Best Computer programs in Virginia, ranked by enrollment
Conduct research into fundamental computer and information science as theorists, designers, or inventors.
65 schools in Virginia run programs that feed this job, graduating 8,463 people a year. The job pays a median of $157,390 in Virginia across about 3,590 jobs (BLS OEWS May 2025).
Fields of study in Virginia that lead to this job
Grouped at the 4-digit CIP level. Numbers are graduates per year in this state.
13 programs in Virginia that lead to this job
Ranked by graduates per year in Virginia (IPEDS completions). Graduate earnings and debt are national College Scorecard figures reported at the 4-digit CIP level, so specializations within one field share a figure. Each program also links to its own Virginia page.
| # | Program | Graduates / yr | Share of pipeline | Schools | Grad earnings (1 yr) | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Computer and Information Sciences, Generalmain feeder CIP 11.0101In Virginia → | 4,329 | 51.2% | 42 | $57,986 | $24,286 |
| 2 | Information Technologymain feeder CIP 11.0103In Virginia → | 1,985 | 23.5% | 16 | $57,986 | $24,286 |
| 3 | Computer Sciencemain feeder CIP 11.0701In Virginia → | 1,045 | 12.3% | 36 | $70,374 | $23,250 |
| 4 | Information Science/Studiesmain feeder CIP 11.0401In Virginia → | 515 | 6.1% | 11 | $57,313 | $25,833 |
| 5 | CIP 30.7001In Virginia → | 368 | 4.3% | 7 | — | — |
| 6 | CIP 51.2706In Virginia → | 143 | 1.7% | 4 | $47,775 | $25,000 |
| 7 | CIP 26.1103In Virginia → | 48 | 0.6% | 3 | $72,338 | $18,500 |
| 8 | Informaticsmain feeder CIP 11.0104In Virginia → | 12 | 0.1% | 1 | $57,986 | $24,286 |
| 9 | CIP 11.0804In Virginia → | 8 | 0.1% | 1 | $33,504 | $27,000 |
| 10 | CIP 11.0902In Virginia → | 4 | 0.0% | 1 | $43,901 | $22,822 |
| 11 | CIP 30.3101In Virginia → | 3 | 0.0% | 1 | $57,986 | $25,812 |
| 12 | Artificial Intelligencemain feeder CIP 11.0102In Virginia → | 2 | 0.0% | 1 | $57,986 | $24,286 |
| 13 | Computer and Information Sciences, Othermain feeder CIP 11.0199In Virginia → | 1 | 0.0% | 1 | $57,986 | $24,286 |
Top 25 schools in Virginia
Ranked by graduates per year into this job. Graduate earnings are reported for 21 of the 65 schools in this state.
| # | School | Graduates / yr | Top feeder program | Grad earnings (1 yr) | Grad rate | Net price | Acceptance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | George Mason University Fairfax, VA Public · 6 feeder programs | 1,645 | Computer and Information Sciences, General | $78,800 | 68% | — | 87% |
| 2 | Northern Virginia Community College Annandale, VA Public · 3 feeder programs | 1,162 | Information Technology | $39,679 | 33% | — | — |
| 3 | Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University Blacksburg, VA Public · 6 feeder programs | 1,144 | Computer and Information Sciences, General | $96,432 | 86% | — | 55% |
| 4 | University of Virginia - Main Campus Charlottesville, VA Public · 3 feeder programs | 834 | Computer and Information Sciences, General | $98,067 | 96% | — | 17% |
| 5 | Virginia Commonwealth University Richmond, VA Public · 4 feeder programs | 480 | Computer and Information Sciences, General | $84,338 | 63% | — | 93% |
| 6 | James Madison University Harrisonburg, VA Public · 3 feeder programs | 330 | Computer and Information Sciences, General | $81,761 | 80% | — | 72% |
| 7 | Washington University of Science and Technology Alexandria, VA Private for-profit · 1 feeder programs | 304 | Information Technology | — | 67% | — | 7% |
| 8 | Liberty University Lynchburg, VA Private not-for-profit · 3 feeder programs | 303 | Information Technology | $56,258 | 65% | $28,911 | 99% |
| 9 | Old Dominion University Norfolk, VA Public · 2 feeder programs | 250 | Computer and Information Sciences, General | $64,530 | 46% | — | 90% |
| 10 | William & Mary Williamsburg, VA Public · 3 feeder programs | 221 | Computer Science | $84,956 | 89% | — | 34% |
| 11 | Strayer University - Virginia Arlington, VA Private for-profit · 3 feeder programs | 218 | Information Technology | $67,315 | 36% | — | — |
