Top-ranked graduate programs for advanced programming skills, software architecture, and tech leadership roles
$100,390 median salary · 87% graduation rate
Ranked #1 among computer programming master's programs by Hakia Score (95.7/100): 87% graduation rate, $100,390 median salary, $14,038 in-state tuition, 7 graduates a year. Federal data, IPEDS 2024 and BLS.
$100,390 median salary · 80% graduation rate
Ranked #2 among computer programming master's programs by Hakia Score (85.6/100): 80% graduation rate, $100,390 median salary, $46,920 in-state tuition, 41 graduates a year. Federal data, IPEDS 2024 and BLS.
$100,390 median salary · 68% graduation rate
Ranked #3 among computer programming master's programs by Hakia Score (81.9/100): 68% graduation rate, $100,390 median salary, $44,601 in-state tuition, 128 graduates a year. Federal data, IPEDS 2024 and BLS.
$100,390 median salary · 58% graduation rate
Ranked #4 among online computer programming master's programs by Hakia Score (78.9/100): 58% graduation rate, $100,390 median salary, $15,240 in-state tuition, 12 graduates a year. Federal data, IPEDS 2024 and BLS.
$100,390 median salary · 67% graduation rate
Ranked #5 among online computer programming master's programs by Hakia Score (76.9/100): 67% graduation rate, $100,390 median salary, $32,946 in-state tuition, 16 graduates a year. Federal data, IPEDS 2024 and BLS.
$100,390 median salary · 50% graduation rate
Ranked #6 among computer programming master's programs by Hakia Score (68.1/100): 50% graduation rate, $100,390 median salary, $9,790 in-state tuition, 117 graduates a year. Federal data, IPEDS 2024 and BLS.
$100,390 median salary · 43% graduation rate
Ranked #7 among online computer programming master's programs by Hakia Score (65.1/100): 43% graduation rate, $100,390 median salary, $16,473 in-state tuition, 14 graduates a year. Federal data, IPEDS 2024 and BLS.
$100,390 median salary · 50% graduation rate
Ranked #8 among computer programming master's programs by Hakia Score (60.8/100): 50% graduation rate, $100,390 median salary, $16,000 in-state tuition, 15 graduates a year. Federal data, IPEDS 2024 and BLS.
$100,390 median salary · 42% graduation rate
Ranked #9 among online computer programming master's programs by Hakia Score (60.7/100): 42% graduation rate, $100,390 median salary, $16,450 in-state tuition, 1 graduates a year. Federal data, IPEDS 2024 and BLS.
$100,390 median salary · 27% graduation rate
Ranked #10 among online computer programming master's programs by Hakia Score (56.6/100): 27% graduation rate, $100,390 median salary, $6,000 in-state tuition, 1 graduates a year. Federal data, IPEDS 2024 and BLS.
Hakia ranks Clemson University's master's computer programming program #1. Degree: Master's. Delivery: on-campus. Location: Clemson, SC | Type: Public | Tuition: $14,038/year | Graduation Rate: 87% | Median Salary: $100,390 | Score: 95.7
Hakia ranks Marist University's master's computer programming program #2. Degree: Master's. Delivery: on-campus. Location: Poughkeepsie, NY | Type: Private nonprofit | Tuition: $46,920/year | Graduation Rate: 80% | Median Salary: $100,390 | Score: 85.6
Hakia ranks DePaul University's master's computer programming program #3. Degree: Master's. Delivery: on-campus. Location: Chicago, IL | Type: Private nonprofit | Tuition: $44,601/year | Graduation Rate: 68% | Median Salary: $100,390 | Score: 81.9
Hakia ranks University of Michigan-Dearborn's online master's computer programming program #4. Degree: Master's. Delivery: fully online. Location: Dearborn, MI | Type: Public | Tuition: $15,240/year | Graduation Rate: 58% | Median Salary: $100,390 | Score: 78.9
Hakia ranks University of Detroit Mercy's online master's computer programming program #5. Degree: Master's. Delivery: fully online. Location: Detroit, MI | Type: Private nonprofit | Tuition: $32,946/year | Graduation Rate: 67% | Median Salary: $100,390 | Score: 76.9
