Highlands Community College | Abingdon | Public | 1 |
| Virginia Western Community College | Roanoke | Public | 1 |
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 Science programs in Virginia.
Which Virginia colleges award the most Computer Science degrees?+
William & Mary (141 graduates a year), Tidewater Community College (91 graduates a year) and Christopher Newport University (70 graduates a year) award the most Computer Science degrees in Virginia, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 36 Virginia colleges offer Computer Science.
What is the best college for Computer Science in Virginia?+
By graduate earnings, William & Mary leads among bachelor's Computer Science programs in Virginia, with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $84,956, College Scorecard. George Mason University and Christopher Newport University follow. By degrees awarded, William & Mary is the largest, with 141 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25).
Which Computer Science program in Virginia has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, William & Mary tops the list at $84,956. 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 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.
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