Computer science
4–5 years- You study
- Programming, Algorithms, Data structures
- Jobs
- Software developer, Programmer
Forecasts published in other countries for the occupation Software developers and programmers: leaning to growth (US Bureau of Labor Statistics, August 2026 (Safar – Rabi' al-Awwal 1448 AH); Employment and Social Development Canada, June 2025 · Dhu al-Hijjah 1446 – Muharram 1447 AH)1,2. They are not a forecast for the Saudi market, nor by DataPulse.
Where is Computer science taught?
Taught at 38 universities: 27 government and 11 private.
Riyadh
- Imam Mohammad Ibn Saud Islamic UniversityGovernment · men and women
- King Saud UniversityGovernment · men and women
- Majmaah UniversityGovernment · men and women
- Prince Mosaad bin Abdulrahman UniversityGovernment
- Prince Sattam bin Abdulaziz UniversityGovernment · women
- Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman UniversityGovernment · women
- Shaqra UniversityGovernment · men and women
- Almaarefa UniversityPrivate
- Arab East CollegesPrivate
- Arab Open UniversityPrivate
- Prince Sultan UniversityPrivate · men and women
Makkah
- King Abdulaziz UniversityGovernment
- Taif UniversityGovernment · men
- Umm Al-Qura UniversityGovernment · men and women
- University of JeddahGovernment · men and women
- Dar Al-Hekma UniversityPrivate · women
- Effat UniversityPrivate
- Jeddah International CollegePrivate
Madinah
- Islamic University of MadinahGovernment · men
- Taibah UniversityGovernment · men and women
Qassim
- Qassim UniversityGovernment · men and women
- Mustaqbal UniversityPrivate · men and women
Eastern Province
- Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal UniversityGovernment
- King Fahd University of Petroleum and MineralsGovernment
- King Faisal UniversityGovernment
- University of Hafr Al BatinGovernment
- Gulf CollegesPrivate
- Prince Mohammad Bin Fahd UniversityPrivate · men and women
Asir
- King Khalid UniversityGovernment · men and women
- University of BishaGovernment
Tabuk
- University of TabukGovernment
- Fahad Bin Sultan UniversityPrivate
Hail
- University of HailGovernment
Northern Borders
- Northern Border UniversityGovernment · men and women
Jazan
- Jazan UniversityGovernment · men and women
Najran
- Najran UniversityGovernment · men and women
Al-Baha
- Al-Baha UniversityGovernment
Al-Jouf
- Jouf UniversityGovernment · men and women
From university pages, admission guides and the Ministry’s Study in Saudi platform4. Gender is tagged where the university publishes it per programme.
Compare with…
A side-by-side view, not a judgement that one major is better. Figures are for the broad field, so two majors in one field share the same figures. Figures: bachelor’s, both sexes, 2024 (1445–1446 AH)35
| Computer science | Software engineering | Information systems |
|---|---|---|
| Field in the survey | ||
| Information and communication technology | Information and communication technology | Information and communication technology |
| Length of study | ||
| 4–5 years | 4–5 years | 4–5 years |
| Taught at | ||
| 38 universities | 18 universities | 20 universities |
| Men | ||
| Offered | Offered | Offered |
| Women | ||
| Offered | Offered | Offered |
| Holders of the field working | ||
| 89.2% | 89.2% | 89.2% |
| Unemployment in the field | ||
| 10.8% | 10.8% | 10.8% |
| Average wage in the field (SAR) | ||
| 12,356 | 12,356 | 12,356 |
| An occupation of its graduates and generative AI | ||
| — | — | — |
Availability for men and women from university pages and the Ministry’s programmes platform; last checked 24 October 2026 (13 Jumada al-Ula 1448 AH).
What do Computer science students learn?
Study how computers and software work, and how code is written to solve problems.
- Programming
- Algorithms
- Data structures
- Databases
In Arabic: علوم الحاسب
How many years is Computer science?
4–5 years. The length may differ between universities depending on the foundation year.
What jobs do Computer science graduates do?
Examples of graduates’ jobs, not a full or ranked list. A job is an occupation; the major is one route to it:
- Software developer
- Programmer
- Systems analyst
- App developer
Computer work from an office or home.
What do Computer science graduates earn?
GASTAT does not publish pay for each major; this is the average for the “Information and communication technology” field among Saudi bachelor’s holders, 2024 (1445–1446 AH)3.
What is unemployment in the ICT field?
Unemployment among Saudi graduates of the field (bachelor’s, all ages)3:
For the whole field, not this major alone. Past measurement, not a forecast.
Official decisions and signals
- The job “Software developer” is strongly affected by AI (3 of 4). May 2025 (Dhu al-Qa'dah – Dhu al-Hijjah 1446 AH) (occupation, not major)6
References
- US Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment projections for “Software developers” (BLS 15-1252), 2025–2035 (1446–1457 AH).
- Employment and Social Development Canada, Canadian Occupational Projection System, “Software developers and programmers” (COPS 21232), 2024–2033 (1445–1455 AH).
- General Authority for Statistics (GASTAT), Labour Force Survey: Saudi bachelor’s holders in “Information and communication technology”, 2024 (1445–1446 AH).
- Programme pages on university websites, last checked 26 October 2026 (15 Jumada al-Ula 1448 AH).
- International Labour Organization, global index of occupational exposure to generative AI, May 2025 (Dhu al-Qa'dah – Dhu al-Hijjah 1446 AH).
- International Labour Organization · occupation code 2512, May 2025 (Dhu al-Qa'dah – Dhu al-Hijjah 1446 AH).