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Key Takeaways
Best computer programming degree programs: U of Miami, Florida Polytechnic, Full Sail
Ranked by graduation rates, program outcomes, and institutional quality
Tuition ranges from $1,750 to $58,104/year
Valencia College offers the most affordable option at $1,984/yr
Computer Programming degree programs available: 22 associate's, 5 master's, 3 doctoral in Florida
From community college pathways to advanced research degrees
20 online computer programming degree programs in Florida
Flexible scheduling for working professionals
Florida community college transfer can save 40-60% on total degree costs
22 associate's programs provide transfer pathways to bachelor's degrees
Education Commission of the States
Major employers: Citrix, Magic Leap, Chewy, Tech Data
Tech hubs in Miami and Tampa
Hakia Research 2026
Computer Programming degree programs near 114+ cities across Florida
Search by city to find programs within 200 miles of your location
Updated July 13, 2026
How we ranked Florida Computer Programming programs
We rank 51 accredited computer programming programs in Florida using IPEDS 2024 institutional data, BLS OEWS 2024 state salary data, and College Scorecard outcomes. A 4-factor weighted composite is normalized to a 0–100 score. Schools cannot pay for placement; rankings are produced algorithmically.
Are Computer Programming Degree Programs in Florida Worth It?
Source: BLS OEWS May 2024
Computer Programming Degree Rankings in Florida
Compare the top-ranked Computer Programming programs in Florida by degree level. Tuition, graduation rate, and Hakia Score for every accredited program.
Best Associate's Computer Programming Programs in Florida
Program Landscape
Florida offers 22 accredited associate's degree programs in computer programming, providing an affordable entry point into the technology field. The top-ranked programs include Valencia College, Broward College, Palm Beach State College, which combine rigorous technical curriculum with practical skills training.
Costs & Value
Community colleges in Florida offer these two-year programs at an average cost of $3,364/yr, significantly less than four-year university tuition. Students completing associate's degrees can pursue entry-level technical positions and transfer opportunities, with entry-level salaries averaging $53,801 in Florida.
Career Pathways
Many programs feature guaranteed transfer agreements with Florida's public universities, allowing students to complete their first two years at reduced cost before transferring to complete a bachelor's degree. The Miami, Tampa, Orlando areas offer particularly strong job markets for associate's degree holders, with employers like Citrix, Magic Leap, Chewy hiring for technical support, junior development, and IT specialist positions.
Curriculum & Specializations
Programs typically include coursework in programming fundamentals, database management, networking basics, and software development. Among computer programming schools in Florida, these associate's programs offer the best value for students beginning their computer programming degrees in Florida.
Show all 22 ranked programs
| Rank | School | Location | Type | Tuition | Grad Rate | Hakia Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #6 | Broward College | Fort Lauderdale, FL | Public | $1,968 | 39% | 86.0 |
| #7 | Daytona State College | Daytona Beach, FL | Public | $3,072 | 43% | 85.1 |
| #8 | Seminole State College of Florida | Sanford, FL | Public | $2,393 | 41% | 84.5 |
| #9 | St Petersburg College | St. Petersburg, FL | Public | $1,943 | 38% | 84.0 |
| #10 | Florida SouthWestern State College | Fort Myers, FL | Public | $2,436 | 39% | 82.6 |
| #11 | Pasco-Hernando State College | New Port Richey, FL | Public | $2,297 | 41% | 82.6 |
| #12 | Saint Johns River State College | Palatka, FL | Public | $1,892 | 49% | 82.6 |
| #13 | Florida Gateway College | Lake City, FL | Public | $2,369 | 54% | 81.2 |
| #14 | Tallahassee State College | Tallahassee, FL | Public | $2,002 | 38% | 80.7 |
| #15 | State College of Florida-Manatee-Sarasota | Bradenton, FL | Public | $2,365 | 38% | 80.2 |
| #16 | Hillsborough Community College | Tampa, FL | Public | $1,926 | 34% | 79.8 |
| #17 | Gulf Coast State College | Panama City, FL | Public | $1,750 | 43% | 77.9 |
| #18 | Pensacola State College | Pensacola, FL | Public | $1,884 | 36% | 77.5 |
| #19 | South Florida State College | Avon Park, FL | Public | $3,135 | 48% | 77.5 |
| #20 | Polk State College | Winter Haven, FL | Public | $1,987 | 35% | 77.0 |
| #21 | Northwest Florida State College | Niceville, FL | Public | $2,151 | 39% | 76.8 |
| #22 | Herzing University-Orlando | Winter Park, FL | Private nonprofit | $12,360 | 37% | 63.2 |
Best Bachelor's Computer Programming Programs in Florida
Program Landscape
Florida ranks among the nation's top destinations for computer programming education, with 21 accredited bachelor's degree programs across 3 public and 16 private institutions. The highest-ranked programs are U of Miami, Florida Polytechnic, Full Sail, recognized for academic excellence, research opportunities, and strong industry connections.