| 12 | Tidewater Community College Norfolk, VA Public · 2 feeder programs | 134 | Computer Science | — | 32% | — | — |
| 13 | Brightpoint Community College Chester, VA Public · 3 feeder programs | 104 | Computer and Information Sciences, General | $40,984 | 38% | — | — |
| 14 | J Sargeant Reynolds Community College Richmond, VA Public · 2 feeder programs | 92 | Computer and Information Sciences, General | — | 32% | — | — |
| 15 | Christopher Newport University Newport News, VA Public · 2 feeder programs | 89 | Computer Science | $72,128 | 72% | — | 86% |
| 16 | University of Mary Washington Fredericksburg, VA Public · 1 feeder programs | 82 | Computer and Information Sciences, General | $76,301 | 66% | — | 80% |
| 17 | Norfolk State University Norfolk, VA Public · 3 feeder programs | 79 | Computer and Information Sciences, General | — | 38% | — | 88% |
| 18 | University of North America Fairfax, VA Private for-profit · 2 feeder programs | 75 | Information Technology | — | — | — | — |
| 19 | Marymount University Arlington, VA Private not-for-profit · 4 feeder programs | 71 | Information Technology | $68,364 | 54% | $25,803 | 93% |
| 20 | Virginia Peninsula Community College Hampton, VA Public · 3 feeder programs | 68 | Computer and Information Sciences, General | — | 34% | — | — |
| 21 | Laurel Ridge Community College Middletown, VA Public · 2 feeder programs | 49 | Computer Science | — | 45% | — | — |
| 22 | Virginia Western Community College Roanoke, VA Public · 2 feeder programs | 49 | Computer and Information Sciences, General | — | 40% | — | — |
| 23 | Piedmont Virginia Community College Charlottesville, VA Public · 2 feeder programs | 38 | Computer and Information Sciences, General | — | 39% | — | — |
| 24 | Virginia State University Petersburg, VA Public · 1 feeder programs | 38 | Computer Science | — | 39% | — | 89% |
| 25 | Blue Ridge Community College Weyers Cave, VA Public · 2 feeder programs | 36 | Computer and Information Sciences, General | — | 40% | — | — |
All 65 schools in Virginia
Every school in Virginia with a program that feeds this job, ordered by graduates per year. Earnings are shown for the ranked schools above; open a school profile for the rest.
| School | City | Control | Graduates / yr | Feeder programs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| George Mason University | Fairfax | Public | 1,645 | 6 |
| Northern Virginia Community College | Annandale | Public | 1,162 | 3 |
| Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University | Blacksburg | Public | 1,144 | 6 |
| University of Virginia - Main Campus | Charlottesville | Public | 834 | 3 |
| Virginia Commonwealth University | Richmond | Public | 480 | 4 |
| James Madison University | Harrisonburg | Public | 330 | 3 |
| Washington University of Science and Technology | Alexandria | Private for-profit | 304 | 1 |
| Liberty University | Lynchburg | Private not-for-profit | 303 | 3 |
| Old Dominion University | Norfolk | Public | 250 | 2 |
| William & Mary | Williamsburg | Public | 221 | 3 |
| Strayer University - Virginia | Arlington | Private for-profit | 218 | 3 |
| Tidewater Community College | Norfolk | Public | 134 | 2 |
| Brightpoint Community College | Chester | Public | 104 | 3 |
| J Sargeant Reynolds Community College | Richmond | Public | 92 | 2 |
| Christopher Newport University | Newport News | Public | 89 | 2 |
What computer and information research scientists earn in Virginia
What people already working in this job earn (BLS OEWS May 2025). Not graduate earnings.
U.S. median $140,300. Virginia pays above the national figure.
Concentrated here: Virginia employs more of this job per worker than the U.S. average.
Metro areas in Virginia
Job outlook
Bureau of Labor Statistics Employment Projections, 2024 to 2034.
Growth and openings are national. The Bureau of Labor Statistics does not publish employment projections at state level, so these figures describe the occupation across the whole U.S., not this state alone.
How to get in
The full skills, tools, and day-to-day breakdown lives on the national Computer and Information Research Scientists page.
