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2022 Best Value CompSci Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k

211 Ranked Colleges
12,651 Degrees Awarded
$43,100 Avg Grad Tuition & Fees*
Best Value CompSci Schools for a Master's For Those Making $0-$30k

Students have lots of options to chooose from today when trying to decide which college to attend. College Factual was founded, in part, to help students make the decision as to what would be the best school for them. Our “Best Value CompSci Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking is part of that endeavor.

Computer Science is the 19th most popular major in the country with 53,722 degrees awarded in 2019-2020. In 2017-2018, computer science graduates who were awarded their degree in 2015-2017, earned an average of $66,561 and had an average of $23,565 in loans still to pay off.

At the master’s degree level specifically, there were 12,651 computer science graduates with average earnings and debt of $56,398 and $43,194 respectively.

For this year’s “Best Value CompSci Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking, we looked at 211 colleges that offer a degree in computer science. The schools that top this list are recognized because they have great computer science programs and cost less that schools of similar quality.

When determining these rankings, we looked at things such as overall quality of the computer science program at the school and the cost to attend the school once aid has been awarded. Check out our ranking methodology for more information.

One Size Does Not Fit All

The compsci school you choose to invest your time and money in matters. To help you make the decision that is right for you, we’ve developed a number of major-specific rankings, including this list of “Best Value CompSci Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k”.

One of our other unique offerings is College Combat. This tool lets you build your own customized comparisons utilizing the factors that are most important to you. When you have some time, check it out - you may want to bookmark the link so you don’t forget it.

Best Value CompSci Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k

The colleges and universities below are the best for master’s degree compsci students whose families make $0-$30k.

Top 25 Best Value Master’s Degree Colleges for Computer Science (Income $0-$30k)

#1

Stanford University

Stanford, California

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Stanford University. It ranked #1 on our 2022 Best Value CompSci Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k list. Stanford University is a private not-for-profit institution located in Stanford, California. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 306 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Stanford also took the #1 spot in our “Best Computer Science Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Stanford are $55,011, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full Stanford Computer Science Report

#2

Duke University

Durham, North Carolina
#6 in overall quality

Out of the 211 schools in the Best Value CompSci Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, Duke University landed the #2 spot on the list. Durham, North Carolina is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out masters’s compsci degrees to 45 students in 2019-2020.

Duke also made our “Best Computer Science Master’s Degree Schools” list, coming in at #6. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Duke are $59,140.

Full Duke University Computer Science Report

#3

University of Pennsylvania

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
#7 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Pennsylvania. The school came in at #3 for the Best Value CompSci Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k. University of Pennsylvania is a large private not-for-profit school situated in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. It awarded 94 masters’s compsci degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our master’s degree compsci students whose families make $0-$30k list, UPenn has also earned the #7 rank in our “Best Computer Science Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at UPenn are $41,760, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Computer Science at University of Pennsylvania

#4

Harvard University

Cambridge, Massachusetts
#5 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Harvard University. The school came in at #4 for the Best Value CompSci Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k. Harvard University is a large private not-for-profit school situated in Cambridge, Massachusetts. It awarded 35 masters’s compsci degrees in 2019-2020.

Harvard not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #5 on our “Best Computer Science Master’s Degree Schools” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Harvard University are $50,654, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Computer Science at Harvard University

#5

Northwestern University

Evanston, Illinois
#13 in overall quality

Out of the 211 schools in the Best Value CompSci Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, Northwestern University landed the #5 spot on the list. Northwestern University is located in Evanston, Illinois and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 78 masters’s compsci degrees to qualified students.

In addition to being on our master’s degree compsci students whose families make $0-$30k list, Northwestern has also earned the #13 rank in our “Best Computer Science Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Northwestern University are $56,567, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full Northwestern University Computer Science Report

#6

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Cambridge, Massachusetts
#2 in overall quality

Massachusetts Institute of Technology landed the #6 spot on the 2022 Best Value CompSci Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Massachusetts Institute of Technology is a fairly large school located in Cambridge, Massachusetts that handed out 239 masters’s compsci degrees in 2019-2020.

MIT not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #2 on our “Best Computer Science Master’s Degree Schools” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at MIT are $56,719, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Computer Science at Massachusetts Institute of Technology

#7

Brown University

Providence, Rhode Island

Brown University ranked #7 on this year’s Best Value CompSci Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k list. This medium-sized school is located in Providence, Rhode Island, and it awarded 107 masters’s compsci degrees in 2019-2020.

