Most Affordable Mobile Development Programs 2025
Updated December 2025

Most Affordable Mobile Development Programs 2026

Discover the best value mobile development programs that deliver quality education without breaking the bank. Ranked by our Value Score algorithm that balances academic quality with affordability.

Programs Ranked148
Median In-State Tuition$8K/yr
Most Affordable$4K/yr
Value Score AlgorithmQ/T
Key Takeaways
  • 1.Mobile Developers earn a median salary of $132,270 with 25% projected job growth through 2032 (BLS OES 2024)
  • 2.Top-ranked Mobile Development programs include University of North Carolina at Charlotte, Florida Polytechnic University, North Carolina A & T State University based on graduation rates, program strength, and career outcomes
  • 3.Best value: University of North Carolina at Charlotte offers mobile development education at $3,812/year with 76% graduation rate
  • 4.25 accredited Mobile Development programs analyzed using IPEDS 2023 completion data
On This Page

Best Mobile Development Programs - Top 10 Most Affordable

๐Ÿฅ‡

University of North Carolina at Charlotte

Charlotte, NCPublic

N/A mobile development graduates annually

$4K
Tuition/yr
76%
Grad Rate

Why Ranked #1

Ranked #1 for Mobile Development based on 76% graduation rate, strong graduates, and overall score of undefined/100. Data from IPEDS 2023 and BLS OES 2024.

Program Strengths

  • 76% graduation rate
  • Accredited institution
๐Ÿฅˆ

Florida Polytechnic University

Lakeland, FLPublic

N/A mobile development graduates annually

$3K
Tuition/yr
81%
Grad Rate

Why Ranked #2

Ranked #2 for Mobile Development based on 81% graduation rate, strong graduates, and overall score of undefined/100. Data from IPEDS 2023 and BLS OES 2024.

Program Strengths

  • 81% graduation rate
  • Accredited institution
๐Ÿฅ‰

North Carolina A & T State University

Greensboro, NCPublic

N/A mobile development graduates annually

$4K
Tuition/yr
84%
Grad Rate

Why Ranked #3

Ranked #3 for Mobile Development based on 84% graduation rate, strong graduates, and overall score of undefined/100. Data from IPEDS 2023 and BLS OES 2024.

Program Strengths

  • 84% graduation rate
  • Accredited institution
#4

University of West Florida

Pensacola, FLPublic

N/A mobile development graduates annually

$4K
Tuition/yr
84%
Grad Rate
#5

University of North Florida

Jacksonville, FLPublic

N/A mobile development graduates annually

$4K
Tuition/yr
82%
Grad Rate
#6

Green River College

Auburn, WAPublic

N/A mobile development graduates annually

$4K
Tuition/yr
99%
Grad Rate
#7

Kennesaw State University

Kennesaw, GAPublic

N/A mobile development graduates annually

$4K
Tuition/yr
66%
Grad Rate
#8

Bellevue College

Bellevue, WAPublic

N/A mobile development graduates annually

$4K
Tuition/yr
96%
Grad Rate
#9

University of North Carolina Wilmington

Wilmington, NCPublic

N/A mobile development graduates annually

$4K
Tuition/yr
79%
Grad Rate
#10

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Chapel Hill, NCPublic

N/A mobile development graduates annually

$7K
Tuition/yr
93%
Grad Rate

Best Mobile Development Programs - Compare Top 5 Most Affordable

SchoolLocationTypeTuitionGrad RateScore
#1 University of North Carolina at Charlotte
Charlotte, NC
Public
$3,812
76%
N/A
#2 Florida Polytechnic University
Lakeland, FL
Public
$3,152
81%
N/A
#3 North Carolina A & T State University
Greensboro, NC
Public
$3,540
84%
N/A
#4 University of West Florida
Pensacola, FL
Public
$3,735
84%
N/A
#5 University of North Florida
Jacksonville, FL
Public
$3,996
82%
N/A

