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Key Takeaways
University of Florida ranks #1 with a 95% grad rate and just $4,477/yr in-state tuition, one of the best CS values in the country
UF also offers a fully online CS bachelor's, and holds CAE-CDE designation. UCF ($4,478/yr, 93% grad rate) is nearly as strong
Florida charges no state income tax, boosting effective take-home pay on the $97,820 median CS salary
Miami metro CS salaries reach $107,602, with Tampa at $102,711, both rising as tech companies relocate from higher-tax states
15 online CS degree programs, the most of any state in our rankings, including UF, FIU, and Florida State
Florida's public universities offer some of the cheapest accredited online CS degrees nationally, ranging from $2,522 to $4,721/yr in-state
Florida Atlantic University offers the lowest bachelor's tuition at $2,522/yr with a 77% grad rate
Located in Boca Raton with CAE-CDE designation, FAU is a strong budget pick for South Florida students
Miami's fintech boom and Tampa's cybersecurity cluster are reshaping Florida's CS job market
Citadel Securities, Chewy, ReliaQuest, ConnectWise, and Microsoft's Miami office lead hiring across the state's two major tech corridors
Hakia Research 2026
Updated July 13, 2026
How we ranked Florida Computer Science programs
We rank 58 accredited computer science 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 Science Degree Programs in Florida Worth It?
Source: BLS OEWS May 2024
Computer Science Degree Rankings in Florida
Compare the top-ranked Computer Science programs in Florida by degree level. Tuition, graduation rate, and Hakia Score for every accredited program.
Best Associate's Computer Science Programs in Florida
Program Landscape
Florida offers 2 accredited associate's degree programs in computer science, providing an affordable entry point into the technology field. The top-ranked programs include Full Sail, Beacon 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 $37,464/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 science schools in Florida, these associate's programs offer the best value for students beginning their computer science degrees in Florida.
Best Bachelor's Computer Science Programs in Florida
Program Landscape
Florida ranks among the nation's top destinations for computer science education, with 34 accredited bachelor's degree programs across 11 public and 21 private institutions. The highest-ranked programs are U of Florida, U of Central Florida, Florida International, recognized for academic excellence, research opportunities, and strong industry connections.
Career Outcomes
Graduates from Florida computer science 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 $2,522 to $58,300 annually, with an average of $24,266/yr. Top programs maintain graduation rates above 77%, with the highest reaching 95%. 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 science degrees in Florida, these top-ranked computer science schools offer the strongest combination of academic rigor and career preparation.
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Daytona Beach
Show all 20 ranked programs
| Rank | School | Location | Type | Tuition | Grad Rate | Hakia Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #6 | Florida Institute of Technology | Melbourne, FL | Private nonprofit | $44,620 | 64% | 80.9 |
| #7 | University of West Florida | Pensacola, FL | Public | $3,735 | 59% | 80.1 |
| #8 | Florida Polytechnic University | Lakeland, FL | Public | $3,152 | 55% | 79.3 |
| #9 | Nova Southeastern University | Fort Lauderdale, FL | Private nonprofit | $37,500 | 63% | 77.3 |
| #10 | Eckerd College | Saint Petersburg, FL | Private nonprofit | $51,158 | 66% | 73.8 |
| #11 | Stetson University | DeLand, FL | Private nonprofit | $57,010 | 62% | 73.6 |
| #12 | Full Sail University | Winter Park, FL | Private for-profit | $26,906 | 44% | 72.3 |
| #13 | Saint Leo University | Saint Leo, FL | Private nonprofit | $27,880 | 45% | 69.8 |
| #14 | Palm Beach Atlantic University | West Palm Beach, FL | Private nonprofit | $39,400 | 55% | 66.5 |
| #15 | Barry University | Miami, FL | Private nonprofit | $33,600 | 38% | 66.3 |
| #16 | Rasmussen University-Florida | Ocala, FL | Private for-profit | $14,024 | 42% | 65.4 |
| #17 | St. Thomas University | Miami Gardens, FL | Private nonprofit | $33,580 | 48% | 61.6 |
| #18 | Florida Memorial University | Miami Gardens, FL | Private nonprofit | $14,274 | 31% | 59.6 |
| #19 | Bethune-Cookman University | Daytona Beach, FL | Private nonprofit | $13,844 | 31% | 57.9 |
| #20 | Polytechnic University of Puerto Rico-Orlando | Orlando, FL | Private nonprofit | $13,392 | 33% | 55.4 |
Best Master's Computer Science Programs in Florida
Program Landscape
Florida offers 14 master's degree programs in computer science, designed for professionals seeking to advance into senior engineering, technical leadership, and specialized roles. The top programs, U of Florida, U of Central Florida, U of South Florida, combine advanced technical training with research opportunities and leadership development.
Career Outcomes
Master's graduates in Florida earn a median salary of $97,820, approximately 20-30% higher than bachelor's degree holders. The concentration of technology companies in Miami, Tampa, Orlando creates strong demand for graduate-level talent, with Citrix, Magic Leap, Chewy actively recruiting from these programs.
