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What can you do with a Computer Science degree from Northwestern University?

First, some facts. Of the Computer Science graduates from Northwestern University we've analyzed , here's how many have used (or NOT used) their degree in their career:


These are estimates based on AI analysis of 14 LinkedIn profiles (see below).

The verdict? Great! Overall, with an average relevance score of 94%, Computer Science graduates from Northwestern University have a substantially higher likelihood (+27%) of finding work in this field compared to the average graduate across all fields:

Average score: 94%
Average relevance score across all fields: 67%

And for comparison, here's the chart for all profiles we've looked at across all degrees.

× Chart

Also, after graduating, only 7% of these graduates have pursued further education other than another Bachelor's degree (such as a Masters degree or other), compared to the average across all profiles of 35%. This suggests a Bachelors degree is enough for most Computer Science graduates, and it's normal to look for work straight after graduation.

See the details:

View a random Computer Science graduate from Northwestern University and our analysis:

Relevance score: 100%

We think this person has gone into a career highly relevant to their degree.

DEGREE INFO

Graduated in 2018 from Northwestern University with a Bachelor's degree in Computer Science. No other secondary education since.

JOB HISTORY SINCE GRADUATION
Software Engineer
Pivotal Software, Inc.
Jul 2018 - Dec 2019
As a Software Engineer at Pivotal Software, Inc., the role directly utilizes the technical skills and knowledge in computer science gained from the Bachelor's degree, making it highly relevant.

Senior Member of Technical Staff
VMware
Jan 2020 - Present
The position of Senior Member of Technical Staff at VMware requires advanced technical expertise in software development and systems architecture, both of which are core elements of a Computer Science education, ensuring its strong relevance.

ABOUT

No information provided.

What jobs can you get with a Computer Science degree from Northwestern University?

The top 10 most common jobs done by the graduates we've analyzed (ranked most common to least) are:

Most of the graduates from Northwestern University who pursued a degree in Computer Science have landed jobs that are pretty closely tied to their field. A common thread among many of them is the role of Software Engineer or Developer, with positions at big tech companies like Apple and Amazon Web Services popping up frequently. These roles typically involve a lot of coding, software development, and problem-solving—all core components of what you would learn in a computer science degree. Other positions like Front-End Web Developer and Technical Consultant also reflect a strong alignment with computer science principles, showcasing how various aspects of the degree can apply to real-world jobs.

However, there are a few exceptions. Some graduates took on roles that, while they might leverage some analytical skills developed during their studies, don’t heavily engage with programming or computer science concepts. For example, positions like Consultant at PwC and Research Lab Assistant at Northwestern's Kellogg School lean more towards business or research rather than hardcore computer science tasks. Overall, it looks like most of the jobs align well with what you’d expect from a Computer Science degree, making it a practical choice for students who want to dive right into tech roles after graduation.

Here is a visual representation of the most common words in job titles for Computer Science graduates (this is across all Computer Science graduates we've analyzed, not just those who went to Northwestern University):

What kind of career trajectories do Computer Science graduates from Northwestern University have? What do they do 1, 5 or 10 years out?

Looking at the career paths of Northwestern University Computer Science graduates, it's pretty clear that they've generally landed solid roles in tech right after graduation. Many of the grads from recent years are stepping straight into well-known companies like Amazon Web Services, Apple, and TikTok, often starting as software engineers or in similar positions. For example, graduates from the classes of 2020 and 2021 have scores of entries as software engineers at major firms, indicating a strong entry into the workforce. It's a good sign that they’re beginning their careers in fields that closely relate to their degrees, setting them up for a trajectory that can lead to advanced roles within tech.

Fast forward five to ten years, and it seems like many of these graduates continue to climb the ladder within the tech industry. Many have progressed to senior roles, like the Senior Software Engineer position at Amazon or Director titles in product management. This consistent upward movement in their careers showcases how a degree from Northwestern can effectively open doors and provide a strong foundation for long-term success in tech. Overall, it looks like while some may have strayed into consulting or other industries, the vast majority are thriving in computer science-related jobs, which is pretty encouraging if you're considering that degree yourself!

How hard is a Computer Science degree from Northwestern University?

