Best Online Computer Science Programs in Hayward, CA (2026)

Hayward, California has 5 accredited schools offering computer science programs, with tuition ranging from $1,168 to $22,803 per year for indexed programs. Hayward has a population of about 159,201. Median household income is $113,775 (Census ACS 2023, 5-year). About 32.6% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. In the San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA metro area, the top-earning computer science-related role is Computer and Information Systems Manager at a median $232,890 annually (BLS OEWS, May 2025).

Closest Computer Science Schools to Hayward

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

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

Computer Science Wages Near Hayward

Hayward is part of the San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA metro area (BLS area code 41860). Where MSA-level wages are published, the table below shows MSA medians; otherwise it falls back to California statewide.

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.

Hayward at a Glance

Other Hayward-Area Cities With Computer Science Programs

• Union City, CA – 3.8 mi away (75,322 pop)
• San Leandro, CA – 6.8 mi away (90,465 pop)
• Newark, CA – 8.2 mi away (45,810 pop)
• Fremont, CA – 8.9 mi away (233,136 pop)
• Pleasanton, CA – 11.0 mi away (82,270 pop)

Frequently Asked Questions

How many accredited computer science schools are near Hayward, CA?

Our directory has 5 accredited schools offering computer science programs near Hayward. The closest is California State University-East Bay in Hayward, CA (2.0 miles), and the farthest of the schools shown is Las Positas College (16.3 miles). 4 of the highlighted schools are flagged as offering distance education.

What are the highest-paying computer science roles near Hayward?

Based on BLS OEWS May 2025 wage data, the top-paying computer science-related roles near Hayward are: Computer and Information Systems Manager ($232,890), Software Developer ($186,640), Database Architect ($175,860). These reflect MSA-level medians where published, with California statewide fallback for occupations not reported at the metro level.

Should I look at programs in Union City instead of Hayward?

Union City, CA is 3.8 miles from Hayward 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 Hayward an affordable place to study computer science?

Hayward’s median household income of $113,775 (Census ACS 2023) is one input. Online programs let students stay in Hayward while attending lower-cost out-of-state schools, and California 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

• Computer Science accreditation: what to look for
• Computer Science concentrations and specializations
• Is a Computer Science degree worth it?
• Main Computer Science degree guide
• Online Computer Science programs in California
• Computer Science programs by state

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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.