Career Outcomes
Graduates from Florida computer programming programs earn a median salary of $83,147, 15% below the national average. The state's robust technology sector, anchored by the Miami, Tampa, Orlando metropolitan areas, provides abundant internship and employment opportunities with companies including Citrix, Magic Leap, Chewy.
Costs & Value
Tuition ranges from $3,152 to $58,104 annually, with an average of $28,723/yr. Top programs maintain graduation rates above 71%, with the highest reaching 94%. Many programs hold ABET accreditation, the gold standard for computing education, ensuring curriculum meets rigorous industry standards.
Curriculum & Specializations
Students can choose from specializations including software engineering, cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, data science, and systems architecture. Strong industry partnerships provide access to co-op programs, capstone projects with real companies, and direct recruiting pipelines to Florida's leading technology employers. For students seeking computer programming degrees in Florida, these top-ranked computer programming schools offer the strongest combination of academic rigor and career preparation.
Herzing University-Orlando
Computer Programming Degree Costs & Tuition in Florida
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Average in-state tuition | $15,240/year |
| Average out-of-state tuition | $38,100/year |
| Community college tuition | $3,810/year |
| 4-year savings for residents | $91,440 |
| 2+2 transfer pathway savings | $22,860 |
Source: IPEDS 2024
Financial Aid & Scholarships for Computer Programming Students in Florida
State Aid Programs
Florida Bright Futures Scholarship provides substantial support for programming students.
Florida Academic Scholars (FAS) awards cover 100% of tuition and fees at public institutions, approximately $213.55/credit at FSU (Florida Bright Futures). Requirements include 3.0 weighted GPA, 75 volunteer hours, and qualifying ACT/SAT scores by August 31st of graduation year. Students can receive funding for up to five years toward 120 semester hours, covering complete bachelor's degree completion with time for internships and co-ops.
Key Programs & Amounts
Florida Medallion Scholars (FMS) offers accessible merit aid with achievable requirements.
FMS covers 100% of tuition for associate programs or 75% for bachelor's programs (approximately $159.21/credit at UCF). Requirements include 30 volunteer hours and Career and Technical Education credits rather than high standardized test scores. Students completing bachelor's degrees in seven semesters or fewer qualify for one graduate semester funding (up to 15 credits), benefiting accelerated learners pursuing master's degrees in computer science or data science.
Institutional Scholarships
Bootcamp financing differs substantially from traditional financial aid.
UCF Boot Camps range from $8,295-$12,495 depending on program format and duration (UCF Coding Boot Camp). USF's Springboard partnership offers bootcamp tuition of $9,900 with monthly payment options and financing available (USF Coding Bootcamp). While bootcamps don't qualify for Bright Futures or Pell Grants, private loans, employer tuition assistance, and income share agreements provide alternatives. Some bootcamps offer deferred payment until employment.
Federal and institutional aid supplements state scholarships for degree programs.
Pell Grants provide up to $7,395/year for students with financial need, covering substantial portions of community college costs entirely. Many Florida universities offer merit scholarships of $2,000-$15,000/year for strong computer science applicants. Graduate assistantships often cover tuition plus provide $15,000-$20,000 annual stipends for research or teaching assistance. Federal student loans (up to $5,500-$7,500/year for undergraduates) provide additional support when needed. Explore online programming degrees.
Computer Programming Degree ROI Calculator, Florida
Use our interactive ROI calculator to estimate your return on investment for a computer programming degree in Florida. Enter your expected tuition costs, financial aid, and career goals to see projected payback periods and lifetime earnings. The calculator uses current salary data from BLS and tuition data from IPEDS to provide accurate estimates.
Computer Programming Degree ROI Calculator
Estimate your return on investment for a computer programming degree
Leave blank to use average cost for selected program type
+645%
Net gain divided by total investment. ROI above 200% is considered excellent for education investments.
$1,192,850
Your additional lifetime earnings with this degree vs. working without one, minus the total investment.
6 years
Years until your cumulative earnings exceed total investment. Shorter programs often break even faster due to lower opportunity cost.
$95,833
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.
Detailed Breakdown
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
Computer Programming Salaries by Metro Area
Median annual salary in Florida metro areas
View data table
| Category | Value |
|---|---|
| Miami | $108K |
| Tampa | $103K |
| Orlando | $98K |
| Jacksonville | $93K |
Source: BLS OEWS May 2024
Hakia.com
Top Employers Hiring Computer Programming Graduates in Florida
Find computer programming jobs in Florida. These major employers across Florida metro areas are actively hiring computer programming degree holders. Click employer names to view current job openings.
