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Madison, WI · Computer science

Computer science at Wisconsin

Wisconsin graduates about 868 computer science majors a year, 12% of its graduating class. That puts it 42nd of 691 schools we score for computer science, a standout program at 88 out of 100. Its current catalog lists 50 undergraduate courses in the field, more than 65% of the schools we've counted. Graduates in the major earn a median $120,000 four years out, 1.30× what the same major pays nationally. Research spending in the field runs about $23 million a year, a rough guide to how many labs and projects undergraduates can join.

88/100Standout#42 of 691 for computer science →
Graduates a year86812% of the class
Courses in the catalog50more than 65% of schools
Median pay 4 years out$120,0001.30× the same major nationally
Research in the field$23Ma year, NSF
Admit rate45%whole school
SAT middle 50%1340–1510whole school

Around Wisconsin

Horticulture and Agricultural Physics and Soil Science Building
Horticulture and Agricultural Physics and Soil Science Building - panoramioPhoto: Corey Coyle · CC BY 3.0 · source
By Babcock Hall at Linden Drive / Babcock Drive on the University of Wisconsin–M
Plaque about the first reliable test of milk quality (53939412283)Photo: Chris Rycroft from Madison, Wisconsin, United States · CC BY 2.0 · source
Babcock Hall
Babcock Hall - panoramioPhoto: Corey Coyle · CC BY 3.0 · source
Hiram Smith Hall and Annex
Hiram Smith Hall and Annex - panoramioPhoto: Corey Coyle · CC BY 3.0 · source

Where computer science happens

Buildings on campus that fit the field: Hanson Biomedical Sciences Building, Agricultural Engineering Laboratory, Plant Sciences, Muscle & Meat Science Research Laboratory, Medical Sciences, Nutritional Sciences, DeLuca Biochemical Sciences Building, Agricultural Engineering, Animal Science Building, Engineering Centers Building, Mechanical Engineering Building, Materials Science and Engineering.

Named buildings on the campus map: Academic 145 · Dorm 28 · Student housing 23 · Athletics 12 · Arts 7 · Chapel 6.

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Nearby in the computer science ranking

  1. The University of Texas–Austin 89
  2. University of Virginia 89
  3. Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute 89
  4. Rhode Island School of Design 89
  5. University of Minnesota–Twin Cities 88
  6. University of California San Diego 88
  7. Brandeis University 88
  8. Wellesley College 88

Other strong majors at Wisconsin

How the score works

The score is out of 100 and compares Wisconsin 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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