Top 25 Most Affordable Mobile Development Programs 2026

RankInstitutionLocationTuitionValue ScoreGrad Rate
1University of North Carolina at CharlotteCharlotte, NC$3,812187.776%
2Florida Polytechnic UniversityLakeland, FL$3,152186.581%
3North Carolina A & T State UniversityGreensboro, NC$3,540184.184%
4University of West FloridaPensacola, FL$3,735146.284%
5University of North FloridaJacksonville, FL$3,996143.982%
6Green River CollegeAuburn, WA$4,074140.299%
7Kennesaw State UniversityKennesaw, GA$4,450139.166%
8Bellevue CollegeBellevue, WA$4,074138.196%
9University of North Carolina WilmingtonWilmington, NC$4,443137.879%
10University of North Carolina at Chapel HillChapel Hill, NC$7,019130.893%
11California Polytechnic State University-San Luis ObispoSan Luis Obispo, CA$5,742130.2100%
12University of Oklahoma-Norman CampusNorman, OK$5,070130.288%
13San Diego State UniversitySan Diego, CA$5,742129.683%
14North Carolina State University at RaleighRaleigh, NC$6,535123.485%
15Grambling State UniversityGrambling, LA$5,140123.499%
16Appalachian State UniversityBoone, NC$4,242117.778%
17San Jose State UniversitySan Jose, CA$5,742115.5100%
18California State University-Long BeachLong Beach, CA$5,742114.573%
19Georgia State UniversityAtlanta, GA$7,15811494%
20University of Louisiana at LafayetteLafayette, LA$5,407113.498%
21Weber State UniversityOgden, UT$5,471112.392%
22Stony Brook UniversityStony Brook, NY$7,070111.989%
23California State Polytechnic University-PomonaPomona, CA$5,742111.387%
24Lake Washington Institute of TechnologyKirkland, WA$3,195110.343%
25University at BuffaloBuffalo, NY$7,070109.395%
$72,500
Starting Salary
$105,600
Mid-Career
+22%
Job Growth
189,200
Annual Openings

Career Paths

Design and build applications for iOS and Android platforms

Median Salary:$98,750

Specialize in Apple ecosystem app development using Swift and Objective-C

Median Salary:$105,600

Android Developer

+24%

Focus on Android platform development using Java and Kotlin

Median Salary:$97,200

Handle both frontend mobile interfaces and backend services

Median Salary:$112,400

Mobile UX/UI Designer

+18%

Create user-friendly interfaces specifically for mobile applications

Median Salary:$89,300

Financial Aid Opportunities for Mobile Development Students

Federal financial aid remains the largest source of funding for mobile development students. The maximum Pell Grant of $7,395 for 2025-26 can cover significant portions of tuition at the most affordable programs. Students from families earning under $60,000 annually typically qualify for substantial need-based aid.

STEM-specific scholarships provide additional funding opportunities. The National Science Foundation's CSEMS program supports computer science students at participating institutions. Many schools in our rankings participate in these federal programs, offering scholarships ranging from $2,500 to $10,000 annually.

Technology companies increasingly offer tuition assistance for mobile development students. Apple, Google, and Microsoft all maintain scholarship programs specifically for mobile app development and computer science students. Amazon's Future Engineer program provides up to $40,000 over four years for qualifying students.

  • Federal Pell Grant: Up to $7,395 annually based on financial need
  • FSEOG Grant: Additional $100-$4,000 for exceptional financial need
  • State grants: Vary by state, average $3,200 annually for STEM majors
  • Institutional aid: Average $8,450 at schools in our top 10 rankings

Hidden Costs in Mobile Development Programs

Beyond tuition and fees, mobile development students face specific technology costs that can add $2,000-$4,000 annually to their education expenses. Required software includes development environments like Xcode for iOS development and Android Studio, plus premium subscriptions to cloud services for app testing and deployment.

Hardware requirements for mobile development exceed typical computer science needs. Students need capable machines for running iOS simulators and Android emulators simultaneously, often requiring MacBook Pro models costing $2,500-$4,000. Some programs provide computer labs, but remote learning necessitates personal equipment.

Apple Developer Program membership ($99 annually) and Google Play Developer account ($25 one-time fee) are essential for publishing apps to official app stores. Advanced students may need additional accounts for testing enterprise deployment solutions, adding another $200-$500 annually.

  • Development hardware: $2,500-$4,000 for capable laptop/desktop setup
  • Software licenses: $300-$800 annually for professional development tools
  • Developer accounts: $124 annually for iOS/Android publishing capabilities
  • Cloud services: $200-$600 annually for app hosting and analytics
  • Certification exam fees: $300-$500 for industry certifications

Frequently Asked Questions

Ranking Methodology

Based on 148 programs from IPEDS 2023 (tuition $2K-$35K, 40%+ grad rate, 10+ graduates)

Value Score100%

Our Best Value algorithm calculates Value Score = Quality Score / (Tuition / $10,000). This rewards schools delivering quality education at reasonable prices.

Graduation Rate35%

6-year completion rate from IPEDS 2023, weighted at 35% of the Quality Score

Program Strength25%

Number of Mobile Development graduates indicating program resources and faculty (IPEDS 2023)

Selectivity20%

Admission rate from IPEDS 2023 (lower = more selective)

Research Status20%

R1 research universities receive bonus points for institutional quality

Taylor Rupe

Taylor Rupe

Full-Stack Developer (B.S. Computer Science, B.A. Psychology)

Taylor combines formal training in computer science with a background in human behavior to evaluate complex search, AI, and data-driven topics. His technical review ensures each article reflects current best practices in semantic search, AI systems, and web technology.