Computer Programming Jobs in Miami
FLMiami has emerged as a major fintech and crypto hub, with many companies relocating from Silicon Valley.
Nearby cities: Fort Lauderdale, Boca Raton, West Palm Beach, Coral Gables
Computer Programming Jobs in Tampa Bay
FLTampa Bay has a growing cybersecurity cluster with headquarters for several security companies.
Nearby cities: St. Petersburg, Clearwater, Brandon, Lakeland
Computer Programming Jobs in Orlando
FLOrlando combines simulation, gaming, and defense tech with major theme park technology operations.
Nearby cities: Kissimmee, Sanford, Winter Park, Lake Mary
Florida Tech Industry & Infrastructure
Florida's tech market has grown materially over the last decade, driven by no-state-income-tax policy, defense and space industry presence, and rapid in-migration of tech workers from higher-cost coastal states. While the state's tech-employer concentration trails CA/TX/NY, the trajectory is steep and the cost-of-living-adjusted compensation is competitive.
Miami / South Florida
Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach
Fastest-growing US tech metro by population in-migration. Anchored by a financial-services and fintech cluster (Citadel relocated HQ here), plus a substantial Latin America tech-services market.
Orlando
Orlando metro
Defense/simulation tech (Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control, Northrop Grumman), tourism-tech (Disney, Universal), and modeling/simulation industry. UCF is the largest US CS-graduate producer.
Tampa Bay
Tampa metro
Financial-services tech, healthcare-IT, cybersecurity (cybersecurity employer cluster), and growing startup scene. USF is the principal CS/IS feeder.
No state income tax. Florida Job Growth Grant Fund and Qualified Target Industry Tax Refund are the principal state-level tech-employer incentives.
Florida Regulation Affecting Computer Programming Graduates
Florida moved to enact a consumer privacy law in 2024 and has been active on AI and child-safety legislation. The regulatory environment generally favors employers but is no longer a privacy backwater for engineering teams serving Florida users.
Florida Digital Bill of Rights (FDBR)
Effective July 2024. Grants Florida consumers rights to access, correct, delete, and opt out of sale of personal data. Notably narrower applicability than CCPA — applies only to large businesses making most revenue from data sales.
Larger consumer-tech companies with Florida users must implement opt-out and access flows; the law's narrower scope reduces compliance overhead vs CA/TX equivalents.
Read moreFlorida HB 3 (Online Protections for Minors)
Effective 2025. Restricts social-media access for users under 16 and requires age verification for certain platforms.
Engineers building consumer products with Florida users under 16 must implement age-verification flows and platform-access restrictions.
Read moreFlorida Cybersecurity Act (state agencies)
Sets cybersecurity standards for state agencies and contractors. Includes minimum encryption, breach-notification, and incident-response requirements.
Engineers working with Florida state/local government IT operate under these standards.
Read moreProfessional Engineer Licensure in Florida
Florida does not currently administer a separate Software Engineering PE license. ABET-EAC accredited engineering degrees are recognized for general PE licensure tracks (mechanical, electrical, computer engineering), but software engineering specifically is not a recognized PE discipline in Florida.
Florida licensing boardFlorida Financial Aid Programs
Florida Bright Futures Scholarship
Merit scholarshipUp to 100% tuition coverage at FL public schools (Florida Academic Scholars tier)
FL high-school graduates with qualifying GPA/test scores attending FL institutions
Florida Student Assistance Grant (FSAG)
State grantUp to $2,610/yr
FL residents with financial need at FL institutions
Up to $3,500/yr
FL residents at independent (private) FL colleges
Florida Prepaid College Plan
Prepaid tuitionLocks in tuition rate; reduces future tuition risk
FL families purchasing tuition at current rates for future college attendance
Transfer Pathways for Computer Programming Degrees in Florida
State Transfer System
Florida's 2+2 articulation system creates guaranteed transfer pathways benefiting programming students.
Since 1972, students earning Associate in Arts (AA) degrees at any of Florida's 28 state colleges receive guaranteed admission to the State University System with at least 60 transfer credits protected. No additional general education courses are required after transfer, allowing AA graduates to enter as juniors and focus entirely on upper-division computer science coursework including advanced programming, algorithms, and software engineering.
How Transfers Work
Direct articulation agreements strengthen computer science transfers specifically.
Florida Statute 1007.23 (modified 2019) mandates every Florida College System institution maintain direct 2+2 agreements with at least one university. Students completing designated AS degrees in computer programming or related fields receive enhanced credit transfer for technical coursework beyond general education. Prerequisites for computer science majors must be completed as part of AA degree electives, requiring careful academic planning with advisors.
