Best Online Computer Science Degrees for 2027

The best online computer science degrees if you want to become a software engineer: 30 fully online bachelor’s programs, each confirmed online on the school’s own page and scored out of 100 on its published online price, the school’s completion rate, its graduates’ earnings and ABET status.
An adult student studies computer science at a kitchen table in the evening, a laptop open beside a notebook of diagrams
Programs ranked
30
confirmed fully online
Publish an online price
25 of 31
the school’s own page
Median published total
$58,890
whole degree, before aid
Require a capstone
16
the school’s own page

Key takeaways

  1. Western Governors, Colorado State University Global and University of Arkansas Grantham lead 30 fully online computer science bachelor’s degrees, each confirmed on the school’s own page. The score weighs cost and completion equally, then the school’s earnings record and ABET status, a rubric built for online students rather than borrowed from campus rankings. How we ranked.
  2. 25 of the 31 programs publish an online price, and the totals run from $36,600 to $86,400 for the whole degree. University of Arkansas Grantham, Southern New Hampshire University and Troy University cost the least, under $45,900. Transfer credit lowers what you pay, so ask each school how many of your credits it will take.
  3. 4 name a software engineering concentration on the school’s page, 16 require a capstone project, and the credit totals run from 120 to 180. Those notes sit on each card and under the school’s name in the table. They are shown, not scored, so read the course list before you count on one.
  4. Completion here counts everyone who enrolls. The federal Outcome Measures rate includes part-time and transfer students, the adults most online schools serve, and asks how many earn a degree within eight years. The ranked schools run from 24% to 67%. It is still the school’s figure, so ask the program about its own online students.
  5. Online doesn’t always mean nationwide. 13 of the 30 are public universities, and public schools often set one online rate for everyone, though some still charge out-of-state students more. Check whether your state is on the school’s authorization list before you apply. Prefer a campus? Our campus computer science ranking scores 592 programs.
Methodology

How we ranked

Who qualifies, the 4 scored factors, and the points each one carries.

Every bachelor’s program is scored out of 100 on 4 published figures, each from a federal dataset or the accreditor’s own list. The same program shows the same score on every page of this site. Online programs have their own rubric: online and campus programs are separate records, and some campus figures, like program size, don’t describe an online program.

Who gets ranked

Pass / fail

A bachelor’s degree titled computer science that the school’s own page says can be completed fully online, with every scored figure

Each online program is its own record, with its own page, delivery and price, separate from any campus version. Hybrid programs and programs with only some courses online don’t qualify. The program must appear in federal IPEDS completions data at the bachelor’s level, and the school’s own program page must name the degree computer science; a federal classification alone is not enough. A program missing one of the figures below is not ranked: it is never scored on a guess, and the weights are never quietly rescaled.

Scored factors

100 pts total

ABET accreditation 10 pts
Whether the program is on ABET’s own accredited list with all of its content offered online, as ABET’s own listing records it. A campus program’s accreditation doesn’t carry over to an online version ABET hasn’t listed that way.
Scoring: 10 points if listed, none if not.
Completion 35 pts
The school’s eight-year award rate from IPEDS Outcome Measures: the share of all entering undergraduates, part-time and transfer students included, who earned a degree or certificate within eight years. It covers adult and part-time students, unlike the six-year rate, but it is the school’s figure, not the program’s, because no federal source reports one by major.
Scoring: The rate as a share of 35: a 60% rate earns 21.0 points.
Earnings (school-wide) 20 pts
Median earnings of the school’s former students ten years after they entered, all majors, from the College Scorecard. A proxy: field-level earnings for computer science cover too few programs to score, so they show on cards where available instead.
Scoring: Fixed bands:
  • Under $40,0000 pts
  • $40,000 to $44,9995 pts
  • $45,000 to $49,99910 pts
  • $50,000 to $54,99913 pts
  • $55,000 to $59,99916 pts
  • $60,000 or more20 pts
Tuition 35 pts
The online program’s published total from the school’s own page: its online per-credit rate times the credits the degree requires, or the total the school states (the out-of-state online rate where the two differ). A program whose page states no online price is scored on IPEDS 2023–24 out-of-state annual tuition against the campus annual tiers, and marked † in the table.
Scoring: Fixed dollar tiers, so one program’s points never depend on which others are ranked:
  • Under $40,00035 pts
  • $40,000 to $49,99927 pts
  • $50,000 to $59,99918 pts
  • $60,000 to $74,99910 pts
  • $75,000 or more0 pts

Not ranked. A program with no graduates in any of the three IPEDS years isn’t ranked, since a figure the score uses wouldn’t describe it. It still appears on its state page, and is scored once its figures do describe it.

Not scored. Published costs from a program’s own page appear on its card where the school states one, but are not scored: few programs publish one, and they are not on the same basis as each other. Curriculum, faculty and outcomes after graduation are not scored either, because no source reports them the same way for every program.

Read the full methodology: every data source and its year, how state and city ranks work, and what we leave out.

The ranking

The ranking

The 30 fully online computer science bachelor’s programs, highest score first. Online cost is the published total for the whole degree; † marks a program whose page states no online price, shown at federal out-of-state tuition for 2023–24. Sort by any column; press a school’s name to jump to its details.

Filter

Showing all 30 programs.