Hakia ranks Youngstown State University's master's computer programming program #6. Degree: Master's. Delivery: on-campus. Location: Youngstown, OH | Type: Public | Tuition: $9,790/year | Graduation Rate: 50% | Median Salary: $100,390 | Score: 68.1
Hakia ranks Grand Canyon University's online master's computer programming program #7. Degree: Master's. Delivery: fully online. Location: Phoenix, AZ | Type: Private for-profit | Tuition: $16,473/year | Graduation Rate: 43% | Median Salary: $100,390 | Score: 65.1
Hakia ranks Maharishi International University's master's computer programming program #8. Degree: Master's. Delivery: on-campus. Location: Fairfield, IA | Type: Private nonprofit | Tuition: $16,000/year | Graduation Rate: 50% | Median Salary: $100,390 | Score: 60.8
Hakia ranks South College's online master's computer programming program #9. Degree: Master's. Delivery: fully online. Location: Knoxville, TN | Type: Private for-profit | Tuition: $16,450/year | Graduation Rate: 42% | Median Salary: $100,390 | Score: 60.7
Hakia ranks Aspen University's online master's computer programming program #10. Degree: Master's. Delivery: fully online. Location: Phoenix, AZ | Type: Private for-profit | Tuition: $6,000/year | Graduation Rate: 27% | Median Salary: $100,390 | Score: 56.6
| School | Location | Type | Tuition | Grad Rate | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 University of Southern California | Los Angeles, CA | Private | $66,640 | 92% | 100.0/100 |
| #2 Columbia University in the City of New York | New York, NY | Private | $64,526 | 100% | 92.0/100 |
| #3 University of California-San Diego | La Jolla, CA | Public | $11,834 | 81% | 90.4/100 |
| #4 University of California-Los Angeles | Los Angeles, CA | Public | $11,834 | 92% | 88.5/100 |
| #5 University of California-Irvine | Irvine, CA | Public | $11,834 | 96% | 87.6/100 |
Data from IPEDS 2024. Tuition shown is in-state for public schools.
Flexibility & Lower Cost
Networking & Experience
Flexibility & Lower Cost
Networking & Experience
| Rank | Program & School | Delivery | Annual Tuition | Grad Rate | Median Salary | Hakia Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Master's in Computer Programming Clemson UniversityClemson, SC · Public | On-campus | $14,038 | 87% | $100,390 | 95.7 |
| #2 | Master's in Computer Programming Marist UniversityPoughkeepsie, NY · Private nonprofit | On-campus | $46,920 | 80% | $100,390 | 85.6 |
| #3 | Master's in Computer Programming DePaul UniversityChicago, IL · Private nonprofit | On-campus | $44,601 | 68% | $100,390 | 81.9 |
| #4 | Master's in Computer Programming University of Michigan-DearbornDearborn, MI · Public | Online | $15,240 | 58% | $100,390 | 78.9 |
| #5 | Master's in Computer Programming University of Detroit MercyDetroit, MI · Private nonprofit | Online | $32,946 | 67% | $100,390 | 76.9 |
| #6 | Master's in Computer Programming Youngstown State UniversityYoungstown, OH · Public | On-campus | $9,790 | 50% | $100,390 | 68.1 |
| #7 | Master's in Computer Programming Grand Canyon UniversityPhoenix, AZ · Private for-profit | Online | $16,473 | 43% | $100,390 | 65.1 |
| #8 | Master's in Computer Programming Maharishi International UniversityFairfield, IA · Private nonprofit | On-campus | $16,000 | 50% | $100,390 | 60.8 |
| #9 | Master's in Computer Programming South CollegeKnoxville, TN · Private for-profit | Online | $16,450 | 42% | $100,390 | 60.7 |
| #10 | Master's in Computer Programming Aspen UniversityPhoenix, AZ · Private for-profit | Online | $6,000 | 27% | $100,390 | 56.6 |
Showing all 10 ranked programs.
The total cost of a masters's degree in Computer Programming ranges from $38,000 at public universities to over $140,000 at elite private institutions. Financial aid, scholarships, and in-state tuition significantly reduce out-of-pocket costs (IPEDS 2024-24, Research.com).
With median starting salaries of $98,670, most graduates achieve positive ROI within 3-5 years. Financial aid recipients often pay 30-50% less than sticker price.
