Missouri has a selection of excellent colleges for computer science, catering to different preferences, from the state’s flagship university to a renowned private institution.
Computer science equips students for a career as a software developer, which has been named the top job in America by U.S. News and World Report. Software developers are responsible for coding systems, programs, and applications that are essential to modern life, and they receive competitive salaries. According to the Occupational Outlook Handbook, the median annual salary for software developers is $105,590, and this field is projected to grow by 21% over the next decade.
If you’re interested in computer science, you can also explore College Guidepost’s rankings for the most valuable colleges in computer science, as well as the overall best colleges. In this article, we will focus on the top universities for computer science in Missouri.
Let’s begin with the honorable mentions before revealing the top three.
Honorable Mention: Accredited programs recognized by ABET that didn’t make our list include Fontbonne University, the University of Central Missouri, the University of Missouri – Rolla, the University of Missouri – Kansas City, Missouri State University, Southeast Missouri State University, and Southwest Baptist University. Missouri also offers several esteemed private institutions with computer science majors, although they are not ABET-accredited. These include College of the Ozarks, Cottey College, Drury University, Saint Louis University, Webster University, and William Jewell College.
3. University of Missouri – Columbia
This flagship university of Missouri has the largest student body in the state, with over 30,000 enrolled students. The University of Missouri, also known as Mizzou, takes pride in offering more than 300 degree programs and being ranked among the top ten national universities for undergraduate research.
In their annual report, the university’s engineering department boasts about freshman students’ average ACT scores of 29.8, more than 400 companies recruiting graduates every year, and an average starting salary of $62,400.
Even though Mizzou doesn’t claim the top spot on our list, its ABET-accredited computer science degree receives recognition throughout the country. With in-state tuition fees under $13,000 per year, the University of Missouri is also an excellent value for computer science education.
2. Missouri University of Science and Technology
Founded in 1870 in Rolla, Missouri S&T maintains its focus on technical fields, including computer science. With fewer than 7,000 undergraduate students, Missouri S&T offers a more personalized academic experience compared to Mizzou, without compromising on quality. In fact, Washington Monthly ranked Missouri S&T 70th overall in the nation, surpassing Mizzou by 42 places.
Missouri S&T also claims the top spot in Missouri for median earnings ten years after attending college, with graduates earning a median salary of $68,979. In this category, which is important for many students, Missouri S&T outperformed the prestigious Washington University in Saint Louis.
In the field of computer science, Missouri S&T graduates fare even better, with an average post-college salary of $70,995. Based on these metrics, we rank Missouri S&T second in the state for computer science education. Furthermore, with yearly tuition fees under $9,000, Missouri S&T’s ABET-accredited B.S. in computer science program presents exceptional value, especially when compared to our next university, which costs six times as much!
1. Washington University in Saint Louis
As Missouri’s most esteemed private university, Washington University in Saint Louis offers the highest quality academics in the state. The faculty consists of four Pulitzer Prize winners and 55 members of the National Academy of Sciences. With a student-to-faculty ratio of 7:1, students have ample opportunities for interaction with their professors.
These academic strengths contribute to Washington University in Saint Louis’ overall ranking of 19th among national universities according to U.S. News. While computer science may not be their most renowned program, it is worth noting that they are the only university in Missouri ranked in the top 50. In fact, they were the first university nationwide to grant a Ph.D. in computer science.
If you are fortunate enough to gain admission to Washington University in Saint Louis, you will find the best computer science program in the state. However, as expected from a prestigious private institution, tuition fees are quite high, currently set at $56,300 per year.
Conclusion
As demonstrated, the top colleges for computer science in Missouri offer diverse choices, ranging from a large state institution to a prestigious university focused on science and technology. Regardless of which program you choose among these options, each will provide an excellent foundation for launching your computer science career.
If you are interested in discovering the best computer science colleges in another state, you can find the index here.
