Here are some tips for selecting schools, based on an analysis comparing each school to all others across dozens of factors:
Schools Concentrating On Software Engineers For Applications
- Focus: For schools with a focus on this career area, look at United States Naval Academy, Montgomery College, Towson University, and The Community College of Baltimore County.
Fastest Response From Schools
- Request Info: For the fastest information for prospective students, look at the Spotlight schools on this page.
Student Body
- Part-Time: For schools emphasizing part-time studies, consider Coppin State and UM Baltimore County.
- Diverse: For a diverse student body, consider Coppin State, Prince George's Community College, Montgomery College, and UMUC.
- Adult Learners: For lots of adult learners, consider Hood, Hagerstown Community College, Montgomery College, and Harford Community College.
School Setting
- Out of State: For geographic diversity, take note of United States Naval Academy, Loyola, Washington College, and Washington Adventist.
- Dorms: For a residential campus environment, take note of United States Naval Academy, Washington College, Loyola, and Washington Adventist.
Excellence
- SAT: For students with high SAT scores, look at United States Naval Academy, UM Baltimore County, Loyola, and Washington College.
- % Accepted: For selective institutions, look at United States Naval Academy and Coppin State.
- Class Size: For small class sizes, look at United States Naval Academy, Washington College, Loyola, and Washington Adventist.
Student/Alumnus Reviews of Schools for This Career and State
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University Of Maryland, College Park • College Park, MD
Studying Computer Science (completion in 2010)
• 7/12/2011
"I have never had a problem in my professional career in which I was ill-prepared because of my education. As an in-state student the tuition was affordable. The professors understood any personal problems that came up."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | Maryland has a very tough Computer Science program; however that is where you do most of your hard work. Once you get to the professional world, the hours get shorter and the work comes easier. The Computer Science program at Maryland will give you all of the tools to self-learn and succeed in a programming career. |
| Program Reputation | 8 | I believe Maryland is ranked in the top-15 in Computer Science in the United States. Maryland came in the top 5 for U.S. colleges in a worldwide programming contest. |
| Program Quality | 9 | Maryland has a nationally ranked Computer Science department. The lecturers were very approachable and most of the professors were smart as well as good communicators. |
| Instruction | 8 | I feel that I was generally prepared well with programming skills, algorithms, and computer security. One skill that was not taught was source code management. Tools like subversion, git, and CVS were not taught. |
| How Difficult | 8 | The majority of the programming classes would have coding projects that took 15+ hours a week. Only 1 class did I need less than 10 hours a week. Many projects would have public tests so that you would know where you stand before the project is due. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | Programming is mainly taught through coding projects. Many algorithm and design classes are taught using multimedia. Books were used as references for the most part. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 5 | There weren't any weekend or night classes for Computer Science. Many classes were on Monday/Wednesday and Tuesday/Thursday schedules. There were many summer classes that met every day and could be used to fulfill degree requirements. |
| Academic Facilities | 7 | The computer labs were very accessible and open 24 hours a day. There are over 10 libraries at Maryland. |
| Social Life | 7 | Basketball and Football are two big sports at Maryland. Greek life is somewhat relevant. Basketball games are the height of school spirit in my opinion. |
| Placement Services | 6 | I never used the job placement service, however other students that I know did use it successfully. I found more success using craigslist and jobfox to find jobs. |
| Alumni Network | 5 | Rarely would alumni come to classes and talk to students. I never used the support network to get an internship or job. |
University Of Maryland University College • Adelphia, MD
Studying Computer Science (completion in 2011)
• 9/29/2011
"Overall, it was a great school. I think it is best-suited for older students who don't care for the ordinary college environment."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | It is convenient for anyone who doesn't have a lot of time. They also offer multiple sections for the courses for each semester which makes scheduling a breeze. |
| Program Reputation | 8 | The school has a pretty good rating in IT overall but I'm not sure about CS. They are known for their Information Assurance program. |
| Program Quality | 6 | As with most programs, there were very intense classes as well as some easier courses. Some of the topics were a little outdated and the syllabus should have been updated to reflect current technologies. |
| Instruction | 8 | All of the programming courses were extremely relevant to being a Software Engineer. The Calculus courses also help with understanding Cryptographic algorithms and programs. |
| How Difficult | 8 | The further into the degree/college courses the more difficult the classes. "Probability and Statistics" was very challenging. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | Programming is something that can only truly be mastered by being hands-on. All of your programming courses require you to write your own code. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 9 | One of the great things about the school is being able to attend online. This makes it easy to fit school in any schedule. |
