Best Online Computer Science Programs in Van Buren, AR (2026)

Van Buren, Arkansas has 5 accredited schools offering computer science programs, with tuition ranging from $9,748 to $28,772 per year for indexed programs. Van Buren has a population of about 23,545. Median household income is $59,420 (Census ACS 2023, 5-year). About 19.8% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. In the Fort Smith, AR-OK metro area, the top-earning computer science-related role is Computer and Information Systems Manager at a median $114,760 annually (BLS OEWS, May 2025).


Closest Computer Science Schools to Van Buren

The 5 accredited institutions below are the closest among the 5 schools in our directory that offer computer science programs near Van Buren. Distances are calculated from Van Buren city center.

How We Rank Schools

Every school list on this site is ordered by the BOC Score, computed from the most recent school-level data published by the U.S. Department of Education (College Scorecard and IPEDS). To qualify, a school must be currently operating and accredited by an agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. Each eligible school is then scored on five measures, percentile-ranked against schools at the same credential level:

  • Graduation rate 30%
  • Median earnings, 10 years after entry 25%
  • Average net price (lower is better) 20%
  • Retention rate 15%
  • Fully online availability 10%

Schools without enough outcome data appear after ranked schools, without a score. On this page, schools are ordered by distance from Van Buren. Advertising never affects these rankings. Read the full methodology.

#1

University of Arkansas-Fort Smith

Fort Smith, AR 4.6 miles from Van Buren BOC Score63.8
Published tuitionContact school for pricing
Online programsYes

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#2

University of Arkansas

Fayetteville, AR 46.0 miles from Van Buren BOC Score70.7
Published tuition$9,748 - $28,772
Online programsYes

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#3

John Brown University

Siloam Springs, AR 52.5 miles from Van Buren BOC Score64.3
Published tuitionContact school for pricing
Online programsYes

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#4

Indian Capital Technology Center-Muskogee

Muskogee, OK 58.5 miles from Van Buren BOC Score68.1
Published tuitionContact school for pricing
Online programs--

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#5

University of Arkansas Community College Rich Mountain

Mena, AR 59.7 miles from Van Buren BOC Score40.1
Published tuitionContact school for pricing
Online programs--

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Source: IPEDS / College Scorecard (2023 cohort). Browse all Arkansas schools on the Arkansas computer science page.


Computer Science Wages Near Van Buren

Van Buren is part of the Fort Smith, AR-OK metro area (BLS area code 22900). Where MSA-level wages are published, the table below shows MSA medians; otherwise it falls back to Arkansas statewide.

OccupationMedian WageSourceCOL-Adjusted (US=100)
Software Developer$114,140Fort Smith, AR-OK$132,875
Computer Systems Analyst$38,020Fort Smith, AR-OK$44,261
Computer Network Architect$114,270Fort Smith, AR-OK$133,027
Database Administrator$82,480AR statewide$96,019
Database Architect$104,070AR statewide$121,153
Information Security Analyst$91,020Fort Smith, AR-OK$105,960
Computer Network Support Specialist$58,810Fort Smith, AR-OK$68,463
Computer User Support Specialist$48,170Fort Smith, AR-OK$56,077
Web Developer$50,550AR statewide$58,847
Web and Digital Interface DesignerN/AAR statewide
Computer and Information Systems Manager$114,760Fort Smith, AR-OK$133,597

Source: BLS, May 2025 Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics publishes wage data at the metro (MSA) and state level – not by individual city.


Van Buren at a Glance

MetricValueSource
Population23,545Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B01003)
Median household income$59,420Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B19013)
Adults 25+ with bachelor’s+19.8%Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B15003)
Regional Price Parity (US=100)85.9 (below U.S. average)BEA RPP 2024
Computer Science-related employment in Crawford County41 workers, 10 establishmentsBLS QCEW 2024 annual

Other Van Buren-Area Cities With Computer Science Programs


Frequently Asked Questions

How many accredited computer science schools are near Van Buren, AR?

Our directory has 5 accredited schools offering computer science programs near Van Buren. The closest is University of Arkansas-Fort Smith in Fort Smith, AR (4.6 miles), and the farthest of the schools shown is University of Arkansas Community College Rich Mountain (59.7 miles). 3 of the highlighted schools are flagged as offering distance education.

What are the highest-paying computer science roles near Van Buren?

Based on BLS OEWS May 2025 wage data, the top-paying computer science-related roles near Van Buren are: Computer and Information Systems Manager ($114,760), Computer Network Architect ($114,270), Software Developer ($114,140). These reflect MSA-level medians where published, with Arkansas statewide fallback for occupations not reported at the metro level.

Should I look at programs in Fort Smith instead of Van Buren?

Fort Smith, AR is 6.9 miles from Van Buren and has its own set of local computer science programs – see the city’s page. For online programs, distance matters less; for hybrid or in-person formats, comparing both can help.

Is Van Buren an affordable place to study computer science?

Van Buren’s median household income of $59,420 (Census ACS 2023) is one input. Online programs let students stay in Van Buren while attending lower-cost out-of-state schools, and Arkansas public universities often offer reduced in-state online tuition.

How do I verify a program is accredited?

Confirm institutional accreditation via the U.S. Department of Education database (U.S. Dept. of Education database), and check for any program-specific accreditation listed by the school.


Learn More About Computer Science Programs

Other Programs Available in Van Buren

Compare every accredited online degree program with city-level data for Van Buren:

Data verified: June 11, 2026. Salary, employment, and tuition figures on this page are sourced from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (OEWS May 2025; Employment Projections 2024–2034) and the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (2023 cohort). The source agency and data year are cited inline with every statistic.