Check out our full list of online master’s in computer science programs.
What to expect from your online master’s in computer science degree
While program offerings differ, many online master’s in computer science programs have similarities. Generally, programs require learners to complete 30 to 50 credits of coursework before earning their degree. This will be a mixture of required core classes and electives. To cap off your studies, you may be required to work on a thesis or research project, or take a final exam.
When it comes to admission requirements, universities ask for different things. Some programs might require that you have a working knowledge of computer programming languages such as C++ or Java. Others have prerequisite coursework in topics like calculus.
Online programs can mirror their on-campus offerings by prioritizing interactivity through videos and more. Some online programs also include group projects with learners and other hands-on learning opportunities that may require you to visit campus several times.
By the end of your degree program, you will have acquired new skills and made career connections with peers and professionals. At that point, you also have the option to earn a Ph.D. if you are more interested in pursuing a profession in academics.
What can graduates do with a computer science degree?
A degree in computer science can lead to a variety of fields and jobs. For example:
A computer scientist can work in many industries and branches of the field. It is a multidisciplinary vocation. For example, computer scientists who choose to go the theoretical route might end up working in academia. These professionals publish their own research, while also training the next generation of computer scientists.
Those with a specialization in analytics may find work as a business analyst. Think of these computer scientists as the “fix-it” people of the corporate world, working hard to help businesses improve how they function. They do this by identifying organizational problems and crafting solutions driven by a company’s data. They’re also responsible for setting expectations for how IT systems might run at an organization and carrying out training workshops and statistical analyses at a firm.
Another role is that of a data scientist. This is the person who collects and analyzes a company’s structured and unstructured data. They analyze, process, and model data to develop useful plans for corporations and other organizations. They are essentially wrangling and rounding up all of the data churned out by a company — some of it fits neatly into a database, while some of it includes the information generated by a businesses’ email accounts and social media feeds. A person with a computer science programming background may be able to transition into this field, but could benefit from mastering some data science skills, too.
Online master’s in computer science curriculum
Online computer science degrees can offer a curriculum that is equivalent to that of on-campus programs. Here’s a sampling of subjects you may study while enrolled in an online master’s program:
Analysis of algorithms. Develop the skills to understand and graph computer algorithms. Courses in this area will also enable you to optimize, randomize, and analyze algorithms so that you’re capable of applying algorithmic thinking in the real world and produce solutions involving sorting and searching.
Operating systems principles. Learn to design and implement different operating systems. Courses in this area will give you insight into process scheduling and coordination, memory management, and file system management and structuring.
Computer architecture. Evaluate computer hardware design, from memory hierarchies to run-time optimization to parallel processing, and more. Courses in this area will also expose you to vector processing and instruction sets, such as RISC and CISC.
Software engineering. Learn about software life cycle models, which include software design techniques, data flow and structures, project and risk management, and coding and testing methods. Courses in this area place an emphasis on best practices in software engineering, by industry.
Online master’s in computer science faculty
Earning a degree from an online master’s in computer science program can expose you to qualified experts in the field who are currently working on real-world solutions and cutting-edge research. When assessing what program makes the most sense for your academic and career interests, consider reviewing faculty member profiles and confirming that you have access to the same faculty and mentors as on-campus learners.
It could also be helpful to look at faculty members’ work histories and published research and reports. You can determine if their work is aligned with your interests in computer science. If it is, perhaps that person could become a mentor to help guide you in forging an academic and research path of your own, or toward another professional goal.
How to choose the best online master’s in computer science program for you
A master’s degree can help you hone your skills in a specific concentration. With an online master’s in computer science, you can pursue jobs in information security, data analytics, software engineering, or cryptography, among others.
Choosing the right degree for you — one that will help you to advance your career—may seem overwhelming at first. But a wealth of choices can be a good thing. It allows you to compare the programs you’re most interested in, list the pros and cons of each (such as concentrations available), and determine which one aligns with your career goals. The right degree program for you should also accommodate your lifestyle.
You may find that an online master’s degree program is the best fit for you. There are many online learning advantages. For one, people with busy schedules find flexibility with these programs while still having access to a world-class education.
Many schools also provide learners with services like online library access, career and academic counseling, and alumni connections.
Online master’s in computer science career and salary outlook
Employment of computer and information technology workers will grow much faster than the average for all other occupations between 2022 and 2032—about 377,500 openings are projected each year, according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) data.
The 2022 median annual wage for jobs in this field was $100,530, according to BLS data.