Brown did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #9 on our “Best Computer Science Master’s Degree Schools” list. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Brown are $60,363.

Read more about Computer Science at Brown University

#8

University of Chicago

Chicago, Illinois

University of Chicago landed the #8 spot on the 2022 Best Value CompSci Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Located in Chicago, Illinois, this fairly large private not-for-profit school awarded 164 diplomas to qualified masters’s compsci students in 2019-2020.

UChicago not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #8 on our “Best Computer Science Master’s Degree Schools” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of Chicago are $61,548, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Computer Science at UChicago

#9

Cornell University

Ithaca, New York

Cornell University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value CompSci Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #9. Ithaca, New York is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out masters’s compsci degrees to 279 students in 2019-2020.

Cornell also made our “Best Computer Science Master’s Degree Schools” list, coming in at #3. Average graduate tuition and fees at Cornell University are $30,042, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full Cornell Computer Science Report

#10

Washington University in St Louis

Saint Louis, Missouri

Washington University in St Louis did quite well in the 2022 Best Value CompSci Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #10. Located in Saint Louis, Missouri, this fairly large private not-for-profit school handed out 113 diplomas to qualified masters’s compsci students in 2019-2020.

WUSTL also took the #14 spot in our “Best Computer Science Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at WUSTL are $56,562.

Read full report on Computer Science at Washington University in St Louis

#11

Vanderbilt University

Nashville, Tennessee
#16 in overall quality

Vanderbilt University ranked #11 on this year’s Best Value CompSci Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k list. Vanderbilt is a fairly large private not-for-profit school situated in Nashville, Tennessee. It awarded 27 masters’s compsci degrees in 2019-2020.

Vanderbilt also made our “Best Computer Science Master’s Degree Schools” list, coming in at #16. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Vanderbilt University are $50,624.

Full Vanderbilt Computer Science Report

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign did quite well in the 2022 Best Value CompSci Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #12. University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign is a large school located in Champaign, Illinois that handed out 384 masters’s compsci degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our master’s degree compsci students whose families make $0-$30k list, UIUC has also earned the #11 rank in our “Best Computer Science Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign are $30,083.

Read full report on Computer Science at University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

#13

Georgetown University

Washington, District of Columbia
#21 in overall quality

Georgetown University landed the #13 spot on the 2022 Best Value CompSci Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Located in Washington, District of Columbia, this fairly large private not-for-profit school awarded 18 degrees to qualified masters’s compsci students in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our master’s degree compsci students whose families make $0-$30k list, Georgetown has also earned the #21 rank in our “Best Computer Science Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Georgetown are $53,591.

Full Georgetown Computer Science Report

#14

Dartmouth College

Hanover, New Hampshire
#17 in overall quality

Dartmouth College landed the #14 spot on the 2022 Best Value CompSci Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Dartmouth is a medium-sized school located in Hanover, New Hampshire that handed out 9 masters’s compsci degrees in 2019-2020.

Dartmouth not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #17 on our “Best Computer Science Master’s Degree Schools” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Dartmouth College are $58,120, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Computer Science at Dartmouth

Columbia University in the City of New York came in at #15 in this year’s edition of the Best Value CompSci Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Columbia is located in New York, New York and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 442 masters’s compsci degrees to qualified students.

Columbia also made our “Best Computer Science Master’s Degree Schools” list, coming in at #4. Average graduate tuition and fees at Columbia University in the City of New York are $51,194, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full Columbia Computer Science Report

Top 15% in overall quality

With a ranking of #16, University of Washington - Seattle Campus did quite well on the 2022 Best Value CompSci Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k list. UW Seattle is a large school located in Seattle, Washington that handed out 43 masters’s compsci degrees in 2019-2020.

On top of its placing in this ranking, UW Seattle also did well on our “Best Computer Science Master’s Degree Schools” list. It’s in the top 15% of all schools reviewed in that analysis. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at University of Washington - Seattle Campus are $30,294.

