Computer Science Plus
What you'll do in college
These are the joint majors — "Economics and Computer Science", "Computer Science & Linguistics", "Computer Science & Mathematics" — one degree that pairs the full CS core with a second discipline instead of a minor's worth of electives. You take programming, data structures, algorithms and systems alongside the other department's own core: econometrics, phonology, real analysis, cell biology, music theory. Most programs cut each side's requirements down a little so the two fit in four years, and many end with a capstone or thesis that has to satisfy both departments at once. Expect two sets of problem sets, two sets of advisors, and a schedule with no free electives. The reward is a program that treats the second field as a peer of computing rather than a hobby, and classmates who switch between a compiler and a regression without noticing.
What you'll do after college
Grads land the same software, data and product roles as plain CS majors, with an edge in the domain the second field covers: fintech and quant trading for the economics pairs, computational biology and health tech for the science pairs, natural-language and speech work for the linguistics pairs, and games, media and design studios for the arts pairs. Employers read the combination as a CS degree with a specialty already attached. Pay tracks CS, which is to say it is high, and the second discipline keeps graduate school open on either side — a PhD in economics or neuroscience is as reachable as one in computer science.
Famous graduates
- Brian Armstrong — CEO and co-founder of Coinbase; B.A. in Economics and Computer Science from Rice University
- Susan Athey — Stanford economist and first woman to win the John Bates Clark Medal; B.A. in Economics, Computer Science, and Mathematics from Duke University
Selectivity vs. earnings
By acceptance rate
By SAT median
Earnings by acceptance rate and institution category
Majors in this category
| Major | Colleges | Degrees ▼ | Male/Female | Intl | Earnings | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Computer Science Plus | 65 | 1,699 | 62% / 24% | 21% | $113,317 | 95% |
| Computer Science & Mathematics | 59 | 1,163 | 70% / 30% | 24% | $111,526 | 94% |
| Computer Science & Economics | 9 | 220 | 40% / 16% | 17% | $137,249 | 96% |
| Computer Science & Statistics | 1 | 145 | 86% / 14% | 24% | $132,761 | 97% |
| Computer Science & Linguistics | 4 | 43 | 7% / 9% | 2% | $63,731 | |
| Computer Science & Philosophy | 2 | 26 | 0% / 0% | 0% | $62,150 | 84% |
| Computer Science & Advertising | 1 | 18 | 0% / 0% | 0% | $90,939 | 97% |
| Computer Science & Arts | 1 | 14 | 79% / 21% | 29% | $169,319 | 100% |
| Computer Science & Astronomy | 1 | 14 | 0% / 0% | 0% | $83,437 | |
| Computer Science & Anthropology | 1 | 13 | 0% / 0% | 0% | $51,377 | 88% |
| Computer Science & Music | 2 | 12 | 0% / 0% | 0% | $50,949 | 91% |
| Computer Science & Chemistry | 1 | 12 | 0% / 0% | 0% | $76,854 | 93% |
| Computer Science & Crop Sciences | 1 | 5 | 0% / 0% | 0% | $75,656 | 97% |
| Computer Science & Physics | 3 | 4 | 25% / 75% | 0% | $128,535 | 96% |
| Computer Science & Geography and Geographic Information Science | 1 | 4 | 0% / 0% | 0% | $76,314 | 88% |
| Computer Science & Accounting | 1 | 2 | 0% / 100% | 0% | $91,534 | |
| Computer Science & Animal Sciences | 1 | 2 | 0% / 0% | 0% | $60,055 | 95% |
| Computer Science & Education | 1 | 2 | 0% / 0% | 0% | $70,557 | |
| Artificial Intelligence & Behavioral Neuroscience | 1 | 0 | $68,149 | 96% | ||