Computer and information research scientists, computer network architects, and software developers, quality assurance analysts, and testers are among the highest-paid professionals in the field, according to BLS data. The 2022 median annual pay for these positions were $136,620, $126,900, and $124,200 respectively.
While these estimates give you an idea of earning potential, pay varies by location, employer, industry, and more. Among computer network architects, those who worked in computer systems design earned a median annual salary of $129,230 in 2022, while those in educational services earned a median annual salary of $92,470.
You may only need a bachelor’s degree to land an entry-level computer science job, but a master’s degree may increase your pay. Carefully review job descriptions to ensure you meet the minimum educational requirements.
FAQ
What can you do with a master’s in computer science? A master’s in computer science may provide opportunities in a variety of fields, including web development, software development, and network architecture. An individual with a master’s in computer science may also consider pursuing a career in academia.
How long does it take to get a master’s degree in computer science? A master’s degree in computer science typically takes two years to complete, however, this may change if someone pursues their program part time instead of full time.
Online master’s in computer science programs list
Here’s a list of online master’s in computer science programs currently available nationwide. Each university’s website will be the best place to find the most up-to-date information on program offerings.
City University of Seattle
Master of Science in Computer Science
Seattle, Washington
Name of Degree: Master of Science in Computer Science
Enrollment Type: Full-Time and Part-Time
Length of Program: 2 years
Credits: 39-59
Concentrations: N/A
Admission Requirements:
- Bachelor of Arts or Master’s in Computer Systems, Computer Engineering, Computer Science, Information Systems, Information Technology, or an ABET- accredited program
Clarkson University
Master of Science in Computer Science
Potsdam, New York
Name of Degree: Master of Science in Computer Science
Enrollment Type: Full-Time and Part-Time
Length of Program: 1+ years
Credits: 30
Concentrations: N/A
Admission Requirements:
- Resume
- Statement of purpose.
- Three letters of recommendation
- Official transcripts.
- GRE scores
- TOEFL or IELTS
Colorado State University
Masters in Computer Science
Fort Collins, Colorado
Name of Degree: Masters in Computer Science
Enrollment Type: Full-Time
Length of Program: 2 years
Credits: 35
Concentrations: N/A
Admission Requirements:
- Three letters of recommendation
- Resume
- Statement of purpose
- Transcripts
- Bachelor’s
- GRE scores
- 3.2 GPA
- TOEFL/IELTS
Colorado Technical University
Masters in Computer Science
Colorado Springs, Colorado
Name of Degree: Masters in Computer Science
Enrollment Type: N/A
Length of Program: N/A
Credits: 48
Concentrations: Cybersecurity Engineering, Data Science, Software Engineering
Admission Requirements:
- Transcripts
- Bachelor’s
- TOEFL/IELTS
Columbia University
School of Engineering and Applied Science
Masters in Computer Science
New York, New York
Name of Degree: Masters in Computer Science
Enrollment Type: Full-Time and Part-Time
Length of Program: 1+ years
Credits: 30
Concentrations: Computational Biology, Computer Security, Foundations of Computer Science, Machine Learning, Natural Language Processing, Network Systems, Software SystemsVIsion, Graphics, Interaction and Robotics
Admission Requirements:
- Three letters of recommendation
- Resume
- Transcripts
- GRE scores
- 3.3 GPA
- TOEFL/IELTS
DePaul University
College of Computing and Digital Media
Masters in Computer Science
Chicago , Illinois
Name of Degree: Masters in Computer Science
Enrollment Type: Full-Time and Part-Time
Length of Program: N/A
Credits: 32
Concentrations: N/A
Admission Requirements:
- Resume
- Transcripts
- Bachelor’s
- GRE scores
- 2.5 GPA
- TOEFL/IELTS
Drexel University
Master of Science in Computer Science
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Name of Degree: Master of Science in Computer Science
Enrollment Type: Full-Time and Part-Time
Length of Program: 2+ years
Credits: 45
Concentrations: N/A
Admission Requirements:
- Bachelor’s degree
- 3.0 GPA
- Official transcripts
- One letter of recommendation
- Essay/statement of purpose
- Resume
Florida Atlantic University
Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science
Master of Science with a Major in Computer Science
Boca Raton, Florida
Name of Degree: Master of Science with a Major in Computer Science
Enrollment Type: Full-Time and Part-Time
Length of Program: N/A
Credits: 30
Concentrations: N/A
Admission Requirements:
- Bachelor’s degree
- GPA 3.25
- Official transcripts
- GRE scores
Georgia Institute of Technology
College of Computing
Master of Science in Computer Science
Atlanta, Georgia
Name of Degree: Master of Science in Computer Science
Enrollment Type: N/A
Length of Program: N/A
Credits: 30
Concentrations: Computational Perception and Robotics, Computing Systems, Interactive Intelligence, Machine Learning
Admission Requirements:
- Bachelor’s degree or equivalent.
