Most Affordable Online Computer Science Degrees for 2027

Binghamton lists the online master's in computer science as its own degree, separate from the on-campus MS, and you study from home on your own time. The page says online students get the same tenure-track faculty, classroom materials and scholarship as in-person instruction. The School of Computing also runs on-campus tracks in artificial intelligence and cybersecurity, so the online degree is the general computer science MS. Admission favors an undergraduate computer science or related degree, and professional work experience counts alongside strong academic performance. Degrees in electrical engineering and information technology are accepted if computer science was part of the curriculum.

The department reports a high placement rate, with alumni working as software engineers at companies such as Google, Amazon and Apple and at financial firms such as Bloomberg and JPMorgan Chase. About 167 computer science master's students graduate from the university each year across all formats, and Binghamton is a public research university with an R1 designation. Questions about the online degree go to the Department of Computer Science at applycs@binghamton.edu, and the Watson Career and Alumni Connections office handles interview guidance and networking support for students.

Central Missouri teaches its Master of Science in Computer Science mostly in person, and its page says the same program is also available 100% online for domestic students, full or part time. The degree takes 30 credit hours. Every student starts with algorithms, operating systems, databases and compilers, then picks one of three tracks: a research thesis supervised by a faculty member, a master’s project built with one of the department’s industry partners, or graduate coursework alone.

The department says most of its master’s students complete an internship in the fall, spring or summer, which helps if you are moving into software work and need experience to show employers. Federal completions data counts about 840 computer science master’s graduates a year at Central Missouri, so required courses come around often. Before you enroll online, ask which electives run online each term, how internships work for students who are not on campus in Warrensburg, and how the thesis and project tracks are supervised at a distance.

Fitchburg State lets you take the whole MS in computer science online, and you can finish in as few as two years or spread it over as many as six. The degree is 33 credits. For Fall 2026 through Summer 2027 the school's graduate course rate in its Graduate, Continuing, and Evening programs is $347 per credit, tuition and fees together, and in-state and out-of-state tuition are the same. At 33 credits that adds up to about $11,451. The rate is published for graduate courses in general, so confirm it with student accounts for this degree.

You start with six core courses: advanced mathematics for computer scientists, the practice of computer programming, theory of computation, operating systems and networking, object-oriented analysis and design, and design and analysis of algorithms. From there you choose one of three concentrations: artificial intelligence, cybersecurity or data science. You can also combine two. That route takes at least 15 courses, or 45 credits, and each course counts only once. The school says the concentrations are designed for computer science graduates and for people who studied other fields. Federal data shows about 108 master's graduates a year.

You complete this master's fully online, and you shape it yourself: the degree is 32 credit hours, non-thesis, built from eight advanced courses. You choose four core areas to build around, and the page lists software engineering alongside machine learning, data mining, scientific computing, parallel programming and computer systems. The university's online cost table lists $793 per credit hour for nonresidents and international students, which comes to $25,376 for the degree. Illinois residents pay $620 per credit hour, or $19,840.

Cohorts start in fall and spring. Admission is offered for both the fall and spring terms. The program sits in the Grainger College of Engineering and is taught by the Illinois computer science faculty. If you'd rather lean toward data work, Illinois runs a separate Master of Computer Science in Data Science, so check which one matches the jobs you're applying for. The degree is a professional master's, so you aren't writing a thesis, and the coursework is the whole program. The university is public and holds an R1 research designation.

Illinois Springfield offers its MS in Computer Science with an online option priced below its on-campus rate: the department's estimate is $6,148 a year for online students against $6,368 on campus. The estimate assumes 32 credit hours over two years, which works out to about $12,296 in tuition. The university states that figure is an in-state estimate and does not include fees, so out-of-state students should check the tuition calculator. Applying to the online program follows the same procedure as applying to the on-campus one. The degree is described as oriented toward software, and is aimed at candidates interested in the design, analysis and implementation of software programs.

Learning outcomes include writing a specification, design and tests for an automated solution, programming in more than one language, analyzing algorithm efficiency, and reading current research literature. Students also build skills in cybersecurity principles and data management, plus technical writing and presentation. The program is STEM designated, which matters for international students considering work authorization. The university graduates roughly 145 students a year across its computer science master's programs, and the campus has no research classification.

