UnisHub University Compass

Computational Science: Program Overview, Universities, Careers & Salaries

Program Overview

Computational Science is an interdisciplinary field that integrates advanced computing techniques with scientific inquiry to solve complex problems across diverse domains. It emphasizes the development and application of mathematical models, algorithms, and simulations to analyze and predict phenomena in science, engineering, and beyond.

  • Scientific Visualization: Techniques for representing complex data sets through graphical and interactive means, enabling clearer interpretation of simulation results and large-scale datasets.
  • Multi-scale Analysis: Methods for modeling systems that exhibit behaviors across multiple spatial or temporal scales, essential for understanding phenomena from molecular dynamics to climate systems.
  • Grid Generation: The process of creating computational meshes that accurately represent physical domains, crucial for numerical simulations in fluid dynamics, structural mechanics, and more.
  • Data Analysis: Advanced statistical and computational approaches to extract meaningful insights from large, complex datasets generated by experiments or simulations.
  • Applied Mathematics: The use of mathematical methods to formulate and solve real-world problems, forming the theoretical backbone of computational models.
  • Numerical Algorithms: Efficient, stable computational procedures for solving mathematical problems such as differential equations, optimization, and linear systems.
  • High Performance Parallel Computing: The design and implementation of software that leverages multiple processors or distributed systems to accelerate large-scale computations.
  • Numerical Modeling and Simulation: The creation of digital representations of physical systems to predict behavior under various conditions, widely used in engineering, environmental science, and biomedical research.

Computational Science Graduate Trends (2010-2024)

2,395
Total Graduates (2023-2024)
78
Universities & Colleges
7
Career Pathways

Computational Science Career Pathways & Salary Outlook

The following table presents salary data for occupations typically aligned with Computational Science degrees, including Natural Sciences Managers, Data Scientists and Computer Occupations, All Other. These career paths represent common employment outcomes but are not guaranteed for all graduates. Salary ranges vary by location, employer, experience level, and specific role requirements. Nationally, these occupations employ approximately 1,075,990 professionals.


National Average Salaries

Occupation Median Salary Salary Range Total Employment Hourly Rate
Natural Sciences Managers 11-9121 $161,180 $79,830 - $239,200 100,870 $77.49
Data Scientists 15-2051 $112,590 $63,650 - $194,410 233,440 $54.13
Computer Occupations, All Other 15-1299 $108,970 $52,650 - $176,800 439,380 $52.39
Computer Programmers 15-1251 $98,670 $52,190 - $162,090 109,870 $47.44
Computer Science Teachers, Postsecondary 25-1021 $96,690 $48,910 - $172,380 36,240 N/A
Postsecondary Teachers, All Other 25-1199 $78,490 $39,720 - $172,850 151,530 N/A
Mathematical Science Occupations, All Other 15-2099 $71,490 $40,330 - $154,140 4,660 $34.37

Salary Comparison

Computational Science Salary Map by State

Geographic location significantly impacts earning potential for these careers. Average salaries range from $77,187 in Mississippi to $143,257 in California—a 86% difference. The highest-paying states include California, Massachusetts, and Washington. Nationwide, these occupations employ over 1,075,990 professionals across all states. Explore the interactive map below to compare regional compensation and identify optimal markets for your career goals.

Average Salary Range:

Top Universities for Computational Science by Graduate Enrollment

Below are the top 78 institutions offering Computational Science programs for the 2023-2024 academic year (the most recent data reported as of 2025), ranked by the number of graduates. The highest graduate enrollment in Computational Science is found at Indiana University (IUB), Bloomington (352 graduates), University of Colorado Boulder (CU) (207 graduates), Georgetown University (GU) (141 graduates), Michigan State University (MSU) (133 graduates), and Saint Peter's University (SPU) (111 graduates). Combined, these colleges produced 2,395 graduates across all degree levels. Program availability varies by award level, including Associate, Bachelor's, Master's, and Doctoral degrees at participating universities and schools.