- GRE or GMAT
- Resume
- Three letters of recommendation
- TOEFL or IELTS scores
Illinois Institute of Technology
Master of Computer Science
Chicago, Illinois
Name of Degree: Master of Computer Science
Enrollment Type: Full-Time and Part-Time
Length of Program: 1+ years
Credits: 30
Concentrations: Business, Computational Intelligence, Cyber-Physical Systems, Data Analytics, Database Systems, Cloud Computing, Finance, Information Security and Assurance, Networking and Communications, Software Engineering
Admission Requirements:
- Bachelor’s degree
- 3.0 GPA
- Official transcripts
- GRE scores
- One letter of recommendation
- Essay/statement of purpose
- Resume
- Completion of prerequisite coursework
Johns Hopkins University
Whiting School of Engineering
Masters in Computer Science
Baltimore , Maryland
Name of Degree: Masters in Computer Science
Enrollment Type: Full-Time and Part-Time
Length of Program: 1+ years
Credits: 21+
Concentrations: Cybersecurity, Data Communications
Admission Requirements:
- Bachelor’s Degree
- 3.0 GPA
- Official transcripts
- CV or Resume
- Completion of of prerequisites coursework
Lewis University
Master of Science in Computer Science
Romeoville, Illinois
Name of Degree: Master of Science in Computer Science
Enrollment Type: Full-Time and Part-Time
Length of Program: 1+ years
Credits: 33-51
Concentrations: N/A
Admission Requirements:
- Bachelor’s Degree from an accredited university
- 3.0 GPA
- Undergrad coursework in calculus
- Professional resume
- Official transcripts
- Statement of purpose
- Two letters of recommendation
- TOEFL score for international students
Missouri University of Science and Technology
Master of Science in Computer Science
Rolla, Missouri
Name of Degree: Master of Science in Computer Science
Enrollment Type: Full-Time and Part-Time
Length of Program: 1+ years
Credits: 31
Concentrations: Cybersecurity, Computational Intelligence, Big Data Management
Admission Requirements:
- Bachelor’s degree in related discipline
- 3.0 GPA
- GRE scores
- International requirement: TOEFL or IELTS
National University
Master of Science in Computer Science
San Diego , California
Name of Degree: Master of Science in Computer Science
Enrollment Type: Self-paced
Length of Program: Less than 1 year
Credits: 58.5
Concentrations: N/A
Admission Requirements:
- Bachelor’s Degree from an accredited university
- Minimum 2.5 GPA
- Professional resume
- Official or Unofficial transcripts
- The program is designed for professionals currently working in business, government, or industry who want to advance their careers
New Jersey Institute of Technology
Masters in Computer Science
Newark, New Jersey
Name of Degree: Masters in Computer Science
Enrollment Type: Full-Time and Part-Time
Length of Program: N/A
Credits: 30
Concentrations: Bioinformatics, Computer Networking & Security, Database & Data Mining, Image Processing & Pattern Recognition, Software Engineering
Admission Requirements:
- Transcripts from all colleges and universities attended
- GRE/GMAT results
- TOEFL/IELTS/Duolingo results for international applicants
- One letter of recommendation
North American University
Master of Science in Computer Science
Stafford, Texas
Name of Degree: Master of Science in Computer Science
Enrollment Type: Full-Time and Part-Time
Length of Program: 1.3 years
Credits: 30
Concentrations: N/A
Admission Requirements:
- Bachelor’s Degree from an accredited university
- Copy of ID
- Official transcripts
- Statement of purpose
- Two letters of recommendation
- TOEFL score for international students
North Carolina State University
Master of Computer Science
Raleigh, North Carolina
Name of Degree: Master of Computer Science
Enrollment Type: Full-Time and Part-Time
Length of Program: 1+ years
Credits: 31
Concentrations: N/A
Admission Requirements:
- Undergraduate coursework in a three- semester sequence in differential and integral calculus, a calculus
- 3.0 GPA
- GRE scores
- TOEFL score for international students
Old Dominion University
Masters in Computer Science
Norfolk, Virgina
Name of Degree: Masters in Computer Science
Enrollment Type: Full-Time and Part-Time
Length of Program: 2 years
Credits: 31-34
Concentrations: Bioinformatics, Data Mining, Cybersecurity, Software Engineering, Computational Foundations
Admission Requirements:
- Transcripts
- Two letters of recommendation
- GRE waived through Fall 2022
Stanford University
Master of Science in Computer Science
Stanford, California
Name of Degree: Master of Science in Computer Science
Enrollment Type: Part-Time
Length of Program: 2 years
Credits: 45
Concentrations: N/A
Admission Requirements:
- 3.0 GPA
- Unofficial/Official transcripts
- Resume
- Statement of Intent
- Three letters of recommendation
- TOEFL/IELTS Score for International Students
Stevens Institute of Technology
Masters in Computer Science
Hoboken , New Jersey
Name of Degree: Masters in Computer Science
Enrollment Type: Full-Time and Part-Time
Length of Program: 1+ years
Credits: 36
Concentrations: Cloud Computing Databases, Software Development, Visual Computing and Information Extraction, Secure Systems, Gaming and Simulation, Mobile Systems, Modeling, Simulation and Visualization, Network and Systems Administration, Web Application Development, Machine Learning
Admission Requirements:
- Bachelor’s degree, with a minimum 3.0 GPA, from an accredited institution]
- Official college transcripts
- Two letters of recommendation
- Resume (optional)
- TOEFL/IELTS scores (for international students)
- GRE or GMAT score
University of Idaho
Masters in Computer Science
Moscow , Idaho
Name of Degree: Masters in Computer Science
Enrollment Type: Full-Time and Part-Time
Length of Program: N/A
Credits: 30
Concentrations: N/A
Admission Requirements:
- Undergraduate degree
- 3.0 GPA
- Unofficial/Official transcripts
- GMAT or GRE scores test score
- Resume
- Statement of Intent
- Three letters of recommendation
- TOEFL/IELTS Score for International Students
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
The Grainger College of Engineering Computer Science
Master of Computer Science in Data Science
Champaign County, Illinois
Name of Degree: Master of Computer Science in Data Science
Enrollment Type: Full-Time and Part-Time
Length of Program: 1+ years
Credits: 32
Concentrations: N/A
Admission Requirements:
- Undergraduate degree
- 3.0 GPA
- Unofficial/Official transcripts
- Resume or CV
- Statement of Intent
- Three letters of recommendation
- TOEFL/IELTS Score for International Students
University of Louisville
Master of Science in Computer Science
Louisville, Kentucky
Name of Degree: Master of Science in Computer Science
Enrollment Type: Full-Time and Part-Time
Length of Program: 2 years
Credits: 30
Concentrations: N/A
Admission Requirements:
- Bachelor’s degree
- Minimum undergraduate GPA of 2.75
- Two letters of recommendation
- Personal statement or Resume
- Official transcripts”
University of Massachusetts-Dartmouth
Master of Science in Computer Science
Dartmouth, Massachusetts
Name of Degree: Master of Science in Computer Science
Enrollment Type: Full-Time and Part-Time
Length of Program: 1+ years
Credits: 30
Concentrations: N/A
Admission Requirements:
- Statement of purpose
- Resume
- Official transcripts from all accredited post- secondary institutions
- Two letters of recommendation
University of Michigan – Dearborn
Masters in Computer and Information Science
Dearborn, Michigan
Name of Degree: Masters in Computer and Information Science
Enrollment Type: Part-Time
Length of Program: N/A
Credits: 30
Concentrations: Computer Graphics, Geometric Modeling and Game Design, Computer Networks and Security, Database Management and Analytics, Software Engineering, Systems Software, Web Computing
Admission Requirements:
- Bachelor’s degree
- 3.0 GPA/4.0 or higher
- GRE not required
University of Southern California
Master of Science in Computer Science
Los Angeles, California
Name of Degree: Master of Science in Computer Science
Enrollment Type: N/A
Length of Program: N/A
Credits: 28
Concentrations: N/A
Admission Requirements:
- Undergraduate/Graduate Transcripts
- TOEFL/IELTS (only required for international students)
- Personal statement
- Resume or CV
University of West Georgia
Master of Computer Science with a Major in Applied Computer Sciences
Carrollton, Georgia
Name of Degree: Master of Computer Science with a Major in Applied Computer Sciences
Enrollment Type: Part-Time
Length of Program: 2 years
Credits: 36
Concentrations: N/A
Admission Requirements:
- Resume or CV or CV
- Personal narrative letter
- Three letters of recommendation
Last updated December 2023.
