Most Affordable Computer Programming Degree Programs 2026

Best Computer Programming Programs - Top 10 Most Affordable, Complete Program Data

1. #1. University of North Carolina at Charlotte — Computer Programming

   Hakia ranks University of North Carolina at Charlotte's computer programming program #1. Delivery: on-campus. Location: Charlotte, NC | Type: Public | Tuition: $3,812/year | Graduation Rate: 76%

   What makes University of North Carolina at Charlotte stand out: The program provides flexibility with multiple degree pathways and concentrations, combining core computer science education with interdisciplinary work and the option to form minors in other disciplines.

   Program Overview: UNC Charlotte's computer science program offers both B.S. and B.A. degrees in Computer Science through the College of Computing and Informatics. The B.S. offers seven concentrations with 25 hours of core CS courses and related work outside computer science, while the B.A. offers three concentrations with a less structured approach.

   Degree Programs: B.S. Computer Science (4 years); B.A. Computer Science (4 years); M.S. Computer Science (2 years)

   Notable Faculty: Dr. Harini Ramaprasad (Assistant Chair (BS)); Mr. Bruce Long (Program Director (BA))

   Admissions:

2. #2. Florida Polytechnic University — Computer Programming

   Hakia ranks Florida Polytechnic University's computer programming program #2. Delivery: on-campus. Location: Lakeland, FL | Type: Public | Tuition: $3,152/year | Graduation Rate: 81%

   What makes Florida Polytechnic University stand out: Florida Polytechnic emphasizes applied, project-based learning in programming with direct industry partnerships and a cohort-based model that ensures close faculty mentorship and rapid job placement.

   Hakia Insight: Through ties with Microsoft and Siemens, Florida Polytechnic University bridges the gap between academic training and industry practice.

   Program Overview: Florida Polytechnic's computer programming curriculum is built around applied learning and industry-ready skill development, with a heavy emphasis on hands-on project work from day one. Rather than theory-first instruction, students engage in collaborative coding projects, embedded systems work, and real-world problem solving that mirrors professional development environments. The program draws strength from its partnership with regional technology employers and its focus on emerging technologies, students regularly work with IoT platforms, cloud computing frameworks, and modern software development practices through capstone projects and internship placements. Faculty bring active industry experience, and the relatively small student body means personalized mentorship and direct access to professors working on contemporary problems. Graduates emerge with portfolio-ready projects and established connections in Florida's growing tech corridor, positioning them well for roles at companies actively recruiting from the region. The program's location in Lakeland also provides affordability advantages while maintaining proximity to major tech hubs like Tampa and Orlando.

   Degree Programs: Bachelors in Computer Programming

   Industry Partners: Microsoft, Siemens

   Career Outcomes:

   Admissions:

   Accreditations: ABET

3. #3. North Carolina A & T State University — Computer Programming

   Hakia ranks North Carolina A & T State University's computer programming program #3. Delivery: on-campus. Location: Greensboro, NC | Type: Public | Tuition: $3,540/year | Graduation Rate: 84%

   What makes North Carolina A & T State University stand out: America's largest public HBCU and the top producer of African American engineers in the country, with research funded by agencies including NSF, Department of Defense, NSA, Department of Energy and National Laboratories.

   Hakia Insight: North Carolina A & T State University graduates earn $91,250, driven by the program's industry connections and hands-on computer programming curriculum.

   Program Overview: The Computer Science program at North Carolina A&T State University combines computer science fundamentals with practical knowledge and technical excellence in advanced technologies. The program focuses on creative engineering aspects of software design and development, covering areas such as artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, data science, software engineering, and high-performance computing.

   Degree Programs: BS Computer Science; BS Artificial Intelligence; MS Computer Science (3-4 terms)

   Industry Partners: Cisco, Oracle, MITRE, Capital One, VF Corporation, Visa, Carrier, Eli Lilly, Google, Facebook, Ford, Microsoft, Intel, Autodesk, Zynga, Palo Alto Networks, NetApp, Siemens, Applied Materials, NVIDIA

   Career Outcomes: | Top Employers: Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, IBM, Microsoft, Intel, SAS, CIA, NSA, FBI, NASA, NAVSEA | Common Roles: Computer and Information Research Scientist, Computer Programmer, Information Security Analyst, Software Engineer, Web Developer, Software Developer, Computer Network Architect, Systems Engineer

   Notable Faculty: Dr. Kaushik Roy (Department Chair and Professor)

   Admissions:

4. #4. University of West Florida — Computer Programming

   Hakia ranks University of West Florida's computer programming program #4. Delivery: on-campus. Location: Pensacola, FL | Type: Public | Tuition: $3,735/year | Graduation Rate: 84%

   What makes University of West Florida stand out: UWF's programming curriculum emphasizes applied problem-solving for regional industries including maritime technology and federal/military sectors, creating distinctive career pathways outside traditional tech hubs.

