10 Best Computer Science Masters Programs

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Contents

COMMON APPLICATION AND ADMISSION QUESTIONS

WHAT ARE THE BEST COMPUTER SCIENCE MASTER’S PROGRAMS?

The computer science industry is booming. More businesses than ever are developing online spaces. More businesses are shifting more of their business to the digital world.

There’s no better time to earn a masters of computer science.

Featured Programs

The world is more connected to the growing web of computers, mobile devices, and cloud networks. The need for skilled programmers and computer experts is growing, too. Master’s degrees are essential.

Computer science is now a standard field at most major universities. You can accomplish a lot with a bachelor’s degree in the subject. But acquiring a computer science masters degree is still valuable. It can lead to a higher salary ceiling and more interesting job opportunities. It’s not often intended as a degree for further research pursuits or as a stepping stone to a PhD.

Ready to get started? The first step is to take a look at our list of the best computer science programs.

This masters degree in computer science is a terminal degree. It prepares you for specialized work in the computer science field.

Plus, it is more important than ever before to stand out from the high number of computer science majors entering the workforce. A Master’s degree is a perfect way to do just that. Do you enjoy solving mathematical or logic problems? Do you like completing projects through quantitative reasoning? Then you will be a great fit for a Master’s in computer science.

A Master of Science in CS at a top school for computer science allows you to do lots of things for a career. You won’t be limited to data crunching or programming.

Computer science majors can enter dynamic and interesting fields. Examples include cyber-security, data analytics, or digital design.

With a master’s in computer science, you’ll be able to:

Design and develop software
Make existing software more efficient
Help businesses secure themselves against growing malware threats

You aren’t limited to one sector when you earn a Master of Science in Computer Science, either. Both the government and private companies need skilled computer science experts. This variety demonstrates the multitude of positions available for those with the right skills.

Keep reading to learn more about the best computer science masters programs!

COMMON APPLICATION AND ADMISSION QUESTIONS

The exact admissions criteria for any Master’s program will vary among each of the top computer science universities in USA. But most computer science programs have a few common requirements to be aware of.

Can you get a masters in computer science without CS undergrad? Yes and no. Almost all computer science programs ask that applicants have a bachelor’s degree in a related subject. An acceptable bachelor’s degree will deal with math, statistics, programming, or computer engineering.

Of course, a bachelor’s degree in computer science is the logical degree to pursue, too. Most computer science programs also have a preferred programming language, such as C++ or JavaScript. Not having a computer science background in a specific language does not often disqualify you from acceptance.

If you have a bachelor’s degree in an unrelated subject, you may have to take additional prerequisite courses to qualify for a CS Master’s program. There are a few Master’s computer science programs that may accept graduate students without a bachelor’s degree. In most cases, these are joint BS/MS degree pathways where students enter a fast-track program. In this program, you will be able to complete both a bachelor’s and Master’s degree in five years. That’s from start to finish for this fifth year master’s program!

Most Master’s computer science programs have a minimum GPA requirement. This is usually around 3.0 or above. This number can vary from school to school. It’s always a good idea to target a higher than required GPA. In addition, all Master’s students must take the Graduate Record Examinations or GRE.

These computer tests measure your aptitude in a number of areas. It includes verbal reasoning, critical thinking, analytical writing, and quantitative reasoning. All of these are important for graduate work in any field. Computer science Master’s programs may have high GRE minimums or thresholds that must be met.

Students who have some level of professional experience will be given a higher priority for acceptance. Lots of Master’s computer science programs want at least two letters of recommendation. These should be from the faculty of your previous school or your employers.

What Do Computer Science Students Learn?

