It’s pretty much universally agreed that computer science is one of the most difficult majors on offer at most elite colleges. Yes, the payoff from majoring in CS is often lucrative, as computer science graduates from the top colleges in the nation are typically quite competitive on today’s job market, in which AI-related positions are booming. But this promise of postgraduate success must first be put through the wringer of incredibly rigorous coursework. So it’s no wonder that certain elite colleges have requirements for students intending to major in computer science or transfer into the department. Let’s review.

The Toughest Computer Science Departments to Join or Transfer Into from Within the Broader University

Here are the toughest computer science departments to join or transfer into among schools ranked top 50 in the US News & World Report list of “Best National Universities“:

College/University	2026 US News Rank (“Best National Universities”)	Prerequisite Courses?
Princeton University	#1	Yes
Duke University	#7	Yes
Dartmouth College	#13	Yes
University of Michigan – Ann Arbor*	#20	Yes
Washington University in St. Louis	#20	Yes
University of Wisconsin – Madison	#36	Yes
Rutgers University – New Brunswick	#42	Yes

Requirements for Declaring or Transferring to CS at Elite Colleges

Here are just a few details, including prerequisite courses and specific administrative procedures, required at some of the top schools with tough computer science transfer and declaration requirements. More information for each specific program is linked in the chart above.

Princeton University Computer Science Requirements

According to Princeton’s website, “The Computer Science Department is the only department at Princeton that offers two majors, a Bachelor of Arts (AB) and a Bachelor of Science in Engineering (BSE). Most importantly, BSE students declare their major in the spring of their first year on campus, and AB students declare their major in the spring of their second year.”

The prerequisites for declaring CS across the AB and BSE programs are as follows:

Prerequisites for Bachelor of Arts: COS 126 or ECE 115, COS 217, and COS 226, and any one of MAT 202, 204, 217, or EGR 154

Prerequisites for Bachelor of Science: COS 126 or ECE 115, COS 217, and COS 226, and BSE general requirements

Duke University Computer Science Requirements

Prerequisites for declaring or transferring into the Computer Science BS program at Duke Trinity College of Arts and Sciences are as follows:

1. Introductory Course – COMPSCI 101L or COMPSCI 102L or COMPSCI 116

2. Math Requirement – MATH 111L & MATH 112L or MATH 21 & MATH 22

3. Math/Stats Requirement – one of the following:

STA 230/MATH 230

STA 230S/MATH 230S

STA231/MATH 340

MATH 231

STA 240L

Dartmouth College Computer Science Requirements

Prerequisites for declaring or transferring into the Computer Science BS program at Dartmouth College are as follows:

Prerequisites: COSC 1 or COSC 2, or ENGS 20.

University of Michigan Computer Science Requirements

Declaring or transferring into a CS program at the University of Michigan is about as convoluted a process as they come. According to the university itself, “Those interested in declaring CS as a major should review the CS declaration requirements and reach out to the CSE Undergraduate Advising Office (UAO) for course planning support. Students are encouraged to consider the impact of transferring on their potential graduation timeline.”

But would you believe us if we told you it was even more difficult to declare CS in prior years? As the CS department states, “Previously, a selection process was implemented to restrict enrollment in the Computer Science major, which required students to apply for selection to the major at the time of their application to the University of Michigan. As teaching capacity has grown and enrollment has stabilized, this requirement has been removed as of Spring 2026.”

The prerequisites for declaring CS at Michigan LSA are as follows: EECS 203 or MATH 465 or MATH 565, EECS 280, and two additional approved math courses.

Ivy Coach’s Assistance With Admission to a CS Program at a Top College

Applying to an elite college’s computer science program is often much more difficult than simply earning admission to the school’s other undergraduate programs. And in some instances, transferring into a computer science program from another school with a comparable program is a Herculean task. In both cases, Ivy Coach helps our clients optimize their odds of admission so that they can focus on what actually matters (A.K.A., learning Computer Science!)

If you would like to enlist our team of former elite college admissions officers in assisting with this process, fill out our complimentary consultation form, and we’ll be in touch with an outline of our services.