How to become a Computer
Job zone 5 of 5 · SVP 8.0 and above- Typical entry education
- Master's degree
Most of these occupations require graduate school. For example, they may require a master's degree, and some require a Ph.D., M.D., or J.D. (law degree).
Extensive skill, knowledge, and experience are needed for these occupations. Many require more than five years of experience. For example, surgeons must complete four years of college and an additional five to seven years of specialized medical training to be able to do their job.
Employees may need some on-the-job training, but most of these occupations assume that the person will already have the required skills, knowledge, work-related experience, and/or training.
Top skills
The same job in other states
Where else this occupation employs the most people, and what it pays there.
Related careers in Virginia
Every major mapped to this job
The official federal mapping behind the rankings above.
All 15 majors mapped to Computer and Information Research Scientists14 of them graduated someone in the latest IPEDS year. NCES CIP 2020 → SOC 2018 crosswalk.+
- 11.0101Computer and Information Sciences, General
- 11.0102Artificial Intelligence
- 11.0103Information Technology
- 11.0104Informatics
- 11.0199Computer and Information Sciences, Other
- 11.0401Information Science/Studies
- 11.0701Computer Science
- 11.0804Modeling, Virtual Environments and Simulation
- 11.0902Cloud Computing
- 26.1103Bioinformatics
- 30.3101Human Computer Interaction
- 30.7001Data Science, General
- 30.7099Data Science, Other
- 40.0512Cheminformatics/Chemistry Informatics(no graduates reported)
- 51.2706Medical Informatics
Common questions
Answers for people weighing computer and information research scientists programs in Virginia.
What degree do you need to become a Computer?+
Master's degree is the typical entry-level education BLS reports for this occupation. The most common program people actually graduate from is Computer and Information Sciences, General, which awarded 4,329 degrees in Virginia in 2024-25, 51.2% of everyone graduating from a program that feeds this career.
Which college majors lead to becoming a Computer?+
The NCES CIP-to-SOC crosswalk maps 13 programs to this occupation. The largest are Computer and Information Sciences, Computer Science, Information Science/Studies, Data Science, plus 5 more. Together they graduate about 8,463 people a year in Virginia.
How much do computer and information research scientists earn in Virginia?+
The median is $157,390 a year (BLS OEWS May 2025). That is 12.2% above the U.S. median of $140,300. This is pay for people already working in the occupation, not the same thing as graduate earnings one year after finishing a degree.
Is demand for computer and information research scientists growing?+
BLS projects a +19.7% change in employment between 2024 and 2034, much faster than average, with roughly 3,200 openings a year nationally once retirements and job changes are counted.
How many schools offer programs for this career in Virginia?+
65 institutions in Virginia reported graduates from at least one of the 13 programs that feed this occupation in IPEDS 2024-25. Rankings on this page use graduates per year, because the federal data publishes no enrollment count by program.
What other job titles do computer and information research scientists work under?+
Employers advertise this work under many names. O*NET records Computer Scientist, Research Scientist, Computer Specialist, Control System Computer Scientist among the most commonly reported, all mapping to SOC 15-1221.
About the data on this page
Rankings use IPEDS completions 2024–25, degrees awarded per year. That is the closest federal measure of how many people a program puts into a career, because no federal dataset publishes enrollment by program. Wages and employment come from BLS OEWS May 2025, growth and openings from BLS Employment Projections 2024-34, and which majors lead to which jobs from the NCES CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk. Occupation descriptions, tasks, skills and tools are O*NET 30.3 (CC BY 4.0, U.S. Department of Labor/ETA).
BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics
May 2025Wages, employment counts, location quotients and metro breakdowns.
BLS Employment Projections
2024–34Projected growth, annual openings and typical entry-level education.
IPEDS Completions
2024-25 (provisional)Graduates per year by program and institution — the ranking metric.
College Scorecard, Field of Study
2020-21 cohortsMedian graduate earnings one year after completion, and median debt.
Census Post-Secondary Employment Outcomes
latest availableGraduate earnings 1/5/10 years out, where the state participates.
NCES CIP 2020 and the CIP-to-SOC 2018 crosswalk
CIP 2020 / SOC 2018Which college programs officially lead to this occupation.
O*NET Database 30.3
30.3Tasks, skills, knowledge, tools, job zone and alternate job titles.
Official source →CC BY 4.0, U.S. Department of Labor / ETA
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