   Hakia Insight: Proximity to Naval Air Station Pensacola and military contractors

   Program Overview: The University of West Florida positions its computer science programming pathway within a broader context of computational literacy and problem-solving, with particular strength in applied domains like data analysis, web development, and enterprise systems. The program reflects UWF's regional mission as a public comprehensive university serving Northwestern Florida and the Gulf Coast, translating into curriculum that emphasizes skills directly applicable in local industries including maritime technology, healthcare IT, and government. Students benefit from a curriculum that balances foundational programming concepts with contemporary technologies and methodologies, without the research intensity of research-1 institutions but with more structure and depth than accelerated bootcamp models. The Pensacola location provides proximity to significant federal presence (Naval Air Station Pensacola, regional military contractors) and growing healthcare systems, creating internship and employment networks that extend beyond traditional tech-sector companies. UWF's computer science faculty maintain consulting relationships and teach current technologies, keeping the curriculum relevant to employers' immediate needs. The program also emphasizes software project management and team-based development, recognizing that many graduates will work in collaborative corporate environments rather than individual contributor roles at startups.

   Degree Programs: BS in Computer Science (4 years)

   Career Outcomes:

   Admissions:

5. #5. University of North Florida — Computer Programming

   Hakia ranks University of North Florida's computer programming program #5. Delivery: on-campus. Location: Jacksonville, FL | Type: Public | Tuition: $3,996/year | Graduation Rate: 82%

   What makes University of North Florida stand out: UNF's computer science program delivers industry-aligned, specialized tracks within a mentorship-rich environment, positioned to serve Jacksonville's finance and defense sectors while remaining accessible to a diverse student body.

   Hakia Insight: University of North Florida leverages partnerships with TIAA and General Dynamics to offer students real-world project experience valued by employers.

   Program Overview: UNF's computer science program takes a pragmatic approach to programming education, anchoring coursework in industry-relevant technologies and methodologies while maintaining academic depth in algorithms, databases, and software architecture. The program thrives on its scale, smaller than UF but substantial enough to support specialized tracks in areas like cybersecurity, data science, and software engineering, allowing you to tailor your degree to specific career interests. Faculty blend academic credentials with active industry consulting, ensuring curriculum stays current with tools and practices that employers actually use. Internship and co-op partnerships with Jacksonville-area financial institutions, defense contractors, and healthcare systems provide pathways to meaningful work experience before graduation. Many interns convert to full-time offers. The on-campus environment builds close student-faculty mentorship, and senior capstone projects frequently emerge from real partnerships, so you're solving problems that matter beyond the classroom.

   Degree Programs: BS in Computer Science (4 years); MS in Computer Science (2 years)

   Industry Partners: TIAA, General Dynamics

   Career Outcomes:

   Admissions:

   Accreditations: ABET

6. #6. Green River College — Computer Programming

   Hakia ranks Green River College's computer programming program #6. Delivery: on-campus. Location: Auburn, WA | Type: Public | Tuition: $4,074/year | Graduation Rate: 99%

   What makes Green River College stand out: Green River's computer programming program uniquely balances rapid workforce entry with structured pathways to four-year degrees, offering maximum flexibility for diverse student goals and circumstances.

   Hakia Insight: Green River College's direct partnerships with Amazon and Microsoft give students a competitive edge through industry-embedded projects and recruiting pipelines.

   Program Overview: Green River College's computer programming pathway is built around workforce responsiveness and transfer flexibility, positioning itself as an ideal entry point for students who want industry-relevant skills without committing to a four-year institution upfront. The curriculum emphasizes practical, hands-on coding across contemporary languages and frameworks, students ship real code early and often rather than spending time on abstract theory. Faculty maintain close ties to local employers in the Puget Sound region, meaning curriculum revisions respond quickly to changing market demands and emerging technologies. The college excels at scaffolding: students begin with foundational programming, build progressively toward full-stack development or specialized tracks, and exit with either a two-year degree or certificates depending on their goals and constraints. A significant strength is the structured transfer agreements with four-year universities, allowing Green River students to complete lower-division coursework affordably before moving on to complete a bachelor's degree at UW, WSU, or other institutions, saving both time and money while maintaining academic momentum. The intimate class sizes and accessible faculty support ensure students aren't numbers in a lecture hall. This is particularly valuable for career-changers and first-generation students entering tech.

   Degree Programs: AAS in Computer Programming (2 years); Certificate in Computer Programming (1 year)

   Industry Partners: Amazon, Microsoft

   Career Outcomes: | Top Employers: Amazon, Microsoft, Local Puget Sound tech companies | Common Roles: Junior Developer, Web Developer, Support Engineer

   Admissions:

7. #7. Kennesaw State University — Computer Programming

   Hakia ranks Kennesaw State University's computer programming program #7. Delivery: on-campus. Location: Kennesaw, GA | Type: Public | Tuition: $4,450/year | Graduation Rate: 66%

   What makes Kennesaw State University stand out: Flexible course options with day and after-hour classes, small class sizes, hands-on training through labs, and team-based projects in a 'real world' environment.

   Program Overview: The Bachelor of Science in Computer Science degree provides foundations of computer science and applications in the computing and data science industry. The program emphasizes study of computer systems architecture, algorithms, software development, artificial intelligence, and data science.

