Bachelors in Computer Programming

The industries that need computer programmers are boundless, which means you may be able to pursue a career in the field that interests you the most — so if you’re really into cars then you may be able to make your career programming for and developing softwarefor the auto industry. An online bachelor’s in computer programming can help you develop the technical and soft skills you need to help you succeed.

You can earn an online computer programming degree at the associate, master’s and doctoral levels. However, the best online computer programming degree in terms of job prospects is a bachelor’s degree, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).

Earning your bachelor’s in computer programming online can suit individuals who want the same quality of instruction provided by a traditional brick-and-mortar institution but need the flexibility of an online program due to work, family or other commitments. Online degree programs often suit those who already have a job, are changing careers, or have family commitments.

Online Bachelor’s Degree Program in Computer Programming

Prerequisites:

High school diploma or equivalent

Typical Duration:

Up to four years of full-time study

No. of online colleges offering this program:

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See Methodology
Ranking Seal

There are a number of online computer programming degree programs out there and choosing the one that suits your needs the best can be an intensely personal decision to make. However, certain factors such as tuition, career services, student-to-faculty ratios and financial aid options can be of common importance to most students. Our methodology, using data from the BLS and Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS), includes these factors and more.

This list presents you with an unbiased look at the featured online colleges for computer programming degrees. We’ve also included information on the quality of the program based on participation with NC-SARA or whether they are certified for online program quality.

We have here our methodology as well.

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Limestone College, Gaffney, SC

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Percent Receiving Financial Aid
99%
Retention Rate
52%
No. of Online Programs
20
Tuition Fees
$24,900
Program Offered:

Online Bachelor’s in Computer Science with Programming concentration. The program intends to provide students with a firm grounding in key information technology areas such as programming, systems administration, security and architecture. The program has been designed to challenge students to think creatively and devise unique solutions to various programming problems — skills that can be valuable in solving business challenges using software systems.

Flexibility:
  • Fully online program; also available in a hybrid format
  • Courses are offered in eight-week terms with six terms per year
  • Students may be required to contact their online instructor once a week
Quality Factors:
  • Limestone College is a SARA-approved institution
  • It is regionally accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges
Credit Hours:
  • A minimum of 123 credit hours
  • Transfer credits may be accepted up to 90 semester hour credits from previously attended regionally accredited institutions
Differentiators:
  • Students may have the option of completing a capstone course where they may need to plan, research and develop a large-scale project based on the concentration
  • Students may also earn credits through testing and examination, for military courses and for other training programs
  • Access to catalogs, databases, writing resources, interlibrary loan services and research guidance from librarians
  • The college assigns an advisor to each student to help with planning and achieving academic goals
  • Live, one-on-one tutorial sessions from the Limestone College Online Writing Lab (LC OWL) for help in writing assignments
Type of Institute:

Private, not-for-profit

Scholarships Offered:

Students who qualify may apply for scholarships such as the Lois Daniels Horton Endowed Scholarship Fund. Please visit the school website for more information.

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Baker College, Flint, MI

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Percent Receiving Financial Aid
97%
Retention Rate
49%
No. of Online Programs
47
Tuition Fees
$9,600
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Southwestern College, Winfield, KS

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Percent Receiving Financial Aid
100%
Retention Rate
66%
No. of Online Programs
41
Tuition Fees
$33,250
Program Offered:

Online Bachelor’s in Computer Programming Technology. The program addresses the complete dynamic software development life cycle — including developing initial algorithms, pseudo-code, graphical user interfaces, documenting code, coding and testing, and maintaining designed applications. The aim is to help students gain expertise in designing and developing applications utilizing object-oriented, web and database technologies.

Flexibility:
  • Fully online programs
  • Courses offered in six-week sessions that begin eight times a year
Quality Factors:
  • Southwestern College is accredited the Higher Learning Commission
Credit Hours:
  • A minimum of 124 credit hours
  • A maximum of 64 transfer credits may be accepted from previously attended regionally accredited institutions in courses where the student has acquired a grade of C or better
Differentiators:
  • Students may also be required to complete a capstone course involving two projects to apply and asses the skills gained during the program
  • Access to digital databases with full-text articles, e-books, interlibrary loan resources and research assistance from the Deets Library
  • Online students may consult with academic success coaches for guidance related to the academic program
  • Access to one-on-one web-based consultations as well as online resources and guidance in writing skills
  • Access to a variety of online career planning and development resources
Type of Institute:

Private, not-for-profit

Scholarships Offered:

Scholarships such as the Pathable Scholarship and Student Scholarship Award may be available for students who qualify. To view the complete list, please visit the school website.