You can finish this degree 100% online in one to two years. It costs $540 per credit across 30 credits, so the program totals $16,200. Up to 12 credits can transfer in, and no GRE or GMAT is required. Admission asks for a 2.5 cumulative GPA, a resume and either an undergraduate computer science or information systems major or prerequisite courses such as software engineering, operating systems, networking and database program development. Foundation courses are available if you're missing some.

The core is ten courses: advanced databases, advanced programming languages, advanced operating systems, artificial intelligence, networking and a software engineering course built on hands-on, project-based work. Twelve of the 30 credits are business courses in cyber security, emerging technology, disaster recovery planning and cyberlaw, so the degree leans toward systems and management work more than research. The university's own list of career paths includes software engineer, software developer, quality assurance engineer and systems analyst. The program isn't eligible for the F-1 student visa program.

You can finish this master's without moving to Amherst. The online MS in computer science is 30 credits at $825 a credit, which the school's tuition page totals at $25,557. Plan on two to four years, depending on how many courses you take each semester. About half the courses are live-streamed at set times and the other half let you watch recordings on your own schedule, so check each course's format before you register. The curriculum matches the on-campus program, though not every course is offered online yet.

You'll take four core courses, including at least one in theory, systems or artificial intelligence, and 12 of your credits have to be at the 600 level. The data science and security concentrations can be completed fully online. The field experience concentration can't. You can start in fall or spring. Online students don't qualify for a US student visa. You can also take courses as a non-degree student first, and transfer credit from up to two of them into the degree.

Frostburg runs its M.S. in Applied Computer Science online or on campus, full time or part time, and the page says online students pay the same rate from any state. The school's estimate for the whole program is $16,350 under 2026-2027 tuition rates and fees, and it describes that figure as an estimate rather than a guarantee. You don't need a computer science bachelor's to apply, which makes it a workable route if you're coming from another field and want software development skills. There are two concentrations, Generalist and Data Engineering.

The Generalist concentration covers software development, systems, databases, cybersecurity and cloud computing, so it's the closer fit if you want a software engineering role. You can write a thesis or take an elective course instead. Graduate assistantships are available each year for research, teaching and projects. The university's federal data shows about 24 master's graduates a year in computer science, and a February 2026 survey of its computing alumni reports 98.6% employed. Ask the billing office for your exact cost.

Clark lets students take the MS in Computer Science on campus or online, full time or part time, and a full-time student can finish in as little as one year. The online version carries a stated total tuition of $20,000 on the university's 2026-2027 tuition page, which is a flat figure for the whole degree rather than a per-credit rate, and fees are listed separately. For someone aiming at software engineering work, the relevant piece is the Software Engineering concentration. It covers development processes and methodologies, software quality assurance and quality control, software project management, and containerized cloud-native microservices.

Students also learn agile and traditional waterfall processes, continuous integration and continuous delivery pipelines, and software configuration management, along with requirements and design artifacts, object-oriented methods, design patterns and UML. Other concentrations are Intelligent Systems and AI Solutions Design, Human-Computer Interaction and Data Intelligence, so a student can pair the engineering core with another focus. The curriculum ends in an industry-aligned capstone, and the university says students can gain experience through internships or capstone research. The program is STEM designated, and the university notes that graduates can be eligible for up to 36 months of Optional Practical Training. Clark is classed R2 for research activity and graduates about 36 students a year from this degree.

This is an eight-week-term online program, 38 credits at $610 per credit, so the tuition comes to $23,180. You can bring in up to 12 credits or a third of the degree, whichever is less. The program ends in a capstone project or a thesis. For the capstone you design and implement a software application, and for the thesis you do research and write it up. Along the way the coursework covers algorithm analysis, the software development life cycle, computer security and artificial intelligence, plus a computer science capstone course.

