Should You Study Computer Science at Harvard or Yale? What CS Rankings Don’t Tell You

The Enigma of Studying Computer Science at Harvard and Yale: Is It Worth It to Apply?

Attending Harvard or Yale for Computer Science is a fundamentally different value proposition from ordinary considerations of CS major tier lists and program rankings. These metrics are often on the forefront of parents’ minds, but in this context, they mean relatively little.

That might sound elitist—and perhaps it is—but it’s just not practical to ignore the way these schools dominate leadership roles in high-powered companies across the country. Degrees from Harvard and Yale open doors that would otherwise remain closed.

But let’s say you get into UIUC or the University of Washington for Computer Science, and also into Harvard. Where should you attend?

As we’ve explored with other top CS programs in previous blog entries, the answer depends on your goals. However, unlike those other programs, the weight of the arguments skews heavily in Harvard and Yale’s favor. Why?

What’s the Scoop on Harvard and Yale CS Rankings?

If one is to trust U.S. News & World Report, Harvard and Yale occupy relatively underwhelming spots in national Computer Science rankings (#19 and #21, respectively). That puts Yale tied with UMass Amherst, and both behind schools like the University of Maryland - College Park (#16) and UIUC (#5).

But do students actually turn down Harvard or Yale for these schools? On paper, these lesser-known CS powerhouses offer a comparable education—ostensibly for less money and with similar job prospects for graduates… right?

So what gives? Is it just branding? Or does name recognition really matter that much? These are tough questions—and there’s no easy rubric to answer them.

If your intuition says most students end up choosing Harvard or Yale for CS despite the rankings, you’d be correct. Are college rankings missing something here?

Value Propositions on a Different Scale

When organizations like U.S. News evaluate Computer Science programs, they use 17 metrics: graduation rates, SAT scores, student-faculty ratio, number of publications and citations, and more.

These are important criteria. Together, they provide a solid foundation for understanding whether a CS program is reputable. From a purely academic perspective, the higher the ranking, the better your day-to-day classroom and research experience might be.

However, not a single one of those metrics evaluates the brand power of an institution or its influence as a networking hub. When ~25% of the nation’s venture capital MBAs graduated specifically from Harvard Business School, that’s a pretty glaring omission.

To put it simply: U.S. News is great if you’re trying to figure out where you’ll get the best preparation for a CS graduate degree. But it’s much less helpful in predicting career success—especially when it comes to Computer Science at Harvard or Yale.

Why Study Computer Science at Harvard?

Beyond its massive influence in American finance and tech, Harvard offers a peerless university structure packed with networking opportunities. Its interdisciplinary focus ensures CS students can access world-class research institutions—from collaborations with MIT at the Broad Institute to breakthroughs in quantum optics at the Center for Brain Science.

Harvard sees CS not just as a technical field but as a flexible toolkit that applies across disciplines. Its elite alumni network is eager to scout new Crimson talent, and that’s a network few schools can rival.

What About the Yale CS Program?

Yale is also well-represented in venture capital and tech leadership—albeit to a lesser degree than Harvard. But the Yale Computer Science program shines in other ways.

Yale’s CS curriculum features more focused specialization tracks, with joint degree programs in mathematics, economics, psychology, electrical engineering, linguistics, and the arts. It also boasts a better student-faculty ratio than Harvard, which often leads to more personalized attention and mentorship.

Like Harvard, Yale emphasizes CS as a force that drives innovation in both academia and industry. And yes, its alumni network is powerful and highly supportive of ambitious students and entrepreneurs.

Does the Ivy League Brand Really Matter for CS Majors?

It can. But it’s only part of the equation.

If you're looking for the most rigorous, technical CS education available, rankings may matter more. But if your goal is to maximize career opportunities—especially in business, entrepreneurship, or tech leadership—very few schools outperform Harvard or Yale.

Keep in mind: schools like Stanford or MIT offer both brand recognition and top CS rankings—but their admissions rates are brutally low. Even elite applicants are statistically twice as likely to be admitted to Yale for CS than to Stanford.

So yes—both prestige and rankings matter, but they serve different purposes. And understanding what you want from a CS degree is key to deciding which matters more.

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