Best Online Computer Science Degrees, ranked by score
Scoreof 100
01 01 Western Governors Salt Lake City, UT Starts the 1st of every month Online $7,710/yr† 48% 878.0 ✓ ABET 81.8
02 02 Colorado State University Global Denver, CO Capstone course (CSC480) Online $46,200 47% 408.0 120 63.5
03 03 University of Arkansas Grantham Little Rock, AR Team software capstone project Online $36,600 24% 24.3 120 63.4
04 04 Regis Denver, CO Six start terms a year, 8-week online classes Online $71,880 56% 30.0 120 ✓ ABET 59.6
05 05 Franklin University Columbus, OH Capstone leading a software development project Online $49,352 50% 20.7 124 57.5
06 06 Dakota State University Madison, SD Software engineering specialization Online $58,980 43% 59.3 120 ✓ ABET 56.1
07 07 Concordia University-Saint Paul Saint Paul, MN Capstone course in software development using Agile Online $50,400 60% 23.7 120 55.0
08 08 Bellevue University Bellevue, NE Winter term classes start in November Online $58,293 48% 45.0 127 54.8
09 09 National University San Diego, CA Three-part software engineering capstone Online $69,000 41% 34.3 120 ✓ ABET 54.4
10 10 Maryville University of Saint Louis Saint Louis, MO Online $69,000 66% 16.0 120 53.1
11 11 Southern New Hampshire University Manchester, NH Software engineering concentration; 8-week terms Online $42,480 36% 651.7 120 52.6
12 12 Eastern New Mexico University Portales, NM Online $6,174/yr† 49% 13.7 52.2
13 13 Louisiana State University-Alexandria Alexandria, LA Project-based courses build a portfolio Online $5,150/yr† 34% 5.0 51.9
14 14 Mercy University Dobbs Ferry, NY Online $21,236/yr† 58% 14.7 120 51.3
15 15 University of Florida-Online Gainesville, FL Senior Project in the final semester Online $60,000 59% 65.7 120 50.7
16 16 Old Dominion University Norfolk, VA Accelerated 8-week courses Online $54,360 55% 112.3 120 50.3
17 17 University of Maryland Global Campus Adelphi, MD Capstone course (CMSC 495), up to 90 transfer credits Online $59,880 32% 580.3 120 49.2
18 18 Troy University Troy, AL Internships with employers such as the IRS and CGI Online $45,840 47% 106.3 120 48.5
19 19 Jessup University Rocklin, CA Software engineering specialization, 25 units Online $36,000/yr† 64% 5.7 48.4
20 20 Regent University Virginia Beach, VA Online $49,800 40% 13.0 120 46.0
21 21 Concordia University Texas Austin, TX Capstone with Austin tech companies Online $66,000 42% 9.0 120 44.7
22 22 Oregon State Corvallis, OR Three-term online capstone sequence Online $86,400 67% 921.7 180 43.5
23 23 South College Knoxville, TN Software engineering concentration available Online $16,450/yr† 41% 2.3 41.4
24 24 Eastern Oregon University La Grande, OR Online $60,840 48% 18.7 180 39.8
25 25 Grand Canyon Phoenix, AZ Two-course team capstone Online $58,800 46% 27.0 120 39.1

Pick any program in the full list to jump to its details.

26 26 University of Phoenix-Arizona Phoenix, AZ Computer Science Capstone course Online $47,760 26% 31.7 120 36.1
27 27 Baker College Owosso, MI Senior capstone project Online $55,800 26% 19.3 120 27.1
28 28 Davenport Grand Rapids, MI Capstone plus a College of Technology internship course Online $85,920 45% 42.0 120 25.8
29 29 Purdue University Global West Lafayette, IN Capstone project Online $66,780 28% 254.7 180 19.8
30 30 East Central University Ada, OK Five start dates a year, 8-week courses Online $80,256 37% 49.3 120 18.0

About these columns

  • Format: as the program’s own page states it.
  • Online cost: the program’s published online total from the school’s own page (per-credit rate × required credits, or the total the school states). † No published online price: IPEDS 2023–24 out-of-state annual tuition, scored on the annual tiers.
  • Completion: the school’s eight-year award rate for all entering students, part-time and transfer included (IPEDS Outcome Measures), for the whole school.
  • Grads/yr: IPEDS completions, 3-year average (2021–22 to 2023–24).
  • Credits: the total the program’s own page states.
  • ✓ ABET: on ABET’s own accredited list with all content offered online.
Program details

Program details

The top 25 programs in detail. For any of the other 5, press “Show all” in the ranking table and choose the program to open its card.

#01

Western Governors University

Bachelor of Science in Computer Science · Salt Lake City, UT

Score 81.8 of 100
  • Top 10 in the ranking
  • ABET-accredited (computing)
  • Fully online
  • Cost35/35
  • Completion16.8/35
  • Earnings20/20
  • ABET10/10
Tuition 2023–24, out-of-state (IPEDS)
$7,710
Grads/yr
878
Completion, 8 yr (school)
48%
School earnings, 10 yr
$60,615
Field earnings, 1 yr (not scored)
$83,860
Field median debt (not scored)
$7,044

The school’s page states no online price, so this program is scored on IPEDS out-of-state annual tuition.

A new start date opens on the 1st of every month, and the whole degree is 100% online, so you can begin when your job and your calendar allow. The program is competency-based: you move through the 39 courses by demonstrating what you know while WGU faculty support you, which means material you already command goes faster. Tuition is charged per six-month term rather than per credit, so finishing sooner is how you pay less.

The coursework covers linear algebra, AI optimization for computer scientists and Agile for software engineering, and the program includes industry certifications at no additional cost. WGU's computer science program is accredited by the Computing Accreditation Commission of ABET, with all content delivered online. Credits from a community college or another university can transfer in when you send accredited transcripts. The university's six-year graduation rate for first-time, full-time students is 51%. Pace depends on you, because the program credits what you can already demonstrate.

#02

Colorado State University Global

Bachelor of Science in Computer Science · Denver, CO

Score 63.5 of 100
  • Top 10 in the ranking
  • Fully online
  • Cost27/35
  • Completion16.5/35
  • Earnings20/20
  • ABET0/10
Credits
120
Online program cost, school’s page
$46,200
Per credit
$385
Grads/yr
408
Completion, 8 yr (school)
47%
School earnings, 10 yr
$76,813
Field earnings, 1 yr (not scored)
$68,010
Field median debt (not scored)
$22,395

Online program cost: Stated cost per credit for this online program (no out-of-state tuition, no fees) times 120 credits.

CSU Global offers its B.S. in Computer Science 100% online in 8-week courses with monthly start dates. The rate is $385 per credit, with no out-of-state tuition and no fees, and the degree requires 120 total credits, which puts tuition at $46,200 before transfer credit. You can transfer up to 90 credits, including military service and career experience, and up to 64 of those can come from community colleges. The major is twenty-one 3-credit courses, and the coursework covers Java, C++, operating systems, data structures, databases, networks, cybersecurity, artificial intelligence and software engineering.

It ends with CSC480, a capstone course where you build a functional program to address the kind of complex problem organizations face at work. The program also aligns with credential pathways including Oracle Certified Associate, Java SE 8 Programmer and C++ Certified Associate Programmer. You can use elective credits for an undergraduate specialization in an area such as artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, data analytics, Python, cloud computing or web development, depending on current options.

#03

University of Arkansas Grantham

Bachelor of Science in Computer Science · Little Rock, AR

Score 63.4 of 100
  • Top 10 in the ranking
  • Lowest published online cost in this ranking
  • Fully online
  • Cost35/35
  • Completion8.4/35
  • Earnings20/20
  • ABET0/10
Credits
120
Online program cost, school’s page
$36,600
Per credit
$305
Grads/yr
24.3
Completion, 8 yr (school)
24%
School earnings, 10 yr
$63,496
Field earnings, 1 yr (not scored)
$66,795
Field median debt (not scored)
$29,714

Online program cost: Per-credit rate stated on this program's page; total is 305 x 120 credits.

