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2023 Best Computer Science Graduate Certificate Schools

150 Schools Ranked
$23,273 Avg Student Debt

When it comes to higher education, there are a lot of options for computer science students. As online education oppotunities continue to grow, you're not restricted to just schools in your local area anymore. Even some of the 'big name' schools are offering online courses. On top of that, there are a considerable number of trade schools and bootcamp that offer fast-track entry to many fields.

To help you arm yourself with the information you need to make your decision, Computer Science Degree Search has developed this Best Computer Science Graduate Certificate Schools ranking. This report analyzed 150 schools in the United States to see which ones offered the best graduate certificate programs for computer science students. To come up with a school's ranking, we analyzed numerous factors related to post-graduation wages, the quality of education offered by the school, average accumulated student debt, and more.

View our full ranking methodology.

Top Computer Science Graduate Certificate Schools in the United States

Learn more about these excellent schools below:

#1

Harvard University

Cambridge, Massachusetts
$52,170 Average Tuition & Fees
$19,755 Avg Student Debt

Our analysis found Harvard University to be the best school for computer science students who want to pursue a graduate certificate in the United States.

On average, graduate certificate students take out $19,755 in loans while pursuing their degree.

You may have the opportunity to take online graduate classes at Harvard. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 96% of graduates took at least one course online in 2019-2020.

Full Harvard University Report

#2

Johns Hopkins University

Baltimore, Maryland
$61,202 Average Tuition & Fees
$19,227 Avg Student Debt

Out of the 150 schools in the United States that were part of this year’s ranking, Johns Hopkins University landed the # 2 spot on the list.

Graduate Certificate recipients from Johns Hopkins accumulate an average of $19,227 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.

Online graduate courses are available at Johns Hopkins, but you will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your field of interest. In fact, around 85% of the graduate population registered for at least one online class in 2019-2020.

Full Johns Hopkins University Report

#3

University of Virginia - Main Campus

Charlottesville, Virginia
$20,906 Average Tuition & Fees

The excellent graduate certificate programs at University of Virginia - Main Campus helped the school earn the #3 place on this year’s ranking of the best computer science schools in the United States.

You may have the opportunity to take online graduate classes at University of Virginia. During the 2019-2020 year, about 75% of the graduate students at the school took at least one online course.

Read More…

#4

University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

Ann Arbor, Michigan
$25,230 Average Tuition & Fees
$20,014 Avg Student Debt

The excellent graduate certificate programs at University of Michigan - Ann Arbor helped the school earn the #4 place on this year’s ranking of the best computer science schools in the United States.

By the time they get their graduate certificate, students from this school have racked up an average of $20,014 in student loans.

Online graduate courses are available at U-M, but you will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your field of interest. In 2019-2020 about 74% of the graduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.

Read full report on University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

#5

Duke University

Durham, North Carolina
$59,141 Average Tuition & Fees
$17,440 Avg Student Debt

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Duke University. It ranked #5 on our 2023 Best Computer Science Graduate Certificate Schools list.

By the time they get their graduate certificate, students from this school have racked up an average of $17,440 in student loans.

If you are interested in distance education, be sure to check with the school since Duke does offer online graduate classes for certain majors. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 2% of graduates took at least one course online in 2019-2020.

Read full report on Duke University

#6

Northwestern University

Evanston, Illinois
$56,567 Average Tuition & Fees
$21,679 Avg Student Debt

With a ranking of #6, Northwestern University did quite well on this year’s best schools for computer science students working on their graduate certificate.

On average, graduate certificate students take out $21,679 in loans while pursuing their degree.

If you are interested in distance education, be sure to check with the school since Northwestern does offer online graduate classes for certain majors. Of all the graduate students enrolled at the school during the 2019-2020 academic year, around 2% took at least some of their classes online.

Read More…

#7

Virginia Tech

Blacksburg, Virginia
$16,522 Average Tuition & Fees

Virginia Tech ranked #7 on this year’s Best Computer Science Graduate Certificate Schools list.

Online graduate courses are available at Virginia Tech, but you will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your field of interest. In 2019-2020 about 63% of the graduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.

Full Virginia Tech Report

#8

James Madison University

Harrisonburg, Virginia
$12,514 Average Tuition & Fees

James Madison University came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Best Computer Science Graduate Certificate Schools ranking.

You may have the opportunity to take online graduate classes at JMU. During the 2019-2020 year, about 68% of the graduate students at the school took at least one online course.

Read More…

#9

University of Chicago

Chicago, Illinois
$63,936 Average Tuition & Fees

University of Chicago ranked #9 on this year’s Best Computer Science Graduate Certificate Schools list.

Full University of Chicago Report

#10

University of Wisconsin - Madison

Madison, Wisconsin
$12,175 Average Tuition & Fees

University of Wisconsin - Madison did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for computer science students to get a graduate certificate. It came in at #10 on the list.

UW - Madison does offer online graduate classes for certain degree levels. Of all the graduate students enrolled at the school during the 2019-2020 academic year, around 75% took at least some of their classes online.

Read full report on University of Wisconsin - Madison

#11

University of St Thomas Minnesota

Saint Paul, Minnesota
$23,736 Average Tuition & Fees

University of St Thomas Minnesota came in at #11 in this year’s edition of the Best Computer Science Graduate Certificate Schools ranking.

UST MN does have options available for those who want to take online graduate classes. You will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your specific major. In fact, around 80% of the graduate population registered for at least one online class in 2019-2020.

Read More…

#12

Norwich University

Northfield, Vermont
$21,914 Average Tuition & Fees

Norwich University ranked #12 on this year’s Best Computer Science Graduate Certificate Schools list.

Since the graduate programs at Norwich are primarily online school, so it is a great choice for returning adults and students who work full time.

