Best Online Computer Science Programs in Pasadena, CA (2026)
Pasadena, California has a population of about 136,462. The city’s median household income is $103,778 (Census ACS 2023, 5-year). About 56.0% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. Our directory has 97 accredited schools offering computer science programs near Pasadena, with tuition ranging from $1,180 to $18,698 per year for indexed programs. In the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA metro area, the top-earning computer science-related role is Computer and Information Systems Manager at a median $191,410 annually (BLS OEWS, May 2024).
Closest Computer Science Schools to Pasadena
The 10 accredited institutions below are the closest among the 97 schools in our directory that offer computer science programs near Pasadena. Distances are calculated from Pasadena city center.
| School | City | Distance | Tuition | Online |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| University of the People | Pasadena, CA | 0.9 mi | Contact school for pricing | ✓ |
| Pasadena City College | Pasadena, CA | 1.6 mi | $1,180 - $12,166 | – |
| California Institute of Technology | Pasadena, CA | 1.7 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Occidental College | Los Angeles, CA | 4.7 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Glendale Community College | Glendale, CA | 5.1 mi | $1,181 - $15,802 | – |
| Platt College-Los Angeles | Alhambra, CA | 5.4 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| California State University-Los Angeles | Los Angeles, CA | 6.6 mi | $6,813 - $18,698 | – |
| Brand College | Glendale, CA | 7.2 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| East Los Angeles College | Monterey Park, CA | 8.3 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Los Angeles City College | Los Angeles, CA | 10.1 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
Source: IPEDS / College Scorecard (2023 cohort). Browse all California schools on the California computer science page.
Computer Science Wages Near Pasadena
Pasadena is part of the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA metro area (BLS area code 31080). Where MSA-level wages are published, the table below shows MSA medians; otherwise it falls back to California statewide.
| Occupation | Median Wage | Source | COL-Adjusted (US=100) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Software Developer | $155,330 | Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $136,734 |
| Computer Systems Analyst | $126,520 | Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $111,373 |
| Computer Network Architect | $137,910 | Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $121,400 |
| Database Administrator | $105,400 | Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $92,782 |
| Database Architect | $145,300 | Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $127,905 |
| Information Security Analyst | $131,280 | Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $115,563 |
| Computer Network Support Specialist | $74,040 | Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $65,176 |
| Computer User Support Specialist | $71,230 | Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $62,702 |
| Web Developer | $97,990 | Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $86,259 |
| Web and Digital Interface Designer | $102,660 | Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $90,370 |
| Computer and Information Systems Manager | $191,410 | Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $168,495 |
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.
Pasadena at a Glance
| Metric | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 136,462 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B01003) |
| Median household income | $103,778 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B19013) |
| Adults 25+ with bachelor’s+ | 56.0% | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B15003) |
| Regional Price Parity (US=100) | 113.6 (above U.S. average) | BEA RPP 2024 |
| Computer Science-related employment in Los Angeles County | 31,047 workers, 5,218 establishments | BLS QCEW 2024 annual |
Other Pasadena-Area Cities With Computer Science Programs
- South Pasadena, CA – 3.6 mi away (25,913 pop)
- La Canada Flintridge, CA – 4.9 mi away (20,447 pop)
- San Gabriel, CA – 5.0 mi away (40,404 pop)
- Alhambra, CA – 5.2 mi away (85,474 pop)
- Arcadia, CA – 6.1 mi away (58,523 pop)
Frequently Asked Questions
How many accredited computer science schools are near Pasadena, CA?
Our directory has 97 accredited schools offering computer science programs near Pasadena. The closest is University of the People in Pasadena, CA (0.9 miles), and the farthest in our top picks is Los Angeles City College (10.1 miles). 1 of the highlighted schools are flagged as offering distance education.
What are the highest-paying computer science roles near Pasadena?
Based on BLS OEWS May 2024 wage data, the top-paying computer science-related roles near Pasadena are: Computer and Information Systems Manager ($191,410), Software Developer ($155,330), Database Architect ($145,300). 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 South Pasadena instead of Pasadena?
South Pasadena, CA is 3.6 miles from Pasadena 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 Pasadena an affordable place to study computer science?
Pasadena’s median household income of $103,778 (Census ACS 2023) is one input. Online programs let students stay in Pasadena 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.
Related Resources
- Online Computer Science Programs in California
- Main Computer Science Degree Guide
- Computer Science Programs by State
Data verified: May 5, 2026. Salary, employment, and tuition figures on this page are sourced from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (OEWS May 2024; 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.
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