When considering a Computer Science (CS) major, many students think of applying to large research institutions that churn out CS graduates and research papers. While these larger universities can offer a great education, we encourage all of our applicants to take a look at some smaller schools too–some liberal arts colleges have great CS programs. Studying at a liberal arts school offers students several advantages: smaller class sizes, more involved professors, and the benefits of a well-rounded liberal arts curriculum.
Let’s look into some of the best liberal arts colleges for CS majors. We’ll break this list down by region rather than rank: we feel that all of these schools are wonderful, and there’s not much of a point in creating another useless ranking for you to decipher. There are liberal arts schools with great CS programs in every corner of the country (well, maybe not Alaska), and these are some of our favorites.
Harvey Mudd College
Part of the Claremont Colleges, Harvey Mudd is located in Claremont, California, in the greater Los Angeles metropolitan area. If you’re interested in studying in the sunshine, this might just be the best location possible–Claremont is frequently listed among the best places to live in California, and is well known for its great weather.
More importantly, Harvey Mudd is well-regarded for their engineering and technical programs, and the school’s CS major is one of its most popular. Harvey Mudd offers three separate CS degree programs–students can get a standard CS major, a dual major in CS & Math, or a Math & Computational Biology degree. Harvey Mudd’s CS major includes courses in hardware engineering and computer design as well; students can choose to specialize in computer engineering while pursuing their CS major.
Harvey Mudd’s CS program is consistently ranked among the top in the nation, and its graduates are well placed among the top tech companies.
Pomona College
Located right next to Harvey Mudd, Pomona College is another top choice for CS. Pomona’s CS department focuses on practical applications of CS knowledge, and they highlight the group projects they offer that mimic real-world software development. Pomona offers more advanced courses in AI and NLP, and many of their researchers focus on machine learning. They place CS graduates at many of the top tech companies, often in their LA offices.
Amherst College
Amherst College has a student population just under 1,800 and is located in a quiet and rural section of Massachusetts. Take a look at their CS program if you’re interested in studying CS at a storied New England institution. Amherst is also a member of the Five Colleges Consortium, so you can take classes at any of the other member schools–if an advanced CS course isn’t offered at Amherst, you’ll find it at Smith (or Hampshire, etc.)
Haverford College
Haverford sits just about ten miles outside of Philadelphia, PA, on a beautiful suburban campus. Haverford students get the best of both the country and the city–the school has plenty of green space, and you can take a train to Philadelphia and be downtown in 30 minutes. Haverford is a Quaker school–students are encouraged to value consensus and social justice. With around 1,300 students, Haverford is one of the smallest schools on our list. Their CS program is stellar, and they’ve sent a number of graduates to top tech companies over the last decade.
Swarthmore College
Swarthmore is simply one of the best schools for CS students–their focus on small class sizes and the intensity of their educational programs means you’ll go far with one of their degrees. Located in Swarthmore, PA, just outside of Philadelphia, the campus is a great choice for students who want the feel of a college town without the isolation that comes with living in more rural areas. Swat is our favorite CS school in the mid-atlantic region.
Swarthmore’s CS major is incredibly popular, so be sure to declare yourself as a CS major early if you want to pursue it–they’ve started turning away juniors and seniors who’d like to switch into the major, as they can’t keep up with demand for CS courses. If you’re interested in pushing the boundaries of computer science, take a closer look at their honors program, which encourages research with faculty and a thesis.
Grinnell College
If you’re looking to study CS in the midwest, Grinnell is just the place to go. Located in Grinnell, Iowa (population: 9,000), the campus is a bit isolated–this isn’t the place to go if you’re looking for an urban college experience. Grinnell is known for its winters, but also for its small faculty-to-student ratio (9:1) and the emphasis they place on undergraduate research.
Approximately 10% of their students major in CS, and their graduates work at an impressive list of employers throughout the country. Grinnell has just 1,500 students–they’re one of the smallest schools on our list–and they focus heavily on developing faculty-student mentorships through their Mentored Advanced projects. Take a closer look at Grinnell if you’re looking to study in the midwest, or if you’re just looking for that small-school experience in a true college town.
Reed College
Located in Portland, Oregon, Reed College is our top recommendation for studying computer science in the northwest. Reed is well known for its commitment to social justice and progressive politics, and CS students benefit from the opportunity to live and work in Portland, home to a bustling tech scene. Reed features small class sizes and emphasizes student research–their CS program even has a strict thesis requirement.
Reed’s CS program is relatively new and innovative–just take a look at some of the papers published by their undergraduates. We recommend Reed to any of our students interested in CS majors at liberal arts schools: their program is one of the strongest in the country, and their students do seem to love living in Portland.
Carleton College
If you’re interested in studying CS in the midwest, Carleton College might just be the school for you. Located in Northfield, Minnesota, Carelton has around 2,000 students from all over the world. People come from all over the world to Minnesota just for Carleton. That might just be a sign that they’re a good school. Their CS program offers a number of higher-level courses focused on Machine Learning–take a closer look if you’re interested in AI research and applications.
Davidson College
Located in North Carolina, Davidson College has one of the strongest CS departments in the south. Davidson offers CS majors and minors, and has a rigorous honors program that requires students to write a thesis and defend it orally. Davidson’s CS program is a bit more math-focused and theoretical than some of the other schools we’ve mentioned–take a closer look at their degree requirements and think about the program seriously if you’re interested in research.
Davidson may be well known for their sports teams–thanks, Steph Curry–but their focus has always truly been on academics and student life. Students benefit from their proximity to nearby Charlotte, and the school has an honor code that encourages students to abide by all the traditional mores of a southern college. Take Davidson into consideration if you’re interested in studying computer science at a close-knit campus in the south.
Colorado College
Students looking to study in the Mountain West can look to Colorado College, in Colorado Springs, CO. Colorado College (CC) has block-format courses instead of semesters or quarters–students take just one course per month. Classes are small and have no set end times: CC’s education is unconventional, to say the least. Take a deeper look at CC if you’re interested in this unconventional manner of studying, or if you’re just attracted to the beauty of the mountains the school is surrounded by.
If you’ve fallen in love with another school that’s not on our list, don’t worry–these schools aren’t the only ones we recommend. We’re sure you’ll be able to find a small school with a strong CS department. If you’d like to discuss your academic planning, or your future in CS, feel free to reach out to us. We’re always available.
Contact us here if you need help with the college application process