Transfer Planning Tips
Transfer pathways reduce total degree costs by $20,000-$40,000 compared to four-year enrollment.
Community college tuition averaging $3,200/year allows students to complete foundational programming courses, data structures, and calculus sequences at one-fifth the cost of university enrollment. Valencia College, Miami Dade College, and Broward College maintain DirectConnect partnerships with UCF, FIU, and FAU respectively, providing transfer advising and guaranteed admission for qualifying students.
Transfer students perform comparably to native students in computer science programs.
Research shows community college transfers succeed academically when properly prepared through articulated curricula. Many Florida universities provide transfer-specific orientation, advising, and scholarship opportunities designed for community college graduates. Early engagement with transfer advisors at both institutions ensures course selections align with computer science degree requirements and prevents wasted credits on non-transferable coursework. Explore most affordable programs.
Florida Take-Home Pay Advantage
Source: Florida Department of Revenue
Computer Programming Job Market & Salary Data in Florida
Employment Outlook
Florida adds approximately 17,000 new tech jobs annually, creating sustained demand for programmers across industries (CompTIA State of Tech Workforce 2025). The BLS projects software developer employment growing 15% from 2024-2034, much faster than average, with 129,200 annual openings nationally. While computer programmer positions specifically are projected to decline 6% as the role merges with software development, the broader software development field, where most programming skills apply, continues expanding rapidly. About 5,500 programmer openings still occur annually due to turnover.
Salaries by Metro
Regional markets offer distinct opportunities and salary levels across Florida.
Tampa emerged as Forbes' #1 emerging tech city in the U.S., accounting for 25% of Florida's tech jobs with over 50,000 tech professionals and average salaries exceeding $106,000 (Tampa Tech Companies 2025). Major Tampa employers including ReliaQuest, KnowBe4, JPMorgan Chase, and Citadel are actively hiring developers. The region projects 3,700 new tech roles by 2027, sustaining growth momentum.
High-Growth Sectors
Miami's tech scene ranks 5th nationally in venture capital deals with $2.6 billion in startup funding and 18% tech job growth exceeding the 13% national average. Microsoft, Apple, Spotify, Amazon, and Citrix (Fort Lauderdale HQ) all maintain Miami-area offices hiring programmers. American Express ranks among top software engineer employers in Miami. The startup ecosystem creates opportunities at emerging companies disrupting fintech, proptech, and other sectors. Orlando hosts 74,000 tech professionals with 4,200+ tech companies in the simulation, gaming, and aerospace sectors requiring diverse programming talent.
In-demand programming skills align with employer technology stacks.
Tampa employers specifically seek AWS cloud computing, Python for data analysis, React for front-end development, and Flutter for mobile apps. Jacksonville's fintech corridor values Java, C#, and enterprise software experience for financial transaction systems. Miami's startup ecosystem prioritizes JavaScript/TypeScript full-stack development using modern frameworks. Learning multiple languages and frameworks maximizes employability across Florida's diverse tech markets. Explore related careers in software engineering, web development, and data science.
Entry-Level (0-2 yrs)
New graduates and career changers
Senior (8+ yrs)
Technical leads and architects
Online vs On-Campus Computer Programming Programs in Florida
Online Programs
20 available in Florida
On-Campus Programs
Traditional classroom experience
Compare Computer Programming Programs in Other States
- Total Programs
- 39
- Median Tuition
- $7,200
- Total Programs
- 9
- Median Tuition
- $10,700
- Total Programs
- 193
- Median Tuition
- $5,700
- Total Programs
- 51
- Median Tuition
- $4,600
- Total Programs
- 75
- Median Tuition
- $6,800
- Total Programs
- 111
- Median Tuition
- $7,100
- Total Programs
- 67
- Median Tuition
- $43,700
- Total Programs
- 25
- Median Tuition
- $10,100
Computer Programming Degree Programs in Florida: FAQ
What are the best computer programming degree programs in Florida?
How much do computer programming degree programs cost in Florida?
What salary can computer programming degree graduates earn in Florida?
Are there online computer programming degree programs in Florida?
What companies hire computer programming degree graduates in Florida?
Is a computer programming degree program worth it in Florida?
How long do computer programming degree programs take in Florida?
What financial aid is available for computer programming degree students in Florida?
Data Sources
Institutional characteristics, completions, graduation rates
Florida salary and employment data
Program details and admissions information
Last Updated: June 26, 2026. Rankings based on IPEDS 2024 data. Salary data from BLS OEWS May 2024.
Taylor Rupe
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.