The staff of The Eclipse is writing a series about the most popular majors in the United States and the colleges that offer the best programs for them.  This is Part Three of a 5-part series.

Computer Science

Computer science degrees complement several career paths.  They can be applied to artificial intelligence, application programming, systems and networking, or computational theory.

This degree can lead to positions in research institutions, technology companies, government agencies, and colleges and universities.

According to U.S. News and World Report, the 10 best colleges to study computer science – with their cost of attendance – are:

• Carnegie Mellon University — $63,822
• Massachusetts Institute of Technology — $61,030
• Stanford University — $62,801
• University of California-Berkeley — $35,470
• University of Illinois – Urbana-​Champaign — $30,150-$35,154
• Cornell University — $47,050
• University of Washington — $27,112
• Princeton University — $58,965
• Georgia Institute of Technology — $44,052
• University  of Texas – Austin — $36,012

Senior Dalton Nofs plans on pursing a computer science degree. Nofs enjoys the straightforwardness of computer science.

“I like computer science because it is related to math,” Nofs said.  “I like math, so (computer science) is relatively easy for me to understand.”

For computer scientists looking to go into programming, the Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates that the median salary is about $74,280.

For computer and information research scientists, the median pay is $102,190.

The College Board suggests that students looking to enter this major prepare by taking advanced math and science courses like calculus, statistics, and physics.

Nofs said, “This field is for people who like math, solving problems, and working with technology.”

Construction Management

Construction management is a mix of architecture, civil engineering, cost-estimating, and carpentry.

Construction managers oversee the construction process from planning to production. Aside from actual construction, they obtain work permits, hire contractors, and keep clients up to date on progress.

According to Education Portal, the top colleges for construction management – with their annual cost of attendance – are:

• Stanford University — $62,801
• Texas A&M University — $40,040
• Arizona State University — $29,255
• Georgia Institute of Technology — $44,052
• Michigan State University — $26,492
• Purdue University — $28,804
• University of California-Berkeley – $35,470
• University of Florida — $28,591
• University of Illinois – Urbana-​Champaign — $30,150-$35,154
• University  of Texas – Austin — $36,012
• University of Washington — $27,112

Senior KC O’Brien’s family owns a construction business.

“I would be interested in going into this field to take over the family business,” O’Brien said.

O’Brien said this field is perfect for “people with great planning and organizational skills, and people that are really good with numbers.”

U.S. News and World Reports puts the median salary for construction managers at $84,410.

The BLS predicts a growth of about 78,000 construction manager jobs by 2022.

The College Board suggests that students looking to go into construction management prepare by taking English, algebra, CAD, and physics courses.

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