Source: Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) 2018-19, National Center for Education Statistics, http://nces.ed.gov/ipeds/

Computer Programmers
Average Salary
$92,610
Projected Job Openings
15,100
Projected Job Growth
-7%
Computer programmers are typically responsible for writing and testing code that allows computer applications and software programs to function properly. These professionals work closely with software developers, and in some businesses their duties overlap. In this situation, programmers can do work that is typical of developers, such as designing programs. They usually have a bachelor’s degree in computer science or a related subject; however, some employers may hire workers who have other degrees or experience in specific programming languages. Keeping up to date with the newest programming tools can improve job prospects for those interested to pursue this career. According to the BLS, states with the highest employment level in this occupation are California (employment: 21,800; annual mean wage: $107,300), Texas (employment: 18,070; annual mean wage: $102,650), New York (employment: 12,910; annual mean wage: $91,290), Florida (employment: 8,310; annual mean wage: $80,070), and Pennsylvania (employment: 7,420; annual mean wage: $92,760).
Software Developers, Applications
Average Salary
$111,620
Projected Job Openings
99,200
Projected Job Growth
26%
Software developers typically manage the entire development process for a software program. They usually start with asking about the customer plans, and identifying the core functionality that they need. Then, software developers determine user requirements that are unrelated to the functions of the software, design the program and give instructions to programmers, who write computer code and test it. To pursue the career of software development, candidates usually have a bachelor’s degree in computer science, software engineering, or a related field. According to the BLS, jobs in this field are projected to grow 22 percent by 2029, much faster than the average for all occupations. Software developers may be needed to respond to an increased demand for computer software. California (employment: 249,700; annual mean wage: $137,620), Texas (employment: 113,140; annual mean wage: $109,570), Washington (employment: 99,630; annual mean wage: $138,400), New York (employment: 83,330; annual mean wage: $122,300), and Virginia (employment: 77,260; annual mean wage: $116,850), are the states with the highest employment level for this occupation, as stated by the BLS.

Source: 2020 Occupational Employment Statistics and 2019-29 Employment Projections, Bureau of Labor Statistics, BLS.gov.

As you can see from the table above, what you can do with a computer programming degree includes a number of different occupations. Broadly speaking though, computer programmers work closely with software developers to write and test the code needed for a computer program to carry out needed tasks. In smaller businesses, the two roles may overlap. Depending on their field of expertise, computer programmers may write programs in different programming languages like C++ or Java, test completed programs for bugs and fix them or update and expand the scope of existing programs.

Step 1: Needed prerequisites:

According to the College Board, it helps to be a good communicator as you may have to describe highly technical concepts in simple terms to people who are not computer savvy. A big benefit of earning your computer programming degree online can be that potential employers see your ability to work independently, be self-motivated enough to earn a degree while managing other commitments in your life.

Step 2: Education / work experience required:

The BLS reports that most computer programmers have a bachelor’s degree in programming although some individuals may enter the field through related degrees like computer science or experience in using a particular programming language. It can be important to gain work experience as well, through internships for example, before entering the field as employers prefer hiring candidates with some experience under their belts.

What certifications do I need to be a computer programmer?

Although computer programmers usually do not require licenses, employers may prefer hiring candidates with professional certifications in specific aspects of the field. Some companies may require their employees to be certified in specific products or languages they use.

Some online bachelor’s degree programs in computer programming may prepare you for examinations for vendor-specific or programming language certifications.

Before investing in an expensive professional certification though, it can be important to ask yourself the following questions:

  • Will this certification qualify me for a better job or help me earn more?
  • Does this certification align with my career goals?

Some certifications may require you to have a certain amount of work experience before you are eligible to sit for the examination. Certifications usually need to be renewed periodically through continuing education classes and/ or reexamination.