Enter your details to estimate your degree return on investment
Leave blank to use average cost for selected program type
+907%
Net gain divided by total investment. ROI above 200% is considered excellent for education investments.
$1,677,254
Your additional lifetime earnings with this degree vs. working without one, minus the total investment.
5 years
Years until your cumulative earnings exceed total investment. Shorter programs often break even faster due to lower opportunity cost.
$133,333
Your starting salary adjusted for local cost of living. This shows real purchasing power compared to a $100K national baseline.
Why does break-even change with program type? Your "total investment" includes both tuition AND opportunity cost (foregone earnings while in school). A 4-year full-time public university (in-state) means 4 years of not earning a salary ($140,000 in opportunity cost). Shorter full-time programs may have higher tuition but lower total investment because you return to the workforce sooner.
How we calculate your degree ROI using real salary data
Tuition plus opportunity cost (earnings you miss while in school)
Direct cost of the degree program
4 years × $35K/year foregone salary while studying full-time
Projected career earnings starting after graduation, with salary growth
What you'd earn working at $35K/year with 2% annual growth
Median salary for this role in your selected location (BLS 2024)
Your investment's compound annual growth rate (similar to stock market returns)
Data sources: BLS OEWS May 2024, IPEDS 2024. Calculations use median salaries, 3% discount rate, and assume salary growth declines from 6% to 2% over career. Individual results will vary. | Powered by Hakia.com
Design large-scale system architecture and technical strategy
Manage engineering teams while maintaining technical expertise
Based on 742 programs from IPEDS 2024
We scored 10 master's computer programming programs on the Hakia Score, a 0 to 100 composite drawn from federal IPEDS 2024 and BLS figures, and Clemson University's Master's in Computer Programming sits at the top. 5 of them can be earned fully online.
Number of graduates per year in this specific field (CIP code). Larger programs indicate established departments with more resources, course offerings, and career services. Measured from IPEDS Completions data.
Percentage of students completing their degree within 150% of expected time (6 years for bachelor's, 3 years for associate's). Higher rates indicate better student support and program quality. Source: IPEDS Graduation Rates survey.
Admission rate (lower = more selective). More selective institutions have stronger academic environments and more competitive graduates. For open-admission institutions, we use graduation rates as a proxy for quality.
National salary data for computer programming graduates, factored into institutional scores based on job market strength.
Overall quality using all four factors weighted as shown above. Ideal for students seeking the strongest academic experience.
Same methodology, filtered to schools with fully online or hybrid options (IPEDS Distance Education data). Some schools may have lower graduation rates due to different student demographics.
Ranked primarily by net cost (tuition minus average institutional aid), with quality factors as tiebreakers. Best for cost-conscious students.
Employment projections and salary data for software developers and related occupations
Program completion rates, tuition costs, and enrollment statistics
Graduate earnings and debt data by institution and program
Return on investment analysis for graduate degree programs
Master's programs in computer programming go far beyond the syntax and algorithms taught in undergraduate courses. The curriculum focuses on software engineering principles, system design patterns, and advanced programming paradigms that prepare graduates for senior technical roles. Core coursework includes distributed systems, software architecture, advanced data structures, and performance optimization.
Modern programs integrate emerging technologies throughout the curriculum. Students learn cloud-native development using AWS, Azure, and Google Cloud platforms. Machine learning and AI integration courses teach practical implementation of neural networks, natural language processing, and computer vision in production systems. AI/ML engineering skills are increasingly required for senior programming roles.
Specialization tracks allow students to focus on high-growth areas. Cybersecurity specializations prepare graduates for security analyst roles with average salaries exceeding $145,000. Mobile and web development tracks emphasize responsive design, progressive web apps, and cross-platform frameworks. Data science specializations combine programming with statistical analysis and machine learning techniques.
The capstone project requirement distinguishes master's programs from professional certifications or bootcamps. Students spend 6-12 months developing original software solutions, often in partnership with industry sponsors. These projects demonstrate advanced problem-solving skills and result in portfolio pieces that directly support job applications and technical interviews.
Co-founder & Editor (B.S. Computer Science, Oregon State • B.A. Psychology, University of Washington)
Taylor combines technical expertise in computer science with a deep understanding of human behavior and learning. His dual background drives Hakia's mission: leveraging technology to build authoritative educational resources that help people make better decisions about their academic and career paths.