| Artificial Intelligence & Biochemistry | 1 | 0 | $88,748 | 94% | ||
| Artificial Intelligence & Biology | 1 | 0 | $90,712 | 94% | ||
| Artificial Intelligence & Business Administration | 1 | 0 | $93,776 | 92% | ||
| Artificial Intelligence & Chemical Engineering | 1 | 0 | $112,445 | 96% | ||
| Artificial Intelligence & Chemistry | 1 | 0 | $87,674 | 91% | ||
| Artificial Intelligence & Communication Studies | 1 | 0 | $77,082 | 92% | ||
| Artificial Intelligence & Criminal Justice | 1 | 0 | $69,415 | 95% | ||
| Artificial Intelligence & Design | 1 | 0 | $73,344 | 94% | ||
| Artificial Intelligence & Ecology and Evolutionary Biology | 1 | 0 | $69,321 | |||
| Artificial Intelligence & Economics | 1 | 0 | $96,582 | 91% | ||
| Artificial Intelligence & Environmental Engineering | 1 | 0 | $88,612 | |||
| Artificial Intelligence & Environmental and Sustainability Sciences | 1 | 0 | $72,502 | 94% | ||
| Artificial Intelligence & Health Science | 1 | 0 | $81,564 | |||
| Artificial Intelligence & International Affairs | 1 | 0 | $77,550 | 92% | ||
| Artificial Intelligence & Journalism | 1 | 0 | $76,281 | 87% | ||
| Artificial Intelligence & Linguistics | 1 | 0 | $64,015 | |||
| Artificial Intelligence & Mathematics | 1 | 0 | $118,294 | 95% | ||
| Artificial Intelligence & Philosophy | 1 | 0 | $74,161 | |||
| Artificial Intelligence & Physics | 1 | 0 | $82,004 | |||
| Artificial Intelligence & Psychology | 1 | 0 | $66,624 | |||
| Artificial Intelligence & Public Health | 1 | 0 | $80,472 | |||
| Artificial Intelligence & Sociology | 1 | 0 | $68,830 | |||
| Artificial Intelligence & Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology | 1 | 0 | $70,378 | |||
| Computer Science & Behavioral Neuroscience | 1 | 0 | $68,149 | 96% | ||
| Computer Science & Bioengineering | 1 | 0 | $122,664 | 93% | ||
| Computer Science & Biology | 1 | 0 | $90,712 | 94% | ||
| Computer Science & Business Administration | 1 | 0 | $93,776 | 92% | ||
| Computer Science & Chemical Engineering | 1 | 0 | $112,445 | 96% | ||
| Computer Science & Civil Engineering | 1 | 0 | $98,781 | 100% | ||
| Computer Science & Cognitive Psychology | 1 | 0 | $68,149 | 96% | ||
| Computer Science & Communication Studies | 1 | 0 | $77,082 | 92% | ||
| Computer Science & Criminal Justice | 1 | 0 | $69,415 | 95% | ||
| Computer Science & Design | 1 | 0 | $73,344 | 94% | ||
| Computer Science & English | 1 | 0 | $54,211 | 92% | ||
| Computer Science & Environmental and Sustainability Sciences | 1 | 0 | $72,502 | 94% | ||
| Computer Science & Game Development | 1 | 0 | $73,344 | 94% | ||
| Computer Science & Health Science | 1 | 0 | $81,564 | |||
| Computer Science & History | 1 | 0 | $63,698 | |||
| Computer Science & Industrial Engineering | 1 | 0 | $113,776 | 94% | ||
| Computer Science & Journalism | 1 | 0 | $76,281 | 87% | ||
| Computer Science & Mechanical Engineering | 1 | 0 | $107,932 | 96% | ||
| Computer Science & Media Arts | 1 | 0 | $65,009 | |||
| Computer Science & Music with a Concentration in Music Technology | 1 | 0 | $59,674 | 95% | ||
| Computer Science & Political Science | 1 | 0 | $76,135 | 92% | ||
| Computer Science & Politics, Philosophy, and Economics | 1 | 0 | $75,432 | |||
| Computer Science & Public Health | 1 | 0 | $80,472 | |||
| Computer Science & Sociology | 1 | 0 | $68,830 | |||
| Computer Science & Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology | 1 | 0 | $70,378 | |||
| Computer Science & Theatre | 1 | 0 | $48,953 |