Looking for the most affordable online Computer Science degrees? Here’s your Top 10

A new study now shows where in America we can enroll in the most budget friendly online computer science degrees, where students get the best quality online courses and for the lowest costs. University ranking site Research.com analyzed public data from different institutions, drawing on years of experience in academic counseling and career planning, to determine the best online computer science degree options in the U.S.

The most affordable online computer science degree belongs to Fort Hays State University in Kansas, with a BS in Computer Science. The cost per credit is just $242.76, with the program length being four years and requiring 120 credits to graduate. Students will study software engineering, assembly language, object-oriented programming, and data structures, allowing them to advance their careers and find work with federal or private software and technology agencies.

Limestone College in South Carolina offers the second most affordable online computer science degree – a BS in Computer Science costing $479 per credit. The program is four years long; 120 credits are needed to graduate, and students will explore programming, systems administration, security, and architecture.

Texas’ Lamar University’s BS in Computer Science, which is in third place, emphasizes areas such as programming language theory, data structures, software engineering, computer architecture, and more. The program costs $578.35 per credit for in-state students; it lasts four years long, and 121 credits are needed to graduate.

Next is Eastern New Mexico University’s BS in Computer Science in fourth place, costing only $297.75 per credit. 121 credits are needed to graduate; the program is four years long, offering small class sizes, direct access to the faculty, and regular curriculum revisions to keep up with rapid technological advances. This course is perfect for students who enjoy solving problems related to the design, analysis, and implementation of computer software.

Fifth is Central Methodist University in Missouri. Their BS/BA in Computer Science costs only $270 per credit, with 120 needed to graduate at the end of the four-year course. Graduates will learn to develop analytical, communication, and problem-solving skills. Hands-on classes in database technologies, programming languages, hardware, and software will help students develop skills for this ever-changing field.

Eastern Oregon University’s BS in Computer Science costs just $286.40 per credit, placing the university in the sixth position. The program is four years long, and students must earn 180 credits to graduate. This course allows students to customize their degree with 3D graphics, AI, or an independent study and prepares them to apply for jobs as programmers, analysts, or software engineers.

In seventh place, costing $305 per credit, the University of Arkansas Grantham’s BS in Computer Science is designed to prepare students for careers as software engineers, developers, and system analysts. This course is 38 months long, and 120 credits are required to graduate.

Next is the BS in Computer Science at Southern New Hampshire University in eighth place, costing $330 per credit. The four-year program requires 120 credits to graduate. Students will explore data analysis, project management for STEM, information security, and software engineering, using industry-standard programming languages like Python, Java, and C++. It gives students experience in full-stack development and cloud integration with JavaScript, NoSQL, and Amazon Web Services (AWS).

In ninth place, Colorado Technical University’s BS in Computer Science teaches students computer programming languages, computer network systems, and software engineering skills, covering a wide range of theoretical and practical knowledge, methods, processes, and skills. This program is $340 per credit, with 183 needed to graduate at the end of the four years.

Florida International University comes in tenth for place America’s most affordable online computer science degrees, with a BA in Computer Science costing $340 per credit. It is a four-year program requiring 120 credits to graduate and can be combined with other degrees in digital media, business, economics, and more. The program provides strong computer science skills, but it is not as math-and-science-oriented as the BS in Computer Science, allowing students to specialize outside of this area.

Rank	University	Cost per Credit
1	Fort Hays State University	$242.76
2	Limestone University	$479
3	Lamar University	$578.35
4	Eastern New Mexico University	$297.75
5	Central Methodist University	$270
6	Eastern Oregon University	$286.40
7	University of Arkansas Grantham	$305
8	Southern New Hampshire University	$330
9	Colorado Technical University	$340
10	Florida International University	$235.57

Imed Bouchrika, Chief Data Scientist at Research.com, commented on the study:

“The recent rise in the availability of online degrees has encouraged students to explore alternatives to traditionally expensive majors like computer science. For many students, the challenge now is to find the program that best fits their budget without compromising the quality of the education they get.”

“A computer science degree can prove valuable in careers within the tech field, like IT consulting, cybersecurity, and data science. It unlocks diverse career paths and equips individuals with the skills to drive innovation and confront the challenges of our interconnected, technologically driven era.”

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