In the best online computer science masters programs, you will cover the following topics and computer science courses:

Theoretical computer science
Data science
Software engineering
Machine learning
Computer engineering
Computer architecture
Computer systems
Computational science
Computer networks
Artificial intelligence/biocomputation computer science
Intelligent systems
Real world computing
Computer and information technology
Human computer interaction
Computer security
Operating systems
Computer science and engineering

Other topics and areas of specialization for a degree in computer science include:

Computer graphics
Software development
Database systems
New programming languages/older programming language
Data structures
Data analytics
Computer science theory and theoretical foundations
Scientific computing
Software systems
Distributed systems/networked systems/embedded systems
Creative technologies
Advanced algorithms and computer design
Computational biology
Information security
Database management systems
Analysis of algorithms
Computer and network security
Computational systems
High performance computing
Intelligent robotics
Software theory
Information science
Computer programming
Applied science
Computer and information research

Of course, there is some variability among each computer science master degree online. Many computer science students choose to add specializations to their professional master’s program as well. In this way, a degree in computer science prepares students for just about any career, including the coveted positions of information research scientists. With a degree in computer science, graduate students are well equipped to tackle any research project.

After earning a master’s in computer science, you could work in the following information technology occupations:

Information research scientists (added bonus – information research scientists can work just about anywhere!)
Computer scientists
Computer security specialist
Web developer
Computer and information research
Computer sciences professors
Software publishers
Information science
Software development engineers
Software developers/software development
Computer and electrical engineering

You’re sure to have a fruitful academic career and meet any career goals you might have! If you already read some undergraduate computer science rankings to find the best bachelor’s, you might want to know what some good computer science colleges are for a master’s degree.

So what is the best school for computer science degree? Let’s take a deeper dive into our computer science school rankings to find out!

WHAT ARE THE BEST COMPUTER SCIENCE MASTER’S PROGRAMS?

We know that you have educational goals that you’re itching to pursue. You may not know where to start. The editors of Master’s Programs Guide utilize a unique ranking methodology based on the following three aspects:

40% Potential Salary After Graduation: Average mid-career salary of school alumni

30% Institutional Accreditation: Regional and National Accreditation for the 2019-2020 school year

30% Overall Degree Affordability: Average cost of undergraduate and graduate tuition per school

At Master’s Programs Guide, we strive to do our best to guide you and your family toward a fruitful academic career. The pursuit of knowledge is a noble one, and we want to help you reach your goals. For questions, comments, badge downloads, or data corrections, please feel free to reach out to us at editor@collegerank.net.

Check out our list of the 10 best computer science master’s programs!

#1. GEORGIA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY

M.S. IN COMPUTER SCIENCE

You will find one of the best masters in computer science at Georgia Institute of Technology. So why is the Georgia Tech masters computer science program so amazing?

The Georgia Institute of Technology began as a trade school. After its first 50 years, it transitioned to a recognized technological university with cutting edge computer science programs. They’re ranked as 8th overall for U.S. Graduate computer science programs by U.S. News and World Report. They are 16th for ranked Global Universities for CS by the same organization.

These degrees in Computer Science hold tremendous value. In fact, the College of Computing has the highest job placement rate of any major at Georgia Tech.

Georgia Tech’s Master of Science in computer science degree is designed for those who already hold a bachelor’s degree in computer science. They do accept applicants from other backgrounds or fields. They prefer that applicants have a strong background in computer science.

In the Georgia Tech masters programs, you will take core courses and conduct cutting edge research in subjects like:

Data science
Software engineering
Computer engineering and electrical engineering
Computer networks
Computational biology
Computer and information science
Real world computing
Software systems and computer systems design
High performance computing
Big data
Game development
Artificial intelligence
Human computer interaction
Computer security and network security
Journalism and computer science
Programming languages
Operating systems and computer systems

Regardless of which path you choose to take, you’ll get to specialize in one of 11 distinct areas. These degrees in computer science are available in both full time and part time tracks.

These master’s degree specializations include:

Computational Perception and Robotics
Computer Graphics
Computing Systems
Human Centered Computing

#2. STANFORD UNIVERSITY

M.S. IN COMPUTER SCIENCE

Another one of the best CS masters programs can be found at Stanford University. Stanford’s Master of Science in computer science has 45 units of study. Each Stanford unit equates to about three hours of work per week. This program is quite rigorous compared to others. Most students who qualify for this program complete it in six quarters because of the overall difficulty of each class. Completing the Stanford program will prepare you for any job. This private research university is one of the best in the nation.

All students must complete five foundational courses as part of the Stanford masters computer science degree:

Probability
Algorithms
Computer Organization and Systems
Principles of Computer Systems
Logic, Automata and Computability

Students can choose from 10 different specializations. Students can hyper specialize with a single-depth path that requires 27 units in a single area of specialization to be completed before graduation. These degrees in computer science are perfect for students who know exactly what field they want to go into.

Another option is a dual-depth pathway for these degrees in computer science. In this, a student can select both a primary and secondary area of specialization. You’ll complete twenty-one units in the primary area. The remaining units are in the secondary area. This pathway is a great choice for students who don’t have a single overriding interest. It’s also great for those who wish to diversify their qualifications.

Breadth courses in these degrees in computer science include:

Data science
Software engineering
Computer engineering
Computer and information science
Real world computing
Data structures
Software systems
Artificial intelligence
Human computer interaction
Programming languages
Operating systems and computer systems

#3. THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT AUSTIN

M.S. IN COMPUTER SCIENCE

The University of Texas at Austin has one of the best grad schools for computer science. This computer science department offers multiple part and full time master’s degree options for the working professional interested in advanced study in computer science and information technology.

UT Austin has two on-campus Master’s in Computer Science degree options. There is one with a thesis and one without. Both master’s degrees have 30 credits of coursework. The non-thesis option has a more structured and organized coursework catalog. The thesis path for master’s degrees requires that students take two thesis classes.

One of these degrees in computer science is for research and the other for thesis development. The non-thesis option is also offered as an online option. The online master is ideal for aspiring managers who don’t want to leave their current jobs. It is ideal for those who can’t attend school in person.

This Master of Science program does not offer specific areas of specialization. UT Austin’s program has both thesis and non-thesis graduate students take courses from their main CS catalog as part of their master’s degrees. That is as well as nine hours of “diversity” courses. These nine credits for these degrees in computer science are taken from three areas:

theory
systems
application

These diversify the master of computer science degrees beyond general computer science understanding. Although there are only three areas for these diversity courses, each area has a significant number of distinct classes for students to choose from. There’s a lot of personalization possible in these degrees in computer science.

You should expect to take two years to finish. It’s rare that students complete UT Austin’s program in less time. But you can shave it down to one and a half years. This can be done if you take an additional course each semester.

UT Austin also boasts an extensive alumni network for these degrees in computer science. There are many computer science graduates spread across national and local businesses. There are over 10,000 people in the computer science major alone. This group has a special email forwarding service and digital groups.

#4. CORNELL UNIVERSITY

M.S. IN COMPUTER SCIENCE

You will find another one of the best graduate computer science programs
at Cornell University. This private research university is second to none when it comes to degrees in computer science.

Cornell’s computer science Master’s program is a four-semester program. The computer science department emphasizes advanced coursework and research. It is a terminal degree. Yet it is much more research-focused than other Master’s in Computer Science degrees.

The computer science major has 34 credits. Six to 12 of those credits relate to your thesis research. There is no non-thesis option for this graduate program. The remaining non-thesis credits consist of six or eight graduate-level courses.

In addition, Cornell requires that all graduate students have an outside minoras part of the graduate program. The thesis for the graduate program must be accompanied by an oral presentation

You will take core and elective courses in subjects like:

Data science
Software engineering
Computer engineering
Computer and information science
Software systems
Information science and information systems
Human computer interaction
Operating systems and computer systems

To apply to this master’s program, you’ll need an undergraduate degree in computer science or a related area. This computer science master’s program includes plenty of research opportunities and specialization options in information technology and other areas of the computer science industry.

#5. UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS AT URBANA, CHAMPAIGN

M.S. IN COMPUTER SCIENCE

UIUC offers another one of the top computer science masters programs
in the nation. The MS in Computer Science offers students the rare opportunity to earn a professional Master’s in Computer Science degree in just three to four semesters. These semesters are taken over a single year. This is shorter than the majority of other Master’s in Computer Science programs.

This top computer science graduate school program requires 32 credit hours of coursework to finish. Four of those courses selected from a core bracket of computer science classes. Each of these four “breadth” classes must be chosen from a different core area. This is to ensure that each graduate has significant experience in a variety of different computer science aspects. These core areas are:

Graphics
Scientific Computing
Theoretical Computer Science
AI

The remaining coursework can be selected from other computer science courses. It can also be taken from the core areas. To apply to this master’s program, you’ll need an undergraduate degree in computer science or a related area.

#6. HARVARD UNIVERSITY

MASTER OF SCIENCE IN COMPUTATIONAL SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING

Harvard University has one of the top CS masters programs in the world. It provides a one-year Master’s computational science and engineering program. It was developed by the Institute for Applied Computational Science. It provides training in the core mathematical and computing aspects of computer science. It includes independent research projects and several elective courses. These focus on how computation affects one or more distinct domains.

It is a deep-dive master of computer science program with an emphasis on research opportunities in information technology. It’s a great choice for students that want to get into the nitty-gritty aspects of computation. This private research university is regarded as one of the world’s best.

Each plan of study for accepted students will include a single required class called Numerical Methods. Plus, graduate students must take two of three possible core courses. All students must have at least one research experience by graduation. This requirement can be fulfilled with a capstone project or a semester-length independent study project.

The rest of the credits are electives from computer science and applied math.

You can take technical courses and optional thesis coursework such as:

Data science
AI
Computer and information technology
Operating systems and computer systems

You can also take domain electives for these graduate programs that are essentially specializations. Domains for electives include:

Machine Learning
Data Systems
Data Science
Visualization.

By the end of the graduate programs, all students will have completed eight classes or the equivalent.

#7. CARNEGIE MELLON UNIVERSITY

M.S. IN COMPUTER SCIENCE

Carnegie Mellon University offers one of the best graduate schools for computer science. This school shares the No. 1 ranking for Best Computer Science schools with Stanford according to U.S. News and World Report. This school emphasizes student choice and program flexibility. Their Master of Science in computer science program comes in three distinct varieties.

The largest and most common Master’s in computer science option is the standard Master of Science in computer science pathway. This is developed for students who already possess a bachelor’s degree. They’ll accept anyone with a bachelor’s degree. They prefer those with computer science or related degrees. You won’t rely on a fixed course of study. Instead, students in this program will construct their own personalized study plan. There’s no thesis or research component for these computer science degrees.

The second Master’s in Computer Science option is the Fifth Year Master’s in Computer Science Program. It was designed for students attending CMU earning a BS or a double major with computer science. The program incorporates a research component. The program lasts 12 months from start to finish. These master’s programs include a summer semester.

Students can also pursue an accelerated MBA program. In these master’s programs in information technology , they can earn a bachelor’s degree and a Master’s in Computer Science at the same time. This MBA degree has a business component. It is suitable for computer science students who wish to emphasize the field’s role in business and economics. It’s also great for those who wish to become software entrepreneurs.

You can even pursue course offerings in subjects like:

Data science
Artificial intelligence
Database systems
Operating systems and computer systems
Information technology

To apply to this master’s program, you’ll need an undergraduate degree in computer science or a related area.

#8. UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, IRVINE

M.S. IN COMPUTER SCIENCE

You will find another one of the best computer science graduate schools at the University of California, Irvine. UCI’s Master of Computer Science degree is perfect for students who want to jump straight into the technology workforce. The program spans 16 months in total. There are four academic quarters and a summer component. In this, students must either complete additional coursework or complete an internship. You’ll study from the fall of one year to the fall of the next year in these computer science programs. You can finish everything in less than two years.

