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

Lafayette, California has a population of about 25,277. The city’s median household income is $222,393 (Census ACS 2023, 5-year). About 77.0% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. There are 5 accredited computer science programs within 100 miles of Lafayette. 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 $221,810 annually (BLS OEWS, May 2024).


Closest Computer Science Schools to Lafayette

The five accredited institutions below are the closest options indexed in our directory that offer computer science programs. Distances are calculated from Lafayette city center.

SchoolCityDistanceTuitionOnline
Diablo Valley CollegePleasant Hill, CA5.9 miContact school for pricing
Berkeley City CollegeBerkeley, CA8.4 miContact school for pricing
College of AlamedaAlameda, CA11.6 miContact school for pricing
Contra Costa CollegeSan Pablo, CA13.0 miContact school for pricing
Los Medanos CollegePittsburg, CA16.3 miContact school for pricing

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


Computer Science Wages Near Lafayette

Lafayette 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.

OccupationMedian WageSourceCOL-Adjusted (US=100)
Software Developer$174,910San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA$151,306
Computer Systems Analyst$145,440San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA$125,813
Computer Network Architect$155,480San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA$134,498
Database Administrator$117,020San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA$101,228
Database Architect$170,700San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA$147,664
Information Security Analyst$168,160San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA$145,467
Computer Network Support Specialist$98,670San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA$85,355
Computer User Support Specialist$85,010San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA$73,538
Web Developer$157,490San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA$136,237
Web and Digital Interface Designer$160,980San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA$139,256
Computer and Information Systems Manager$221,810San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA$191,877

Source: BLS, May 2024 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.


Lafayette at a Glance

MetricValueSource
Population25,277Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B01003)
Median household income$222,393Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B19013)
Adults 25+ with bachelor’s+77.0%Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B15003)
Regional Price Parity (US=100)115.6 (above U.S. average)BEA RPP 2024
Computer Science-related employment in Contra Costa County4,798 workers, 826 establishmentsBLS QCEW 2024 annual

Other Lafayette-Area Cities With Computer Science Programs


Frequently Asked Questions

How many accredited computer science programs are near Lafayette, CA?

Our directory lists 5 computer science programs within 100 miles of Lafayette. The closest is Diablo Valley College in Pleasant Hill, CA (5.9 miles), and the farthest in our top picks is Los Medanos College (16.3 miles). 0 of these programs are offered fully online.

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

Based on BLS OEWS May 2024 wage data, the top-paying computer science-related roles near Lafayette are: Computer and Information Systems Manager ($221,810), Software Developer ($174,910), Database Architect ($170,700). 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 Walnut Creek instead of Lafayette?

Walnut Creek, CA is 4.4 miles from Lafayette 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 Lafayette an affordable place to study computer science?

Lafayette’s median household income of $222,393 (Census ACS 2023) is one input. Online programs let students stay in Lafayette 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.