Admission asks for a bachelor's degree in computer science, software engineering, computer engineering or electrical engineering, with a 2.8 GPA or better. A 2.5 GPA can work if you add a GMAT of 500 or a combined GRE of 300. If your degree is in another field, GCU runs a 28-credit online bridge program at $490 per credit that you complete first, which adds time and money you should plan for. The master's itself is built for people who already program and are comfortable with calculus and linear algebra.

USC's online route to this master's runs through DEN@Viterbi, and the degree you earn is the same one on-campus students get. The program is 32 units, with one required course, CSCI 570 Analysis of Algorithms, and 28 more units of 500-level computer science electives. A thesis option adds four units. Online students pick from a list of DEN courses that includes Software Engineering, Software Architectures, Requirements Engineering, Operating Systems, Machine Learning and Database Systems, so you can build a software engineering slant from the electives.

Online and on-campus students pay the same tuition, and the university publishes a 32 unit cost of attendance sheet that breaks it down by semester. You enroll first as a Limited Status Student, and the page describes the online format as aimed at professional engineers. Applications need transcripts, a resume and a personal statement, and a letter of recommendation is optional. The GRE is not required for 2027 applications. The university graduates about 998 computer science master's students a year across all formats. Students can start in fall or spring.

RIT teaches this master's in computer science online and on campus with the same curriculum: one core algorithms course, three courses in a specialization area, four electives, and a capstone. You choose how to finish. The capstone is either a project, completed in one semester, or a thesis, which usually takes two. The degree is 30 credit hours, and you can enter in the fall or spring term. Part-time study means one to eight credit hours a semester, which is how most working students pace it. Admission works the same way for both formats, and if you lack a prerequisite you can be assigned bridge courses in the first semester.

Those courses don't count toward the 30 credits, and you can waive them by passing the bridge exams at orientation. Online students pay the reduced Graduate RIT online tuition rate rather than the on-campus rate. RIT also says the frequency of online course offerings varies from semester to semester, so talk to the program contact when you build your plan of study. The program groups electives into clusters such as Data Science, Distributed Systems, Programming Languages and Tools, Security and Theory, so you can steer your coursework toward the software side of the field.

Most students finish this online degree in about 18 to 24 months, depending on pace, and enrollment is open year-round. It's 39 semester credit hours: ten courses plus a three-part graduate project that runs as three courses of three credits each. The project is a three-month stretch solving a real problem for a real client against a deadline, and the three project courses have to be taken in consecutive months. If you miss the sequence you start again at the first course.

The curriculum covers software engineering practices, database theory and design, cloud computing, advanced programming, security, user interface design and operating systems. You can transfer in up to nine graduate credits. Applying costs nothing and needs no essays or exams. Admission expects a bachelor's degree in computer science, computer engineering, software engineering or information systems. If you studied something else, you take CSC242, CSC252 and CSC262 first, or show proficiency through equivalent coursework or a challenge exam. National University also offers the program in person at some campuses.

You can finish East Carolina's MS in computer science online or on campus, and the school describes the online route as one that lets working professionals balance study with the rest of their lives. At the Fall 2026 non-resident distance education graduate rate, tuition is $1,044.06 per credit hour. Across the 30 semester hours the degree requires, that comes to about $31,322 before fees. Nine of those hours are core courses, one each from foundations, systems and software. The software group includes software engineering foundations, software project management and software testing, and you can count up to six hours of software engineering electives toward the degree.

The final 21 hours depend on the option you pick. The thesis option takes 6 hours of research plus 15 hours of electives, and you present your work orally. The project option takes a 3-hour research project with a written report plus 18 hours of electives, and it can involve building a software system or a proof of concept. Regular admission asks for a 3.0 undergraduate GPA. If your bachelor's is in engineering, mathematics, statistics or a similar field, the school can require extra courses first, such as discrete mathematics and data structures. Federal data shows about 17 master's graduates a year, so classes stay small.

NC State delivers this master's through Engineering Online, and you apply for the Distance Track version of the degree. It's 31 credit hours with no thesis, aimed at working professionals who already hold an undergraduate computer science degree. Lectures from the on-campus classes are recorded and posted, so you can watch when it suits you. But you still follow the on-campus calendar for homework and exams, and in-class exams must be proctored. Full-time employed students can take two online courses a semester, and the department recommends starting with one.

