Best Online Bachelor’s in Computer Science Degree Programs

Q: What can you do with a bachelor’s in computer science?–

Graduates with an online bachelor’s in computer science, will qualify for employment in a variety of industries as IT specialists, cybersecurity consultants, multimedia programmers, systems analysts, games developers, web developers, and data scientists.

Q: What can I expect from an online college course?

If this is your first time taking an online course, the experience may require a time of adjustment. Although you’ll typically learn the same material and take the same exams as your on-campus peers, going online will require greater independence and responsibility than going in person. You’ll be accountable for your own time management, for harnessing the online educational technology that you’ll need to use, and for completing the course requirements, such as listening to lectures, learning lessons, reading texts, and handing in assignments. This means you’ll need to create a suitable workspace for yourself, maintain a realistic schedule, and take the initiative in building relationships with your instructors and classmates. With online college, your goal is to find a balance between independence and engagement.

Q: Is online college easier than campus-based college?

No. The only part of online education that’s easier than campus-based education is ease of access: all you need is a computer and an internet connection for online education. But even this seeming advantage of online education can be misleading: what’s easier, studying online with your computer and internet connection from your home where you need to cook, clean, pay rent, and maintain a job? Or studying on campus in a dorm where all your living needs are handled by the school, and college staff are there to help you every step of the way? If you take the commute to campus out of the equation, campus-based education is easier. All the support structures available on campus for students, especially with real people to help you in person, are not there online. The demands on you as an online student will largely be the same as for your campus-based counterpart, but without the same helps. In general, your online courses will present the same material and test you in the same way as traditional in-person courses. In many cases, you’ll even have the same instructors as your on-campus counterparts. In fact, if you are adjusting to the experience of independent learning with remote educational technology for the first time, online college may be considerably more challenging than campus-based college. For a few insights on how to manage this new online experience, check out our 10 Tips for Adjusting to School Online.

Q: Why does accreditation matter in online college?

Accreditation is especially important when it comes to online college. This is because the online education landscape is a mix of highly-reputable non-profit institutions on the one end and less-than-reputable for-profit institutions on the other end. Accreditation gives you the power to identify the more reputable actors in online education. Accreditation is a stamp of approval from an independent accrediting agency indicating that a college or university is meeting standards of quality and credibility. School-wide accreditation falls into two major categories: regional and national accreditation. Regional accreditors generally hold jurisdiction only over schools in the states comprising their region, whereas national accreditors hold jurisdiction over schools in all states. Regional accreditation is widely regarded as a more rigorous standard of quality and credibility than national accreditation. Attending a college or university that is not regionally accredited could limit your opportunities. For students seeking an online education, we strongly recommend that they opt for regionally accredited schools. Regional accreditation ensures eligibility for federal loans and grants, ensures your college credits can be transferred between schools, and ensures that your degree credits can be accepted if you wish to earn an advanced degree. For more on this important topic, check out our What is Accreditation and Why Does It Matter? College & University Accreditation Guide.

Q: Will I be able to transfer my online college degree?

As long as your online college degree is regionally accredited (see the previous point), you should have little difficulty transferring most of your credits or credentials to another regionally accredited undergraduate school. Every school carries its own standards and procedures for granting a transfer of credits. In many cases, you will encounter some bureaucratic haggling in which some of your credits will be transferred and others may be refused. However, provided that you have attended an online school with recognized regional accreditation, you should be in good shape in transferring your credits earned online.

Q: Will employers respect my online degree?

In most cases, as long you graduate from a well-regarded, regionally-accredited online college, prospective employers won’t look sideways at your degree. In fact, unless you attend an exclusively online college or university, there will likely be no specific indicator on your degree, transcript, or resumé differentiating your school from its brick-and-mortar counterpart. This means that your employer will likely only differentiate between an online and in-person degree if you mention this distinction. Some employers may express the concern that because you did your degree online, you may need to transition from an online education experience to in-person workplace experience. But in an age of Covid, that concern seems much diminished. The fact is that much employment these days is remote. And collaboration increasingly happens online over Zoom. Many employers will therefore view your online degree as evidence of valuable 21st century professional skills such as independence, self-motivation, time management, and tech savvy.

Q: What are the disadvantages of online classes?