College Name Award Levels Graduates Admissions Location Control Website
Indiana University (IUB)
Bachelor's
Postbac Cert.
Master's
352 SAT: 1170-1400
ACT: 27-32
Bloomington, Indiana Public indiana.edu
University of Colorado Boulder (CU)
Master's
207 SAT: 1230-1420
ACT: 28-33
Boulder, Colorado Public colorado.edu
Georgetown University (GU)
Master's
141 SAT: 1390-1550
ACT: 32-34
Washington, District of Columbia Private georgetown.edu
Michigan State University (MSU)
Bachelor's
Postbac Cert.
Master's
Doctorate (R)
133 SAT: 1150-1350
ACT: 26-31
East Lansing, Michigan Public msu.edu
Saint Peter's University (SPU)
Master's
111 N/A Jersey City, New Jersey Private saintpeters.edu
Carnegie Mellon University (CMU)
Postbac Cert.
Master's
108 SAT: 1500-1570
ACT: 34-35
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania Private cmu.edu
The University of Texas
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (R)
Other Award
97 SAT: 1230-1490
ACT: 27-33
Austin, Texas Public utexas.edu
University of Michigan
Bachelor's
Master's
88 SAT: 990-1260
ACT: 23-30
Dearborn, Michigan Public umdearborn.edu
University of Rochester
Bachelor's
Postbac Cert.
Master's
87 SAT: 1400-1540
ACT: 31-34
Rochester, New York Private rochester.edu
Pennsylvania State University
Master's
87 SAT: 1100-1340
ACT: 18-30
University Park, Pennsylvania Public worldcampus.psu.edu
University of Oklahoma (OU)
Postbac Cert.
Master's
Doctorate (R)
Other Award
66 SAT: 1140-1330
ACT: 23-29
Norman, Oklahoma Public ou.edu
University of Georgia (UGA)
Bachelor's
Other Award
62 SAT: 1160-1390
ACT: 25-32
Athens, Georgia Public uga.edu
Washington State University (WSU)
Bachelor's
52 N/A Pullman, Washington Public wsu.edu
University of California (UCI)
Master's
Doctorate (R)
51 N/A Irvine, California Public uci.edu
CUNY Graduate School and University Center
Master's
43 N/A New York, New York Public gc.cuny.edu
University of Central Florida (UCF)
Master's
40 SAT: 1190-1350
ACT: 25-29
Orlando, Florida Public ucf.edu
Vanderbilt University (VU)
Master's
39 SAT: 1510-1560
ACT: 34-35
Nashville, Tennessee Private vanderbilt.edu
Chapman University
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (R)
38 SAT: 1250-1430
ACT: 28-32
Orange, California Private chapman.edu
Pennsylvania State University
Postbac Cert.
Master's
34 N/A Malvern, Pennsylvania Public greatvalley.psu.edu
Indiana University (IU Indianapolis)
Bachelor's
Master's
Other Award
30 SAT: 1040-1230
ACT: 21-28
Indianapolis, Indiana Public indianapolis.iu.edu
Florida International University (FIU)
Master's
29 SAT: 1060-1250
ACT: 20-26
Miami, Florida Public fiu.edu
Montclair State University
Bachelor's
Master's
26 SAT: 940-1225 Montclair, New Jersey Public montclair.edu
University of Notre Dame (ND)
Master's
25 SAT: 1440-1540
ACT: 33-35
Notre Dame, Indiana Private nd.edu
University of Pennsylvania (Penn)
Postbac Cert.
Master's
24 SAT: 1500-1570
ACT: 34-35
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Private upenn.edu
Ball State University (BSU)
Master's
22 SAT: 1080-1250
ACT: 25-30
Muncie, Indiana Public bsu.edu
San Diego State University (SDSU)
Master's
Doctorate (R)
21 N/A San Diego, California Public sdsu.edu
University of Puerto Rico (UPRM)
Bachelor's
21 N/A Mayaguez, Puerto Rico Public uprm.edu
Modesto Junior College (MJC)
Associate's
19 N/A Modesto, California Public mjc.edu
University of Arkansas (U of A)
Bachelor's
18 SAT: 1050-1220
ACT: 21-28
Fayetteville, Arkansas Public uark.edu
Iowa State University (ISU)
Bachelor's
18 SAT: 1110-1350
ACT: 21-28
Ames, Iowa Public iastate.edu
Clemson University
Master's
16 SAT: 1230-1390
ACT: 28-32
Clemson, South Carolina Public clemson.edu
University of California (UCSD)
Master's
15 N/A La Jolla, California Public ucsd.edu
University of Miami (UM)
Master's
13 SAT: 1330-1470
ACT: 30-33
Coral Gables, Florida Private miami.edu
University of Maine (UMaine)
Postbac Cert.
Master's
13 N/A Orono, Maine Public umaine.edu
New York University (NYU)
Master's
12 SAT: 1480-1570
ACT: 33-35
New York, New York Private nyu.edu
Central Connecticut State University (CCSU)
Postbac Cert.
Master's
11 SAT: 960-1180
ACT: 19-29
New Britain, Connecticut Public ccsu.edu
Florida State University (FSU)
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (R)
11 SAT: 1240-1390
ACT: 27-31
