Most Affordable Master's in Computer Science Online

Updated December 6, 2022

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A limited number of master's in computer science degree programs are available online. Therefore we were not able to compile a pool of options large enough to justify a multifactorial ranking system. Instead, we ranked the programs only according to their affordability. See below for the best cheap master's degrees in human services online, ranked from least to most expensive, according to their per credit hour online rate, along with several practical facts about each program.

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Top 33 Affordable Online Master's in Computer Science

  1. Georgia Southwestern State University
    Location

    Americus, GA

    Georgia Southwestern State University has an online master of science in computer science degree that is a 30 credit hour program that includes coursework in distributed web applications and topics in information security. With a student to faculty ratio of 17 to 1, the program has options for traditional admission and conditional admission. Georgia Southwestern State University charges an online, graduate tuition rate of $257 per credit hour for this program, regardless of residency. The school is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, Commission on Colleges.

  2. University of West Georgia
    Location

    Carrollton, GA

    The University of West Georgia has an online master of science with a major in applied computer science degree that is a 36 credit hour program that includes coursework in program construction and web technologies. With a student-to-faculty ratio of 21 to 1, the program asks applicants to include three letters of recommendation, a letter of intent, and an up-to-date professional resume. The University of West Georgia charges an online, graduate tuition rate of $312 per credit hour for this program. The school is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, Commission on Colleges.

  3. Jacksonville State University
    Location

    Jacksonville, AL

    Jacksonville State University has an online master of science in computer systems and software design degree that is a 30 credit hour program. With a student-to-faculty ratio of 18 to 1, the program is designed to train students with an applied approach to prepare tomorrow's analysts, programmers, and managers to adapt to the next developments in information technology. Jacksonville State University charges online graduate students $382 per credit hour. The school is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, Commission on Colleges, and its graduate computer science program will consider students with relevant undergraduate degrees and/or those with significant professional experience and coursework.

  4. University of Illinois at Springfield
    Location

    Springfield, IL

    The University of Illinois at Springfield has an online master of science in computer science degree that is a 32 credit hour program that includes coursework in NoSQL databases and data visualization. With a student to faculty ratio of 15 to 1, the program requires an undergraduate GPA of 2.7 on a 4.0 scale. The University of Illinois at Springfield charges an online, graduate tuition rate of $403 per credit hour for this program. The school is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Schools and Colleges.

  5. Georgia Southern University
    Location

    Statesboro, GA

    Georgia Southern University has a relatively concentrated 30 credit-hour online master of computer science degree. The program has a cutting-edge concentration in data and knowledge systems, which includes "speech and vision recognition systems, expert systems, data storage systems, and information retrieval systems." The school charges an online, graduate tuition rate of $410 per credit hour for this program. With a student to faculty ratio of 22 to 1, Georgia Southern University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, Commission on Colleges, and its graduate program will consider students with relevant professional experience but not the minimum GPA.

  6. Southern Arkansas State University
    Location

    Magnolia, AR

    Southern Arkansas State University has an online master of science in computer and information science degree that is a 30 credit hour program that offers three areas of focus: information science; data science; and cybersecurity and privacy. With a student to faculty ratio of 17 to 1, the program will require additional coursework from applicants without the relevant computer science and math coursework. Southern Arkansas State University charges an online, out of state, graduate tuition rate of $467 per credit hour for this program. The school is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools.

  7. University of West Florida
    Location

    Pensacola, FL

    The University of West Florida has an online master of science in computer science degree that is a 30 credit hour program that offers three specializations: computer science; database systems; and software engineering. With a student-to-faculty ratio of 22 to 1, the program requires submission of GRE or MAT scores. The University of West Florida charges an online, out-of-state-waivered, graduate tuition rate of $478.83 per credit hour. The school is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, Commission on Colleges.

  8. University of Idaho
    Location

    Moscow, ID

    The University of Idaho has an online master of science in computer science degree that is a 30 credit hour program that includes coursework in system software and theory of computation. With a student-to-faculty ratio of 16 to 1, the program has a contingency plan for "admission with deficiencies." The University of Idaho charges an online, graduate tuition rate of $492 per credit hour for this program, regardless of residency. The school is accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities.

  9. Charleston Southern University
    Location

    Charleston, SC

    Charleston Southern University has an online master of science in computer science degree that is a 33 credit hour program that includes coursework in advanced algorithms and ethical hacking. With a student to faculty ratio of 15 to 1, the program may request a faculty interview after reviewing the admissions packet. Charleston Southern University charges an online, graduate tuition rate of $500 per credit hour for this program. The school is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, Commission on Colleges.

  10. Frostburg State University
    Location

    Frostburg, MD

    Frostburg State University has an online master of science in computer science degree that is a 30 credit hour program including coursework in advanced software engineering and security in computing. With a student to faculty ratio of 15 to 1, the program will consider applicants with an undergraduate GPA of less than 3.0 for provisional admission. Frostburg State University charges an online, out of state, graduate tuition rate of $557 per credit hour for this program. The school is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.

Methodology: Here's How We Rank Schools

At Best Value Schools, we help students of all ages get the best possible value for their education. When choosing the best schools and programs, we prioritize tuition rates, student debt, financial aid opportunities, graduation rates, and the availability of online programs. We source unbiased data from government and educational databases like the National Center for Education Statistics and the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics for 6,374 schools across the U.S. We organize that data into five weighted categories to compile our school rankings.
Metric Data Used Percentage
Academic Quality Full-time faculty percentage, student-to-faculty ratio, student retention and graduation rates 25%
Affordability Tuition rates, median student debt, and financial aid 35%
Reputation Admission and enrollment rates 15%
Program Offerings Number of program options 10%
Online Enrollment Score Portion of learners taking at least one online course 15%
You can read more about our comprehensive evaluation process on our methodology page.

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