35 Best Online Accelerated Computer Science Degree Programs [2024 Guide]
By Joy Miller
Edited by Tania Staley
Updated on September 19, 2024
Looking for the fastest accelerated computer science degrees online? You’re good with computers, and you know it, so why not make a lucrative career out of it?
Computers are everywhere: desktop, mobile, industrial, consumer, and more. Cisco puts the estimate at over 8 billion devices (and growing). It’s no wonder that online CS degrees are so popular.
Editorial Listing ShortCode:
Methodology: The following school list is in alphabetical order. To be included, a college or university must be regionally accredited and offer computer science degree programs online or in a hybrid format.
Austin Peay State University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.
Baker College is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
California State University – Monterey Bay is accredited by the WASC Senior College and University Commission.
Charleston Southern University is accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.
Colorado Technical University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
Columbia College is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
Concordia University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.
Dakota State University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
Davenport University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
DePaul University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
Florida State University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, Commission on Colleges.
Fort Hays State University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools.
Franklin University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
Herzing University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
Lamar University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.
Lewis University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
Limestone University is accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.
Mercy College is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.
National University is accredited by the WASC Senior College and University Commission.
Old Dominion University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.
Oregon State University is accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities.
Pace University is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.
Park University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
Regent University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.
Regis University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
Saint Leo University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.
Salem University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
Southeast Missouri State University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
Southern New Hampshire University is accredited by the New England Commission of Higher Education.
Trident University is accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior College and University Commission.
Troy University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.
The University of Denver is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
The University of Florida is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.
The University of Illinois – Springfield is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
The University of Maryland Global is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.
Computer science is now considered a foundational science. It connects with many other areas of study, including education, medicine, finance, communication, and entertainment.
You may excel in a computer science program if you enjoy solving problems and analyzing situations and can organize and think creatively and logically.
Your studies will vary depending on your program, but here’s a sampling of common computer science courses:
Courses like these can prepare you to enter the rapidly changing field of computer science. Instead of watching as computer science and software engineering evolve, you can be at the front of the change!
Entering into the field of computer science can be a lucrative and rewarding decision. Here are some fast facts:
Data is provided by the US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).
The Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates that job openings in the field of computers will grow by 12%, with over 350,000 job openings each year, over the next 10 years.
There’s a high demand for trained professionals with knowledge of computer science in most industries. According to the BLS, some careers in the computer science field include:
| Careers | Annual Median Salary |
| Computer and Information Research Scientists | $145,080 |
| Computer Hardware Engineers | $138,080 |
| Software Developers | $132,270 |
| Computer Network Architects | $129,840 |
| Information Security Analysts | $120,360 |
| Data Scientists | $108,020 |
| Computer Systems Analysts | $103,800 |
| Computer Programmers | $99,700 |
| Network and Computer Systems Administrators | $95,360 |
Some of these jobs may require further education or experience to acquire. Exact salaries depend on several factors, including location, employer, education, and experience.
Traditionally, college classes are 16 weeks long, but they don’t have to take that long. Computer science accelerated classes can be 6 to 8 weeks long.
If you are ready to jump in and start now, we have good news. You can! Most universities have new online accelerated class start dates every month.
Since computer science careers are in high demand, setting yourself apart from others with your experience and education can boost your chances of getting your dream career.
Computer science, sometimes abbreviated to CS or CompSci, is a trans-disciplinary course of study about the operation, architecture, use, and design of computers, hardware, and software, as well as mathematical elements, like theories of computation, algorithmic construction, and analysis.
Along with an in-depth understanding of computers and software, the following qualities and skills can help lead to success in this field:
Earning a computer science degree can help you develop the skills and experience to set yourself apart.
A Bachelor of Computer Science (BSC or BSCS) is traditionally a 4-year course of study at degree-granting institutions. That timeframe can be shortened through an accelerated computer science degree program.
A degree can make a serious difference, especially in a field like computer science, where a bachelor’s or even a master’s degree is a basic qualification for many jobs.
Technology evolves at a lightning-fast pace. Earning a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution can help you become a well-rounded and up-to-date employee.
Earning a degree can make a drastic difference in one’s earning potential. According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, earning potential increases with every level of education achieved:
The numbers don’t lie. Even an associate degree in CS can make a big difference in your job and financial security.
Regional accreditation is crucial for ensuring your degree will be accepted by potential employers who want a credible standard of instruction and other college programs you may wish to attend or transfer to.
For instance, if you begin working toward your degree at a community college before transferring to a university granting bachelor’s degrees, you’ll want the credits for that hard work to transfer to other schools. Regional accreditation can help ensure this is possible.
Then maybe you’ll want to take the credits from your undergraduate years and apply them for admission to graduate school for a master’s degree program. Again, accreditation can make the difference in finding a program that meets your needs.
With so many degree mill schools engaging in fraudulent degrees, phony accreditation, and predatory lending, it is important to research your program and ensure it meets quality standards before investing in it.
Begin by checking the school’s website for computer science programs. The website should mention if the program is regionally accredited by an institution registered with the Department of Education.
If you can’t find it on the school’s website, you can search for it on the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) website. This site has a database of regional, faith-based, and programmatic accrediting bodies.
The Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET) is the big name in computer science and computer programming. Some schools have chosen not to bother with this accreditation and go by their reputation only, but this accreditation can set your degree apart from others.
The ABET is CHEA’s only computer science accrediting body. An ABET-accredited program at a regionally accredited school is the best way to ensure your program will meet the highest standards.
Accreditation can also help to finance your degree by assuring grant-making organizations, scholarship foundations, and loaning entities that your degree program is valid and worth the money.
Depending on whether you are a returning student, a new high school graduate, or a distance learner, there are several different paths to an accelerated computer science degree, but all paths will involve intensive courses, fewer breaks, and increased workloads.
Accelerated classes are not for everyone, but working at an accelerated pace can allow you to finish school faster, reduce the cost of your education, and get into the workforce sooner.
Testing out of undergraduate requirements can nip off significant time from even an accelerated computer science degree and save you money.
The College Level Examination Program is accepted at thousands of schools. Exams can be taken in the following areas of study:
For every class you test out of, you are one step closer to finishing your degree.
Online courses may also be wedged in on weekends, evenings, breaks, and summer vacation, or whenever you have a spare quiet hour or so.
Online accelerated degree programs can make the difference in earning a college degree for students with busy home lives and caring for children or family members.
Even students already enrolled in a traditional 4-year or 2-year program can use online courses to slice hours from their undergraduate requirements.
There are currently two organizations recognized by the CHEA to accredit distance learning programs:
As with all programs leading to a degree, accreditation for your online coursework is vital if you plan to use your online courses toward a degree.
Finally, you may have heard of the five-year plan or the 4+1 master’s degree.
In a blended, accelerated master’s computer science degree, you can take upper-division courses as an undergrad and apply them to your bachelor’s and master’s degrees. These programs usually only require one year of postgraduate work to attain a master’s degree.
Often offered as a hybrid program, 4+1 plans generally require online and on-campus work, though the on-campus hours may be as little as two days per week.
Earning a computer science degree is an investment of time, money, and effort, with the potential for a valuable payoff in knowledge, satisfaction, and confidence, an expansion of opportunities, and a greater chance to provide for the future.
You’ll also have the chance to be at heart of the technology that underpins the modern world. Computer science is a rapidly evolving and exciting field.
Uncover online degrees that fit your aspirations—hit “Find My Program” today.
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