| Academic Facilities | 8 | The school as a great online library and they collaborate with other schools in the area. If you need a book that they do not have they'll ship it from another school. The academic advisors are also readily available. |
| Social Life | 1 | I did not have the option of attending regular college socials. The school was seriously lacking in this department. |
| Placement Services | 4 | I received no job assistance help. Finding a job was basically left to me to do. |
| Alumni Network | 1 | There hasn't been any alumni support from my university. I also have not received my yearbook. |
University Of Maryland, College Park • College Park, MD
Studying Computer Science (completion in 2011)
• 10/2/2011
"My school offered many challenging and rewarding experiences. I greatly enjoyed the time I spent at the University of Maryland. I also appreciated the generous financial aid I received."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | The University of Maryland's Career Center is very helpful as I continue my career in Software Engineering. The University offered challenging and engaging courses that help me regularly in my work. |
| Program Reputation | 8 | In my work environment, people talk favorably about the University of Maryland's programs. We are well-ranked on U.S. News among Computer Science programs. |
| Program Quality | 9 | The major was challenging but I learned a lot. The courses I took prepared me for my job. |
| Instruction | 8 | Instructors were very attentive of student needs. They were fair and gave engaging assignments. |
| How Difficult | 9 | The courses were mentally stimulating but could at times be very difficult. CMSC412, the Operating Systems course, was very challenging and took up much of my time when I took it. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | Most of my courses were programming-intensive. It was challenging and fun to learn a concept in a book and then try to apply it in a project. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 7 | Summer and Winter courses were regularly available. But, I don't know of many online or weekend offerings for courses in my major. |
| Academic Facilities | 10 | Computer labs were very accessible. The McKeldin Library was an excellent place for study and resources. |
| Social Life | 9 | The school was very engaged in sports, particularly in basketball. Many social networking events were available during my time at the University. |
| Placement Services | 10 | Emails about available interview opportunities were very frequent. Many workshops to improve resumes and interviewing skills were available. |
| Alumni Network | 7 | Many regular emails about alumni activities are sent out. Many networking events for alumni are available. |
University Of Maryland, College Park • College Park, MD
Studying Computer Science (completion in 2010)
• 11/15/2011
"University of Maryland, College Park was everything I wanted it to be and more. I was presented with so many opportunities as the result of hard work and determination. I have a great career ahead of me, and I definitely have UMD so thank for it."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | UMD, College Park is an excellent choice for Computer Science-interested students. Especially if you're in-state, the cost is very, very affordable and is completely worth it. Along with a top-20 CS program, students have an excellent teaching staff and top-notch facilities. |
| Program Reputation | 9 | Again, it is a top 20 CS school in the nation. It is very well known around America, behind only the top, top schools such as Stanford, Carnegie Mellon, MIT, Berkeley, UT Austin, etc. |
| Program Quality | 9 | University of Maryland, College Park is a top 20 school in the nation for undergraduate studies for Computer Science. Along with an excellent program, the professors at UMD are absolutely incredible. |
| Instruction | 9 | UMD has an amazing teaching staff at the Computer Science Instructional Center. Many of my professors were working on large software projects, and they were extremely knowledgeable and able to help me with any work I needed help on. |
| How Difficult | 8 | At UMD, Computer Science is one of the more rigorous fields, as UMD is one of the top CS schools in the nation. I had to study about 3-4 hours outside of class for every hour I spent in a class. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | There was a relative mix of hands-on and book learning. While reading the book could get you through classes, without actually talking to the teachers and programming first-hand, it would be very difficult to get through a CS program here at UMD with any type of success. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 6 | UMD's scheduling works in a hierarchy structure, where seniors get authority over juniors who get authority over sophomores, etc. Thus, it was much more difficult to schedule as a freshmen or sophomore since the upperclassmen already had their classes picked. Dropping a class was extremely easy, however, and all scheduling was done online which made it easy to see which classes you could take. |
| Academic Facilities | 9 | As a student in the Honors program at UMD, I had access to the school's best resources and facilities. The libraries at UMD are an invaluable source for knowledge and the facilities are world-class. |
| Social Life | 9 | Greek life is huge at UMD, so frats and sororities were huge. Parties were rampant on the weekend and there was a huge intramural/club sports network. There was basically always something to do on campus. |
| Placement Services | 9 | Coming out of my senior year at UMD, I already had received multiple job offers from a variety of IT companies. There is an abundance of companies that come on campus to recruit, so there are so many opportunities to be recruited for a job and career. |
| Alumni Network | 9 | UMD has a remarkable CS support network. While I was there, professors from other schools gave talks every week in the CS building, so obviously UMD has good connections with other top CS schools such as MIT. |