   Degree Programs: BS (4 years); MS Computer Science; MS Cybersecurity; MS Information Technology; MS Software Engineering

   Career Outcomes: | Common Roles: Program Analyst, Software Engineer, Data Analyst, Web Developer, Software Consultant, Software Developer, Network and Systems Engineer, IT Manager, Database Specialist, Business Intelligence Officer

   Admissions:

8. #8. Bellevue College — Computer Programming

   Hakia ranks Bellevue College's computer programming program #8. Delivery: on-campus. Location: Bellevue, WA | Type: Public | Tuition: $4,074/year | Graduation Rate: 96%

   What makes Bellevue College stand out: A two-year, industry-aligned programming curriculum with direct pathways to Pacific Northwest tech employers and transfer agreements to four-year institutions.

   Hakia Insight: Students at Bellevue College benefit from active collaborations with Amazon and Microsoft, connecting classroom learning to the workforce.

   Program Overview: Bellevue College's computer programming curriculum emphasizes applied skill development and rapid entry into the tech workforce, making it particularly attractive to students seeking a direct path to employment. The program centers on hands-on coding across multiple languages and frameworks. Python, Java, C++, web development, and mobile applications, with projects that mirror real-world software development challenges. What distinguishes this pathway is its integration with the Pacific Northwest's thriving tech ecosystem. Proximity to Seattle's major tech employers (Amazon, Microsoft, Google) creates internship pipelines and networking opportunities that extend well beyond the classroom. The college maintains strong advisory relationships with regional companies, ensuring curriculum stays current with industry demands. Faculty bring practical experience from tech roles, emphasizing problem-solving methodologies alongside technical depth. Students complete the program in two years, with many transitioning directly into mid-level development roles or using the credential as a springboard to four-year computer science programs. The college also supports various specialization tracks, web development, systems programming, and data structures, allowing students to tailor their focus based on career interests. Career outcomes reflect this industry alignment: graduates frequently land positions at both established tech companies and Seattle-area startups, with salaries competitive for entry-level and early-career developers in the region.

   Degree Programs: AAS in Computer Programming (2 years)

   Industry Partners: Amazon, Microsoft, T-Mobile

   Career Outcomes: | Top Employers: Amazon, Microsoft, Google, T-Mobile, local Seattle startups | Common Roles: Junior Software Developer, Web Developer, QA Engineer, Systems Programmer

   Admissions:

9. #9. University of North Carolina Wilmington — Computer Programming

   Hakia ranks University of North Carolina Wilmington's computer programming program #9. Delivery: on-campus. Location: Wilmington, NC | Type: Public | Tuition: $4,443/year | Graduation Rate: 79%

   Hakia Insight: University of North Carolina Wilmington graduates earn $72,000, driven by the program's industry connections and hands-on computer programming curriculum.

   Program Overview: UNCW's Computer Science program emphasizes hands-on learning and practical application. The program offers strong foundations in software development, algorithms, and emerging technologies with opportunities for undergraduate research.

   Degree Programs: Bachelor of Science in Computer Science (4 years); Bachelor of Science in Information Technology (4 years)

   Research Labs: Cybersecurity Research Lab - Information Security; Software Engineering Lab - Software Development; Data Science Lab - Data Analytics

   Industry Partners: Live Oak Bank, nCino, PPD

   Career Outcomes: | Top Employers: Live Oak Bank, nCino, IBM, Microsoft, Amazon | Common Roles: Software Developer, Systems Analyst, Data Analyst, Cybersecurity Specialist

   Admissions:

   Accreditations: CompTIA Security+, AWS Cloud Practitioner, Microsoft Azure Fundamentals

10. #10. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill — Computer Programming

    Hakia ranks University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill's computer programming program #10. Delivery: on-campus. Location: Chapel Hill, NC | Type: Public | Tuition: $7,019/year | Graduation Rate: 93%

    What makes University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill stand out: Students have the option of receiving a bachelor's degree and a master's degree in as few as five years through the dual B.S.-M.S. program, and the program maintains quality through selective admission after completing COMP 210.

    Hakia Insight: University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill's Multimodal Understanding, Reasoning, and Generation for Language Lab creates a direct research-to-career pipeline with SAS Institute, bridging academic research and industry practice.

    Program Overview: The bachelor of science with a major in computer science is the preferred degree both for graduate study in computer science and for technical careers in software development, computational science, networking, information systems, and electronic commerce. Graduates are well-suited for professional employment in traditional computer and communications industries, as well as diverse industries like financial services and consulting practices.

    Degree Programs: BS (4 years); Dual BS-MS (5 years)

    Research Labs: Multimodal Understanding, Reasoning, and Generation for Language Lab - AI and natural language processing; CS Experience Labs (CSXL) - collaborative co-working and computing hub for hands-on learning

    Industry Partners: SAS Institute

    Career Outcomes: | Common Roles: software development, computational science, networking, information systems, electronic commerce

    Notable Faculty: Professor Mohit Bansal (multimodal NLP foundations, faithful language generation and summarization, and model interpretability methods)

    Admissions: