The Computerworld Honors Program has identified ten categories, together spanning the gamut of human endeavor, under one of which each organization nominated to become a Laureate is classified.

• Business and Related Services
  
• Education and Academia
  
• Environment, Energy and Agriculture
  
• Finance, Insurance and Real Estate
  
• Government and Non-profit Organizations
  
• Manufacturing
  
• Media, the Arts, and Entertainment
  
• Medicine
  
• Science
  
• Transportation
  
  

From each category, five Laureates are chosen as Worldwide Finalists by a panel of judges especially distinguished in that category. From among these Worldwide Finalists one from each category is chosen to receive the Computerworld Honors Program Award.