UA Grantham delivers this degree through 100% online coursework, and the page states a rate of $305 per credit across 120 total credits, which works out to $36,600 before any transfer credit. Students can transfer in up to 75% of the credits for the degree, so the bill and the timeline both shrink for anyone arriving with prior coursework. The program lists 38 months as the time to complete, and the school notes it has no application fee and provides a laptop to degree-seeking students. The 120 credits split into 84 in the program core and 36 in general education.

The curriculum covers programming, databases, systems analysis and systems design, and it includes a dedicated software engineering course that applies a project management methodology and a systems approach to requirements analysis and design. The degree ends with a capstone in which students solve a real-world problem, often working in teams on a substantial software project. The university is accredited by the Distance Education Accreditation Commission. Its institution-level six-year graduation rate for first-time, full-time students is 25 percent.

#04

Regis University

Bachelor of Science in Computer Science · Denver, CO

Score 59.6 of 100
  • Top 10 in the ranking
  • ABET-accredited (computing)
  • Fully online
  • Cost10/35
  • Completion19.6/35
  • Earnings20/20
  • ABET10/10
Credits
120
Online program cost, school’s page
$71,880
Per credit
$599
Grads/yr
30
Completion, 8 yr (school)
56%
School earnings, 10 yr
$72,105
Field earnings, 1 yr (not scored)
$75,501
Field median debt (not scored)
$28,750

Online program cost: 2026-2027 academic year tuition per credit hour times 120 program credits, before transfer credit; no separate out-of-state rate stated.

You take every class online in 8-week terms, and a new term starts in January, March, May, June, August or October, so you're never waiting long to begin. Tuition for 2026-2027 is $599 per credit hour across 120 credits, which works out to $71,880 before any transfer credit. Regis accepts up to 66 transfer credits, and every credit you bring in is a credit you don't pay for. The coursework includes CS 444 Software Engineering, where you build modular, verified software through an Agile cycle, along with programming languages and artificial intelligence.

The program is accredited by the Computing Accreditation Commission of ABET, and Regis says it is one of only two programs in the country that are both ABET-accredited and can be earned completely online. Admission takes an online application and official transcripts: college transcripts if you're transferring, high school transcripts if you're not. For context on completion, the university's six-year graduation rate for first-time, full-time students is 61%.

#05

Franklin University

B.S. Computer Science · Columbus, OH

Score 57.5 of 100
  • Top 10 in the ranking
  • Fully online
  • Cost27/35
  • Completion17.5/35
  • Earnings13/20
  • ABET0/10
Credits
124
Online program cost, school’s page
$49,352
Per credit
$398
Grads/yr
20.7
Completion, 8 yr (school)
50%
School earnings, 10 yr
$51,892
Field earnings, 1 yr (not scored)
$76,264
Field median debt (not scored)
$28,291

Online program cost: Standard 2026-2027 tuition of $398 per credit hour times 124 credits; international (nonresident alien) students pay $526. The $100 resource fee each semester is not included..

You can finish Franklin's computer science bachelor's entirely online, in 6 and 12-week courses, with start dates spread across the year instead of one fall intake. Tuition is $398 per credit hour for 2026-2027 and the degree is 124 credits, which comes to $49,352 before the $100 resource fee each semester. International students pay $526 per credit. Transfer is where the bill moves most. Franklin accepts up to 94 previously earned credits and says students transfer in about 40% of the credits required on average, and a tuition guarantee locks in your first-term rate for the length of the degree.

If software engineering is the goal, the major area elective can be filled with the Intelligent Software Systems Engineering focus area, and AI-Assisted Software Engineering appears among the course options. Other focus areas include Cloud Computing, Data Analytics, Web and Mobile Development and Software Development Security. The degree ends with a practicum sequence, and the third course is a capstone where you lead a realistic software development project. The university's six-year graduation rate for first-time, full-time students is 31%.

#06

Dakota State University

Computer Science, BS · Madison, SD

Score 56.1 of 100
  • Top 10 in the ranking
  • ABET-accredited (computing)
  • Fully online
  • Software engineering track
  • Cost18/35
  • Completion15.1/35
  • Earnings13/20
  • ABET10/10
Credits
120
Online program cost, school’s page
$58,980
Per credit
$491.5
Grads/yr
59.3
Completion, 8 yr (school)
43%
School earnings, 10 yr
$50,970
Field earnings, 1 yr (not scored)
$61,287
Field median debt (not scored)
$20,059

Online program cost: 2026-2027 online undergraduate non-resident rate ($373.80 per credit at the standard undergraduate rate) times 120 credits; online courses billed per credit hour with no campus service fees.

DSU bills online courses by the credit hour, so you pay only for the classes you take, with no charge for campus services you won't use. The 2026-2027 online undergraduate rate is $373.80 per credit, and the non-resident rate listed for online courses is $491.50 per credit, which puts the 120 credits at $58,980 at that higher rate. Some instructors require a face-to-face proctor for exams, and you cover any proctoring fee.

You can choose a software engineering specialization covering web development, project management and software design, with hands-on experience through internships or research. An artificial intelligence and machine learning specialization is also available. If you want a second major, you can pair computer science with mathematics, and an accelerated path lets you finish sooner. Start terms are fall, spring and summer. The program is ABET accredited, and ABET lists all of its content as available online. The university's six-year graduation rate for first-time, full-time students is 48%.

#07

Concordia University-Saint Paul

Online B.S. in Computer Science · Saint Paul, MN

Score 55.0 of 100
  • Top 10 in the ranking
  • Fully online
  • Cost18/35
  • Completion21/35
  • Earnings16/20
  • ABET0/10
Credits
120
Online program cost, school’s page
$50,400
Per credit
$420
Grads/yr
23.7
Completion, 8 yr (school)
60%
School earnings, 10 yr
$59,871
Field earnings, 1 yr (not scored)
$72,875
Field median debt (not scored)
$27,754

Online program cost: Stated online per-credit rate for the program and the stated total tuition; one online undergraduate rate.

Concordia University, St. Paul charges $420 per credit hour for its online computer science bachelor's, which puts total tuition at $50,400 for the 120 credits. The school says the degree can take as few as 2.5 years, and it doesn't follow a cohort model, so you aren't tied to a group's schedule. How fast you finish depends mostly on what you bring in: transfer credits and general education credits change the timeline, and the 55 core credit hours in the major can be completed in seven semesters.

The curriculum covers programming in Java, data structures, object-oriented programming and virtual machines, with electives such as mobile app development or advanced web application development. It ends with a capstone course built around hands-on software development using Agile, which gives you a project to show an employer. Concordia is a private nonprofit. Its six-year graduation rate for first-time, full-time students is 58%, and about 24 students a year finish a computer science bachelor's there. The university also lists $2,000 partnership scholarships.

#08

Bellevue University

Bachelor of Science in Computer Science · Bellevue, NE

Score 54.8 of 100
  • Top 10 in the ranking
  • Fully online
  • Cost18/35
  • Completion16.8/35
  • Earnings20/20
  • ABET0/10
Credits
127
Online program cost, school’s page
$58,293
Per credit
$459
Grads/yr
45
Completion, 8 yr (school)
48%
School earnings, 10 yr
$61,289
Field earnings, 1 yr (not scored)
$60,188
Field median debt (not scored)
$22,253

Online program cost: Single online per-credit-hour rate stated on the program page times 127 total credit hours.

Everything is online, and you work through weekly modules instead of attending scheduled class meetings, with a Student Coach assigned from your first day to graduation. Tuition is $459 per credit hour across 127 total credit hours, which comes to $58,293, and a military preferred rate of $250 per credit applies to eligible students. Winter term classes start in November. Transfer credits count if they come from a regionally accredited college or university, and an admissions counselor confirms which of yours apply.

The program is not designed for a specific professional license, so you choose electives around the kind of software work you want. Required coursework includes CS 410 Algorithm Design and Analysis and CS 430 Software Engineering, a three-credit course on planning, specifications, coding and testing. Electives let you build toward programming, data analysis and visualization, artificial intelligence, cloud computing or DevOps, and the weekly assignments are hands-on programming work in Python. The university's six-year graduation rate for first-time, full-time students is 56%.

#09

National University

Bachelor of Science in Computer Science · San Diego, CA

Score 54.4 of 100
  • Top 10 in the ranking
  • ABET-accredited (computing)
  • Fully online
  • Cost10/35
  • Completion14.4/35
  • Earnings20/20
  • ABET10/10
Credits
120
Online program cost, school’s page
$69,000
Per credit
$640
Grads/yr
34.3
Completion, 8 yr (school)
41%
School earnings, 10 yr
$67,548
Field earnings, 1 yr (not scored)
$87,383
Field median debt (not scored)
$31,812

Online program cost: Program-specific rate for the B.S. in Computer Science on National University's tuition table (online university); stated total estimated cost $69,000, may add a one-time $450 learning management fee..

Classes run four weeks each, and you can take one at a time, which keeps a full-time job and a computer science degree from competing for the same evenings. The degree is 120 semester credit hours, and you choose one of three concentrations: Software Development, Artificial Intelligence Systems, or DevOps Engineering and Automation. The Software Development concentration covers design, implementation, testing and management of large-scale, secure software systems, with a focus on web and mobile application design, tools, frameworks and testing strategies.

The core ends in a three-part capstone sequence centered on software engineering, where you work through an Agile Scrum process, then testing, then software security engineering and configuration management. The program is accredited by the Computing Accreditation Commission of ABET, with all content online. National University's transfer policy accepts credit from prior study, and the school describes an admissions team that reviews applications year-round. The university's six-year graduation rate for first-time, full-time students is 60%.

#10

Maryville University of Saint Louis

Online Bachelor of Science in Computer Science · Saint Louis, MO

Score 53.1 of 100
  • Top 10 in the ranking
  • Top 10% completion in this ranking
  • Fully online
  • Cost10/35
  • Completion23.1/35
  • Earnings20/20
  • ABET0/10
Credits
120
Online program cost, school’s page
$69,000
Per credit
$575
Grads/yr
16
Completion, 8 yr (school)
66%
School earnings, 10 yr
$62,105

Online program cost: Online B.S. in Computer Science rate listed on Maryville Online's tuition page; total = 575 x 120. Excludes the $475 per semester online technology fee..

You can finish Maryville's computer science bachelor's without setting foot on campus. The university states that you study and complete coursework 100% online, and admission is built for people who are working or returning: a high school diploma or GED, a 2.5 GPA from high school or 2.0 from college, no SAT or ACT, and no application fee. Transfer credits are welcome. The degree comes with six specializations to pick from: blockchain, cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, software development, data science and user experience.

If you want to end up as a software engineer, software development is the one to look at first, and the curriculum teaches C++, Java and Python alongside programming theory and data analysis. Maryville is a private nonprofit, and its six-year graduation rate for first-time, full-time students, counted across the whole university, is 72%. Roughly 16 students a year complete a computer science bachelor's there, so the program is small.

#11

Southern New Hampshire University

Online Bachelor of Science (BS) in Computer Science · Manchester, NH

Score 52.6 of 100
  • Lowest 10% published online cost in this ranking
  • Fully online
  • Software engineering track
  • Cost27/35
  • Completion12.6/35
  • Earnings13/20
  • ABET0/10
Credits
120
Online program cost, school’s page
$42,480
Per credit
$354
Grads/yr
651.7
Completion, 8 yr (school)
36%
School earnings, 10 yr
$50,318
Field earnings, 1 yr (not scored)
$71,764
Field median debt (not scored)
$23,466

Online program cost: Online undergraduate per-credit rate ($354) times the 120-credit degree; the rate is the school's online undergraduate rate and does not vary by residency.

SNHU's computer science bachelor's runs in 8-week terms, and you pick one course or two per term depending on how much room your job leaves you. The rate is $354 a credit, so the 120-credit degree comes to $42,480 before transfer credit. That's where the real savings are: the university accepts up to 90 transfer credits and requires a minimum of 30 at SNHU, so someone arriving with an associate degree pays for far fewer than 120. If you want to build software for a living, choose the software engineering concentration, which covers software design and development, user interface and user experience techniques, and reverse engineering.

The other concentrations are data analysis, information security and project management for STEM. You can also take up to four graduate courses, 12 credits, at the undergraduate rate and apply them to the online master's in computer science. Expect a large, established online operation. The university reports about 650 computer science bachelor's graduates a year, and its six-year graduation rate for first-time, full-time students is 48%, so plan your pace honestly before you start.

#12

Eastern New Mexico University

Bachelor of Science in Computer Science · Portales, NM

Score 52.2 of 100
  • Fully online
  • Cost35/35
  • Completion17.2/35
  • Earnings0/20
  • ABET0/10
Tuition 2023–24, out-of-state (IPEDS)
$6,174
Grads/yr
13.7
Completion, 8 yr (school)
49%
School earnings, 10 yr
$38,550

The school’s page states no online price, so this program is scored on IPEDS out-of-state annual tuition.

You can earn this degree without moving to Portales. Eastern New Mexico University lets you complete the Bachelor of Science in Computer Science entirely through remote courses, or mix remote and in-person classes if you live near campus. Lectures, coursework, tests and projects run through the university's Panopto and Canvas platforms, and advising meetings with the department happen remotely. Library support is remote too, with databases, journal articles and eBooks available, and tutoring through the ENMU Writing Center is part of the support you can use.

The department says its small classes mean more personal attention and direct access to faculty. It points graduates toward work as software engineers, systems analysts, computer programmers, consultants and database managers. The university's six-year graduation rate for first-time, full-time students is 34%, which is worth weighing when you decide how much structure you need around coursework. A sample degree plan is posted on the program page, so you can map out the course sequence before you apply.

#13

Louisiana State University-Alexandria

Bachelor of Science in Computer Science · Alexandria, LA

Score 51.9 of 100
  • Fully online
  • Cost35/35
  • Completion11.9/35
  • Earnings5/20
  • ABET0/10
Tuition 2023–24, out-of-state (IPEDS)
$5,150
Grads/yr
5
Completion, 8 yr (school)
34%
School earnings, 10 yr
$42,205

The school’s page states no online price, so this program is scored on IPEDS out-of-state annual tuition.

Louisiana State University of Alexandria offers its Bachelor of Science in Computer Science in two formats, on campus or 100% online, so a student can finish the whole degree remotely. Courses are project-based, which means online students build a portfolio of real-world applications along the way and have finished work to show in job interviews. The program sits in the Department of Mathematics and Computer Science within the College of Science, Technology, and Mathematics. The curriculum builds a foundation in programming, software development and data management, and the program learning outcomes call for applying algorithms, data structures and software engineering practices to novel problems and communicating the results to technical and nontechnical audiences.

Students who want a specialization can add the artificial intelligence concentration, which pairs programming and data science courses with AI applications. Recommended minors include mathematics, management information systems, business and accounting. The page lists software developer, database administrator, computer systems analyst, computer network architect, web developer and information security analyst among the careers graduates have entered. The university's six-year graduation rate for first-time, full-time students is 40 percent.

#14

Mercy University

Computer Science (Bachelor of Science) · Dobbs Ferry, NY

Score 51.3 of 100
  • Fully online
  • Cost18/35
  • Completion20.3/35
  • Earnings13/20
  • ABET0/10
Credits
120
Tuition 2023–24, out-of-state (IPEDS)
$21,236
Grads/yr
14.7
Completion, 8 yr (school)
58%
School earnings, 10 yr
$52,055

The school’s page states no online price, so this program is scored on IPEDS out-of-state annual tuition.

Mercy lists Online alongside its Bronx, Manhattan and Westchester locations for this computer science degree, and the program page states that you can also earn your degree online. The Bachelor of Science is 120 credits: 60 credits of general education, 47 credits of computer science and related courses, and 13 credits of open electives. Full-time students can complete the 120-credit program in four years, and evening and weekend classes give working students room to schedule around a job. Class sizes are small, and faculty advise students on course sequencing, career options, internships and cooperative education.

Mercy does not require the SAT or ACT for admission, which removes one barrier for adults returning to school or career changers moving into software work. The university's six-year graduation rate for first-time, full-time students is 48 percent, and about 15 students a year complete the degree. The school also offers a separate Computer Information Systems program, so applicants should confirm they are enrolling in the computer science major, which carries the more theoretical, programming-heavy curriculum. Mercy is a private nonprofit university.

#15

University of Florida-Online

Bachelor of Science in Computer Science · Gainesville, FL

Score 50.7 of 100
  • Fully online
  • Cost10/35
  • Completion20.7/35
  • Earnings20/20
  • ABET0/10
Credits
120
Online program cost, school’s page
$60,000
Per credit
$500
Grads/yr
65.7
Completion, 8 yr (school)
59%
School earnings, 10 yr
$71,588
Field earnings, 1 yr (not scored)
$90,651
Field median debt (not scored)
$15,000

Online program cost: Non-Florida resident UF Online tuition per credit hour times the 120 credits for degree; required fees ($52.62 per credit hour) and optional fees are not included.

Out-of-state students pay $500 per credit hour in tuition for the UF Online computer science degree, which comes to $60,000 across the 120 credits before fees. Required fees add $52.62 per credit hour for non-Florida residents. That's the number to weigh against other online programs. What you get for it is a University of Florida degree from the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. UF says online graduates earn the same degree they would receive on campus. The program pairs the computing work with a liberal arts core of humanities, social and behavioral sciences and foreign languages.

The computing core includes programming fundamentals, data structures and algorithms, operating systems, database systems and software engineering, and you finish with a senior project in the last semester. Transfer applicants with 12 to 59 credits follow the lower division requirements and should have at least a 2.5 overall GPA. Upper division applicants with 60 or more credits need that GPA and specific completed courses, so check the prerequisite list before you apply. The university's six-year graduation rate for first-time, full-time students is 33%, and it awards about 66 computer science bachelor's degrees a year through UF Online.

#16

Old Dominion University

Bachelor of Science in Computer Science · Norfolk, VA

Score 50.3 of 100
  • Fully online
  • Cost18/35
  • Completion19.3/35
  • Earnings13/20
  • ABET0/10
Credits
120
Online program cost, school’s page
$54,360
Per credit
$453
Grads/yr
112.3
Completion, 8 yr (school)
55%
School earnings, 10 yr
$54,914
Field earnings, 1 yr (not scored)
$64,530
Field median debt (not scored)
$23,925

Online program cost: Out-of-state online undergraduate rate for 2026-2027 ($443 for Virginia residents) times 120 credits; excludes mandatory per-credit technology and innovation fees.

Courses run in an accelerated 8-week format, and many classes have no scheduled meeting time, so you can fit the work around a job. The degree is 120 credit hours, and you can transfer up to 90 toward it, though at least 30 credit hours have to be taken at ODU. Online tuition for 2026-2027 is $453 per credit hour for students outside Virginia and $443 for Virginia residents. At the out-of-state rate the 120 credits come to $54,360 before fees, and mandatory fees add $30 per credit hour for course technology and $8 per credit hour for innovation.

Active-duty military students pay a separate rate of $250 per credit hour. The program page points graduates toward professional software development, along with network and database administration and information security analysis. Free tutoring through Brainfuse covers C++, Java, JavaScript, Python and computational mathematics. You can apply as a freshman. The university's six-year graduation rate for first-time, full-time students is 44%.

#17

University of Maryland Global Campus

Bachelor of Science in Computer Science · Adelphi, MD

Score 49.2 of 100
  • Fully online
  • Cost18/35
  • Completion11.2/35
  • Earnings20/20
  • ABET0/10
Credits
120
Online program cost, school’s page
$59,880
Per credit
$499
Grads/yr
580.3
Completion, 8 yr (school)
32%
School earnings, 10 yr
$65,287
Field earnings, 1 yr (not scored)
$75,619
Field median debt (not scored)
$19,000

Online program cost: Out-of-state rate per credit times 120 credits; in-state is $337 and military is $250 per credit; other fees may apply and are not included.

