Is Harvard or the University of Maryland better for undergraduate computer science?

For the broadest undergraduate platform and the strongest overall career network, Harvard has the edge over the University of Maryland for computer science. Harvard combines a rigorous CS curriculum through the John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences with flexible access to fields such as mathematics, economics, life sciences, and public policy. That combination is especially valuable for students who may want to apply computing beyond a narrowly technical role.

Maryland, however, has a deeper distinctly CS-centered ecosystem at the undergraduate level. Its Department of Computer Science, the Brendan Iribe Center, the University of Maryland Institute for Advanced Computer Studies, and the Maryland Cybersecurity Center create strong opportunities in systems, AI, machine learning, and cybersecurity. A student who already knows they want a large, technically immersed department and access to the Washington, D.C., technology and federal research corridor could find Maryland’s environment more immediately specialized.

Harvard’s clearest advantage is the reach of its undergraduate network. Its smaller student body, extensive alumni connections, and recruiting access can open doors across major technology firms, startups, research labs, quantitative fields, and technology-adjacent careers. It also tends to make it easier to build a distinctive interdisciplinary profile rather than simply complete a standard CS path.

For an in-state student receiving a substantially lower net price, Maryland can provide excellent technical preparation and strong regional career access without the financial tradeoff. But with comparable affordability, Harvard offers the more versatile undergraduate experience and the broader long-term set of opportunities.