Computer Science
Computer Science students will gain a broad and deep knowledge of the theory, design and application of computing systems, with an emphasis on software systems.
You’ll explore software design and informational processing techniques from virtual reality to social computing, artificial intelligence and data science. You'll learn from accomplished faculty, engage in leading-edge research and collaborate with industrious peers.
Our talented alumni have transformed the world by founding innovative companies such as BlackLine, C3.ai, Malwarebytes, Match.com, Optimizely, PayPal, Yelp, and YouTube.
If you're creative and passionate about problem-solving, this major is for you—no prior programming experience required.
Embrace the opportunity to shape the future!
Highlights
- Our computer science program is ranked #7 by U.S. News & World Report.
- 95% of students reported having an internship or co-op during their degree program.
- 96% of students reported securing their first-choice destination upon graduation.
- The average starting salary for a computer science graduate is $138,881 with an average signing bonus of $29,893.
- In Fall 2025, nearly 29% of first-year CS students in The Grainger College of Engineering were women.
Discover your power. Become a Grainger Engineer.
Your path to Grainger Engineering starts with connecting your passion and interests with the opportunities available in one of our 15 top-ranked major programs. Explore your options and gather the information you need to take the next step and apply.
We solve problems first.
What You'll Study
The Siebel School of Computing and Data Science offers more than a dozen undergraduate Blended CS Degrees based on the same set of core CS courses, as well as Blended Data Science Degrees.
All CS students will gain a broad and deep knowledge of the theory, design, and application of computer systems, with an emphasis on software systems.
The differences in requirements between the degree programs reflect the differences in your focus. For example, students enrolled in CS + Physics will have a different curriculum sequence than Mathematics & CS students, who will be taking additional math courses.
Learn more about your degree options on the Frequently Asked Questions page.
Read Our Blog
- Experiences
- Entrepreneurship
- Alumni
How to launch a startup from the place you call home
October 9, 2025
When Jack Cui needed a location to launch his startup, Yummy Future, the first robotics café in Illinois, he looked no further than Campustown. The Electrical and Computer Engineering alumnus calls both the Champaign-Urbana community and The Grainger College of Engineering his home.
- Undergraduate
- Experiences
July 10, 2025
This fall, Yasmin begins her sophomore year in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering. Before fully transitioning into ECE, she completed foundational coursework at Parkland College through the Parkland Pathway to Illinois program. Here, Yasmin shares her experience taking a nontraditional route to Grainger Engineering.
- Undergraduate
May 14, 2025
From building Lego sets to fixing household appliances with their father, Grant and Landon Lindsay were encouraged to be problem solvers. This foundation inspired them to apply their critical thinking skills to engineering.
Post-Graduation Success
The computer science major allows you to perform world-changing research, lead educational innovation, and prepares you to be among the most sought-after graduates in the field. Approximately thirty-six percent of our computer science graduates pursue further education in graduate school, while about sixty-one percent secure positions in industry.
As a computer science graduate, your career ventures can include working in application design, consulting, data analysis, research, software development, and studio tools development.
The average salary for computer science grads was reported as $139K with a median signing bonus of $30K.
97%
employed or continuing education*
61%
employed after graduation
36%
attending graduate school
$139K
average starting annual income*
Sample employer destinations: Amazon, Apple, Capital One, Google, IBM, Meta, Microsoft, Netflix, Sandia National Laboratories, Twitch
Sample grad school destinations: University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Carnegie Mellon University, Georgia Institute of Technology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Stanford University, University of California, Berkeley
*Post-graduate data was collected through the Illini Success initiative, which primarily relies on self-reported survey data sources. Statistics reported are from 2023-2024. Please note that total compensation may be greater than annual salary as other forms of compensation (e.g., signing bonus, commission, benefits) are not included. For more information on Illini Success data and methods, please visit the Illini Success website.
Your future starts here.
Applying to The Grainger College of Engineering opens the door to your future as a successful engineer. Get started by scheduling a visit, requesting information, or submitting your application.