What are the best online colleges for computer science degrees?

The best school is a relatively subjective thing because everyone has different goals and needs when it comes to their education, career, and even the finances available to them to pay for their education varies. Something with so many contributing factors isn’t all that easy to measure, but ranking websites, like this one, use different detailed methodologies to discern what schools are among the best for students. By these standards, Colorado Technical University is the best option. Also among the best are Old Dominion University and Thomas Edison State College.

Once you decide that you want to pursue a degree in computer science, and that distance learning is the best option for you, so begins your research for the best online colleges for computer science. Based on three factors: affordability, academic reputation, and student satisfaction research has shown that the best option is Colorado Technical University. CTU has multiple start dates throughout the year for students to begin their asynchronous courses, and costs as little as $325 per credit hour. Industry relevance is of the utmost importance as their curriculum is created, so you will never feel as though you’re learning outdated skills. In addition, any skill that you feel that you have already mastered, you will have the option to opt for what they have titled a Fast Track program. With this particular choice, you will be able to test out of a subject that you’re competent in, and uniquely, this option is offered at no extra cost from this particular institution. Another great option is Old Dominion University. The cost per credit hour is a little higher at $345, and the program does require 120 credit hours in total. They do have an incredible transfer opportunity for students, that is way more lax than you find at other schools; Old Dominion offers guaranteed acceptance to students that are coming from a variety of community colleges across the state of Virginia. Their bachelor’s in computer science online program is held to the same standards and has the same accreditation as that of their traditional on-campus program in the same field. They have a student satisfaction rate of an astounding 96% currently reported by the National Center for Education Statistics. Thomas Edison State College is another program that has ranked highly according to the research OnlineCollegePlan has done. Their motto is “exclusively for adults” which is a breath of fresh air for those of you who are already working professionals, have families, or have generally moved on from the “glory days of high school.” They have excellent flexibility, credit transfer policies, and additional support for their distance learning students. Thomas Edison State College is an institution that understands that sometimes, life gets in your way. They do everything they can to support students, and these efforts culminate in about 61% of their entire student body completing their degree in as little as three years. And they only cost an estimated $251 per credit hour!