These are just a few of the certifications you can earn:

Financial aid and scholarships can help students cross financial barriers toward earning a computer programming degree. Scholarships and grants may be offered by colleges, private foundations, and even companies with a vested interest in churning out more computer programmers. Some scholarships to help you get started in your search are:

The industries that pay the highest are not necessarily the ones with the largest employment numbers. Nonresidential building construction companies pay the most followed by companies involved in securities, commodity contracts, and other financial investments and related activities.

Washington, the home of Microsoft and Amazon, is the top state for software developers with the highest wages. For those interested in pursuing a career in software development, the table below gives in-depth information about the various states, metropolitan areas and salary figures from the BLS.

By States
By Metropolitan
StateEmploymentAnual Mean Wage
California249,620$134,370
Washington77,650$131,870
New York78,890$119,570
Virginia73,310$114,440
New Jersey50,320$113,510
Texas109,510$107,940
North Carolina42,020$105,060
Illinois54,700$103,760
Florida59,880$99,840
Ohio43,210$95,920
MetropolitanEmploymentAnual Mean Wage
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA81,950$145,730
San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA65,790$145,250
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA71,940$134,090
New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA100,470$122,230
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA56,260$121,150
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV70,780$118,110
Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH55,260$115,940
Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX51,370$110,340
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI46,970$104,610
Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA40,400$103,490

Advanced degrees may help you move into higher-level roles like software design or development. You may also be able to enter research and academia should you decide you want to advance your career with a doctoral degree.

Graduate degrees in the field usually fall under the computer science banner and can take up to two years to complete. Doctoral degrees, which may take up to seven years, may allow you to work on large projects in high-level management roles or teach university courses.

Gaining experience using different languages may also allow you to climb the career ladder and advance to more responsible positions including managing entire teams and project.

Fact: The Encyclopedia Britannica suggests that the computer world has more than 2,000 programming languages that are in use today, with some being used more commonly than others.

Methodologies and Sources

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Sources:

  • 15-1131 Computer Programmer, Occupational Employment and Wages, May 2017, Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, 2017, https://www.bls.gov/oes/2017/may/oes151131.htm#st
  • 5 Skills to Help You Thrive in Computer Programming, Grantham University, 2017, https://www.grantham.edu/blog/5-skills-help-thrive-computer-programming/
  • Bachelor’s Degree Specialization in Software Programming, DeVry University, https://www.devry.edu/online-programs/bachelors-degrees/computer-information-systems/software-programming-specialization/, accessed April 2019
  • Best Developer Certifications to Boost Your Career in 2017, Spring People, 2017, https://www.springpeople.com/blog/best-developer-certifications-to-boost-your-career-in-2017/
  • Career: Computer Programmers, Big Future, The College Board, https://bigfuture.collegeboard.org/careers/computers-math-computer-programmers, accessed April 2019
  • Computer Programmers, Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, https://www.bls.gov/ooh/computer-and-information-technology/computer-programmers.htm, accessed April 2019
  • Major: Computer Programming, General, Big Future, The College Board, https://bigfuture.collegeboard.org/majors/computer-information-sciences-computer-programming-general, accessed April 2019
  • Limestone College, Bachelor of Science in Computer Science | Programming, on the Internet at https://www.limestone.edu/academics/science/computer/programming (accessed on June 2019)
  • Limestone College, 2018-2019 Academic Catalog, on the Internet at https://my.limestone.edu/academic-catalog (accessed on June 2019)
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  • Limestone College, Transfer Policy, on the Internet at https://www.limestone.edu/transfer-policy (accessed on 2019)
  • Limestone College, Library Resources for Evening & Online Programs: Getting Started, on the Internet at https://libguides.limestone.edu/EveningOnlineLibrary (accessed on June 2019)
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  • National Council for State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements, on the Internet at https://www.nc-sara.org/states/SC (accessed on June 2019)
  • Baker College, Undergraduate Studies – Bachelor of Science, Computer Science – Concentration in Computer Programming, on the Internet at https://www.baker.edu/academics/undergraduate-studies/college-of-engineering-and-information-technology/computer-science-concentration-in-computer-programming (accessed on June 10, 2019)
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Methodologies and Sources