You can take courses as a non-degree student before you apply, and up to twelve of those hours, or hours from another institution, count toward the 31. The core requires two courses from one of two categories, Theory or Systems, and one from the other. Admission asks for a 3.0 GPA, calculus and probability coursework, and the CS courses the page names; international applicants submit GRE scores. The program is open to people who work or live in the United States. Tuition is set by the North Carolina legislature, and in-state and out-of-state rates both apply to Engineering Online courses.

Franklin's online computer science master's is 36 semester hours at $690 per credit hour for 2026-2027, or $24,840 in tuition before the school's per-semester resource fee. The university's tuition guarantee locks that rate from your first term through graduation as long as you stay actively enrolled, so a later increase won't reach you. Transfer is generous: you can bring in up to 16 credits through certifications, earlier coursework or a mix of both, which can shorten the program and cut the bill. GRE and GMAT scores aren't required. If you didn't study computer science, expect prerequisite courses in programming before the graduate work starts.

The curriculum covers software design and testing along with data analytics and machine learning, and you choose electives to steer it. Internship and independent study are both options there. The last course is a four-credit capstone where you research a current computer science topic and write an original paper and presentation, including the economics of estimating a software project. Franklin is a nonprofit built for working adults, which is why the online format and the transfer policy are the center of the program rather than an add-on.

Merrimack's M.S. in Computer Science is 100 percent online, full or part time, with six start dates a year and eight-week terms. You take one course at a time and can finish in as few as 16 to 18 months. Tuition for 2026-2027 is $750 per credit across 32 credits, $24,000 in all, and the page adds that additional program fees apply. You choose a concentration in software engineering or artificial intelligence. The software engineering one covers design, development, testing and maintenance of software systems, which is the path for you if the goal is a developer job.

Advanced Programming Concepts includes client-server applications and design patterns such as factories, decorators and MVC. A capstone project is optional, and it has to center on building a software product. Students who already program can waive the foundations course and take the capstone instead. You don't need a technical background or coding experience to apply, and GRE and GMAT scores aren't required. If you do start without programming experience, a foundational course adds four credits, though its tuition is waived. A twelve-credit AI Engineering Certificate is embedded in the program.

You can finish Kutztown's 30-credit master's in computer science, software development track, without setting foot on campus, and the price depends on where you live. Students outside Pennsylvania pay the online-only distance education rate, $709.65 per credit for 2026/27 with the technology and instructional service fees already included. Over 30 credits that comes to about $21,290. Pennsylvania residents pay $684.00 per credit. The degree is built for working professionals, and the curriculum covers object-oriented programming, compiler design, operating systems, intelligent systems and secure software development.

You end the program with a thesis, or you can submit a Program of Study Summary instead. Faculty-guided research in robotics, software engineering and AI is open to students who want it, and you can add a Data Analytics Certificate. Check the prerequisites before you apply. You'll need discrete mathematics, two introductory computer science courses, data structures and one 300-level computer science course, though your advisor can help you plan any you're missing. The application takes transcripts from every college you've attended and three letters of recommendation. Students can start in fall, spring or summer. Graduate assistantships are available to help with the cost.

SMU Lyle's master's in computer science runs through Lyle Anywhere, a platform that lets you choose in-person classes, synchronous online sessions or recorded classes. The artificial intelligence specialization is the version offered 100% online, so that's the route to take if you can't be on campus. The degree also offers cybersecurity and software engineering specializations, and the school says you can earn the master's in two years.

You'll need a bachelor's degree in computer science, computer engineering or a closely related discipline, plus English language proficiency documentation if it applies to you. SMU describes the program as developed with working professionals in mind, and it points to internships as a way to build industry experience and a professional network. The school reports that graduates of the program had an average starting salary of over $100,000 in 2024. Federal data shows about 40 students a year finishing a master's in this field at SMU, so you should expect smaller cohorts than at the big public programs.

Vanderbilt runs its online MS in computer science as its own track. You apply to the online program separately from the residential one, and the two formats can't be combined to finish a single degree. If you want the whole degree from home, that separation is the main thing to understand before you apply. The department's graduate program covers thesis and non-thesis Master of Science degrees in computer science, and admission looks at your academic record, letters of recommendation and a statement of purpose.

The department says GRE scores are indefinitely waived for admission consideration. On funding, the department states that funding is currently not available to students admitted to the master's program, so you should plan on paying your own way and weigh that against the other online options you're comparing. The department admits for fall and spring, so check the current cycle before you plan around a start term. The university holds the R1 research classification, and IPEDS shows about 65 computer science master's graduates a year.

Felician's 30-credit master's in computer science can be completed fully online, and you can take it full-time in as few as 18 months or part-time if you're working. The core is nine credits: advanced algorithm design, operating systems design, and one of programming languages, object-oriented analysis and design, or advanced software engineering. The other 21 credits are electives, and the list runs from cloud computing and game development to compiler design and advanced cryptography, so you can build a software engineering focus yourself. You can finish with a capstone project or with a two-part master's thesis.

Felician also offers a cybersecurity track. Check the admission requirements first. Felician asks for a 3.0 GPA, a resume, an essay on ethical principles in the profession, one or two letters of recommendation, and nine credits of undergraduate computer science: a course in C++, Python, Java or C#, a data structures and algorithms course, and a database course. Felician can waive the GRE requirement, case by case, if you have more than five years of professional experience. Once you're admitted, you can apply for a graduate assistantship with the School of Business and Information Sciences. The program reports a 5:1 student-to-faculty ratio.

Drexel runs this master's fully online on quarters, four 10-week terms a year, and the page lists an average duration of two years. You need 45 quarter credits, and tuition for 2026-2027 is $1,400 per credit. That works out to $63,000, plus a $125 yearly online program fee. The curriculum puts equal weight on theory and practice. You take core and advanced courses, then 18 credits of electives from computer science or software engineering courses, which can include up to 6 credits of thesis coursework.

Another 12 credits of flexible electives can come from computing, information science, data science and other Drexel units, with up to 6 credits of independent study. Because the software engineering electives count toward the degree, you can lean the program toward building software. A co-op experience is optional. If your bachelor's isn't in computer science or a related STEM field, the school can require prerequisite courses before the advanced ones. Admission asks for a 3.0 GPA, a statement of purpose, a resume, transcripts and one recommendation letter. GRE scores aren't required.

Mercy's online computer science master's can be done full-time in one year or part-time in two, and the Software Development specialization asks for 30 credits. Those credits split into 9 of foundation courses, 12 in the specialization, 6 of electives and a 3-credit capstone. The specialization covers software design and development, including mobile and distributed data development and software assurance. If you'd rather go another direction, Data Science is also 30 credits and Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning is 36. Admission is rolling, so you don't wait for a fall deadline.

You'll need a bachelor's degree with a GPA of 3.0 or higher, a resume, a statement of purpose and at least one letter of recommendation. Applicants between 2.5 and 3.0 interview with the program director. If your bachelor's is outside computing, Mercy has a partnership with the NYU Tandon Bridge Program that gets you ready for the master's. Faculty advise students on course sequencing and on career opportunities, including internships and cooperative education. Mercy is a private nonprofit, and the program is offered on the Bronx, Manhattan and Westchester campuses as well as online, so you can switch formats if your schedule changes.

You can take Davenport's 30-credit Master of Science in Computer Science online through its Global Campus, or on the Grand Rapids campus if you'd rather be in person. Either way you'll pick one of two concentrations: computer science, which includes artificial intelligence and pattern recognition and machine learning courses, or security, which includes reverse engineering malware and advanced computer forensics. The degree includes a two-semester master project, where you solve a specific problem using computer science.

If a Ph.D. is where you're headed, you can choose the two-semester research thesis instead. Davenport says all of its courses, online and on campus, align with Quality Matters standards and are reviewed through Instructional Design. The College of Technology holds the National Security Agency and Department of Homeland Security designation as a National Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense Education, which matters most if you pick the security concentration. The program page also lists graduate scholarships for the degree funded by the U.S. Department of War and the National Science Foundation.