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

First, some facts. Of the Computer Science graduates from Stanford 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 13 LinkedIn profiles (see below).

The verdict? Above average. Overall, with an average relevance score of 74%, Computer Science graduates from Stanford University have a higher likelihood (+7%) of finding work in this field compared to the average graduate across all fields:

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

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Also, after graduating, 53% 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 you may need more than just a Bachelors degree to be competitive as a Computer Science graduate.

See the details:

• What jobs can you get with a Computer Science degree from Stanford University?
• What do Computer Science graduates from Stanford University do 1, 5 or 10 years out?
• How hard is a Computer Science degree from Stanford University? How long does it take?
• How much money can you make with a Computer Science degree from Stanford University?
• What are the best colleges for Computer Science?

View a random Computer Science graduate from Stanford 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 2021 from Stanford University with a Bachelor's degree in Computer Science. Also pursued further education since (see below). JOB HISTORY SINCE GRADUATION CS198 Coordinator Stanford University Mar 2021 - Jun 2022 As a CS198 Coordinator at Stanford University, the role directly involves coordinating and overseeing computer science courses, utilizing skills and knowledge from the Bachelor's degree in Computer Science. CS111ACE CA Stanford University Sep 2022 - Present The position of CS111ACE CA at Stanford University requires substantial understanding of computer science principles to assist in teaching and guiding students, making it highly relevant to the degree. Software Engineer Kira Learning Apr 2024 - Present The role of Software Engineer at Kira Learning directly applies computer science knowledge and skills to software development tasks, making it fully relevant to the Bachelor's degree in Computer Science. FURTHER DEGREES DONE SINCE GRADUATING Master's degree Stanford University 2021 - 2023 ABOUT Computer Scientist with a passion for systems and education. Lover of golf, food, and all things musical.

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

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

• Engineering Lead
• Software Engineer Intern
• Software Engineer
• Research Intern
• Registered Nurse
• Founder
• Advisory Board
• Head of Global
• Chief Executive Officer

People who graduated with a Computer Science degree from Stanford University seem to follow a pretty clear trend when it comes to their career paths. Many of them land jobs in tech giants like Google, Microsoft, and Facebook, often in positions such as Software Engineer, Research Intern, or Engineering Lead. These roles are deeply technical and require a strong foundation in computer science principles, which means they’re highly relevant to the degree. Additionally, some folks pursue academic careers, taking on roles like Assistant Professors or Course Assistants, where they not only teach but also conduct research in the field, again directly utilizing their education in a meaningful way.

However, not all jobs held by Stanford Computer Science graduates stick strictly to tech. Some individuals venture into positions that may not directly leverage their technical skills, such as project management or roles in non-tech industries. For example, one person became a Registered Nurse at Microsoft, which doesn’t align at all with traditional computer science work. Others, like e-learning consultants or advisory board members, might use some of their technical background, but their roles focus more on strategy or instructional design rather than hard coding or software development. Overall, while a significant portion of jobs is directly related to computer science, there’s a noticeable variety, and not every position hits the mark in terms of relevance to their degree. That said, if you’re aiming for a degree in computer science, the tech world definitely seems like a promising place to look for a job afterward!

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 Stanford University):

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

From the looks of it, Stanford graduates with a Computer Science degree generally follow some impressive career trajectories. Right after graduation, many students seem to land on solid tech roles, especially internships at major companies like Google, Microsoft, and Facebook. These early experiences not only help them build a reputable resume but also pave the way for exciting opportunities in academia and the tech industry. For instance, some have even transitioned from internships to research positions and assistant professor roles within a few years, showcasing the strength of the education and connections they gained at Stanford.

Looking five to ten years down the line, it's clear that most graduates are well-embedded in tech-related fields. Many have taken leadership positions, like project managers or engineering leads at top companies, while some have even started their own ventures, reflecting a strong entrepreneurial spirit. While there are a few outliers who might have gone into consulting or even non-tech roles like nursing, the overwhelming trend is that these graduates are thriving in careers that are not only relevant to their degrees but are also quite successful in the broader tech landscape. Overall, it seems a Computer Science degree from Stanford levels up your chances of a fulfilling and impactful career in tech.

How hard is a Computer Science degree from Stanford University?

Getting a Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science at Stanford is definitely no walk in the park, and I’d say it’s on the harder side compared to many other programs. Stanford is known for its rigorous classes and top-notch faculty, so you can expect a lot of challenging coursework, especially in areas like algorithms and systems. You'll be spending plenty of late nights coding and debugging, and the competition can be pretty stiff since everyone around you is super talented. That said, if you’re really passionate about tech and getting your hands dirty with programming, the hard work can feel rewarding in its own way. Just be ready for some serious brain workouts!

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 Stanford University tend to make good money?

So, looking at the LinkedIn profiles of these Stanford grads, it seems like they're mostly doing pretty well for themselves in terms of money. A lot of them started off with internships at big tech companies like Google and Microsoft, which usually pay pretty well, and some have snagged solid positions like Assistant Professor and software engineering roles, which typically come with a decent salary. Plus, there's a founder and CEO in the mix, which often means big potential earnings down the line. The variety of roles also hints that they're gaining valuable experience, which can boost their pay in the future. Of course, some are in more traditional roles like teaching or research, which might not pay as much, but overall, it looks like most of these folks are on a good financial path.

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 Stanford 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