Program on the Rise: Computer Science Graduate Programs Ranked #83 in the US
Illinois Institute of Technology has earned its highest-ever ranking in the 2023–2024 Best Graduate Schools in Computer Science by U.S. News & World Report, while application and enrollment numbers suggest that students, too, are taking increased notice in these programs.
The influential publication ranked Illinois Tech’s graduate computer science program #83, a 16-place jump from 99th in 2022–2023. This jump signifies an increased recognition and awareness by chairs and directors of graduate programs across the country of the quality of education and research opportunities available to graduate students who are enrolled in Illinois Tech’s Department of Computer Science programs.
"It is very gratifying to see how our faculty’s and staff’s hard work and dedication to teaching and research have been recognized by the U.S. News rankings,” says Shlomo Argamon, Department of Computer Science chair. “This achievement is a testament to the exceptional quality of our faculty, staff, and students, who are all committed to continuing to provide our students with an exceptional education and to conducting cutting-edge research with positive societal impact."
Faculty in the Department of Computer Science are renowned for their work in many research areas, including artificial intelligence and machine learning, cybersecurity, databases, high-performance and parallel computing, systems, and theory, as well as programming languages, compilers, and software engineering.
Joint faculty appointments with Argonne National Laboratory in nearby Lemont, Illinois, are opening research collaborations and opportunities for Ph.D. students and department faculty at the United States Department of Energy lab. The expertise and experience of Argonne researchers strengthen the department’s research through additional funding and more diverse research.
The jump in the U.S. News ranking reflects the excellence and growing impact of the Illinois Tech computer science graduate programs. Our students are trained at the cutting edge of the field and go on to work at leading companies and universities. The Department of Computer Science joined Illinois Tech’s College of Computing when the college was established in 2020. Since then the department has seen a 48 percent increase in enrollment to graduate programs, including a 71 percent increase in new enrollments. Applications to these programs have increased 28 percent since last year, with nearly 9,900 prospective students submitting applications.
Graduate programs offered by the Department of Computer Science include a Ph.D. program, as well as master’s programs in artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, data science, and computational decision science and operations research. The department also offers a Master of Science in Computer Science and a Master of Computer Science degree programs.
By collecting graduate school data annually, U.S. News is able to present the most current figures on enrollment, job placement, faculty, and other critical quality indicators that help prospective students make informed decisions.
