Computer scientist education requirements

Q: How long does it take to get a Ph.D. in computer science?

It takes four to five years to get a Ph.D. in computer science. A doctorate in computer science builds upon a student's existing knowledge, skills, and experience in the field. It involves independent research and study focused on a specific area of interest in computer science. Here is some more information on Ph.D. computer science programs:

Q: What degree do you need to be a computer scientist?

You need a bachelor's degree to be a computer scientist. Positions within computer science vary, as do the levels of education. The vast majority of computer scientists hold a bachelor's degree. Over 66% of individuals working as computer scientists hold a four-year degree. Nearly 20% of scientists in this field held a master's degree, with approximately 7% having a Ph.D. Computer science is the area of study for most people working in this field. Approximately 50% of those employed in this capacity earned their degree in computer science. Other areas of study, such as mathematics, engineering, and physics, make up the other 50%. Individuals majoring in one of these outside fields of study typically earn a postgraduate degree in computer science.

Q: What job can you get with a computer science degree?

You can get many different jobs with a computer science degree, such as AI engineer, video game developer, or information security analyst. While all of these career paths require a strong background in computer science, they all require other different things that could interest different people and personalities. AI Engineer AI Engineers will work with computing systems with the goal of mimicking human intelligence with these systems. Most AI engineers will hold doctorate degrees to specialize in the processes necessary. Programming is necessary to work as an AI Engineer, but you should also have a strong background in research and development. Video Game Developer For those passionate about computer science and video games, becoming a video game developer is a wonderful career choice . You will code on various systems and work with other developers to create playable games. This requires creativity and an understanding of current video game trends. Information Security Analyst Information Security Analysts will protect a company's computer network. You will implement and create programs of safety. This job requires you to successfully predict change and adjust security accordingly. If you enjoy being detail-oriented and predicting outcomes, this can be a great position for you.

Updated January 8, 2025

4 min read

There are several educational requirements to become a computer scientist. Computer scientists usually study computer science, mathematics, or electrical engineering. 66% of computer scientists hold a bachelor's degree, and 19% hold an master's degree. We analyzed 1,341 real computer scientist resumes to see exactly what computer scientist education sections show.

The most common colleges for computer scientists are the University of Maryland - College Park and the University of Maryland - College Park.

There are also many online computer scientist courses to help get the education required to be a computer scientist.

There are certain computer scientist certifications that you should consider. These computer scientist certifications include IT Information Library Foundations Certification (ITIL) and Certified Information Systems Security Professional - Architecture (CISSP).

What education do you need to become a computer scientist?

What degree do you need to be a computer scientist?

The most common degree for computer scientists is bachelor's degree, with 66% of computer scientists earning that degree. The second and third most common degree levels are master's degree degree at 19% and master's degree degree at 7%.

Bachelor's, 66%

Master's, 19%

Associate, 7%

Doctorate, 6%

Other Degrees, 2%

What should I major in to become a computer scientist?

You should major in computer science to become a computer scientist. 50% of computer scientists major in computer science. Other common majors for a computer scientist include mathematics and electrical engineering.

Computer Science, 50%

Mathematics, 9%

Electrical Engineering, 7%

Physics, 6%

Other Majors, 28%

Most common colleges for computer scientists

Computer scientists often get their degrees at University of Maryland - College Park, Johns Hopkins University, and University of North Carolina at Greensboro. Here are the most common colleges for computer scientists in the US based on their resumes.

Computer scientist common college	Percentages
University of Maryland - College Park	19.77%
Johns Hopkins University	6.78%
University of North Carolina at Greensboro	5.65%
University of Central Florida	5.08%
University of Pittsburgh	4.52%

Show more common computer scientist colleges

Best majors for computer scientists

Rank	Major	Percentages
1	Computer Science	49.9%
2	Mathematics	9.2%
3	Electrical Engineering	6.7%
4	Physics	5.6%
5	Computer Engineering	4.0%

Show more common computer scientist majors

$54,568

Enrollment

8,451

20 best online courses for computer scientists

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Top 10 most affordable universities for computer scientists

The most affordable schools for computer scientists are Brooklyn College of the City University of New York, brigham young university, and hunter college of the city university of new york.

If the best universities for computer scientists are out of your price range, check out these affordable schools. After factoring in in-state tuition and fees, the average cost of attendance, admissions rate, average net price, and mean earnings after six years, we found that these are the most affordable schools for computer scientists.

1. Brooklyn College of the City University of New York

Brooklyn, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$7,240

Cost of attendance

13,991

2. Brigham Young University

Provo, UT • Private

In-state tuition

$5,620

Cost of attendance

18,136

3. Hunter College of the City University of New York

New York, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$7,182

Cost of attendance

13,998

4. Clayton State University

Morrow, GA • Private

In-state tuition

$5,419

Cost of attendance

17,697

5. Purdue University

West Lafayette, IN • Private

In-state tuition

$9,992

Cost of attendance

22,430

6. Queens College of the City University of New York

Queens, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$7,338

Cost of attendance

14,281

7. Brigham Young University - Hawaii

Laie, HI • Private

In-state tuition

$5,560

Cost of attendance

18,043

8. Inter American University of Puerto Rico Arecibo

Arecibo, PR • Private

In-state tuition

$5,872

Cost of attendance

13,476

9. Inter American University of Puerto Rico Ponce

Mercedita, PR • Private

In-state tuition

$5,914

Cost of attendance

13,564

10. Trident University International

Cypress, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$9,240

Cost of attendance

17,912

Top 10 hardest universities to get into for computer scientists

The hardest universities for computer scientists to get into are Stanford University, Northwestern University, and Vanderbilt University.

Some great schools for computer scientists are hard to get into, but they also set your career up for greater success. The list below shows the most challenging universities to get into for computer scientists based on an institution's admissions rates, average SAT scores accepted, median ACT scores accepted, and mean earnings of students six years after admission.

1. Stanford University

Stanford, CA • Private

Admissions rate

SAT average

1,497

Saint Louis, MO • Private

Admissions rate

15%

SAT average

1,506

10. Harvard University

Cambridge, MA • Private

Admissions rate

Farmville, VA • Private

Admissions rate

89%

SAT average

1,065

Average computer scientist salary by education level

According to our data, computer scientists with a Master's degree earn the highest average salary, at $106,479 annually. Computer scientists with a Bachelor's degree earn an average annual salary of $98,740.

Computer scientist education level	Computer scientist salary
Master's Degree	$106,479
Bachelor's Degree	$98,740

Computer scientist education FAQs

How long does it take to get a Ph.D. in computer science?

What degree do you need to be a computer scientist?

What job can you get with a computer science degree?

What is the best college for Computer Scientists?

Have more questions? See all answers to common computer and mathematical questions.

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Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

Updated January 8, 2025

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