Tallahassee, Florida Public fsu.edu
Temple University
Bachelor's
Master's
Other Award
11 N/A Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Public temple.edu
The University of Texas (UTEP)
Master's
Doctorate (R)
11 SAT: 870-1090
ACT: 17-23
El Paso, Texas Public utep.edu
Stony Brook University (SBU)
Postbac Cert.
10 SAT: 1320-1490
ACT: 28-33
Stony Brook, New York Public stonybrook.edu
Robert Morris University (RMU)
Master's
10 N/A Moon Township, Pennsylvania Private rmu.edu
University of South Carolina (USCB)
Bachelor's
Master's
10 N/A Bluffton, South Carolina Public uscb.edu
Georgia State University
Bachelor's
9 SAT: 1040-1280
ACT: 19-26
Atlanta, Georgia Public gsu.edu
Hamline University
Bachelor's
9 SAT: 1146-1393
ACT: 20-28
Saint Paul, Minnesota Private hamline.edu
Saint Mary's University of Minnesota (SMUMN)
Postbac Cert.
9 N/A Winona, Minnesota Private smumn.edu
Le Moyne College
Bachelor's
9 SAT: 1160-1340
ACT: 25-31
Syracuse, New York Private lemoyne.edu
Brown University
Master's
9 SAT: 1500-1570
ACT: 34-35
Providence, Rhode Island Private brown.edu
Texas A & M University
Other Award
9 SAT: 1140-1380
ACT: 25-31
College Station, Texas Public tamu.edu
Macalester College
Bachelor's
8 SAT: 1350-1510
ACT: 30-33
Saint Paul, Minnesota Private macalester.edu
Augustana University
Bachelor's
8 SAT: 1075-1290
ACT: 21-27
Sioux Falls, South Dakota Private augie.edu
Full Sail University
Bachelor's
7 N/A Winter Park, Florida Private fullsail.edu
Valparaiso University (Valpo)
Postbac Cert.
Master's
7 SAT: 1080-1310
ACT: 25-30
Valparaiso, Indiana Private valpo.edu
Drew University
Master's
7 SAT: 1110-1320
ACT: 25-31
Madison, New Jersey Private drew.edu
CUNY New York City College of Technology (NYCCT)
Bachelor's
7 SAT: 880-1200 Brooklyn, New York Public citytech.cuny.edu
Creighton University
Bachelor's
6 SAT: 1210-1400
ACT: 24-30
Omaha, Nebraska Private creighton.edu
University of Wisconsin
Other Award
6 ACT: 18-25 Kenosha, Wisconsin Public uwp.edu
The University of Tennessee (UTC)
Doctorate (R)
5 SAT: 1005-1185
ACT: 20-25
Chattanooga, Tennessee Public utc.edu
Augustana College
Bachelor's
4 SAT: 1010-1250
ACT: 21-28
Rock Island, Illinois Private augustana.edu
Indiana University (IUE)
Bachelor's
4 SAT: 1010-1220
ACT: 20-25
Richmond, Indiana Public iue.edu
Fontbonne University
Bachelor's
Master's
4 N/A Saint Louis, Missouri Private fontbonne.edu
Marquette University
Master's
Doctorate (R)
4 SAT: 1190-1360
ACT: 26-31
Milwaukee, Wisconsin Private marquette.edu
Missouri State University
Other Award
3 SAT: 990-1220
ACT: 19-25
Springfield, Missouri Public missouristate.edu
Rowan University
Bachelor's
3 SAT: 1100-1310
ACT: 26-30
Glassboro, New Jersey Public rowan.edu
University at Buffalo (UB)
Postbac Cert.
Master's
3 SAT: 1210-1380
ACT: 27-32
Buffalo, New York Public buffalo.edu
Rice University
Master's
3 SAT: 1500-1570
ACT: 34-36
Houston, Texas Private rice.edu
Utah State University (USU)
Postbac Cert.
Master's
3 SAT: 1060-1300
ACT: 20-28
Logan, Utah Public usu.edu
American University (AU)
Bachelor's
2 SAT: 1300-1450
ACT: 29-33
Washington, District of Columbia Private american.edu
Indiana University (IUSE)
Bachelor's
2 SAT: 1010-1190
ACT: 20-26
New Albany, Indiana Public ius.edu
University of New England (UNE)
Bachelor's
2 N/A Biddeford, Maine Private une.edu
University of Central Oklahoma (UCO)
Master's
2 ACT: 17-24 Edmond, Oklahoma Public uco.edu
Duquesne University
Bachelor's
2 SAT: 1160-1350
ACT: 26-31
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania Private duq.edu
Indiana University (IUK)
Bachelor's
1 SAT: 970-1180
ACT: 18-26
Kokomo, Indiana Public iuk.edu
Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology (RHIT)
Bachelor's
1 SAT: 1280-1470
ACT: 29-34
Terre Haute, Indiana Private rose-hulman.edu
University of Maine (UMA)
Bachelor's
1 N/A Augusta, Maine Public uma.edu
Washington University in St Louis (WashU)
Doctorate (R)
1 SAT: 1500-1570
ACT: 33-35
Saint Louis, Missouri Private wustl.edu
Duke University
Bachelor's
1 SAT: 1510-1570
ACT: 34-35
Durham, North Carolina Private duke.edu
Oregon Institute of Technology (OTI)
Bachelor's
1 SAT: 1045-1300
ACT: 22-26
Klamath Falls, Oregon Public oit.edu
George Mason University
Postbac Cert.
1 SAT: 1140-1340
ACT: 25-30
Fairfax, Virginia Public www2.gmu.edu

