Best Online Computer Science Degree Programs

Computer science is a common subject area for online study, so candidates can choose from a wide range of bachelor's degree options. Undergraduates typically learn to design, develop, and test computer software, hardware, and networks through hands-on programming projects. Many programs offer concentrations allowing students to specialize in cybersecurity, information technology, and web design.

Most online programs feature asynchronous courses, meaning that students log in to a learning management system whenever they want in order to view lectures, submit assignments, and interact with classmates. Computer science bachelor's degrees generally require 120 credit hours, which is designed to take four years to complete with a full-time schedule. Students take general education courses alongside their computer science credits, which include both required courses and electives. Many programs culminate in a capstone course that challenges students to demonstrate their knowledge and abilities. Some degrees feature an internship that lets students gain practical experience in the field.

Institutional accreditation means that an independent agency attests to the overall quality of a college's educational experience. Accreditation allows schools to accept federal financial aid, and it also helps students to transfer credits to another school more easily.

Beyond institutional accreditation, individual degree programs can also earn accreditation. The accrediting agency for computer science is the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET), which reviews both online and on-campus programs. Most technology employers don't require candidates to hold ABET-accredited degrees, but this credential may nonetheless be a useful sign of a high quality program.

Computer science and computer programming are closely linked, so it's easy for the distinction between the two to become slightly blurred. There is a fair amount of overlap in the online courses required to earn a bachelor's degree in either subject. However, the focus of these two degree programs is different, and they're designed to prepare graduates for particular types of jobs in technology.

Computer science degree programs typically concentrate on the theory of computer processes and the practice of designing software systems. Math and logic play a prominent role in the computer science curriculum, although most programs include some practical skill-building courses in programming languages and coding. Entry-level positions for computer science graduates include systems analyst, data scientist, and network administrator. Some computer science students choose to specialize in a particular subject, such as artificial intelligence, data science, or machine learning.

Computer programming degree programs, by contrast, focus on the application of those theories. Students learn to use programming languages and tools to write instructions that enable computers to perform tasks. Graduates often become software developers, web developers, and computer programmers. Computer programming students sometimes specialize in the development of particular products, such as websites or mobile applications, or in using a specific programming language.

Interested in learning about degrees similar to computer science? Explore the best online software engineering degrees and the best online web development degrees at the bachelor's level. 

Computer science faculty design bachelor's degrees to cover mathematics, programming, data science, and networks. Ideally, Students gain working knowledge of these topics and useful skills in organization, ethics, and professional communication.

Many computer science programs offer students the opportunity to specialize and include various concentration options, but here we list courses common to the core curriculum.

• Introduction to Programming: Students typically take this class first in a sequence on software programming. As an introduction, it might survey the most common programming languages and include lessons in input and output, iteration, branching, looping, method, and object constructs.
• Computer Architecture and Design: In this class, students are introduced to the physical components that comprise computer systems. Topics may include hardware-software interfaces, instruction codes and representation, and machine representation of data.
• Computers and Society: Professors seek to expose students to ethics theories so they can understand the social effects of their work. Lessons might include data use and privacy, government regulation of technology, implications of artificial intelligence, and accessible design.
• Data Structures: This course generally covers the algorithmic underpinnings of data structures, along with how computers use data to solve user problems. The syllabus often covers queues, trees, objects, and searching and sorting algorithms.
• Linear Algebra: This course aims to teach some of the most important mathematical concepts relating to computer science. Students might learn about vector spaces, linear equation systems, matrices, and complex concepts such as eigenvectors and eigenvalues.

Many schools offer areas of specialization or emphasis for students pursuing online computer science degrees. Choosing a program with a concentration gives students a chance to study a subject that personally interests them. It could also allow them space to develop specialized problem-solving skills that may set them apart as well-qualified candidates for particular technology jobs. A concentration generally requires taking three or four related courses, which count toward fulfilling a major's core or elective requirements. 