University Of Maryland • Baltimore, MD
Studying Business Management (completion in 2003)
• 2/23/2012
"The overall experience was great, even though I wound up going into a computer science field. I'd go back again to get a computer science degree."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | maybe | It would depend on their degree. If it was a doctor or teaching degree, I absolutely would recommend the school. |
| Program Reputation | 4 | Not known for business degrees. High ratings for teacher degrees. |
| Program Quality | 5 | University of Maryland isn't known for its business degrees. It's more of a teaching college. |
| Instruction | 7 | Some of the professors were lazy. Books were sometimes dated. |
| How Difficult | 8 | Some of the quizzes weren't always covered. Topics for the business degree ranged wildly. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | Lots of video courses. More hands-on training. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 2 | Very inflexible. Found I had to work my schedule around it. |
| Academic Facilities | 7 | Huge library, considering it was a teaching school. I found their internet and home-based materials to be much better. |
| Social Life | 8 | Lots of local businesses and schools interact with UoM. I found it to be a great opportunity to get started in my field. |
| Placement Services | 9 | Lots of great job internships. They connect you with local businesses. |
| Alumni Network | 8 | Lots of alumni meetups and networking. Helped me get into my career. |
University Of Maryland At College Park • College Park, MD
Studying (completion in 2014)
• 3/5/2012
"UMCP was an excellent school that gave me a solid background to pursue my career goals. The professors were engaging and knowledgeable."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | UMCP is an excellent school for computer science. Their graduate department is up-to-date and staffed with knowledgeable and helpful professors. |
| Program Reputation | 10 | As stated above, UMCP is a top-ranked school in computer science. The focus of my degree, database technology, is one of the more highly regarded specialties there. |
| Program Quality | 10 | UMCP is a top-rated computer science school. I was in the database group, which was, at the time, rated 4th in the country. I learned a lot! |
| Instruction | 9 | UMCP set a high bar for entrance into their graduate program. Once in, the professors looked upon the students as exceptional, which allowed for a lot of freedom in terms of administrivia. The focus was on learning difficult concepts and expanding upon them. |
| How Difficult | 8 | I had a 15-year gap between undergraduate and graduate schools, and my calculus was very rusty. Of course, there is a lot of calculus-based theory in computer science, and I was challenged. The program, irrespective of my calculus chops, was also geared toward challenging students to think. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | Many of the classes I took at UMCP had no required text. We would read research papers on occasion, but most of what we learned was taught and experienced. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 7 | Graduate school is always flexible as far as course schedules. There are some classes that are fuzzily defined and can be built around the current students' interests. Having said that, UMCP is not built for part-time students who are currently working; there are few evening classes. |
| Academic Facilities | 7 | The space provided for graduate students who TA'ed or RA'ed was very nice, an open space where people could collaborate. I don't recall being struck one way or another by the labs, they were sufficiently good. |
| Social Life | 5 | Graduate school is a whole different experience compared to undergraduate. There is no push to attend sporting events (and, at UMCP, there is no notion of free admission like that granted to undergraduates). All social experiences are limited to self-started events by fellow graduate students. |
| Placement Services | 5 | I was already employed while in graduate school, so I did not take advantage of this. I don't recall hearing any feedback, good or bad, from fellow students. |
| Alumni Network | 5 | I don't really participate in this sort of thing, so I can not really offer an opinion. UMCP is a state school, and I don't feel a need to offer independent support. |
The Johns Hopkins University • Baltimore, MD
Studying Software Engineering (completion in 2003)
• 3/30/2012
"It was okay. I went there to get a piece of paper and that was it."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | maybe | Location, location, location. I don't live there anymore, so I'm not to sure. |
| Program Reputation | 8 | It is better known for its medical school. I've heard about doctor networks sponsoring sites. |
| Program Quality | 5 | It was an okay school. It was chosen for convenience, not the difficulty of program. |
| Instruction | 7 | Some teachers were better then others. You learned who to try to avoid during scheduling. |
| How Difficult | 4 | Everything came easy to me. Was able to keep up with homework and not have to lose out on life. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | I'm sure it's changed since I've been to school. Application development requires quite a bit of face time to get the logic locked down. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 8 | The more popular classes gave you a choice on which course to take. |
| Academic Facilities | 9 | On the technology side, the school's campus excelled given all their research dollars at work. |
| Social Life | 3 | I was a train commuter and have since had to switch back to my car. Was never around for much. |
| Placement Services | 5 | Again, never had the need for their services. |
| Alumni Network | 5 | I've never looked into connecting with the network. |
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