For the fourth straight year, Rose-Hulman has been ranked for having one of the nation’s top undergraduate computer science programs, according to rankings featured in the 2024 U.S. News & World Report's College Guide.

Rose-Hulman tied for 56^th out of 554 programs nationally this year, higher than last year’s rankings. This places Rose-Hulman within the top 10 of Midwest institutions, and among a select group of private colleges across the nation. 

Deans and senior faculty familiar with U.S. computer science departments were surveyed to assess programs at ABET-accredited bachelor’s degree-granting colleges and universities based upon the academic quality and training in areas of programming languages, computer systems, theory, data analysis, and data science.

“The program’s continued high national ranking is based on our strong, innovative, up-to-date, and expanding curriculum, the expertise of our faculty and staff, and the quality of contributions our graduates are making in their career fields,” said Sriram Mohan, PhD, head of Rose-Hulman’s Department of Computer Science and Software Engineering.

A new minor in cybersecurity is allowing students to gain the skills necessary to meet future high-tech challenges and become familiar with cybersecurity issues. A minor in Artificial Intelligence is helping students gain expertise in an area with potential to reshape the modern world. Meanwhile, data science is offered as a second academic major and a bachelor’s degree in international computer science features spending a year living and learning in Germany to earn a dual degree from Rose-Hulman and Hochschule Ulm University of Applied Sciences.

Mohan asserts that the computer science program provides the fundamental skills, theoretical underpinnings and the practical knowhow in a hands-on and caring educational environment that allows a growing number of alumni to impact the computing industry.

Rose-Hulman’s Class of 2022 computer science majors had a near 100% placement rate within six months of Commencement, with an average starting salary of $95,801 and a high salary offer of $165,000. These opportunities included career employment with companies such as Amazon, Cisco Systems, Cummins, DMI, Edgile, Google, Microsoft, Raytheon, Software Engineering Professionals, Telemetry Sports, and Zotec Partners. Students also went onto to attend graduate schools at Brown, Carnegie Mellon, Indiana University, Northwestern, Princeton, Rice, University of Illinois, and University of Southern California. 

Software engineering graduates had a 100% placement rate in 2022, with an average starting salary of $101,997 and high salary offer of $125,000 from such companies as Groupon, Lexmark International, and Toyota. 

Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs Rick Stamper points out that the ability of Rose-Hulman computer science and software engineering students to quickly adapt and learn about new technology environments has the program’s alumni being highly respected and coveted by employers and graduate/doctorate degree program leaders. Students have showcased their computing and problem-solving skills in national and regional programming contests and Hackathons for several years.

“Our computer science program continues to be highly respected for providing academic and extracurricular opportunities that prepare our graduates for an ever-changing technology landscape. That’s what brings a record number of companies from throughout the country each year to recruit our students for full-time, internship, and co-op work opportunities,” said Stamper, pointing out that Rose-Hulman graduates, no matter the academic major, are lifelong learners.

Rose-Hulman was recently ranked No. 17 in the nation in the Wall Street Journal’s Best Colleges in America guide, as well as No. 1 in both learning opportunities and learning facilities; second in the nation in the likelihood of students recommending the college to others; and fourth in career preparation. U.S. News and World Report ranked Rose-Hulman first for the 25th consecutive year among U.S. engineering colleges that are focused on bachelor’s and master’s-level education. Rose-Hulman’s computer engineering program was judged first by engineering deans and senior engineering faculty, along with civil engineering, electrical engineering, and mechanical engineering.

Learn more about the Rose-Hulman’s rankings and national distinction here.

Rose-Hulman’s Early Action deadline to apply for the 2024-25 school year is Nov. 1, 2023.