Costs & Value
Program formats include traditional full-time study (typically 2 years), part-time options for working professionals (2-3 years), and accelerated tracks. Tuition averages $14,505/yr, with many employers offering tuition reimbursement for graduate education. Some programs offer thesis and non-thesis tracks, allowing students to focus on research or professional development based on their career goals.
Curriculum & Specializations
Curriculum covers advanced topics including machine learning, distributed systems, software architecture, and technical management. Many programs include practicum experiences, industry capstone projects, or consulting engagements that provide real-world application of advanced concepts. Among Florida's computer science schools at the graduate level, these programs stand out for both academic quality and career outcomes.
Florida Institute of Technology
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Daytona Beach
Nova Southeastern University
Show all 6 ranked programs
| Rank | School | Location | Type | Tuition | Grad Rate | Hakia Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #6 | Saint Leo University | Saint Leo, FL | Private nonprofit | $27,880 | 45% | 67.3 |
Best Doctoral Computer Science Programs in Florida
Program Landscape
Florida is home to 8 doctoral programs in computer science, preparing students for research positions, faculty appointments, and executive technical roles. Leading programs at U of Central Florida, U of Florida, Florida International are recognized for cutting-edge research, strong faculty publications, and competitive funding packages.
Career Outcomes
Doctoral graduates command premium salaries, with Florida PhD holders earning a median of $122,275, reflecting the advanced expertise required for research and executive positions. The Miami, Tampa, Orlando region's research universities and corporate R&D centers provide extensive collaboration opportunities with industry leaders like Citrix, Magic Leap, Chewy.
Costs & Value
PhD programs typically require 4-6 years of full-time study, including coursework, qualifying examinations, and original dissertation research. Many programs offer full funding through teaching or research assistantships, covering tuition and providing stipends of $25,000–$40,000 annually.
Curriculum & Specializations
Research strengths across Florida programs include artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, human-computer interaction, systems, and theoretical computer science. For aspiring researchers pursuing computer science degrees in Florida, graduates go on to careers as university faculty, industry research scientists, or technical executives, contributing to advances in technology that impact millions of users worldwide.
Florida Institute of Technology
Nova Southeastern University
Computer Science Degree Costs & Tuition in Florida
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Average in-state tuition | $24,266/year |
| Average out-of-state tuition | $60,665/year |
| Community college tuition | $6,067/year |
| 4-year savings for residents | $145,596 |
| 2+2 transfer pathway savings | $36,398 |
Source: IPEDS 2024
Financial Aid for Florida CS Students
Verdict: Florida's financial aid system is merit-heavy rather than need-heavy, the centerpiece Bright Futures Scholarship covers up to 100% of tuition at Florida public universities for students who meet the academic threshold (~3.5 GPA + strong test scores for the Florida Academic Scholars tier). Combined with no state income tax, in-state Florida CS students with strong high-school records have one of the lowest-cost paths to a 4-year CS degree in the country, but the program structurally rewards merit, not need.
Bright Futures tiers: Florida Academic Scholars (the top tier, ~3.5+ unweighted GPA + 1330+ SAT or 29+ ACT) covers 100% of tuition at FL public colleges/universities. Florida Medallion Scholars (the second tier, ~3.0+ GPA + 1210+ SAT or 25+ ACT) covers 75% of tuition. The merit thresholds reset annually based on state legislature decisions, so the specific cutoff for the current cycle should be verified through the Florida Department of Education.
For students without Bright Futures eligibility, the Florida Student Assistance Grant (FSAG) provides need-based aid up to ~$2,610/year at Florida public institutions. The EASE Grant offers up to $3,500/year for FL residents at private FL colleges. The Florida Prepaid College Plan is a distinctive program, Florida families can lock in current tuition rates for future enrollment, hedging against tuition inflation. For long-term-planning families with CS-bound children, this can produce material savings.
Federal Pell (up to $7,395) stacks on top of state aid for low-income students. Florida's tier-1 public universities for CS, UF, FSU, USF, UCF, combine relatively low published tuition with Bright Futures coverage to produce extremely low net tuition for in-state strong-academic-record students. UCF specifically is one of the largest US CS-graduate producers and has unusually strong industry placement given its public-tuition cost structure. CS-employer scholarships from Florida-based employers (Citadel HQ in Miami, Disney IT, Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control in Orlando) add additional funding layers most students don't pursue.
Computer Science Degree ROI Calculator, Florida
Use our interactive ROI calculator to estimate your return on investment for a computer science 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 Science Degree ROI Calculator
Estimate your return on investment for a computer science 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 Science 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 Science Graduates in Florida
Find computer science jobs in Florida. These major employers across Florida metro areas are actively hiring computer science degree holders. Click employer names to view current job openings.
Computer Science 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 Science 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 Science 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 Science 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 Florida CS Students
Verdict: Florida's 2+2 transfer system is one of the most clearly articulated in the United States. Students who complete an Associate of Arts (AA) at a Florida College System (FCS) institution receive guaranteed admission to a State University System (SUS) institution, though not necessarily their first-choice school. For Florida residents targeting CS at UF, FSU, USF, or UCF, the 2+2 pathway through community college is genuinely competitive both academically and financially.