If you are a student who thrives on the dynamic energy of in-person discussion, who requires the physical surroundings of a classroom to feel engaged, or who considers the social aspects of education to be of equal importance to the actual content of your courses, online education will be less than ideal for you (though depending on your circumstances, it may also be the only viable option). While there is much in traditional campus-based education that can be substituted or simulated through the online medium, some students may find that there is nothing that can replace the conversation, collaboration, and motivation that occur in an actual in-person classroom setting. As you transition to online education, one of the biggest challenges you will likely face in getting the most out of your online classes is overcoming this difference between “real reality” and “virtual reality.” Fortunately, we’ve got some great Tips for Online Education Beginners.

BEST ONLINE BACHELOR'S IN COMPUTER SCIENCE

By James Barham and Dr. Winston Ewert

Published: Sep 20, 2021
Updated: Sep 9, 2023

Find top-ranked online bachelor’s in computer science degree programs for students looking to qualify for employment as IT specialists, cybersecurity consultants, multimedia programmers, systems analysts, games developers, web developers, and data scientists.

Table of Contents

Featured Programs

Frequently Asked Questions About Online Computer Science Degrees

An online bachelor’s degree in computer science offers a comprehensive education on topics such as software development, programming languages, algorithms and artificial intelligence. Students will also learn the fundamentals of computing hardware and architecture.

Online computer science bachelor’s degrees are available both online and on campus, and students must typically complete 120-128 credits, including a capstone, to earn this degree. Bachelor’s degrees take between 4-5 years to complete for fulltime students.

Graduates with an online bachelor’s in computer science will qualify for employment in a variety of industries as IT specialists, cybersecurity consultants, multimedia programmers, systems analysts, games developers, web developers, and data scientists.

Learn more about how to major in computer science.

How do we determine the best online computer science bachelor's degree programs?

Methodology

Pursuing your degree online doesn’t mean you need to settle for an inferior school. Today, most universities and colleges offer online degrees, and many respected schools are seeing significant growth in their numbers of online students.

The people affiliated with a school are ultimately what make it great. This is why influence — i.e., the academic impact of faculty and alumni associated with a school — gets at the heart of what is truly best in education. The combined influence score of a college or university’s top academic influencers is the best indicator of academic excellence. For our online degree rankings, we focus on the academic influence of faculty and alumni in the specific disciplines we’re ranking.

If you are serious about finding the best online colleges, you should be asking where the most influential professors are teaching, and whether their graduates themselves are advancing the school’s reputation for academic excellence. Most ranking sites rely on an opaque combination of reputation surveys and arbitrary performance metrics. Influence, as measured by our InfluenceRanking engine, provides a ranking that is free from bias, insulated from manipulation, and reflective of real-world educational outcomes.

Median Salaries of Similar Careers in the U.S.

The following graph depicts the average salaries of similar occupations to Software Developers in the U.S.

Source: U.S. BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS

Annual Salary

81320Web Developers

95460Web and Digital Interface Designers

96650Computer Programmers

97710Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers

120990Software Developers

Best Online Bachelor’s in Computer Science Degree Programs

#1
University of Florida
Gainesville , FL
#1 Top 15 Best Online Colleges for Transfer Students in 2023 #2 15 Best Online Colleges for Veterans to Start Their Careers #8 Best Value Colleges and Universities Ranked for Students in 2023 #9 Online Colleges with the Most Generous Financial Aid in 2023
Other Rankings
Tuition + fees
$6K
Acceptance
30%
Graduation
91%
Student body
48K
Median SAT/ACT
1375/31
Online Degrees
BS in Computer Science

Required Credits: 120
Completion time: None Reported
Format: Online
Compare school
#2
Florida State University
Tallahassee , FL
#12 Top 20 Best Military Friendly Online Colleges Ranked for 2023 #24 Most Affordable Graduate Schools Ranked for 2023 #2 Most Affordable Colleges in Florida 2023 #2 Best Public Colleges in Florida 2023
Other Rankings
Tuition + fees
$7K
Acceptance
37%
Graduation
83%
Student body
41K
Median SAT/ACT
1285/29
Online Degrees
BA or BS in Computer Science

Required Credits: 120
Completion time: None Reported
Format: Online
Compare school
#3
Old Dominion University
Norfolk , VA
#4 Most Affordable Colleges in Virginia 2023 #6 Best Grad Schools in Virginia 2023 #6 Best Public Colleges in Virginia 2023 #6 Best Research Universities in Virginia 2023
Other Rankings
Tuition + fees
$11K
Acceptance
96%
Graduation
49%
Student body
19K
Median SAT/ACT
1065/21
Online Degrees
BS in Computer Science

Required Credits: 120
Completion time: None Reported
Format: Online
Compare school
#4
Florida Atlantic University
Boca Raton , FL
#6 Most Affordable Colleges in Florida 2023 #6 Best Public Colleges in Florida 2023 #7 Best Research Universities in Florida 2023 #7 Best Colleges in Florida 2023
Other Rankings
Tuition + fees
$5K
Acceptance
78%
Graduation
55%
Student body
26K
Median SAT/ACT
1140/23
Online Degrees
BS in Computer Science

Required Credits: 120
Completion time: None Reported
Format: Online
Compare school
#5
University of South Carolina
Columbia , SC
#1 Best Colleges in South Carolina 2023 #1 Best Grad Schools in South Carolina 2023 #1 Best Research Universities in South Carolina 2023 #1 Best Public Colleges in South Carolina 2023
Other Rankings
Tuition + fees
$13K
Acceptance
62%
Graduation
78%
Student body
33K
Median SAT/ACT
1240/28
Online Degrees
BS in Applied Computer Science

Concentrations

Cybersecurity

Required Credits: 120
Completion time: 4 years
Format: Online
Compare school
#6
Florida International University
Miami , FL
#4 Top 15 Best Online Colleges for Transfer Students in 2023 #5 Most Affordable Colleges in Florida 2023 #5 Best Public Colleges in Florida 2023 #6 Best Research Universities in Florida 2023
Other Rankings
Tuition + fees
$7K
Acceptance
64%
Graduation
67%
Student body
49K
Median SAT/ACT
1185/26
Online Degrees
BA in Computer Science

Required Credits: 120
Completion time: None Reported
Format: Online
Compare school
#7
Lamar University
Beaumont , TX
#1 Best Online MBA in Healthcare Management Ranked for Students in 2023 #7 Best Online Master's in Healthcare Administration #9 Best Online MBA Programs in Texas #11 Best Online Colleges in Texas 2023
Other Rankings
Tuition + fees
$9K
Acceptance
88%
Graduation
39%
Student body
14K
Median SAT/ACT
1041/20
Online Degrees
BS in Computer Science

Required Credits: 120
Completion time: 4-5 years
Format: Online
Compare school
#8
Southern New Hampshire University
Manchester , NH
#5 Top 20 Best Military Friendly Online Colleges Ranked for 2023 #1 Best Liberal Arts Colleges in New Hampshire 2023 #2 Most Affordable Colleges in New Hampshire 2023 #2 Best Private Colleges in New Hampshire 2023
Other Rankings
Tuition + fees
$15K
Acceptance
92%
Graduation
39%
Student body
102K
Online Degrees
BS in Computer Science

Concentrations

Data Analysis
Information Security
Project Management
Software Engineering

Required Credits: 120
Completion time: 4 years
Format: Online
Compare school
#9
Maryville University
Saint Louis , MO
#10 Best Research Universities in Missouri 2023 #3 Best Online Bachelor's of Cybersecurity Degree Programs in Missouri #4 Best Online MBA in Data Analytics Ranked for Students in 2023 #4 Best Online MBA Programs in Missouri
Other Rankings
Tuition + fees
$27K
Acceptance
92%
Graduation
73%
Student body
9K
Online Degrees
BS in Computer Science

Required Credits: 132
Completion time: None Reported
Format: Online
Compare school
#10
Regent University
Virginia Beach , VA
#13 Best CCCU Colleges and Universities 2023 #1 Best Christian Colleges in Virginia 2023 #5 Best Private Colleges in Virginia 2023 #9 Best Research Universities in Virginia 2023
Other Rankings
Tuition + fees
$19K
Acceptance
41%
Graduation
62%
Student body
7K
Median SAT/ACT
1080/25
Online Degrees
BS in Computer Science

Required Credits: 120
Completion time: 4 years
Format: Online
Compare school
#11
University of Illinois Springfield
Springfield , IL
#5 Best Small Colleges in Illinois 2023 #7 Best Liberal Arts Colleges in Illinois 2023 #8 Most Affordable Colleges in Illinois Ranked for Students in 2023 #8 Best Public Colleges in Illinois 2023
Other Rankings
Tuition + fees
$12K
Acceptance
79%
Graduation
53%
Student body
3K
Median SAT/ACT
1085/23
Online Degrees
BS in Computer Science Program

Required Credits: 82
Completion time: 1-2 Years
Format: Online
Compare school
#12
Troy University
Troy , AL
#3 Best Liberal Arts Colleges in Alabama 2023 #7 Most Affordable Colleges in Alabama 2023 #7 Best Public Colleges in Alabama 2023 #8 Best Grad Schools in Alabama 2023
Other Rankings
Tuition + fees
$9K
Acceptance
95%
Graduation
52%
Student body
13K
Median SAT/ACT
1020/21
Online Degrees
BS in Computer Science, Applied Computer Science

Required Credits: 120
Completion time: None Reported
Format: Online
Compare school
#13
Wilmington University
New Castle , DE
#1 Best Private Colleges in Delaware 2023 #3 Best Grad Schools in Delaware 2023 #3 Best Research Universities in Delaware 2023 #3 Best Colleges in Delaware 2023
Other Rankings
Tuition + fees
$12K
Graduation
23%
Student body
10K
Online Degrees
BS in Computer Science

Required Credits: 120
Completion time: 4 years
Format: Online
Compare school
#14
National University
La Jolla , CA
#1 Best Online Bachelor's in Strategic Communications Degree Programs #2 Best Online Bachelor's in Cybersecurity in California #2 Best Online Associate Degrees in California 2023 #3 Most Affordable Early Childhood Education Bachelor's (Online, On-Campus)
Other Rankings
Tuition + fees
$13K
Acceptance
55%
Graduation
47%
Student body
25K
Online Degrees
BS in Computer Science

Required Credits: 180
Completion time: 4.5-5.5 years
Format: Online
Compare school
#15
University of North Alabama
Florence , AL
#7 Best Liberal Arts Colleges in Alabama 2023 #10 Most Affordable Colleges in Alabama 2023 #10 Best Public Colleges in Alabama 2023 #8 Best Online MBA Programs in Alabama
Other Rankings
Tuition + fees
$11K
Acceptance
90%
Graduation
51%
Student body
7K
Online Degrees
BA in Business Administration

Concentrations

Accounting
Computer Information Systems
Economics
Finance
Professional Management
Professsional Marketing
Computer Science
Information Technology

Required Credits: 120
Completion time: None Reported
Format: Online
Compare school
#16
California State University, Monterey Bay
Seaside , CA
#14 Best Online MBA Programs in California #25 Best Online Colleges in California 2023
Tuition + fees
$7K
Acceptance
93%
Graduation
60%
Student body
7K
Median SAT/ACT
1060/20
Online Degrees
BS in Computer Science

Required Credits: 75
Completion time: 4-5 years
Format: Online
Compare school
#17
Saint Leo University
Saint Leo , FL
#18 The Best Catholic Colleges and Universities Ranked for 2023 #5 Best Christian Colleges in Florida 2023 #2 Best Online Bachelor's in Cybersecurity in Florida #3 10 Fastest Accelerated Online Bachelor's of Computer Science
Other Rankings
Tuition + fees
$26K
Acceptance
71%
Graduation
46%
Student body
9K
Online Degrees
BS in Computer Science Information Assurance

Required Credits: 120
Completion time: None Reported
Format: Online
Compare school
#18
Liberty University
Lynchburg , VA
#4 Top 20 Best Military Friendly Online Colleges Ranked for 2023 #8 Top 15 Best Online Colleges for Transfer Students in 2023 #13 Best Online Christian Colleges and Universities for Doctoral Degrees #2 Best Christian Colleges in Virginia 2023
Other Rankings
Tuition + fees
$23K
Acceptance
99%
Graduation
62%
Student body
79K
Median SAT/ACT
1145/25
Online Degrees
BS in Computational Mathematics

Concentrations

Computer Science

Required Credits: 120
Completion time: 3.5 years
Format: Online
BS in Computer Science Cybersecurity

Required Credits: 121
Completion time: 3.5 years
Format: Online
Compare school
#19
Charleston Southern University
Charleston , SC
#4 Best Online Bachelor's in Cybersecurity in South Carolina #5 Best Online MBA Programs in South Carolina #8 10 Fastest Accelerated Online Bachelor's of Computer Science #12 Best Online Master's Programs in South Carolina 2023
Other Rankings
Tuition + fees
$29K
Acceptance
57%
Graduation
49%
Student body
3K
Median SAT/ACT
1080/21
Online Degrees
BT in Computer Science

Required Credits: None Reported
Completion time: None Reported
Format: Online
Compare school
#20
Lewis University
Romeoville , IL
#4 Best Schools for Becoming an Air Traffic Controller in 2023 #13 Top 20 Best Military Friendly Online Colleges Ranked for 2023 #20 The Best Catholic Colleges and Universities Ranked for 2023 #5 Best Online Master’s in Forensics Degree Programs
Other Rankings
Tuition + fees
$35K
Acceptance
71%
Graduation
60%
Student body
5K
Median SAT/ACT
1115/24
Online Degrees
BA in Computer Science

Required Credits: 128
Completion time: 4 years
Format: Online
Compare school
#21
Simmons University
Boston , MA
#3 Best Online Bachelor's in Social Work Degree Programs Ranked for 2023 #4 Best Online Colleges in Massachusetts 2023 #4 Top 8 Best Online Applied Behavioral Analysis PhDs (Doctorates) #4 Top 15 Most Affordable Online Social Work PhDs (Doctorates)
Other Rankings
Tuition + fees
$43K
Acceptance
84%
Graduation
71%
Student body
5K
Median SAT/ACT
1155/26
Online Degrees
BS in Computer Science

Required Credits: 128
Completion time: 4 years
Format: Online
Compare school
#22
Mercy College
Dobbs Ferry , NY
#3 Best Online MBA Programs in New York #4 Best Online Bachelor's in Cybersecurity Degree Programs in New York #4 Best Online Bachelor's of Finance Degree Programs for 2023 #6 Best Online Bachelor's in Sports Management Degree Programs for 2023
Other Rankings
Tuition + fees
$21K
Acceptance
86%
Graduation
50%
Student body
8K
Median SAT/ACT
1020/22
Online Degrees
BS in Computer Science

Required Credits: 120
Completion time: 4-5 years
Format: Online
Compare school
#23
University of Houston–Victoria
Victoria , TX
#1 Best Online Bachelor's in Kinesiology Degree Programs for 2023 #3 Best Online Master’s in Game Development & Design #3 Best Online Master’s in Forensics Degree Programs #5 Best Online Bachelor's in Biology
Other Rankings
Tuition + fees
$7K
Acceptance
53%
Graduation
22%
Student body
3K
Online Degrees
BS in Computer Science

Required Credits: 120
Completion time: 4-5 years
Format: Online
Compare school
#24
Elms College
Chicopee , MA
#10 Best Christian Colleges in Massachusetts 2023 #5 Best Online Bachelor's of Cybersecurity Degree Programs in Massachusetts #20 Best Online Colleges in Massachusetts 2023
Tuition + fees
$39K
Acceptance
68%
Graduation
68%
Student body
1K
Median SAT/ACT
1085/22
Online Degrees
BA in Computer Science

Required Credits: 120
Completion time: 14-20 months
Format: Online
Compare school
#25
University of Missouri–St. Louis
Saint Louis , MO
#7 Best Research Universities in Missouri 2023 #7 Best Grad Schools in Missouri 2023 #8 Most Affordable Colleges in Missouri 2023 #8 Best Public Colleges in Missouri 2023
Other Rankings
Tuition + fees
$12K
Acceptance
57%
Graduation
58%
Student body
8K
Median SAT/ACT
1172/24
Online Degrees
BS in Computer Science

Required Credits: 120
Completion time: 3 years
Format: Online
Compare school
#26
Point Park University
Pittsburgh , PA
#11 Top 15 Best Online Colleges for Transfer Students in 2023 #8 Best Online MBA Programs in Pennsylvania #13 Best Online Bachelor’s in Public Administration Degree Programs for 2023 #15 Best Online Colleges in Pennsylvania 2023
Other Rankings
- #24 Best Online Master's Programs in Pennsylvania 2023
Tuition + fees
$36K
Acceptance
82%
Graduation
61%
Student body
3K
Median SAT/ACT
1066/22
Online Degrees
BS in Applied Computer Science

Required Credits: 121
Completion time: None Reported
Format: Online
Compare school
#27
Davenport University
Grand Rapids , MI
#2 Best Online Associate in Human Resources #3 Best Online Associate in Finance #3 Best Online Bachelor's of Cybersecurity Degree Programs in Michigan #5 Best Online Associate Degrees in Michigan 2023
Other Rankings
Tuition + fees
$21K
Acceptance
98%
Graduation
48%
Student body
4K
Online Degrees
BS in Computer Science

Required Credits: 120
Completion time: 4 years
Format: Online
Compare school
#28
Park University
Parkville , MO
#20 Most Affordable Online Colleges Ranked for Students 2023 #1 Best Online Associate in Building and Construction Degree Programs #1 Best Online Associate in Psychology #3 Top 10 Best Online MBA in Economics Degree Programs Ranked in 2023
Other Rankings
Tuition + fees
$12K
Graduation
24%
Student body
7K
Online Degrees
BS in Information and Computer Science

Concentrations

Computer Science Concentration
Cybersecurity Concentration
Data Management Concentration
Information Technology Concentration
Networking and Security Concentration
Software Development Concentration
and Web Development Concentration

Required Credits: 46-58
Completion time: None Reported
Format: Online
Compare school
#29
Concordia University Texas
Austin , TX
#10 Best Small Colleges in Texas 2023 #14 Best Online MBA Programs in Texas #23 Best Online Master's Programs in Texas 2023 #24 Best Online Colleges in Texas 2023
Tuition + fees
$35K
Acceptance
89%
Graduation
37%
Student body
2K
Median SAT/ACT
1080/21
Online Degrees
BA in Computer Science

Required Credits: 120
Completion time: 4-5 years
Format: Online
Compare school
#30
Concordia University Wisconsin
Mequon , WI
#3 Best Christian Colleges in Wisconsin 2023 #4 Best Grad Schools in Wisconsin 2023 #4 Best Research Universities in Wisconsin 2023 #5 Best Small Colleges in Wisconsin 2023
Other Rankings
Tuition + fees
$32K
Acceptance
69%
Graduation
59%
Student body
4K
Online Degrees
BS in Applied Computer Science

Required Credits: 120
Completion time: None Reported
Format: Online
Compare school
#31
Thomas Edison State University
Trenton , NJ
#4 Most Affordable Online Colleges Ranked for Students 2023 #7 Top 20 Best Military Friendly Online Colleges Ranked for 2023 #9 Best Schools for Becoming an Air Traffic Controller in 2023 #6 Best Small Colleges in New Jersey 2023
Other Rankings
Tuition + fees
$7K
Student body
4K
Online Degrees
BA in Computer Science

Required Credits: 120
Completion time: 4 years
Format: Online
Compare school
#32
National Louis University
Chicago , IL
#4 Best Online MBA Programs in Illinois #7 10 Best Online Bachelor's of Forensic Psychology Programs #13 Best Online Master's in Organizational Psychology #16 Best Online Colleges in Illinois 2023
Other Rankings
- #19 Best Online Bachelor's in Psychology Degree Programs for Students
- #20 Best Online Master's Programs in Illinois 2023
Tuition + fees
$12K
Acceptance
97%
Graduation
34%
Student body
6K
Online Degrees
BS in Computer Sciences

Required Credits: None Reported
Completion time: None Reported
Format: Online
Compare school
#33
Bluefield State University
Bluefield , WV
#7 Best Public Colleges in West Virginia 2023 #8 Most Affordable Colleges in West Virginia 2023 #8 Best Small Colleges in West Virginia 2023 #8 Best Liberal Arts Colleges in West Virginia 2023
Other Rankings
Tuition + fees
$8K
Acceptance
97%
Graduation
32%
Student body
1K
Median SAT/ACT
960/19
Online Degrees
BS in Computer Science

Required Credits: 121-122
Completion time: 4 years
Format: Online
Compare school
#34
Limestone University
Gaffney , SC
#3 Best Online Bachelor's in Cybersecurity in South Carolina #12 Best Online Colleges in South Carolina 2023 #23 Best Online Bachelor's of Economics Degree Programs for 2023
Tuition + fees
$26K
Acceptance
87%
Graduation
30%
Student body
2K
Median SAT/ACT
1070/22
Online Degrees
BS in Computer Science

Concentrations

Computer and Information Systems Security
Information Technology
Programming

Required Credits: 120
Completion time: 4 years
Format: Online
Compare school
#35
Concordia University Ann Arbor
Ann Arbor , MI
#9 Best Christian Colleges in Michigan 2023 #5 Best Online Bachelor's of Cybersecurity Degree Programs in Michigan #9 Best Online MBAs in Sustainability #14 Best Online Doctorate in Organizational Leadership Degree Programs
Other Rankings
- #15 Best Online Colleges in Michigan 2023
Tuition + fees
$32K
Acceptance
63%
Graduation
51%
Student body
1K
Online Degrees
BS in Applied Computer Science

Required Credits: 120
Completion time: None Reported
Format: Online
Compare school
#36
Jessup University
Rocklin , CA
#10 Best Online MBA Programs in California #20 Best Online Master's in Kinesiology Degree Programs
Tuition + fees
$37K
Acceptance
78%
Graduation
60%
Student body
2K
Online Degrees
BS in Computer Science

Required Credits: 128
Completion time: 4.5-5.5 years
Format: Online
Compare school
#37
Baker College
Owosso , MI
#7 Online Colleges with the Most Generous Financial Aid in 2023 #1 Top 20 Easiest Online Degrees from Accredited Schools in 2023 #3 Top 3 Best Online Economics PhD Degree Programs (Doctorates) #6 Best Online Bachelor's of Cybersecurity Degree Programs in Michigan
Other Rankings
Tuition + fees
$12K
Acceptance
41%
Graduation
21%
Student body
4K
Online Degrees
BS in Computer Science

Concentrations

Computer Programming
Database Technology

Required Credits: 120
Completion time: 4 years
Format: Online
Compare school
#38
Johnson & Wales University
#3 Best Online Master's in Hospitality and Tourism Degree Programs #5 Best Online MBA Programs in Colorado #8 Best Online Colleges in Colorado 2023 #8 Best Online Master's Programs in Colorado 2023
Online Degrees
BS in Computer Science

Required Credits: 121
Completion time: 4 years
Format: Online
Compare school
#39
Central Methodist University
Fayette , MO
#6 Best Christian Colleges in Missouri 2023 #8 Best Small Colleges in Missouri 2023 #3 Most Affordable Online Bachelor's of Business Degree Programs #3 Best Online Associate in English
Other Rankings
Tuition + fees
$26K
Acceptance
99%
Graduation
47%
Student body
1K
Median SAT/ACT
1010/20
Online Degrees
BS/BA in Computer Science

Required Credits: 120
Completion time: None Reported
Format: Online
Compare school
#40
Voorhees University
Denmark , SC
#7 Best Online Bachelor's in Cybersecurity in South Carolina #8 Best Online Bachelor's in Biology #21 Best Online Colleges in South Carolina 2023
Tuition + fees
$13K
Graduation
32%
Student body
<1K
Online Degrees
BS in Computer Science/Cybersecurity

Required Credits: 120
Completion time: 4 years
Format: Online
Compare school

Online Degree Frequently Asked Questions

If this is your first time taking an online course, the experience may require a time of adjustment. Although you’ll typically learn the same material and take the same exams as your on-campus peers, going online will require greater independence and responsibility than going in person. You’ll be accountable for your own time management, for harnessing the online educational technology that you’ll need to use, and for completing the course requirements, such as listening to lectures, learning lessons, reading texts, and handing in assignments. This means you’ll need to create a suitable workspace for yourself, maintain a realistic schedule, and take the initiative in building relationships with your instructors and classmates. With online college, your goal is to find a balance between independence and engagement.

No. The only part of online education that’s easier than campus-based education is ease of access: all you need is a computer and an internet connection for online education. But even this seeming advantage of online education can be misleading: what’s easier, studying online with your computer and internet connection from your home where you need to cook, clean, pay rent, and maintain a job? Or studying on campus in a dorm where all your living needs are handled by the school, and college staff are there to help you every step of the way?

If you take the commute to campus out of the equation, campus-based education is easier. All the support structures available on campus for students, especially with real people to help you in person, are not there online. The demands on you as an online student will largely be the same as for your campus-based counterpart, but without the same helps.

In general, your online courses will present the same material and test you in the same way as traditional in-person courses. In many cases, you’ll even have the same instructors as your on-campus counterparts. In fact, if you are adjusting to the experience of independent learning with remote educational technology for the first time, online college may be considerably more challenging than campus-based college. For a few insights on how to manage this new online experience, check out our 10 Tips for Adjusting to School Online.

Accreditation is especially important when it comes to online college. This is because the online education landscape is a mix of highly-reputable non-profit institutions on the one end and less-than-reputable for-profit institutions on the other end. Accreditation gives you the power to identify the more reputable actors in online education. Accreditation is a stamp of approval from an independent accrediting agency indicating that a college or university is meeting standards of quality and credibility. School-wide accreditation falls into two major categories: regional and national accreditation. Regional accreditors generally hold jurisdiction only over schools in the states comprising their region, whereas national accreditors hold jurisdiction over schools in all states. Regional accreditation is widely regarded as a more rigorous standard of quality and credibility than national accreditation.

Attending a college or university that is not regionally accredited could limit your opportunities. For students seeking an online education, we strongly recommend that they opt for regionally accredited schools. Regional accreditation ensures eligibility for federal loans and grants, ensures your college credits can be transferred between schools, and ensures that your degree credits can be accepted if you wish to earn an advanced degree. For more on this important topic, check out our What is Accreditation and Why Does It Matter? College & University Accreditation Guide.

As long as your online college degree is regionally accredited (see the previous point), you should have little difficulty transferring most of your credits or credentials to another regionally accredited undergraduate school. Every school carries its own standards and procedures for granting a transfer of credits. In many cases, you will encounter some bureaucratic haggling in which some of your credits will be transferred and others may be refused. However, provided that you have attended an online school with recognized regional accreditation, you should be in good shape in transferring your credits earned online.

In most cases, as long you graduate from a well-regarded, regionally-accredited online college, prospective employers won’t look sideways at your degree. In fact, unless you attend an exclusively online college or university, there will likely be no specific indicator on your degree, transcript, or resumé differentiating your school from its brick-and-mortar counterpart. This means that your employer will likely only differentiate between an online and in-person degree if you mention this distinction.

Some employers may express the concern that because you did your degree online, you may need to transition from an online education experience to in-person workplace experience. But in an age of Covid, that concern seems much diminished. The fact is that much employment these days is remote. And collaboration increasingly happens online over Zoom. Many employers will therefore view your online degree as evidence of valuable 21st century professional skills such as independence, self-motivation, time management, and tech savvy.

If you are a student who thrives on the dynamic energy of in-person discussion, who requires the physical surroundings of a classroom to feel engaged, or who considers the social aspects of education to be of equal importance to the actual content of your courses, online education will be less than ideal for you (though depending on your circumstances, it may also be the only viable option).

While there is much in traditional campus-based education that can be substituted or simulated through the online medium, some students may find that there is nothing that can replace the conversation, collaboration, and motivation that occur in an actual in-person classroom setting. As you transition to online education, one of the biggest challenges you will likely face in getting the most out of your online classes is overcoming this difference between “real reality” and “virtual reality.” Fortunately, we’ve got some great Tips for Online Education Beginners.

The advantages of online classes are many. Above all, online courses give you the freedom and flexibility to attend class from anywhere that works for you, whether you’re at home, in a coffee shop, or in a quiet conference room at work. In many cases, you’ll also enjoy the convenience of asynchronous learning opportunities-educational experiences that you can complete at your own pace and on your own schedule. This may include pre-taped lectures, ongoing chat-board discussions, and 24/7 access to digital materials. And of course, just as there are some learners who prefer the energy of a live classroom, there are those who learn best when working in their own personal space, free from distractions. If this sounds like you, you might find the solitude of online learning to be a major advantage.

Whether you’re just getting started on your college search, you’re looking for survival tips on your way to a bachelor’s degree, or you’re preparing for the transition into grad school, we’ve got guides, how to’s and tons of other valuable resources to keep you moving forward in your educational journey.

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Online Degree Frequently Asked Questions

What can I expect from an online college course?+

Is online college easier than campus-based college?+

Why does accreditation matter in online college?+

Will I be able to transfer my online college degree?+

Will employers respect my online degree?+

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Resources for Online College-Bound Students