Read more about Computer Science at University of Washington - Seattle Campus

#17

Tufts University

Medford, Massachusetts
#19 in overall quality

Tufts University ranked #17 on this year’s Best Value CompSci Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k list. Tufts is a fairly large private not-for-profit school situated in Medford, Massachusetts. It awarded 39 masters’s compsci degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Tufts, the school also landed the #19 spot in our “Best Computer Science Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Tufts University are $55,168.

Read full report on Computer Science at Tufts

#18

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Chapel Hill, North Carolina

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill landed the #18 spot on the 2022 Best Value CompSci Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Chapel Hill, North Carolina is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s compsci degrees to 17 students in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill are $30,248, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Computer Science at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

#19

University of California - Berkeley

Berkeley, California
#22 in overall quality

University of California - Berkeley came in at #19 in this year’s edition of the Best Value CompSci Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. University of California - Berkeley is a large school located in Berkeley, California that handed out 14 masters’s compsci degrees in 2019-2020.

UC Berkeley also took the #22 spot in our “Best Computer Science Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at UC Berkeley are $29,347.

Full University of California - Berkeley Computer Science Report

#20

University of Maryland - College Park

College Park, Maryland
Top 20% in overall quality

University of Maryland - College Park landed the #20 spot on the 2022 Best Value CompSci Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. UMCP is located in College Park, Maryland and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 61 masters’s compsci degrees to qualified students.

On top of its placing in this ranking, UMCP also did well on our “Best Computer Science Master’s Degree Schools” list. It’s in the top 20% of all schools in this category. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of Maryland - College Park are $30,885, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Computer Science at University of Maryland - College Park

#21

North Carolina State University

Raleigh, North Carolina

With a ranking of #21, North Carolina State University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value CompSci Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k list. NC State is a large public school situated in Raleigh, North Carolina. It awarded 281 masters’s compsci degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our master’s degree compsci students whose families make $0-$30k list, NC State has also earned the #25 rank in our “Best Computer Science Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at North Carolina State University are $28,999, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Computer Science at NC State

Georgia Institute of Technology - Main Campus did quite well in the 2022 Best Value CompSci Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #22. Georgia Institute of Technology - Main Campus is a large public school situated in Atlanta, Georgia. It awarded 152 masters’s compsci degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on this list, Georgia Tech is in the top on our “Best Computer Science Master’s Degree Schools” list. It’s ranked in the top 15% of all schools on our “Best Computer Science Master’s Degree Schools” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Georgia Institute of Technology - Main Campus are $31,334, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Computer Science at Georgia Institute of Technology - Main Campus

University of South Florida - Main Campus did quite well in the 2022 Best Value CompSci Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #23. University of South Florida - Main Campus is a large public school situated in Tampa, Florida. It awarded 45 masters’s compsci degrees in 2019-2020.

Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at University of South Florida - Main Campus are $21,126.

Read more about Computer Science at University of South Florida - Main Campus

California State University - Los Angeles ranked #24 on this year’s Best Value CompSci Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k list. California State University - Los Angeles is a large public school situated in Los Angeles, California. It awarded 58 masters’s compsci degrees in 2019-2020.

Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at California State University - Los Angeles are $17,723.

Read full report on Computer Science at Cal State LA

University of California - San Diego ranked #25 on this year’s Best Value CompSci Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k list. UCSD is a public institution located in La Jolla, California. The school has a large population, and it awarded 294 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our master’s degree compsci students whose families make $0-$30k list, UCSD has also earned the #18 rank in our “Best Computer Science Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at UCSD are $28,631, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Computer Science at UCSD

Rest of the Best 32 in Best Value CompSci Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k

Not only did these schools make the top 32 list, but they also landed in the top 15% of this year’s ranking:

#26

Purdue University - Main Campus

West Lafayette, Indiana
#27

Indiana University - Bloomington

Bloomington, Indiana
#29

Brooklyn College

Brooklyn, New York
#31

Emory University

Atlanta, Georgia
#32

Queens College

Queens, New York

Notes and References

References

  • The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE) serves as the core of our data about colleges.
  • Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
  • Information about the national average student loan default rate is from the U.S. Department of Education and refers to data about the 2016 borrower cohort tracking period for which the cohort default rate (CDR) was 10.1%.

Read more about our data sources and methodologies

Footnotes

  • *Average salary, average net price, and average tuition and fees are for the top schools only.
  • Some schools otherwise deserving of recognition may have been removed from this ranking in the event that new data identified post-publication warranted it, or at the request of the school.

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