Frequently Asked Questions

Find answers to the most common questions about Computational Science programs

How much can I earn with a Computational Science degree?

Salaries for Computational Science graduates vary by role and location. Natural Sciences Managers earn a median of $161,180 annually, while Data Scientists earn around $112,590. Geographic location significantly impacts earnings—professionals in California average $143,257 compared to $77,187 in Mississippi. Approximately 1,075,990 professionals work in related occupations nationwide.

Salary data from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS program, May 2024. Earnings vary by experience, employer, and market conditions.

Which universities have the largest Computational Science programs?

Currently 78 accredited institutions offer Computational Science degrees across the U.S. Programs with the highest enrollment include Indiana University (IUB), Bloomington (352 graduates), University of Colorado Boulder (CU) (207 graduates), and Georgetown University (GU) (141 graduates).

Program size doesn't necessarily indicate quality—consider factors like faculty expertise, production opportunities, location, and available degree levels when choosing a school.

Data based on IPEDS program completions for 2023-2024 academic year. Numbers reflect programs where students graduated.

Is enrollment in Computational Science growing or declining?

Graduate numbers have increased over the past decade, rising from 5 in 2010 to 2,395 in 2023-24. This represents a 47,800% increase overall from 2010.

The field remains specialized with steady interest, though opportunities are most concentrated in major metropolitan areas with active arts scenes like New York, California, and Illinois.

Graduate enrollment data from IPEDS, 2010-2024 academic years. Trends reflect reported completions at participating institutions.

What career paths are available with a Computational Science degree?

This degree prepares you for roles such as Natural Sciences Managers, Data Scientists, and Computer Occupations, All Other. Related occupations employ approximately 1,075,990 professionals nationwide.

Skills in project management, creative leadership, and collaboration also transfer to event planning, arts administration, marketing, and corporate training roles. Many professionals work freelance or on a project basis across theatre, film, and live events.

Career pathways mapped using CIP-SOC crosswalk from the National Center for Education Statistics. Employment data from BLS OEWS May 2024.

Related Interdisciplinary Programs

Explore similar degree programs within the Interdisciplinary field. These programs share the same academic discipline and may offer complementary skills and career pathways.

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