Here are some tips for selecting schools, based on an analysis comparing each school to all others across dozens of factors:
Schools Concentrating On Computer Programmers
- Focus: For schools with a focus on this career area, look at Kennesaw State, Georgia Highlands, Macon State, and Georgia Tech.
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 Armstrong Atlantic State, Bainbridge, Georgia Highlands, and Columbus State.
- Female: For schools particularly welcoming to female students, consider Spelman College and Wesleyan College.
- Diverse: For a diverse student body, consider Morehouse College, Fort Valley State, Albany State, and Dekalb.
- Adult Learners: For lots of adult learners, consider Dekalb, Central Georgia Technical College, GNTC, and East Central Technical College.
School Setting
- Out of State: For geographic diversity, take note of Emory, Clark Atlanta University, Spelman College, and Morehouse College.
- Dorms: For a residential campus environment, take note of Wesleyan College, Berry, Covenant, and Fort Valley State.
Excellence
- SAT: For students with high SAT scores, look at Emory, Georgia Tech, University of Georgia, and Mercer University.
- % Accepted: For selective institutions, look at Emory, Albany State, Spelman College, and Georgia State.
- Class Size: For small class sizes, look at Wesleyan College, Berry, Emory, and LaGrange.
Student/Alumnus Reviews of Schools for This Career and State
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Georgia Tech • Atlanta, GA
Studying BS Computer Science (completion in 2007)
• 5/1/2011
"On balance, I learned a lot, I met a lot of people, and I was very involved. I feel like most of what I learned was enriching "life experience" about how to work in groups and about how to be a better software coder. I have very few regrets and ultimately I left school with almost no debt (in-state with HOPE and had to work and get scholarships) which is a great value."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | Georgia Tech is a great value and for many people will provide a great education. It is very challenging, which I found to be personally rewarding, but that isn't for everybody. If you do the extra work, you will find many people on its campus that are extroverted and engaged, and there are actually plenty of things to do there and in Atlanta. |
| Program Reputation | 6 | I meet people from various schools all the time and I find that Georgia Tech's reputation is mixed. If you are in the Atlanta area or maybe in the South in general, people greatly respect Tech. Once you travel to the northeast or to the West coast, it's a bit tougher for them not to view you with some scorn, but that sometimes has as much to do with it being a state school as a Southern one. As a school, we don't get our fair respect. |
| Program Quality | 8 | Georgia Tech's computing program is innovative and realizes that computing is a mix of science and art. We have a program unlike any other in the country with a real focus on computing rather than computer science, per se. There is a focus on theory rather than on practical computing, which can be on the downside. Some positions I've interviewed for have an expectation of specific vocational training. |
| Instruction | 5 | The thing about Tech is that the instructors that are the most interesting are interesting because they are very involved in research. Unfortunately, that makes them very average when dealing with students and you rely heavily on your wits and on TAs. I think I was successful there because I sought out instructors who loved to teach first and foremost and left you feeling prepared because they had organized lesson plans and were predictable. My least favorite classes were the ones taught by research scientists who seemed less prepared to teach regular classes. (They're great to talk to or even work for, though!) |
| How Difficult | 9 | Tech probably has one of the hardest computing majors in the US. A lot of courses are based on projects including team projects, and several courses rely on you implementing essentially perfect software, which is hard when you've never done it before. There is also the problem of courses tending to compete for your attention, but you have to take them together if you want to graduate on time. I once had a professor literally recommend to the class that they should try to cut their losses in another hard class that semester so as to focus on his class. Get two C's rather hope for a B in the other class and fail this one. So, yeah. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | Most of the courses in the major after freshman year are project-based. Even in freshman year, there are a lot of intro programming courses that require you to create real code that has to be run and tested for accuracy. You still have a lot of grading based on exams, obviously, but many courses weigh those less than these projects and practical skills. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 4 | Most course offerings at Tech were in the Fall. It actually turns out that many courses aren't available in the major in Spring and especially not Summer. I don't recall any online options for Bachelor's, but I do remember Tech having a few vocational study classes you could take in the evening, but none of them would have helped pursuit of a major. As I lived in the Savannah area, taking some courses on the remote campus might have also worked, but I personally didn't consider it. |
| Academic Facilities | 7 | We have a large library at Tech, but most of its books are technical in nature. Most of the library is now computer labs, and they are probably the best on campus though they are tough to gain access to. Luckily, computing majors have pretty good computing labs, including one donated by Apple and by Sun. We have very little space as a major, which means that classes are held all over campus in buildings of varying quality. I found that the academic advisors made themselves easily available even though my favorite advisors left before I graduated. Computing had more social networking groups and study groups than any of the others on campus, particularly for women, underrepresented minorities, and freshmen, all very useful and supported by the administration. |
| Social Life | 6 | Naturally sociable, I tended to find the people at Tech that were active and involved. You have to look for them, and Tech has a well-deserved reputation as a school of introverts. It definitely isn't a party school, but there are fraternities and sororities and other organizations where you can have fun if you get involved. School spirit is actually pretty great even though our athletics has been hit and miss over the years. Spring Sting also comes to mind as a must-do activity. I gave this a 6 because as much as there was to do on campus, I wish I'd done more and participated in more of the organized social events if I could've made the time. |
| Placement Services | 7 | Our career services center at Tech was very diligent about putting out notices and newsletters about upcoming employment opportunities. They also tended to hold smaller career fairs in addition to the two big ones during the year. I was mostly pleased with their work, but sometimes they didn't provide enough notice on employer visits. They also lack job placement services as far as I know. |
| Alumni Network | 6 | I have had limited contact with the alumni network, but they've been somewhat good about contacting me semi-annually (particularly for donations!) Our alumni network has also arranged decent enough career fairs which have been helpful and probably the very best and most useful thing an alumni network can do. |
Georgia Tech • Atlanta, GA
Studying Computer Science And Graphic Communications (completion in 2014)
• 9/29/2011
"I am very satisfied with the staff members at the school. They provide us with the proper tools and skills needed in my field."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | This is an amazing school if you're interested in anything that has to do with computers or servers. They place you in hands on environments and teach you the best skills possible and with the best tools needed for the job. |
| Program Reputation | 8 | From what I have heard it is a great school, but I do hear bad things. I have heard that Computer Programming is great but Mechanics is awful. |
| Program Quality | 10 | The teachers have great talent and skill to bring forth to the table. They are very hands on in teaching us the skills we need. |
| Instruction | 10 | The instruction is straight forward and self explanatory. They give all the details needed to get the job done. |
| How Difficult | 5 | Like any job field, its not going to be the easiest thing ever. You have to work hard to get to the level you desire. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | We work directly on the computers and servers. We get placed in real life situations. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 10 | It is very flexible. I have the time to do what I want to do in the early morning. I attend school in the evening when I have nothing else to do. |
| Academic Facilities | 10 | The facilities are absolutely amazing. They provide us with the latest technology and what we need to do our jobs. |
| Social Life | 8 | I'm not much of a social person, but in my job field that has changed. They give us the opportunity to work together to perform certain tasks! |
| Placement Services | 10 | It puts you right out there in the field and prepares you for the job sites. |
Georgia Institute Of Technology • Atlanta, GA
Studying Computer Science (completion in 2011)
• 2/28/2012
"The school has a great reputation, great class choices, and intense programming projects. The added flexibility of my specialization really helped."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | It's a great school that really improves your skills. The area (Atlanta) is great and the school has a lot of spirit. |
| Program Reputation | 10 | My school was top 10 in the nation in computer science. I believe the prestige of my school helped get my foot in the door to many job interviews. |
| Program Quality | 9 | My school was top 10 in the nation for computer science. The degree program offered me flexibility in choosing a specialization. |
| Instruction | 10 | The professors created an intense programming-focused curriculum. While the program was intense, it made my programming skills much better in just 1.5 years. |
| How Difficult | 8 | The workload was heavy at my school, but it was doable. The challenge was in problem solving and learning new skills. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | The program was very hands on. Nearly all courses involved several long-term projects. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 6 | There were no weekend offerings and minimal summer offerings. Some of the professors offered late afternoon/early evening courses. |
| Academic Facilities | 7 | The computer labs are cramped and outdated. The newest building is very nice, but only used for research. |
| Social Life | 5 | As a master's student, I didn't attend many social events. However, there were plenty of opportunities for free food and T-shirts. |
| Placement Services | 8 | The resume services were acceptable, but I wasn't told anything I didn't already know. The career fairs were well organized and attended. |
| Alumni Network | I only just graduated and haven't had much interaction with the alumni network. The alumni association did sponsor several events on campus. |
Georgia Institute Of Technology (Human Computer Interaction) • Atlanta, GA
Studying HCI (completion in 2011)
• 3/16/2012
"The reputation, scholarship, and facilities are rather hard to match. Also, in-state tuition is a truly amazing bargain."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | Programmers need great teachers and mentors. You can't develop to high levels skill-wise without interaction with people who are a lot smarter than you. The labs and clinics and startups surrounding campus bring together career training and serious academia. It rocks. |
| Program Reputation | 9 | The College of Computing has international recognition. Georgia Tech's graduate engineering school is ranked in the top 4 in the world. It's also the undisputed champion of high-tech jobs in the Southeast, so Tech grads have a conspicuous presence. |
| Program Quality | 10 | Georgia Tech has international clout, especially the College of Computing. Professors are extremely difficult, but they're typically great people who care about students. |
| Instruction | 10 | Professors work on the cutting edge of technology, and they bring that expertise into the classroom. They avoid idiotic Powerpoint presentations, instead focusing on hands-on learning coupled with very, very challenging programming. |
| How Difficult | 8 | Most courses were rather difficult, but Georgia Tech doesn't really have easy classes that deal with programming. You get used to the challenge, maybe, and that might be why I only ranked the difficulty at 8. It also means you're learning. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | They strike a good balance because the professors understand which books are (a) good values and (b) good teachers. Plus, they never forget that coding is - and always will be - about writing code and building things. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 5 | Don't know what part-time student life is like, but most evening classes are more or less continuing education initiatives. The College of Computing really isn't designed for, say, a typical second-career, middle aged MBA candidate. |
| Academic Facilities | 10 | Huge selection of clinics and labs - and not ones that are limited to hard sciences, either. Tech's endowment is rich enough to build top-notch facilities very quickly. |
| Social Life | There is no social life outside of startup life. The same applies for vacations. If you want to excel, you really can't spend a lot of time partying. | |
| Placement Services | I networked and got my own job outside of career services. Hackers really don't need someone to hold their hand and schedule interviews. I show employers my portfolio and avoid poor interviews. | |
| Alumni Network | 8 | Google, Microsoft, Apple, and Cisco regularly interview for interns and full-time hires from the College of Computing. Startups in Silicon Valley throw money at you, and the network is really solid. |
Northwestern Technical College • Rock Spring, GA
Studying Computer Programmer Specialist (completion in 1999)
• 3/26/2012
"The teachers went out of their way to help students. The school always strived for excellence."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | no | They don't offer Computer Programmer anymore. If they still offered it, I wouldn't hesitate to recommend the school. |
| Program Reputation | I don't believe they offer the computer programmer degree anymore. I'm not sure why. They do still offer a couple of programming language courses, though. | |
| Program Quality | 8 | Very good and concerned teachers who really wanted you to learn the subject matter. The school was great with working with me to get me all the financial help that was offered. |
| Instruction | 8 | One instructor simply read from the book for lectures. Some instructors knew their subject matter like the back of their hand. |
| How Difficult | 8 | One of my programming language classes was a little difficult (RPG). I had homework every day. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | Most all of my computer classes were book and hands-on. Hands-on is more important to me than book study. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 8 | The school always offered summer quarter classes. There were also some Saturday classes and evening classes offered. |
| Academic Facilities | 9 | The school provided computer work labs. The work labs always had a lab tech working in them just in case a student needed extra assistance. I worked part-time as a lab tech while I was in school. |
| Social Life | 7 | I'm actually not the 'school spirit' type of person and I was in my late 30s when I went to this school. The school did have different activities for students to participate in. |
| Placement Services | 7 | The placement office tried to help me find a job. They were not successful, though. Programming jobs are not plentiful around our area. I have to commute an hour to and an hour from work now. |
| Alumni Network | I'm not sure if the school has an alumni association. I haven't gotten in contact with the school for years. |
Savannah State University - CCAF • Savannah, GA
Studying Computer Science (completion in 2014)
• 3/23/2012
"Could have been better, could have been much worse. Not the best school when considering the major."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | maybe | Only if you're already quite knowledgeable of your major already. Not much support from this school, so I would not recommend this to anyone who needs hands on help. |
| Program Reputation | 4 | Savannah State is not the most POPULAR school for computer science. The lack of support does not help either. |
| Program Quality | 6 | Savannah State is more of a liberal arts school tailored to, say, Drama majors or entertainment majors than, say, an IT career field. |
| Instruction | 7 | The teachers do their best, but the problem is that that there are limited resources and very little support from school staff aside of what's required by the school. |
| How Difficult | 7 | I am not the best at mathematics and the workload is killer. All nighters are common. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | Teachers taught out of the book, period. No hands on minus what you learned through trial and error. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 3 | Classes were all over the place. The nightmare that entailed! |
| Academic Facilities | 3 | Not a computer science/ IT based school, limited resources. Most our support came from off campus support like tutoring facilities or help hotlines. |
| Social Life | 5 | Frats did not have have frat houses. Same with sororities. School activities usually lacked any school spirit. |
| Placement Services | 2 | Horrible career advisers and your best bet is to do research or you will be lost. |
| Alumni Network | 4 | When we did receive any support it was intended for frats and the major programs of the school. |
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