3-tiers of top US CS programs for undergraduate study

Tier 1: H/M/S 

Why: Global super brands + best startup universities in the world +  M/S are 2 of the top 4 CS.    H/M/S are by far at a level of their own. 

Tier1.5: CMU SCS/UCB EECS/P/Y

Why: 2 of the top 4 CS,  2 of the T5 colleges  (UCB is alao a global super brand and top startup U).

Tier 2: Columbia, Penn, Cornell, Caltech, Duke NW JHU UChicago Brown Dartmouth 

Why: Ivyplus schools for better overall undergraduate experiences + decent CS placements + opening up other career pathways (consulting, wall street, law...)

Tier 2.5:  UIUC CS, GATech CS, UW CS, UT Austin CS, Michigan, UCLA, USC, NYU

Why: Top flagships with well rounded academic programs and very strong CS programs. Major feeders to "Big tech".  USC/NYU are also at this level for their great programs/location

Tier 3: Other excellent flagship CS programs - UCSD, UMD, Purdue, ...

Why: No problem in getting sought-after IT jobs.