U.S. News Ranks UMD’s Computer Science Undergraduate Program Among Nation’s Best

The University of Maryland’s undergraduate computer science program ranks No. 16 in the nation in the 2021 edition of U.S. News & World Report’s “Best Colleges.” The undergraduate program ranks 8th among public universities. In the computer science specialties, UMD ranks 9th in cybersecurity and 16th in artificial intelligence and data analytics/science. This is the first year the publication has ranked computer science undergraduate programs and specialties.

“I am thrilled that we are ranked among the nation’s best computer science undergraduate programs,” said Matthias Zwicker, interim chair of UMD’s Department of Computer Science. “This honor is an undeniable testament to the outstanding commitment to excellence among our students and faculty.”

UMD boasts one of the largest computer science programs in the country, with 3,200  undergraduates. And nearly 700 of them are women, making it one of the largest female computer science populations in the country. 

“Being able to deliver a top-notch education to such a large, diverse group of students is no small feat,” Zwicker said. “But we will not stop here; we will always continue to improve on our students’ experiences and successes."

Graduates of UMD’s computer science undergraduate program include: Michael Antonov ’03, Oculus co-founder; David Baggett ’92, Inky founder; Sergey Brin ’93, Google co-founder; Anthony Casalena ’05, Squarespace founder; Judith Dotson ’85, Booz Allen Hamilton executive vice president; Kristin Looney ’88, Looney Labs founder; and Jagdeep Singh ’86, QuantumScape founder.

“Credit for this new ranking goes to our outstanding students, who constantly challenge us to be at our best, as well as to our dedicated faculty members, who provide our students with unparalleled teaching and mentoring,” said Amitabh Varshney, dean of UMD’s College of Computer, Mathematical, and Natural Sciences.

UMD’s computer science graduate program also ranks No. 16th in the nation according to the latest list from U.S. News & World Report.

In 2019, UMD opened a new 215,600-square-foot facility where computer science students learn in collaborative classrooms and auditoriums, pursue research in specialized labs, create and innovate in fully equipped makerspaces, and engage with one another. The six-floor Brendan Iribe Center for Computer Science and Engineering serves as a hub for technology, collaboration and discovery that offers students unprecedented opportunities to innovate bold new applications for computer science.

-Written by Abby Robinson (CMNS)