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Evanston, IL · Computer science

Computer science at Northwestern

Northwestern graduates about 217 computer science majors a year, 11% of its graduating class. That puts it 15th of 691 schools we score for computer science, a standout program at 95 out of 100. Its current catalog lists 87 undergraduate courses in the field, more than 93% of the schools we've counted. Graduates in the major earn a median $159,000 four years out, 1.64× what the same major pays nationally. Research spending in the field runs about $8 million a year, a rough guide to how many labs and projects undergraduates can join.

95/100Standout#15 of 691 for computer science →
Graduates a year21711% of the class
Courses in the catalog87more than 93% of schools
Median pay 4 years out$159,0001.64× the same major nationally
Research in the field$8Ma year, NSF
Admit rate7%whole school
SAT middle 50%1490–1570whole school

Around Northwestern

Near Sheridan Road, Evanston, IL
Entrance to Northwestern University Technological Institute (51725404073)Photo: Chris Rycroft from Madison, Wisconsin, United States · CC BY 2.0 · source
A photo of the interior of Dearborn Observatory. The dome is open, the red light
Dearborn Telescope with open domePhoto: Jackricono · CC BY-SA 4.0 · source
The Shakespeare Garden in Evanston (1915). It was established by the Garden Club
Shakespeare Garden (8105928197)Photo: Teemu008 from Palatine, Illinois · CC BY-SA 2.0 · source
Aggelos Katsaggelos
Aggelos KatsaggelosPhoto: Leandros89 · CC0 · source

Where computer science happens

Buildings on campus that fit the field: Northwestern University Technological Institute, Pancoe-ENH Life Sciences Pavilion, Seeley G. Mudd Science and Engineering Library, Hogan Biological Sciences Building.

Named buildings on the campus map: Academic 96 · Dorm 44 · Fraternity or sorority house 13 · Arts 8 · Chapel 5 · Athletics 3.

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Nearby in the computer science ranking

  1. Yale University 96
  2. Rice University 96
  3. University of Chicago 96
  4. Georgia Institute of Technology 95
  5. Washington University in St. Louis 95
  6. University of Notre Dame 95
  7. New York University 94
  8. University of Pennsylvania 94

Other strong majors at Northwestern

How the score works

The score is out of 100 and compares Northwestern with every school we score in computer science. It weighs the school's overall strength; how many students graduate in the major and what share of the class they are; research spending in the field (NSF); early pay against the same major nationally; how many courses the catalog lists; and test scores. 80+ is a standout program, 65+ strong, 45+ solid. Sources: US Department of Education (College Scorecard, IPEDS), NSF HERD, each school's current course catalog, OpenStreetMap and Wikimedia Commons.

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