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Deciding which college to attend can be a daunting task. For many, it will be the most important decision that they make in their lives. To make an informed decision, you have to consider a lot of variables, such as cost of attendance, financial aid, student-teacher ratio, academics, student life, and more. These factors will either positively or negatively impact the quality of education that you receive.

Do you want to acquire a master’s degree in computer science but don’t know what institution you should attend? Well, if you are as ambitious as I was in my late teens, then you want to attend a top school, instead of an average or mediocre one. Fortunately, we have already done the legwork for you. To help you find the right school for your interests and goals, we’ve compiled a list of 2022’s best master’s in computer science programs.

What institution did we omit from this list? Leave your suggestions in the comment section below.

1. Yale University, New Haven, CT

Yale has been offering a computer science degree since the department’s founding. Areas of study consist of the following: robotics, cryptography, verifiable computing, and computational biology. The master’s degree in computer science is considered a terminal degree program. As such, it is primarily oriented toward learners interested in beginning their professional careers after graduation rather than pursuing their PhD.

2. Harvard University, Cambridge, MA

Harvard has two master’s degrees within its graduate degree program that are a computer science degrees: an MS and an MS in computational science and engineering (CSE). The graduate degree program for the CSE degree lasts one year. It is best suited for graduate learners looking to further their knowledge in the sector and swiftly move onto professional aspirations. Coursework includes systems programming and machine organization, privacy and technology, data structures and algorithms, and computing hardware. The master of engineering in CSE degree program lasts two years and requires a thesis to graduate.

3. Cal Tech, Pasadena, CA

Caltech’s master’s degree (MS) in computer science is a research-based program with general and specialized coursework and can normally be finished in two years. A sampling of coursework includes algorithms in the real world, microprocessor systems, database system implementation, and error-correcting codes. Upon graduating, learners will be prepared to utilize their skills to tackle difficult problems in the computer science sector and beyond.

4. Dartmouth College, Hanover, NH

Dartmouth College is a private, Ivy League institution established in 1769; it is one of nine institutions that were established in the United States before the American Revolution. Dartmouth College is sanctioned by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges. In the master’s in computer science program, learners work with top-level faculty researchers in an intimate and cooperative setting.  Some of the stand-out classes consist of advanced operating systems, programming languages, numerical linear algebra, and advanced artificial intelligence.

Learners are exposed to research in fields such as engineering, mathematics, biology, medicine, and more.  Dartmouth’s graduate degree program takes pride in its small class sizes and nationally recognized faculty.

5. Cornell University, Ithaca, NY

Cornell University is a private institution founded in 1865; the institution is sanctioned by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education and is perennially rated as one of the best institutions in the nation.

The computer science degree program is a four-semester degree program, which favors driven, self-motivated learners who take pleasure in both research and working alongside undergraduate learners in introductory classes. Here’s a look at a few electives: advanced computer architecture, ubiquitous computing, human-computer interaction design, and language and technology.

Learners admitted to the degree program must also work as full-time teaching assistants (TAs) during their time of enrollment. However, master’s degree learners pay no tuition and obtain a stipend and health insurance.

6. Columbia University, New York, NY

Columbia has two degree programs for professionals interested in a computer science degree. The master’s in computer science degree program is for learners who are interested in software engineering. The master’s in computer science degree program includes the study of computer security, machine learning, software, and graphics. Columbia also has a graduate degree in computer engineering designed for learners more interested in computer architecture, parallel systems, or other comparable specialties.

7. Stanford University, Stanford, CA

Stanford is continually rated as having one of the best reputations in the world. Graduate degree learners who finish the coursework in the master’s program in computer science at Stanford are well grounded in the discipline of computer science.

8. MIT, Cambridge, MA

The Massachusetts Institute of Technology is sanctioned by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges. It is frequently is ranked in the top 10 institutions in the country and is one of the most prominent institutions in the world.

MIT’s master’s degree program in computer science is for learners who want to pursue a PhD and is not offered as a terminal degree. Therefore, learners who are looking to earn their master’s degree and swiftly move toward professional pursuits should consider studying elsewhere.  MIT’s master’s degree program consists of 66 units (roughly equivalent to 22 credits at another institution) of coursework, plus a research thesis. Research areas include computer architecture, computer networks, machine learning, and signal processing.

9. University of Chicago, Chicago, IL

The graduate degree program has two courses of study: (1) the 9-class master’s degree in computer science and (2) the 12-class master’s degree in computer science with specialization programs. Typically, learners can finish the graduate degree program in nine months; part-time learners can complete the graduate degree program in as few as 15 months. Learners select from the following concentrations:  software engineering, high-performance computing, and data analytics.

10. University of Penn, Philadelphia, PA

Penn is a private Ivy League, doctorate-granting institution sanctioned by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education. The university has five distinct master’s degrees in computer science—all labeled as engineering graduate degrees. Learners with no prior experience in computers who want to pursue a career in computing and technology should apply for the master of computer and information technology (MCIT) degree program. Learners may pursue a degree in one of the following areas: computer and information science, embedded systems, computer graphics and game technology, or computer and information technology.

11. Georgia Tech, Atlanta, GA

The master of computer science degree has three distinct programs to prepare learners for highly productive careers in the sector of computers. Learners may select the class option (30 hours of coursework), the project option (21 hours of coursework and a 9-hour project), or the thesis option (18 hours of coursework and a 12-hour thesis). Learners can specialize in the following: computational perception and robotics, computing systems. interactive intelligence, or machine learning.

12. Brown University, Providence, RI

In Brown’s master in computer science degree program, learners are exposed to and taught by some of the smartest minds in the computer sector. As such, learners are provided education with a strong foundation in concepts as well as groundbreaking ideas in the computer industry. Coursework includes creating modern web applications, database management systems, computer graphics, and operating systems.

13. University of California – Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA

UCLA is continually rated as one of the top institutions in the world. The university has 337 undergraduate and graduate degree programs and frequently receives more candidates than any other institution in the United States. UCLA’s master in computer science degree teaches learners the necessary technical skills for successful careers in the computer sector.  Learners in this program focus on developing skills that can translate many fields in this sector. Coursework includes compiler construction, web applications, database systems, and computer systems architecture.

14. Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN

Vanderbilt University established in 1873 with an original $1 million endowment from shipping and rail magnate Cornelius Vanderbilt who hoped the institution would help heal the sectional damage caused by the Civil War. Vanderbilt University is sanctioned by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC).

Vanderbilt University has a master of computer science degree focused on networking systems, image processing, machine learning and artificial intelligence, and computer theory.  The graduate degree program also has an array of interdisciplinary research opportunities, ranging across healthcare, security, energy and natural resources, and entertainment.

Learners may select between two graduate degrees:  (1) the MSc/thesis choice, which includes a thesis and final exam, and lets learners request admission into a PhD degree program in computer science or (2) the MSc/non-thesis choice, which does not consist of a thesis or final exam. Both master’s degrees require 30 credit hours. Coursework includes topics in big data, artificial intelligence, network security, and modeling and simulation.

15. Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA

Carnegie Mellon’s master in computer science degree program is a self-directed course of study, allowing learners to select the concepts they are most interested in studying (under consultation with their advisor) to finish their degree. The degree program is entirely coursework based, with no research component required. Here’s a glance at coursework: data structures and asymptotic analysis, system programming, theory of probability, and functional programming.

Most learners finish the graduate degree program in three semesters. The school also has two other masters of computer science tracks: a fifth-year master’s degree program for current undergraduates and a coupled degree program with the CMU Tepper School of Business as part of an MBA.