The 28 Florida College System institutions are the primary transfer feeders. Miami Dade College, Valencia College (Orlando), Hillsborough Community College (Tampa), Broward College, Florida SouthWestern State College, and Tallahassee Community College are the largest CS-feeder schools to the 12-school State University System. Each has refined CS prerequisite sequences (programming I/II, data structures, calculus, discrete math) aligned to SUS articulation.
The DirectConnect to UCF program is particularly worth knowing about: Valencia College, Eastern Florida State College, College of Central Florida, Lake-Sumter State College, Seminole State College, and Daytona State College students are guaranteed UCF admission upon completing their AA degree with a 2.0+ GPA. UCF has one of the largest US CS programs and is unusually open to community-college transfers compared to peer-tier state flagships. For Florida CS-bound students who don't get directly admitted to UCF, the DirectConnect path is highly viable.
UF (University of Florida) CS transfer admission is more competitive.
UF has a separate Transfer Admission Guarantee program for Florida Honors Program graduates, but otherwise CS transfer admit rates run roughly 20-35% (substantially more open than UC Berkeley CS but still competitive). FSU CS, USF CS, FAU CS, and FIU CS all have more open transfer admissions than UF. Net cost over 4 years for in-state Florida residents going AA → SUS routinely runs under $15,000 total tuition, among the strongest cost-to-quality ratios for US CS bachelor's degrees.
Florida Take-Home Pay Advantage
Source: Florida Department of Revenue
Florida CS Job Market & Salary
Verdict: Florida's tech market is the fastest-growing major US tech metro cluster by in-migration, driven by no state income tax, lower cost of living than coastal peers, and substantial tech-company / executive relocations since 2020. Nominal Florida CS salaries are lower than CA / NY / WA, but cost-of-living adjusted and tax-adjusted the take-home compensation is competitive, and the trajectory is steep. The state's tech market in 2026 is materially different from what it was in 2019.
By metro: Miami averages ~$115,000-$140,000 for software engineer roles per Levels.fyi and BLS, anchored by Citadel HQ (relocated from Chicago), Bridgewater Associates, and a substantial Latin America tech-services market. Miami is now one of the highest growth tech metros in the country measured by tech worker in-migration. Orlando averages ~$105,000-$130,000 with defense/simulation tech (Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control, Northrop Grumman, the modeling and simulation industry), Disney's substantial digital operation, and UCF's continued tech-graduate output. Tampa averages ~$100,000-$125,000 with a strong cybersecurity employer cluster, financial-services tech, and healthcare-IT.
2026 sector picture for Florida CS graduates: Miami is the breakout fintech metro of the early 2020s, Citadel's HQ relocation, plus crypto/Web3 firms that established Miami operations, plus growing Latin America bridge-tech (Mercado Libre operations, Nubank-adjacent expansion) created hiring momentum that has continued through 2025-2026. Orlando's defense/simulation cluster remains stable and well-paid; this is one of the few US tech subsectors that runs counter-cyclical to consumer-tech hiring downturns. Tampa's cybersecurity cluster is materially smaller than DC or Augusta but growing.
Two structural realities for Florida CS graduates: (1) Big Tech presence is thinner than in California / Washington / NY, Florida has no FAANG headquarters and only modest secondary engineering offices for major Big Tech employers. For CS graduates targeting FAANG specifically, Florida CS programs feed less directly. (2) The cost-of-living tradeoff is real: a Florida CS salary of $120,000 may have more spending power than a Bay Area $200,000 once housing is factored in. For mid-career engineers prioritizing financial life-quality over absolute compensation, Florida is the strongest US tech destination of the last 5 years. See Software Engineer Career Guide and AI/ML Engineer Career Guide.
Entry-Level (0-2 yrs)
New graduates and career changers
Senior (8+ yrs)
Technical leads and architects
Online vs On-Campus Computer Science Programs in Florida
Online Programs
15 available in Florida
On-Campus Programs
Traditional classroom experience
Compare Computer Science Programs in Other States
- Total Programs
- 44
- Median Tuition
- $7,200
- Total Programs
- 54
- Median Tuition
- $8,700
- Total Programs
- 193
- Median Tuition
- $5,700
- Total Programs
- 45
- Median Tuition
- $11,000
- Total Programs
- 141
- Median Tuition
- $7,000
- Total Programs
- 156
- Median Tuition
- $19,000
- Total Programs
- 89
- Median Tuition
- $40,400
- Total Programs
- 72
- Median Tuition
- $10,100
Computer Science Degree Programs in Florida: FAQ
What are the best computer science degree programs in Florida?
How much do computer science degree programs cost in Florida?
What salary can computer science degree graduates earn in Florida?
Are there online computer science degree programs in Florida?
What companies hire computer science degree graduates in Florida?
Is a computer science degree program worth it in Florida?
How long do computer science degree programs take in Florida?
What financial aid is available for computer science 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.