Best Affordable Online Computer Science Degree Programs of 2026

Why We Chose It: Cal State Monterey Bay is the most affordable option for students who have a bachelor’s degree or some college experience.

CSUMB's computer science program is the most affordable option if you have a bachelor’s degree in another field or transferable college credits, as it offers both degree-completion and post-baccalaureate options.

CSUMB’s degree-completion program is designed for students with previous college experience. It costs $550 per credit and requires 51 credits to graduate, totaling $28,050. In comparison, the University of Wisconsin’s program costs $525 per credit but requires 61 credits, totaling about $32,000.

On the other hand, CSUMB’s post-baccalaureate program — designed specifically for students who already hold a bachelor’s degree — costs $550 per credit. Because the program requires 45 credits, the total comes to $24,750 for the full two-year sequence.

The only other schools on this list offering comparable post-baccalaureate options are the University of Colorado and Oregon State University, which charge roughly $1,000 and $605 per credit, respectively.

Overall, this program is a strong option if you mostly need to complete core classes required to enter the computer science field.

What We Like About Cal State Monterey Bay

• CSUMB uses a cohort model with about 35 students, allowing you to learn alongside peers at a similar professional and educational level and access individualized support from instructors and advisors.
• Courses run in short, eight-week blocks instead of the traditional 16-week term, which shortens the overall graduation timeline. 
• The program offers a concentration in software engineering for those who want additional specialization. 

What We Don't Like

• CSUMB doesn’t currently accept students from certain states, including Alabama, Connecticut, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Georgia, Maryland, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, Rhode Island, and more.
• CSUMB charges a $234 extended education fee per term, in addition to the standard tuition fees.

Why We Chose It: This program lets you earn graduate credits that count toward both your bachelor’s and master’s in computer science.

Oregon State University's computer science program allows students to earn both their bachelor’s and master’s degrees in about five years.

Through the school'sAccelerated Master's Platform, you can take graduate-level courses during the fourth year of your undergraduate program and apply those credits toward both degrees. As a result, by the start of your fifth year, you'll have only 23 credits left to complete — rather than the full 45 required to complete a master's program.

If you’re not interested in earning a master’s, OSU’s bachelor’s program is still a strong option on its own. It allows you to specialize in applied computer science or cybersecurity — two key focus areas in the field — and it offers four start dates, more than many similar programs.

What We Like About OSU

• OSU also offers an online post-baccalaureate BS in computer science, a 60-credit program designed for students who already hold a bachelor’s degree in another field.
• The institution offers additional certificates and microcredentials in computer science, artificial intelligence, engineering, and more.
• You’ll need to complete a three-term online capstone project designed to mirror OSU’s on-campus engineering design experience. It focuses on exposing students to essential skills, including open-ended design and project management.

What We Don't Like

• At $449 per credit and 180 credits required for the bachelor's-master's program, OSU costs around $81,000 in total, making it the most expensive school on our list.

Why We Chose It: This program stands out for offering the only specialization in artificial intelligence (AI) on our list.

The University of Colorado Boulder's applied computer science BS is an excellent choice for students interested in specializing in AI.

CU Boulder’s post-baccalaureate computer science program requires 45 credits to graduate, and 12 of those must be AI-related to complete the specialization. Courses in this track include Introduction to Artificial Intelligence, Natural Language Processing, Machine Learning, and Cognitive Science. 

Through this coursework, you'll learn how computers understand and generate human language, as well as how machines process and learn from data. You'll also explore how AI connects to human cognition to develop more intuitive, human-like systems.

If you’re interested in specializing in other computer science topics, CU Boulder offers additional specialization tracks in data science and computer systems.

What We Like About CU Boulder

• This program can be completed in just 18 months, but you may also extend it to two or three years if you'd benefit from a more flexible place.
• Classes are asynchronous, meaning they aren’t held at set times. And you can complete assignments at your own pace as long as you meet the required deadlines.

What We Don't Like

• This program is only available to post-baccalaureate students, which means you must have a bachelor's degree in another field to qualify for admission.
• This program is the most expensive on our list, with tuition ranging from $800-$900 per credit for in-state and out-of-state students, respectively.

Why We Chose It: This is the most affordable full undergraduate program on our list, making it a strong option for students earning their first degree.

If you're a first-time student, theUniversity of Illinois' BS in computer science is a strong option. UIS is the most affordable choice on this list for those without any prior college experience.

At $424 per credit hour, this 120-credit program costs about $50,820 in total. The only similar full bachelor’s program on our list is OSU's, which requires students to earn 180 credits at $449 per credit — about $81,000 total.

This program typically takes about four years to complete, although part-time students may take more time (an additional year or two) to earn their degree. You can earn extra credits through the program'sInternships and Prior Learning (IPL) option, which places students in state agencies or private companies to gain on-the-job experience that counts toward their degree.

What We Like About UIS

• The IPL program can help online students find local internships, regardless of their location.
• The program employs a flat-rate tuition model, so students pay the same no matter where they live.
• As a UIS student, you'll have access to the Brookens Library and the Learning Hub, which provides virtual tutoring, study groups, workshops, and more.

What We Don't Like

• At UIS, online students are grouped with the on-campus cohort, which can make it harder to receive personalized support from instructors.

Why We Chose It: This program offers scholarships for distance learning, as well as extensive career and wellness services.

TheUniversity of Wisconsin–Platteville's BS in applied computing makes our list for offering several scholarships specifically for online students. UW-Platteville also maintains a comprehensive set of support resources for distance learners.

Online computer science students can apply for three undergraduate scholarships, which generally award between $300 and $700 per year. They are awarded based on specific criteria and may require students to maintain a minimum GPA or submit an essay.

When it comes to support services, UW-Platteville offers online students more resources than other schools on our list do. For example, online learners have access to the Career & Professional Development Office, where they can schedule job-shadowing experiences, informational interviews, and career-planning appointments. Students can also attend career fairs, explore internships and co-op opportunities, and receive assistance with resumes, cover letters, and more.

The school also offers extensive counseling services. Through its partnership with Mantra Health, students can schedule daytime, evening, or weekend appointments with licensed master’s-level therapists or psychiatric nurse practitioners. For immediate assistance, students can contact the UW Mental Health Support Line, which is available 24/7.

What We Like About UW-Platteville

• The program relies on an industry advisory board that provides regular feedback on recent trends in applied computing. Some of the members work for well-known companies like Uber and Asana.
• Courses follow an eight-week format, so you can graduate in as few as 16 months.
• This program is asynchronous, giving students the flexibility to study at their own pace.

What We Don't Like

• UW-Plateville’s computer science program is a degree-completion program, meaning it's only available to students with prior college experience.