Read More…

#13

George Mason University

Fairfax, Virginia
$16,644 Average Tuition & Fees

George Mason University did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for computer science students to get a graduate certificate. It came in at #13 on the list.

If you are interested in distance education, be sure to check with the school since GMU does offer online graduate classes for certain majors. Of all the graduate students enrolled at the school during the 2019-2020 academic year, around 87% took at least some of their classes online.

Read More…

$11,902 Average Tuition & Fees

With a ranking of #14, Missouri University of Science and Technology did quite well on this year’s best schools for computer science students working on their graduate certificate.

If you are interested in distance education, be sure to check with the school since Missouri University of Science and Technology does offer online graduate classes for certain majors. During the 2019-2020 year, about 68% of the graduate students at the school took at least one online course.

Read full report on Missouri University of Science and Technology

#15

Rochester Institute of Technology

Rochester, New York
$52,408 Average Tuition & Fees
$20,525 Avg Student Debt

Rochester Institute of Technology did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for computer science students to get a graduate certificate. It came in at #15 on the list.

Graduate Certificate recipients from RIT accumulate an average of $20,525 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.

One thing to take note of is that RIT does offer online graduate classes in some areas. During the 2019-2020 year, about 72% of the graduate students at the school took at least one online course.

Read More…

#16

Saint Louis University

Saint Louis, Missouri
$22,614 Average Tuition & Fees

Saint Louis University ranked #16 on this year’s Best Computer Science Graduate Certificate Schools list.

SLU does offer online graduate classes for certain degree levels. In 2019-2020 about 57% of the graduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.

Read full report on Saint Louis University

University of Phoenix - Arizona ranked #17 on this year’s Best Computer Science Graduate Certificate Schools list.

Some students may be able to take online graduate classes at UOPX - Arizona. Of all the graduate students enrolled at the school during the 2019-2020 academic year, around 99% took at least some of their classes online.

Read More…

#18

Washington University in St Louis

Saint Louis, Missouri
$58,288 Average Tuition & Fees

Washington University in St Louis came in at #18 in this year’s edition of the Best Computer Science Graduate Certificate Schools ranking.

If you are interested in distance education, be sure to check with the school since WUSTL does offer online graduate classes for certain majors. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 72% of graduates took at least one course online in 2019-2020.

Read full report on Washington University in St Louis

#19

Marquette University

Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Marquette University came in at #19 in this year’s edition of the Best Computer Science Graduate Certificate Schools ranking.

Online graduate courses are available at Marquette, but you will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your field of interest. In fact, around 58% of the graduate population registered for at least one online class in 2019-2020.

Read full report on Marquette University

#20

University of Pittsburgh - Pittsburgh Campus

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
$25,248 Average Tuition & Fees
$22,469 Avg Student Debt

University of Pittsburgh - Pittsburgh Campus landed the #20 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best graduate certificate computer science programs.

Graduate Certificate recipients from Pitt accumulate an average of $22,469 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.

One thing to take note of is that Pitt does offer online graduate classes in some areas. Of all the graduate students enrolled at the school during the 2019-2020 academic year, around 16% took at least some of their classes online.

Full University of Pittsburgh - Pittsburgh Campus Report

#21

Tufts University

Medford, Massachusetts
$55,216 Average Tuition & Fees

Tufts University did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for computer science students to get a graduate certificate. It came in at #21 on the list.

One thing to take note of is that Tufts does offer online graduate classes in some areas. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 88% of graduates took at least one course online in 2019-2020.

Read More…

#22

University of Missouri - Columbia

Columbia, Missouri
$11,255 Average Tuition & Fees

With a ranking of #22, University of Missouri - Columbia did quite well on this year’s best schools for computer science students working on their graduate certificate.

You may have the opportunity to take online graduate classes at Mizzou. In 2019-2020 about 67% of the graduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.

Read More…

#23

Colorado State University - Fort Collins

Fort Collins, Colorado
$13,313 Average Tuition & Fees

With a ranking of #23, Colorado State University - Fort Collins did quite well on this year’s best schools for computer science students working on their graduate certificate.

Some students may be able to take online graduate classes at Colorado State. In fact, around 67% of the graduate population registered for at least one online class in 2019-2020.

Full Colorado State University - Fort Collins Report

#24

Drexel University

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
$37,074 Average Tuition & Fees
$23,548 Avg Student Debt

Drexel University landed the #24 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best graduate certificate computer science programs.

By the time they get their graduate certificate, students from this school have racked up an average of $23,548 in student loans.

Depending on your major, you may be able to take online graduate classes at Drexel. In fact, around 85% of the graduate population registered for at least one online class in 2019-2020.

Read More…

#25

George Washington University

Washington, District of Columbia
$32,904 Average Tuition & Fees
$29,615 Avg Student Debt

George Washington University did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for computer science students to get a graduate certificate. It came in at #25 on the list.

Graduate Certificate recipients from GWU accumulate an average of $29,615 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.

You may have the opportunity to take online graduate classes at GWU. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 37% of graduates took at least one course online in 2019-2020.

Full George Washington University Report

Honorable Mentions

These schools also performed well in our best computer science schools ranking:

Rank School Location
26 Auburn University Auburn, AL
27 Columbia University in the City of New York New York, NY
28 North Carolina State University Raleigh, NC
29 Syracuse University Syracuse, NY
30 Seattle University Seattle, WA
31 University of Maryland Global Campus Adelphi, MD

Notes and References

Footnotes

*These averages are for the top 25 schools only.

References

  • Read more about our ranking methodology.
  • The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE) serves as the core of our data about colleges.
  • Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
  • Information about the national average student loan default rate is from the U.S. Department of Education and refers to data about the 2016 borrower cohort tracking period for which the cohort default rate (CDR) was 10.1%.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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