Higher Education Intelligence - Research-driven degree rankings and career guidance

Higher Education Intelligence

Research-driven degree rankings, career guidance, and educational insights. Starting with technology—expanding to serve all of higher education.

500+

Degree Programs Ranked

Across 20 tech fields

50

States Covered

All US states covered

$120K

Avg Tech Salary

BLS 2024 median

25%

Job Growth

Through 2032

Key Takeaways
  • 1.Software engineer median salary: $132,270 (BLS 2024) — 25% job growth projected through 2032
  • 2.AI/ML engineers command the highest pay: $157,000+ median, with senior roles exceeding $200K
  • 3.377,500+ annual job openings in computer occupations despite recent tech layoffs
  • 4.Computer science remains the most versatile tech degree, but specialized programs (AI, cybersecurity) show faster growth
  • 5.Online degrees now accepted by most employers — Georgia Tech's online MS CS costs under $10,000 total

Degree Programs & Rankings

Data-driven rankings for 20 technology degree programs across all 50 US states. We analyze IPEDS enrollment data, graduation rates, tuition costs, and salary outcomes to help you choose the right program for your goals and budget.

Explore by Program

377,500+
Annual job openings in computer occupations
Tech employment continues to grow despite recent layoffs at some companies

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics 2024

Popular Rankings & Guides

Which Tech Degree Is Right for You?

Choosing between tech degrees depends on your career goals, math comfort, and interests. Here's how the top programs compare:

DegreeBest ForMath LevelCareer Flexibility
Computer Science
Maximum career options
High (calculus, discrete math)
Highest—opens all doors
Software Engineering
Building products at scale
Medium-High
High—industry focused
Data Science
Analytics & business insights
High (statistics focus)
Medium—specialized path
Information Technology
IT management & support
Low-Medium
Medium—operations focused
Cybersecurity
Security careers, job stability
Medium
Medium—growing demand

Source: Hakia analysis based on curriculum requirements and career outcomes

Computer Science Programs by State

StateTotal ProgramsMedian TuitionTop Program
Best Computer Science Programs in California156$14,500Stanford, Berkeley, UCLA
Best Computer Science Programs in Texas98$11,200UT Austin, Texas A&M
Best Computer Science Programs in New York112$15,800Cornell, Columbia, NYU
Best Computer Science Programs in Florida67$6,400UF, UCF, USF
Best Computer Science Programs in Washington42$12,100UW Seattle
Best Computer Science Programs in Massachusetts58$16,200MIT, Harvard
Best Computer Science Programs in Illinois52$15,400UIUC, Northwestern
Best Computer Science Programs in Georgia45$12,800Georgia Tech, Emory
Best Computer Science Programs in Pennsylvania68$16,500CMU, Penn, Drexel
Best Computer Science Programs in North Carolina48$9,200Duke, UNC, NC State
Best Computer Science Programs in Virginia42$14,200UVA, Virginia Tech
Best Computer Science Programs in Arizona28$11,800ASU, U of Arizona
Best Computer Science Programs in Colorado32$12,400CU Boulder, Colorado School of Mines
Best Computer Science Programs in Michigan45$15,600U of Michigan, Michigan State
Best Computer Science Programs in Ohio52$11,200Ohio State, Case Western

All 50 State Guides

Tech Careers & Salaries

Comprehensive salary intelligence and career roadmaps powered by BLS data and industry surveys. From entry-level to staff engineer, understand what you can earn and how to get there.

$75,000
Starting Salary
$130,000
Mid-Career
+25%
Job Growth
377,500
Annual Openings

Career Paths

+25%

Design, develop, and maintain software systems

Median Salary:$132,270
Entry Level:$70K-$95K
Total Jobs:1,847,900

AI/ML Engineer

SOC 15-2051
+35%

Build machine learning models and AI systems

Median Salary:$157,000
Entry Level:$95K-$130K
Total Jobs:172,700

Data Scientist

SOC 15-2051
+36%

Analyze complex data to drive business decisions

Median Salary:$108,020
Entry Level:$65K-$90K
Total Jobs:192,700

DevOps Engineer

SOC 15-1244
+22%

Automate infrastructure and deployment pipelines

Median Salary:$124,200
Entry Level:$75K-$100K
Total Jobs:85,000
+32%

Protect systems and data from cyber threats

Median Salary:$120,360
Entry Level:$60K-$85K
Total Jobs:175,350

Tech Salary Comparison 2026

RoleEntry LevelMedianSenior/Staff
Software Engineer
$70K-$95K
$132,270
$180K-$300K+
AI/ML Engineer
$95K-$130K
$157,000
$200K-$400K+
Data Scientist
$65K-$90K
$108,020
$150K-$250K
Cybersecurity Analyst
$60K-$85K
$120,360
$160K-$220K
DevOps Engineer
$75K-$100K
$124,200
$170K-$280K

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics 2024, Levels.fyi 2025

Career Development Guides

AI & Technology Insights

Deep technical analysis of AI systems, search technology, and computing innovations. Clear explanations of complex concepts from neural networks to semantic search.

Key Takeaways
  • 1.AI Agents: Autonomous systems that can plan, reason, and execute complex tasks
  • 2.RAG Systems: Retrieval-augmented generation for grounding LLMs in real data
  • 3.Embeddings: How machines represent meaning as vectors for semantic search
  • 4.Context Windows: Why token limits matter for AI application design
  • 5.Semantic Search: Understanding meaning beyond keyword matching

Technical Deep Dives

Engineering & Development

System design patterns, cloud architecture, and modern development practices. Practical guides for building production-ready software at scale.

FeatureAWSAzureGCP
Market Share
32%
23%
10%
Enterprise Focus
Strong
Strongest
Growing
AI/ML Services
Comprehensive
Strong
Leading
Pricing Model
Complex
Complex
Simpler

Source: Synergy Research 2024

Engineering Guides

Skills & Certifications

Certification roadmaps, bootcamp ROI analysis, and learning paths. Build the skills employers actually hire for.

Cloud Certification Paths

1

AWS Certifications

Start with Cloud Practitioner, then Solutions Architect Associate. Most in-demand cloud credential.

2

Azure Certifications

Begin with AZ-900 Fundamentals, progress to AZ-104 Administrator. Strong enterprise demand.

3

Google Cloud

Cloud Digital Leader for beginners, then Professional Cloud Architect. Growing fast.

4

Multi-Cloud Strategy

Consider certifications across multiple platforms for maximum flexibility.

Skills Guides

Student Resources

Financial aid guidance, scholarship databases, and practical tools for students pursuing technology degrees.

$50,000+
Average scholarship value for top STEM programs
Many students leave significant scholarship money on the table

Source: College Board 2024

Student Tools & Guides

Tech News & Analysis

Timely coverage of technology trends, industry shifts, and developments shaping the tech landscape. Analysis beyond the headlines.

Latest Coverage

About Hakia.com

Hakia.com was originally home to one of the pioneering semantic search engines, launched in 2004—technology years ahead of its time. Today, we're building on that legacy of innovation to create the most authoritative, research-driven higher education resource on the web.

Explore the history of semantic search to understand how early innovations led to today's AI-powered search systems, or learn more about us.

Taylor Rupe

Taylor Rupe

Co-founder & Editor

Verified Author
B.S. Computer Science, Oregon StateB.A. Psychology, University of Washington

Hakia combines technical expertise with an understanding of how people learn and make decisions. We're starting with technology—our area of deep expertise—and expanding to serve students and professionals across all fields of study.

Frequently Asked Questions

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