Illinois Tech’s Master’s in Computer Science Program Jumps 16 Places in U.S. News & World Report Rankings

CHICAGO—April 26, 2023—Illinois Institute of Technology (Illinois Tech) has achieved its highest-ever ranking in the 2023-2024 Best Graduate Schools in Computer Science by U.S. News & World Report. The prestigious ranking reflects the growing recognition and impact of Illinois Tech’s computer science graduate programs, which have seen a significant increase in applications and enrollment.

Illinois Tech’s graduate computer science program is now ranked 83rd—a 16-place jump from 99th in 2022-2023. The leap signifies an increased acknowledgment by chairs and directors of graduate programs across the country of the exceptional quality of education and research opportunities offered to students 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, chair of the Department of Computer Science. “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.”

Since joining Illinois Tech’s College of Computing in 2020, the Department of Computer Science has experienced a 48 percent increase in graduate program enrollment, including a 71 percent increase in new enrollments. Applications to these programs have surged by 28 percent since last year, with nearly 9,900 prospective students applying. 

The record-breaking surge in applications extends to the entire university, with undergraduate applications up by more than 20 percent and graduate applications up by over 40 percent compared to last year. This growth includes a consistent increase in applications from underrepresented minority students and first-generation college goers, and a 31 percent increase in applications from women. The university has seen a 78 percent increase in applications over the last four years, and it is also tracking a 47 percent increase in completed graduate applications and a 138 percent increase in point-in-time growth in graduate admits compared to last year.

Illinois Tech’s commitment to career readiness and economic advancement has played a key role in this increase. Recent research from the New York Times and Morning Consult that surveyed 2,000 young people between the ages of 16 and 19 and another 2,000 between the ages of 22 and 30 found that likely earnings after graduation is one of the most important factors in the college decision-making process for college-bound students—rating four times more important than the average among other factors. 

Economic mobility has been a core component of Illinois Tech’s mission since its founding more than 130 years ago, and the university is working to fulfill its founding purpose of educating first generation college-goers and expanding access representation in technology: 40 percent of this year’s undergraduate applicants are the first in their family to attend university, a proportion that has remained consistent over the last four years even as total applications grew by 78 percent. In the New York Times rankings, Illinois Tech ranked #4 in the United States, #1 in the Midwest, and #1 in Illinois for high earnings combined with racial and economic diversity.

Illinois Tech applicants have made clear the importance of career readiness: among those who chose to enroll at Illinois Tech in fall 2022, “preparation for career and job opportunities” was selected as the most influential factor by nearly half (48 percent) of respondents in a recent survey. Among the other top reasons, 37 percent said “internships and other applied and experiential learning” was a persuasive reason to choose Illinois Tech.

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.

Photo: Computer Science students

Illinois Institute of Technology

Based in the global metropolis of Chicago, Illinois Tech was born to liberate the collective power of difference to advance technology and progress for all. It is the only tech-focused university in the city, and it stands at the crossroads of exploration and invention, advancing the future of Chicago and the world. It offers undergraduate and graduate degrees in engineering, computing, architecture, business, design, science and human sciences, and law. Illinois Tech students are guaranteed hands-on experiences, personalized mentorship, and job readiness through the university's one-of-a-kind Elevate program. Its graduates lead the state and much of the nation in economic prosperity. Its faculty and alumni built the Chicago skyline. And every day in the living lab of the city, Illinois Tech fuels breakthroughs that change lives. Visit iit.edu.

College of Computing

Illinois Tech created the College of Computing in 2020 as part of an effort to drive Chicago’s thriving tech ecosystem by educating a future diverse workforce that is rigorously trained in data and computation. Illinois Tech is home to the Midwest's only Bachelor of Science in Artificial Intelligence degree, and the numerous cybersecurity and intelligence pathways at Illinois Tech explore not only the deep foundations of fast-growing fields of computer science, but also emphasize societal ethics in developing this technology. The United States Department of Homeland Security and the National Security Agency have designated Illinois Institute of Technology (Illinois Tech) as a National Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense Education. The university’s Center for Cyber Security and Forensics Education (C2SAFE) is at the core of Illinois Tech’s designation. Additionally, the center is a member of the United States Strategic Command (USSTRATCOM) Academic Alliance and North American Defense and Security Academic Alliance (NADSAA).

Media contacts

Kevin Dollear
Communications Manager
Illinois Institute of Technology
Cell: 773-860-5712
kdollear@iit.edu