A Look at the Top 10 Universities for Computer Science Degrees in 2025
| Computer Science Rank 2025 | Computer Science Rank 2024 | University | Country/Region |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | University of Oxford | United Kingdom |
| 2 | 7 | University of Cambridge | United Kingdom |
| 3 | 3 | Massachusetts Institute of Technology | United States |
| 4 | 5 | ETH Zurich | Switzerland |
| 5 | 2 | Stanford University | United States |
| =6 | 4 | Carnegie Mellon University | United States |
| =6 | 9 | Princeton University | United States |
| =8 | 8 | Imperial College London | United Kingdom |
| =8 | 10 | University of California, Berkeley | United States |
| 10 | 6 | Harvard University | United States |
Check out the full ranking of the best universities for computer science here.
Studying computer science is a great choice these days because career opportunities for tech-savvy graduates keep growing every year.
There’s also a huge variety of universities to pick from when deciding where to study the subject.
This year, the Times Higher Education ranking includes 1,122 schools offering computer science programs.
Out of these, 130 are in the U.S., and 63 are in the UK. Canada and Australia also have strong representation, with 28 and 31 institutions respectively.
Computer science degrees can vary a lot—some focus heavily on theory, while others are more hands-on with programming.
This ranking follows the same method as the World University Rankings but gives slightly more weight to innovation and less to citations. You can find the full methodology here.
Top 10 Universities for Computer Science
1. University of Oxford
Even though computer science is a fairly new field, Oxford has one of the UK’s oldest departments, originally called the Oxford University Computing Laboratory.
Since it began, the department has offered undergrad lectures and trained research students at the postgraduate level.
Beyond core computer science topics, students can explore computational biology, quantum computing, information systems, software verification, software engineering, and computational linguistics.
The department provides three undergrad degrees: single honors computer science, mathematics and computer science, and computer science and philosophy.
Like all Oxford students, computer science undergrads and postgrads belong to one of the university’s colleges, where they live, eat, socialize, and study.
2. University of Cambridge
Cambridge’s undergrad computer science program starts with foundational modules in the first year.
In the second and third years, students can specialize by choosing their own modules.
The program covers all areas of modern computer science, along with underlying theory and connections to economics, law, and business.
Students also gain hands-on skills, learning to code in languages like OCaml, Java, C/C++, and Prolog.
With over 1,000 tech companies nearby, students often find great work experience opportunities.
3. Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)
Many MIT grads end up on lists of the world’s most influential entrepreneurs.
The university encourages students to launch startups, and research projects tackle real-world issues like calculating financial risks in renewable energy and speeding up parallel computing.
Undergrads follow a flexible curriculum, balancing theory and practical problem-solving. They can major in computer science or combine it with molecular biology.
Graduates go on to design video games, work on supercomputers, research robotics, and join giants like Google and Microsoft.
4. ETH Zurich
ETH Zurich has a long history of developing software and computer systems, leading to the creation of its computer science department in 1981.
The department covers computational intelligence, networks and distributed systems, algorithms and theory, and information security. Students also learn different programming languages in software engineering courses.
The university collaborates closely with IBM, Microsoft, Google, SAP, and Disney on research projects.
5. Stanford University
Stanford’s computer science department was founded in 1965.
It offers Bachelor’s, Master’s, and PhD programs, with research areas including AI, robotics, scientific computing, and programming systems.
There’s also a big focus on interdisciplinary work, connecting computer science with chemistry, genetics, linguistics, construction, and medicine.
The department is housed in the Gates Computer Science Building, named after Bill Gates, who donated $6 million to the project.
=6. Carnegie Mellon University
Carnegie Mellon’s School of Computer Science was established over 25 years ago.
In 2018, it launched the first U.S. bachelor’s degree in AI, followed by a human-computer interaction program in 2020.
Undergrad options include majors and minors in robotics and human-computer interaction, plus various master’s and PhD programs.
=6. Princeton University
Princeton offers both a Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Science in computer science.
Courses cover computer systems, AI and machine learning, theoretical computer science, and more, with plenty of electives to choose from.
Undergrads also complete a semester of independent work.
For postgrads, there are fellowship opportunities to help with study costs.
=8. Imperial College London
Imperial offers undergrad programs in economics, finance and data science, software engineering, and electronic and information engineering.
Postgrad courses cover AI, applied machine learning, and biomedical engineering.
Students can join clubs like the coding club and data science club.
=8. University of California, Berkeley
Berkeley combines electrical engineering and computer science in one department.
Student clubs include the machine learning club, neurotech club, women in computer science, and electrical engineering society.
Being near Silicon Valley means plenty of research and summer job opportunities.
10. Harvard University
Harvard’s computer science department covers theoretical computer science, AI, economics and computer science, operating systems, and programming languages.
It offers undergrad, master’s, and PhD programs and hosts a lecture series featuring experts in the field.