These computer science programs are intense. It has a restrictive selection process. The program does admit some students without computer science backgrounds. This is the exception rather than the norm. All applicants must have a year of programming in Python, Java, or C++. Equivalent professional work experience may be accepted as an adequate substitute. This work experience must be approved by the application team. All students must be proficient in C/C++ . You’ll also need to complete an introductory statistics course. Three letters of recommendation and high GRE scores are also needed.

The program is taught by world-renowned faculty from UCI’s Computer Science Department. The MCS program integrates a computer science writing and communication course. Most programs don’t focus on this subject. Yet this course can be beneficial for your professional career going forward. That is especially true for students seeking positions in computer science research.

You’ll learn how to apply your writing and analytical skills. This can be a huge advantage when you need to present material to your superiors, ask for grants, or make design plans.

You can take three foundational courses in subjects like:

Data science
Artificial intelligence
Neural networks
Intelligent systems
Information technology
Real time systems
Database systems

All MCS students must complete a capstone design course. This includes professional writing, development and design components. These classes let you show off your skills. You can prove your expertise when coming up with your own computer science work.

To apply to this master’s program, you’ll need an undergraduate degree in computer science or a related area.

#9. UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN, MADISON

M.S. IN COMPUTER SCIENCE

Looking for the best masters degree for computer science? You will find a great option at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. This computer science master is truly second to none.

UW-Madison offers two pathways to attain a Master’s degree in computer science. The first traditional program allows students to pursue a Master’s in Computer Science degree with the option of continuing on to a PhD. . This program accepts students from all kinds of backgrounds. It does request that applicants have some programming experience. The program consists of 30 credit hours. 24 of these must be for CS courses. 15 of them are from a curated selection of core classes. The remaining three to six credits for the degree will be made up of a project and report or a Master’s in Computer Science track.

Some required course offerings and capstone courses for part and full time students include:

Data science
Artificial intelligence
Operating systems and computer systems
Information technology

Students can pursue the professional Master’s in Computer Science that is designed for working computer scientists. It’s also ideal for those in the technology industry. It allows you to complete the program within two years.

Yes, even with a busy job schedule. It only admits students once a year for enrollment during the fall semester. Keep the application deadline of March 15 in mind if this pathway appeals to you. To apply to this master’s program, you’ll need an undergraduate degree in computer science or a related area.

The program is very similar to the traditional Master’s in Computer Science. It only requires 15 credits of core graduate-level master of computer science classes. The remaining courses can be taken from CS-related subjects at the 400 level or higher. All students must complete both a Master’s research class and Master’s thesis class.

Both of these count toward the 15 credit requirement described above. Independent study credits are available. That is, provided the student can show proof of their professional experience. They must receive approval from their faculty or advisors.

#10. NORTH CAROLINA STATE UNIVERSITY AT RALEIGH

M.S. IN COMPUTER SCIENCE

You will find another one of the best schools for masters in computer science at North Carolina State University. NC State is one of the leading research universities in the country. It has an excellent student-to-teacher ratio of 14:1. It’s no surprise that their Master of Science in computer science is a research-oriented degree. That is as opposed to an industry-focused one. It requires a thesis track plus the completion of a structured curriculum. The only non-thesis track option is for students interested in PhD computer science programs. The Master’s in Computer Science track with the thesis consists of 31 credit hours. Six of these are dedicated to your thesis research and development. All incoming Master students have to register. They must take an orientation course regardless of work experience.

You must take two courses from each category: theory and systems. The theory collection of classes emphasizes algorithmic and numerical knowledge. It is particularly useful for computer scientists who are interested in the developmental side of the subject. The systems class bracket emphasizes large data groups, graphics, and software engineering. It also covers the integration of computers with various types of networks. Both class groups are important. You are free to switch between them once you’ve fulfilled the requirements of one from each. This allows you to specialize.

Sample courses for part and full time students in this master’s degree program include:

Data science
Computer architecture and machine learning
Artificial intelligence
Information technology
Operating systems and computer systems

To apply to this master’s program, you’ll need an undergraduate degree in computer science or a related area. This degree is meant to accommodate students seeking full time study but is also great for those who want to take just one course at a time.