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29 Best PhD Computer Science & IT Universities in the United States

Princeton University leads the 29 PhD Computer Science & IT universities in the United States at #15 in the QS World University Rankings 2026. Georgia Institute of Technology (QS World #123) and University of Notre Dame (QS World #294) complete the top three. Across the whole list there are 39 courses to choose from.

29 universities · ranked best first

how we rank
26Ranked
WC Walsh College logo
#2,012 in United States United States
#2,012 in United States · by research impact
1,177 citations · h-index 21

How these universities are ranked

7 of these universities hold a QS World position, from #15 (Princeton University) to #574 (Florida International University); they are listed first, in that order. The rest are ordered by research impact. Princeton University has the largest research record in this group, with 27,547,724 citations and an h-index of 1,557. 3 universities have neither a QS position nor a research record yet and appear at the end, marked "Not yet ranked".

Public, private and where they are

The split is 29 public to 0 private institutions. By location, New York (1), Texas (1) and Washington (1) account for the most of those we can place. The University of Texas at Dallas is the largest, with 21,751 students.

Inside the course list

Within the subject, the largest areas are Computer Science & IT (38) and Computer Science (1). The usual length is 4–6 years and null. 95% are full-time and 2 can be studied online. Start dates lean to Fall (100% of courses with a stated intake). Walsh College offers the widest choice, with 4 of these courses.

What it costs

We hold indicative fees for 3 of these universities. CUNY Graduate School and University Center is the least expensive at USD 15,185 a year and University of Washington-Tacoma Campus the most at USD 43,404; the middle of the range is about USD 40,144. Check each university's own fee page before you budget — figures change every year.

Frequently asked questions

What are the top universities for PhD Computer Science & IT in the United States?

Princeton University (QS World #15), Georgia Institute of Technology (QS World #123) and University of Notre Dame (QS World #294) lead this list. QS World positions come first; the rest are ranked by research impact.

Which is the cheapest university for PhD Computer Science & IT in the United States?

Of those with published fees, CUNY Graduate School and University Center is the least expensive at about USD 15,185 a year. Fees are indicative — confirm on the university's site.

How many public universities offer PhD Computer Science & IT in the United States?

29 public and 0 private universities are on this list.

How long does a PhD Computer Science & IT course take in the United States?

Most listed courses run 4–6 years, with null the next most common.

When do PhD Computer Science & IT courses start in the United States?

Fall is the main intake — 100% of courses with a stated start date begin then.

Can I study PhD Computer Science & IT online with a university in the United States?

2 of these courses are listed as online.

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