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West Lafayette, IN · Computer science

Computer science at Purdue

Purdue graduates about 1,010 computer science majors a year, 12% of its graduating class. That puts it 49th of 691 schools we score for computer science, a standout program at 87 out of 100. Its current catalog lists 77 undergraduate courses in the field, more than 88% of the schools we've counted. Graduates in the major earn a median $121,000 four years out, 1.25× what the same major pays nationally. Research spending in the field runs about $22 million a year, a rough guide to how many labs and projects undergraduates can join.

87/100Standout#49 of 691 for computer science →
Graduates a year1,01012% of the class
Courses in the catalog77more than 88% of schools
Median pay 4 years out$121,0001.25× the same major nationally
Research in the field$22Ma year, NSF
Admit rate50%whole school
SAT middle 50%1200–1470whole school

Around Purdue

A shot of the Purdue University campus as seen from the top floor of Meredith So
Purdue University campus from top floor of Meredith South residence hallPhoto: Shocksingularity · CC0 · source
500px provided description: A small plane on approach to land at Purdue Universi
Flying Into The Sunset (198923043)Photo: Jesse Collins · CC BY 3.0 · source
This is a pymol view that shows the entire structure of the GDP-Mannose 4, 6-Deh
Pymol viewPhoto: Ctrob22 · CC BY-SA 4.0 · source
A rainbow over 3rd Street in West Lafayette, Indiana near the Honors College Res
Rainbow Over Third StreetPhoto: JMoga11 · CC BY-SA 4.0 · source

Where computer science happens

Buildings on campus that fit the field: Purdue Technology and Aerospace, Birck Nanotechnology Center, Convergence Center for Innovation and Collaboration (CONV), Bindley Bioscience Center, Hampton Hall of Civil Engineering (HAMP), Chaney-Hale Hall of Science (CHAS), Forney Hall of Chemical Engineering (FRNY), Mechanical Engineering (ME), Agricultural and Biological Engineering (ABE), Life Science Ranges (Greenhouse and Service Building), Martin C. Jischke Hall of Biomedical Engineering, Life Science Plant and Soils Laboratory.

Named buildings on the campus map: Academic 209 · Dorm 75 · Athletics 12 · Student housing 9 · Dining 4 · Arts 4.

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Nearby in the computer science ranking

  1. Wellesley College 88
  2. Middlebury College 88
  3. Barnard College 88
  4. The Pennsylvania State University–University Park 87
  5. Stevens Institute of Technology 87
  6. Harvey Mudd College 87
  7. Virginia Tech 86
  8. Carleton College 86

Other strong majors at Purdue

How the score works

The score is out of 100 and compares Purdue 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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