Getting a Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science at Northwestern can definitely be a challenge, but it's pretty much in line with other top-tier universities. You’ll be diving deep into programming, algorithms, and math, which can be tough if you're not super into those subjects. Plus, the workload can be pretty heavy, with projects and assignments that might keep you up late at times. But hey, it’s also super rewarding when you finally understand those complex concepts or finish a cool project. If you enjoy problem-solving and coding, you might find it a bit easier, but be prepared to put in some serious effort!

How long does it take?

Most commonly, in the LinkedIn profiles we've looked at, it takes people 4 years to finish a Bachelor degree in Computer Science.

Do Computer Science graduates from Northwestern University tend to make good money?

Looking at these computer science grads from Northwestern University, it certainly seems like they’re on the money-making path, especially considering the companies they’ve landed jobs with. For instance, the folks at places like Apple, Amazon, and TikTok are likely pulling in pretty solid salaries, especially as they move up through the ranks—like that grad who went from a junior developer to a Director role at JLL! The earlier grads are already in senior positions, which means they’re likely making a decent amount, too. Even the more recent graduates, those starting off, are getting into companies that generally pay well right out of the gate. So, overall, it looks like they’re doing well and probably making some good cash in the tech world!

What buzzwords do Computer Science graduates use to describe themselves?

Here is a visual representation of the most common words seen in the "about" section of LinkedIn profiles who have a Bachelor degree in Computer Science (this is across all Computer Science graduates we've analyzed, not just those who went to Northwestern University). This may or may not be useful:

What are the best colleges for Computer Science?

Here are all colleges offering a Bachelor degree in Computer Science (ordered by the average relevance score of their Computer Science graduates, best to worst) where we have analyzed at least 10 of their graduates:

College Score Count
Stevens Institute of Technology 99 11
Eastern Michigan University 98 10
Colorado School of Mines 98 27
Michigan Technological University 98 12
Northern Arizona University 97 11
Northeastern University 97 21
UC Santa Barbara 96 10
University of Notre Dame 96 13
Carnegie Mellon University 96 14
University of Southern California 95 13
University of California San Diego 95 30
Eastern Washington University 95 13
Worcester Polytechnic Institute 95 24
Caltech 95 10
Northwestern University 94 14
Seattle University 94 12
Shanghai Jiao Tong University 94 10
Penn State University 93 30
University of Washington 93 61
Purdue University 93 50
University of California, Davis 93 21
University of California, Berkeley 93 41
The University of Georgia 93 10
University of Maryland 93 42
Cornell University 93 21
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign 92 25
City University of New York-College of Staten Island 92 10
Grinnell College 92 10
Arizona State University 91 42
University of Wisconsin-Madison 91 44
San Jose State University 91 23
California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo 91 28
The University of Texas at Arlington 91 17
Virginia Tech 91 19
University of Utah 91 22
Drexel University 91 28
Wayne State University 91 11
Missouri University of Science and Technology 91 26
Brigham Young University 90 32
Colorado State University 90 32
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill 90 23
Oklahoma State University 90 10
Stony Brook University 90 25
University of Massachusetts Lowell 90 20
Vanderbilt University 90 14
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute 90 17
University of Michigan College of Engineering 90 16
Gandhi Institute of Technology & Management (GITAM) University, Visakhapatnam 90 26
Jawaharlal Nehru Technological University, Hyderabad 90 11
University of Michigan 89 39
University of Pittsburgh 89 22
University of Virginia 89 38
University of Iowa 89 15
Georgia Institute of Technology 89 84
University at Buffalo 89 20
Utah Valley University 89 17
Ira A. Fulton Schools of Engineering at Arizona State University 89 12
Manipal Institute of Technology 89 11
GITAM Deemed University 89 12
University of South Florida 88 24
James Madison University 88 16
The University of Texas at San Antonio 88 18
University of Delaware 88 12
Miami University 88 15
UC Irvine 88 52
University at Albany, SUNY 88 15
Brown University 88 11
The University of Texas at Austin 87 34
Michigan State University 87 22
Kent State University 87 11
Illinois State University 87 14
Clemson University 87 11
The University of Alabama 87 10
Washington State University 87 14
University of Maryland College Park 87 18
University of Illinois at Chicago 87 25
Rochester Institute of Technology 87 19
The University of Texas at El Paso 87 30
Birla Institute of Technology and Science, Pilani 87 17
University of California, Los Angeles 86 26
University of Missouri-Columbia 86 14
University of Connecticut 86 11
University of Massachusetts Amherst 86 27
Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi 86 12
University of Rochester 86 11
BV Raju Institute of Technology (BVRIT) 86 13
University of Florida 85 30
North Carolina State University 85 33
Grand Valley State University 85 11
Portland State University 85 22
University of Minnesota 85 38
Utah State University 85 16
University of Massachusetts, Amherst 85 10
New York Institute of Technology 85 10
University of Central Florida 84 43
The Ohio State University 84 18
Brigham Young University - Idaho 84 16
New York University 84 19
California State University, Northridge 84 12
Appalachian State University 84 18
Boston University 84 14
University of Oklahoma 84 11
The University of Texas at Dallas 84 75
Old Dominion University 84 10
Missouri State University 84 10
Rowan University 84 26
West Chester University of Pennsylvania 84 11
University of Maryland Baltimore County 84 20
Montana State University-Bozeman 84 12
Savitribai Phule Pune University 84 12
Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham 84 11
Sathyabama University 84 11
Texas A&M University 83 35
Indiana University Bloomington 83 19
Auburn University 83 12
Oregon State University 83 41
University of Arkansas 83 15
Kansas State University 83 17
California State University San Marcos 83 16
University of Wyoming 83 10
Illinois Institute of Technology 83 17
KL University 83 39
PES University 83 25
CVR College of Engineering, Hyderabad 83 10
Gitam University, Hyderabad 83 14
University of Colorado Boulder 82 33
Tennessee Technological University 82 12
Massachusetts Institute of Technology 82 17
Wentworth Institute of Technology 82 10
University of Illinois Springfield 82 10
Louisiana State University 81 12
San Diego State University 81 17
George Mason University 81 32
University of Nebraska-Lincoln 81 11
University of Nevada-Las Vegas 81 23
Mississippi State University 81 13
Bowling Green State University 81 15
Weber State University 81 15
Jawaharlal Nehru Technological University 81 82
University of Georgia - Franklin College of Arts and Sciences 81 18
Vellore Institute of Technology 81 35
Florida International University 80 32
Temple University 80 15
University of Minnesota-Twin Cities 80 28
University of California, Santa Cruz 80 48
University of Mumbai 80 17
Visvesvaraya Technological University 80 32
University of Arizona 79 18
Texas State University 79 25
Northern Illinois University 79 10
California State University, Fresno 79 10
North Dakota State University 79 10
University of Hawaii at Manoa 79 14
California State University, Monterey Bay 79 15
Lovely Professional University 79 18
University of California, Riverside 78 21
University of Kentucky 78 13
Boise State University 78 14
SRM University 78 34
JNTUH College of Engineering Hyderabad 78 64
Georgia State University 77 30
Ball State University 77 10
Western Washington University 77 22
Rutgers University 77 20
University of Vermont 77 14
Washington University in St. Louis 77 14
New Jersey Institute of Technology 77 23
Princeton University 77 10
Jawaharlal Nehru Technological University, Kakinada 77 23
Florida State University 76 18
Rutgers UniversityNew Brunswick 76 18
Anna University 76 18
University of North Texas 75 22
Rajiv Gandhi Prodyogiki Vishwavidyalaya 75 13
Texas Tech University 74 23
Kennesaw State University 74 20
California State University, Long Beach 74 14
Stanford University 74 13
Osmania University 74 28
University of Houston 73 31
California State University-Sacramento 73 37
University of California, San Diego 73 10
Sreenidhi Institute of Science and Technology 73 11
San Francisco State University 72 22
University of North Carolina at Charlotte 72 50
Oakland University 72 12
Columbia University in the City of New York 72 11
University of Washington Tacoma 72 14
East Carolina University 71 10
California State University, Fullerton 71 20
Queens College 71 19
University of California, Irvine 71 11
University of Maryland Global Campus 71 13
Andhra University 71 10
California State Polytechnic University-Pomona 70 31
Towson University 70 14
Sathyabama Institute of Science & Technology, Chennai 70 12
Western Governors University 68 28
Tufts University 68 11
Southern New Hampshire University 66 21
University of Nebraska at Omaha 66 10
University of Houston-Downtown 66 11
Florida Atlantic University 65 22
Troy University 65 10
University of Central Arkansas 63 10
University of Maryland University College 62 14
DeVry University 61 16
California State University-San Bernardino 60 11
University of Phoenix 57 14
Hunter College 47 11