Transfer credit is the main lever at UMGC. You can bring in up to 90 of the 120 credits, so a student with an associate degree or military training can finish far sooner than a first-time student. All courses are available online, a few hybrid courses are offered, and courses run year-round. The rate is $337 per credit for Maryland residents, $250 for military service members and their families, and $499 for everyone else. At the out-of-state rate, 120 credits comes to $59,880, and the school notes other fees apply. Transfer credits come off that 120, so your own total can be well below it.

You don't need any computer science background to start. The course list includes Software Engineering Principles and Techniques (CMSC 345), three specialization courses worth 9 credits, and a Computer Science Capstone (CMSC 495) at the end. There's no separate software engineering track, so the specialization courses are where you steer toward the kind of development work you want. The university's six-year graduation rate for first-time, full-time students is 24%, and it awards about 580 computer science bachelor's degrees a year.

#18

Troy University

Bachelor of Science in Computer Science · Troy, AL

Score 48.5 of 100
  • Lowest 10% published online cost in this ranking
  • Fully online
  • Cost27/35
  • Completion16.5/35
  • Earnings5/20
  • ABET0/10
Credits
120
Online program cost, school’s page
$45,840
Per credit
$382
Grads/yr
106.3
Completion, 8 yr (school)
47%
School earnings, 10 yr
$42,062
Field earnings, 1 yr (not scored)
$58,407
Field median debt (not scored)
$25,000

Online program cost: TROY Online undergraduate tuition per credit hour, the rate for TROY Online and support sites (26/T1 - 27/T5); general fee and program fees are listed separately and not included; total uses the catalog's 120 credit hour minimum for a baccalaureate degree.

At $382 per credit hour for TROY Online undergraduate tuition, this is a computer science degree you can take from home on the same curriculum as the Troy campus. Troy states that online students complete coursework remotely and earn the same degree as on-campus students. Fees are billed separately from that rate, so check the general fee and program fees before you budget. You don't need to have programmed before. The first courses build the foundation, and later ones cover data structures, algorithms, software engineering, databases and computer networking.

The course list also includes Introduction to Machine Learning and Fundamentals of Artificial Intelligence. Software Engineering I is part of the curriculum, but there's no separate software engineering track to choose. Troy points students toward internships with organizations such as Medicare, CGI, Alfa Insurance and the Internal Revenue Service, guided by the Computer Science Department. As an online student you'll want to ask the department how to set one up near you. The university's six-year graduation rate for first-time, full-time students is 46%, and it awards about 106 computer science bachelor's degrees a year across all formats.

#19

William Jessup University

Computer Science, Bachelor of Science · Rocklin, CA

Score 48.4 of 100
  • Top 10% completion in this ranking
  • Fully online
  • Software engineering track
  • Cost10/35
  • Completion22.4/35
  • Earnings16/20
  • ABET0/10
Tuition 2023–24, out-of-state (IPEDS)
$36,000
Grads/yr
5.7
Completion, 8 yr (school)
64%
School earnings, 10 yr
$56,257

The school’s page states no online price, so this program is scored on IPEDS out-of-state annual tuition.

Jessup runs its online computer science major on seven-week classes with six start dates a year, and full-time students take two courses per session and four per semester. The school says the online format is 100% online and that online and on-campus courses are identical. Every student chooses a specialization, and one of the two options is software engineering at 25 units, with mobile computing in Java, a JavaScript web stack, a second course in data structures and algorithms, database systems and project management tools. The other option is data science.

The core is built around Python through three programming courses, two data structures and algorithms courses, operating systems, networks and databases, and it ends with a Senior Project. The department states its goal as preparing graduates to be successful software engineers, and the coursework leans on practical experience with the tools and techniques used in the field. The university's six-year graduation rate for first-time, full-time students is 61 percent. Roughly six students a year complete the degree, so the program is small. Faculty teach both modalities, and the Christian ethical perspective on technology is a stated learning outcome. Faculty in the School of Natural and Applied Sciences teach the program.

#20

Regent University

B.S. in Computer Science · Virginia Beach, VA

Score 46.0 of 100
  • Fully online
  • Cost27/35
  • Completion14/35
  • Earnings5/20
  • ABET0/10
Credits
120
Online program cost, school’s page
$49,800
Per credit
$415
Grads/yr
13
Completion, 8 yr (school)
40%
School earnings, 10 yr
$44,498

Online program cost: Online rate for full-time students (12+ credit hours per semester), 2026-27; part-time online is $470 per credit. Total is $415 x 120 credits; the page states 120+ credit hours. No separate in-state or out-of-state online rate..

Regent charges online computer science students $415 per credit hour when they take 12 or more credits a semester, and $470 per credit at part-time loads of 3 to 11 credits, according to its 2026-27 online rates. Across the 120-plus credit degree, the full-time rate works out to about $49,800 in tuition. The same Bachelor of Science in Computer Science is offered on campus in Virginia Beach and online, and the school describes the degree as the same whichever way you take it. Coursework includes computer architecture, operating systems, ethics for computer science and a software engineering course (CSCI 450) that covers requirements, design, coding and team development.

The curriculum is taught from a Christian worldview, which shapes the ethics and values threads in the program. Career paths the university names for graduates include software development and engineering, systems analysis, network administration, database work and web development. The university's six-year graduation rate for first-time, full-time students is 53 percent, and about 13 students a year finish the degree, so cohorts are small. The school ranks its online bachelor's programs first in Virginia in its own materials.

#21

Concordia University Texas

BA in Computer Science · Austin, TX

Score 44.7 of 100
  • Fully online
  • Cost10/35
  • Completion14.7/35
  • Earnings20/20
  • ABET0/10
Credits
120
Online program cost, school’s page
$66,000
Per credit
$550
Grads/yr
9
Completion, 8 yr (school)
42%
School earnings, 10 yr
$60,883

Online program cost: Standard online undergraduate rate for all online bachelor's programs ($550); the $350 Start Now Scholarship rate applies only to eligible new students and is not used. Credits from the school's CS major page (BA or BS, 120 hours). Fees excluded..

Concordia Texas offers this degree on campus and online, and the online route is a Bachelor of Arts in Computer Science. On-campus students can choose between a BA and a BS, so if you're comparing curricula, ask for the online degree plan before you apply. The capstone is the part built for someone who wants to write software for a living. You work with real tech companies in Austin, Texas, and take a project through the full software development life cycle, from concept to delivery, with direct support from the professors.

The school also lists internships its computer science students have held in fields such as generative AI, machine learning, cloud computing and data science, so you have a sense of where students have landed before graduation. The program runs a 15:1 student-to-faculty ratio. If you're coming in with credits, transfer students with 12 or more college credit hours need a minimum 2.0 cumulative GPA, while those with fewer must meet freshman admission requirements. The university reports a six-year graduation rate of 41% for first-time, full-time students, and it is a small private nonprofit with about nine computer science graduates a year.

#22

Oregon State University

Computer Science, B.S. · Corvallis, OR

Score 43.5 of 100
  • Highest completion in this ranking
  • Most graduates a year in this ranking
  • Fully online
  • Cost0/35
  • Completion23.5/35
  • Earnings20/20
  • ABET0/10
Credits
180
Online program cost, school’s page
$86,400
Per credit
$480
Grads/yr
921.7
Completion, 8 yr (school)
67%
School earnings, 10 yr
$64,010
Field earnings, 1 yr (not scored)
$85,376
Field median debt (not scored)
$22,721

Online program cost: Ecampus per-credit rate times 180 quarter credits; page states no additional charge for nonresident students; excludes course materials and fees.

Oregon State's Ecampus charges $480 per credit, and the page states there is no additional charge for nonresident students, so out-of-state tuition matches in-state. The degree is 180 quarter credits, at least 60 of them upper-division, which puts base tuition near $86,400 before course materials and fees. Coursework covers algorithms, operating systems, software engineering and network security, and you pick one of two options with an advisor: specialized computer science, built from approved electives, or cybersecurity.

Your senior year includes a three-term online capstone sequence on engineering design and project management. Transfer credit is accepted, but at least 45 of your last 75 credits have to be completed at Oregon State. You can be admitted directly if you're ready for calculus at OSU based on your transcripts. Students who already hold a bachelor's degree can apply to the separate 60-credit postbaccalaureate program instead. The university's six-year graduation rate for first-time, full-time students is 71%.

#23

South College

Bachelor of Science in Computer Science · Knoxville, TN

Score 41.4 of 100
  • Fully online
  • Software engineering track
  • Cost27/35
  • Completion14.4/35
  • Earnings0/20
  • ABET0/10
Tuition 2023–24, out-of-state (IPEDS)
$16,450
Grads/yr
2.3
Completion, 8 yr (school)
41%
School earnings, 10 yr
$36,642

The school’s page states no online price, so this program is scored on IPEDS out-of-state annual tuition.

South College lists this Bachelor of Science in Computer Science with a modality of online, and its software engineering concentration is described as a bachelor's degree earned 100% online with a focus on business analysis and the software engineering process. That concentration is the clearest route to software work inside the degree. A second concentration covers artificial intelligence for students who prefer that direction. The core courses give hands-on assignments in programming, scripting, system administration, networking, computing and data structures, and several of them prepare students to sit for industry certifications such as CompTIA A+.

The program culminates with two capstone courses in which students evaluate a business problem and build a solution in the programming language of their choice, so every graduate leaves with finished project work. Tuition is charged by the quarter and tiered by credit load. In the school's undergraduate programs, students taking 10 to 20 credits in a quarter pay one rate, while lighter loads pay different rates. South College considers transfer credit from accredited institutions when the course is equivalent and the grade is a C or better. Coursework older than seven years can be denied. The college's six-year graduation rate for first-time, full-time students is 28 percent.

#24

Eastern Oregon University

Online B.S./B.A. in Computer Science · La Grande, OR

Score 39.8 of 100
  • Fully online
  • Cost10/35
  • Completion16.8/35
  • Earnings13/20
  • ABET0/10
Credits
180
Online program cost, school’s page
$60,840
Per credit
$338
Grads/yr
18.7
Completion, 8 yr (school)
48%
School earnings, 10 yr
$50,112

Online program cost: Stated online per-credit rate and the school's own estimated total for this degree, same rate for all fully online students; excludes a one-time $250 matriculation fee.

Study from anywhere, on a fully asynchronous schedule with no on-campus requirements. Eastern Oregon University charges $338 per credit hour for the online computer science program, and the degree takes 180 quarter credits, so a student starting from zero is looking at an estimated $60,840 in tuition. Fully online students also pay a one-time $250 matriculation fee. Transfer matters a lot here. EOU accepts up to 135 credits from other institutions, which can cut both time and cost if you're arriving with an associate degree or earlier coursework.

You earn a Bachelor of Science by choosing science and mathematics credits, or a Bachelor of Arts by completing credits in a foreign language. Electives let you steer toward artificial intelligence, 3D graphics and animation, network administration or computing theory, while the core covers operating systems, database structures, mobile app development and algorithms. The curriculum, assignments and degree credential are the same as the on-campus version in La Grande. The university's six-year graduation rate for first-time, full-time students is 37%, so settle on your pace and your support options early.

#25

Grand Canyon University

Bachelor of Science in Computer Science · Phoenix, AZ

Score 39.1 of 100
  • Fully online
  • Cost18/35
  • Completion16.1/35
  • Earnings5/20
  • ABET0/10
Credits
120
Online program cost, school’s page
$58,800
Per credit
$490
Grads/yr
27
Completion, 8 yr (school)
46%
School earnings, 10 yr
$42,186
Field earnings, 1 yr (not scored)
$59,500
Field median debt (not scored)
$27,000

Online program cost: Online per-credit rate times 120 credits.

Online classes run seven weeks, and the degree totals 120 credits at $490 per credit, or $58,800 before any transfer credit. You can transfer up to 90 credits, though only 84 of them can be lower division. The sequence starts with Python Programming I and moves through algorithms and data structures, databases, computer systems and security. One course, Written and Verbal Communication for Software Development, has you gather user stories and decompose them into a requirements document, which is the kind of work you will do on a software team.

You finish with a two-course capstone, Capstone Project I and Capstone Project II, where you work in teams on applied projects. GCU says the degree prepares you for careers in software development, systems, databases, cybersecurity or web development, and you can study it online or on campus. Admission requirements are listed on the program page, and the Lopes Evaluation shows which of your earlier credits will transfer. The university's six-year graduation rate for first-time, full-time students is 43%.

Top 10

What the top 10 have in common

The top 10 of the 30 ranked online computer science bachelor’s programs charge a median of $58,293 in tuition, against $59,880 for the rest. Completion is worth 35 points and ABET 10, so the leaders sit at schools where a median 48% of entering students finish within eight years, against 44% for the rest, and 4 of the 10 are accredited. 3 of the top 10 are public universities.