The following are some common concentrations available for computer science majors:

• Cybersecurity: One field that is experiencing a growing need for trained information technology professionals is cybersecurity. Graduates with expertise in this area know how to protect systems from hackers and security threats. Courses typically cover topics such as network security, risk assessment, cryptography, regulations, and ethical issues. If this specific field really interests you, you might consider getting a cybersecurity degree instead.
• Data Mining: All types of organizations are increasingly reliant on data, so this is also a career path that's expected to grow substantially in the coming years. Data specialists understand how to create structures and write code that collects, organizes, and manipulates data. Enrollees with this concentration often study analytics, data visualization, and probability and statistics.
• Game Development: With an emphasis on gaming, this specialization's curricula aims to teach students about the processes and technologies involved in game development. The courses focus primarily on the computer graphics and modeling skills needed to work in this field but may also include animation, character development, and creature design.
• Mobile Application Development: Students who enjoy finding creative solutions to common problems may want to specialize in developing mobile apps for iOS and Android operating systems. For this concentration, students typically take dedicated courses on programming languages, such as Java and Python. Coursework may cover cloud computing, the Internet of Things, smart devices, and cross-platform operating systems.
• Operating Systems: While most online computer programming degree programs include a course on operating systems, a concentration in this area features a number of dedicated courses on the C and C++ programming languages. Other advanced topics include concurrent execution, memory management, file systems, and data security.

Computer science graduates often develop strong problem-solving and deductive-reasoning skills alongside technical expertise, qualifying them for a range of roles across industries. They might go on to design software, build secure networks, or manage digital infrastructure for companies, nonprofits, or government agencies.

While a master’s degree can enhance long-term career potential, many computer science roles are accessible with just a bachelor’s. For example, computer and information systems managers typically begin in entry-level IT roles and advance into leadership, often benefiting from electives in business management. Computer systems analysts help organizations optimize their tech infrastructure—students interested in this path may find communication courses useful for client interaction.

Those drawn to data may pursue roles as database administrators, managing and securing sensitive digital information. Electives in database design can be especially helpful. Similarly, information security analysts focus on protecting networks and responding to cybersecurity threats, and undergraduates may want to deepen their skills with additional courses in cybersecurity.

Finally, network and computer systems administrators keep organizations' IT systems running smoothly by managing upgrades, permissions, and vendor relations. Specializing in networks or cybersecurity can strengthen a candidate’s qualifications in this area.

There's no right answer to this question, because your financial, familial, and work circumstances are different from everyone else's. But as you weigh the decision to study computer science online, you can consider the pros and cons listed below.

Potential Benefits

• Computer science majors tend to enter high-paying jobs. Graduates with computer science and IT degrees earn median wages of $90,000 per year, which is higher than the $63,000 median pay for all bachelor's degree alumni combined.
• Computer science translates well to online learning. Students complete all of their major coursework on their computers, with less emphasis on class discussion than liberal arts disciplines.
• A computer science bachelor's is typically all that's required to start a career in the field. On average, fewer computer science graduates hold advanced degrees than graduates of other majors, implying that work experience is more important to career growth than further education in tech.

Potential Drawbacks

• The skills taught in today's computer science courses may quickly become obsolete. Computer professionals must constantly update their skills and may need to adopt new specialties to avoid the kind of job declines that certain tech professionals are experiencing, such as front-end web developers and single-language coders.
• Some computer science specialties are experiencing low rates of job growth. Computer programmers in the U.S. have the most dismal job outlook, with the Bureau of Labor Statistics projecting a 10% decline in the field because of outsourcing to other countries. Even network and computer systems administration is growing at a slower rate than the nationwide average of 3%, so students interested in these jobs should keep their eyes on industry trends.
• Women, non-white racial groups, and LGBTQ-identifying people are underrepresented in computer jobs. The technology sector is dominated by straight white men, which may suggest systemic, institutional barriers to entry for people from other backgrounds.