FigureTop 10Ranked
11 to 30
Median tuition, 2023–24$58,293$59,880
Median completion (8-yr, all students)48%44%
Median graduates a year32.129.4
ABET-accredited4 of 100 of 20
Public universities3 of 1010 of 20
Can be completed online10 of 1020 of 20

Tuition and graduation rate: IPEDS. Graduates a year: IPEDS completions, 3-year average. Online: the program’s own page.

Cost

What online computer science bachelor’s programs cost

Published online program totals from each school’s own page, before aid.

$59,880 Public median
$58,293 Private median

Across the 24 ranked online computer science bachelor’s programs with a published online price, the published online program total runs from $36,600 to $86,400. Half cost less than $58,890 in all. The other 6 publish no online rate and are scored on federal out-of-state tuition, so they are left out of these figures. The 11 public universities have a median of $59,880; the 13 private ones, $58,293.

Lowest
$36,600
25th percentile
$49,688
Median
$58,890
75th percentile
$67,335
Highest
$86,400

The five lowest published online prices

  1. University of Arkansas Grantham $36,600 · #3 · score 63.4
  2. Southern New Hampshire University $42,480 · #11 · score 52.6
  3. Troy University $45,840 · #18 · score 48.5
  4. Colorado State University Global $46,200 · #2 · score 63.5
  5. University of Phoenix-Arizona $47,760 · #26 · score 36.1

These are published prices before financial aid. Each is the school’s own online rate times the credits the degree requires, or the total the school states; transfer credit lowers it, and fees the school lists separately raise it. Check each school’s net price calculator before comparing two schools on cost alone.

Where to study

Where the online computer science bachelor’s programs are

The 30 online computer science bachelor’s programs on this page are spread across 24 states. Arizona has the most, with 2. The highest-ranked, Western Governors University, is in Utah.

Each state page lists every software engineering and computer science program in the state, with local pay for software developers from BLS. To search by metro instead, start with software engineering programs by city.

Careers

Jobs and pay after the degree

What software developers earn and how fast the job is growing, from BLS.

Most computer science graduates who build software are counted by BLS as software developers, wherever they earned the degree. Software developers earned a median of $135,980 a year in May 2025, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, with the middle half between $105,210 and $171,980. About 1,688,000 people held the job.

BLS projects software developer jobs to grow 10.2% from 2025 to 2035, against 3.5% for all occupations, with about 95,300 openings a year. Software quality assurance analysts and testers, a related job BLS tracks separately, earned a median of $104,300, and that job is projected to grow 5.7% over the same decade.

$135,980 Median pay, software developers BLS OEWS, May 2025
10.2% Projected job growth, 2025-35 BLS projections, 2025-35
95,300 Openings a year BLS projections, 2025-35

BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025; BLS Employment Projections, 2025-35.

How to choose

How to choose an online computer science degree

The score builds a shortlist; these questions settle it.

The score rewards what every program reports the same way: price, the school’s completion rate, its graduates’ earnings and ABET status. It can’t see how an online program is taught, so ask the shortlist these questions before you apply.

Price and transfer credit

Online programs usually charge by the credit, so the total depends on how many credits you bring. The published totals here assume you start from zero: $36,600 to $86,400 across the 25 programs that publish a rate. Ask for a transfer evaluation before you compare two schools.

Format and pace

Some programs run short terms with several start dates a year; others follow a semester calendar. Self-paced and competency-based programs let you move faster through material you already know. Check the format notes on each card, then match the schedule to your work and family time.

Building a software engineering portfolio

16 of the 30 programs require a capstone, and 4 name a software engineering concentration. Those are the parts of an online degree that produce work an employer can see. If you already know you want software engineering itself, compare our online software engineering degrees, and read software engineering vs computer science.

1 more confirmed online program is missing a scored figure and isn’t ranked.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

How are the online computer science degrees ranked?

Each program is scored out of 100 on its published online price for the whole degree (35 points), the school’s eight-year completion rate for all entering students (35), the school’s median earnings ten years after entry, all majors (20), and ABET accreditation with all content online (10). A program with no published online price is scored on federal out-of-state tuition instead, and the table marks it.

How much does an online computer science degree cost?

At the 25 programs here that publish an online price, the total runs from $36,600 to $86,400, with a median of $58,890. Each total is the school’s online rate times the credits the degree requires, before transfer credit and before aid.

Can you get a computer science degree completely online?

Yes. The 30 programs here can be completed fully online according to each school’s own page. Some ask for proctored exams, and a few online routes are for adults returning to school; each card notes what the page says.

Is an online computer science degree respected by employers?

The diploma from an accredited university usually doesn’t say online, and the courses are the same core of programming, data structures, algorithms and systems. What employers look at is what you can build, so use the capstone and any internship to make projects you can show.

Are online computer science degrees ABET-accredited?

ABET accredits programs, and its own listing records how much of each program is offered online. 4 programs here are on ABET’s list with all content online. A campus program’s accreditation doesn’t carry over to an online version ABET hasn’t listed that way.

What does the earnings figure measure?

The median earnings of the school’s former students ten years after they entered, across all majors, from the College Scorecard. It is a school-wide proxy: earnings for computer science alone exist for too few of these programs to score, so cards show them, marked not scored, where the Scorecard has them.

Is an online computer science degree good for becoming a software engineer?

Yes, if you build a portfolio along the way. Look for a software engineering concentration, a team capstone and an internship. If you know you want software engineering itself, compare our online software engineering degrees too.

Sources

Sources

Every figure on this page comes from one of these. Numbers are computed from the data at build time, never typed in.

  1. 1 NCES IPEDS completions, 2021-22 to 2023-24 The program list and graduates a year, averaged over three award years, first major only.
  2. 2 NCES IPEDS institutional charges, 2023-24 Annual tuition at the program’s own level: undergraduate for bachelor’s programs; for master’s, the school-wide average graduate tuition, which excludes program fees.
  3. 3 NCES IPEDS graduation rates The school’s six-year graduation rate, reported for the whole school, not the program.
  4. 4 NCES IPEDS distance education, 2023-24 Programs offered entirely online; used for the Format column only where the program’s page doesn’t state a format.
  5. 5 ABET Accredited Program Search Programs accredited by ABET’s Computing or Engineering Accreditation Commission. Read .
  6. 6 Each school’s own online program and tuition pages Whether the degree is titled computer science and can be completed fully online, its online per-credit rate and required credits, and the facts on each card, each quoted from the saved page.
  7. 7 BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 National pay for software developers and for software quality assurance analysts and testers.
  8. 8 BLS Employment Projections, 2025-35 Projected job growth and openings a year, 2025 to 2035.