Best Computer Science Schools Near Ottawa, IL (2026)

Updated September 6, 2026 BLS data College Scorecard On this page

Ottawa, Illinois has 5 accredited schools offering computer science programs, with tuition ranging from $4,200 to $16,385 per year for indexed programs. Ottawa has a population of about 18,714. Median household income is $73,011 (Census ACS 2023, 5-year). About 21.9% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. In Illinois, the top-earning computer science-related role is Computer and Information Systems Manager at a median $171,730 annually (BLS, May 2025).

Closest Computer Science Schools to Ottawa

The accredited institutions listed below are the closest in our directory that offer computer science programs near Ottawa, ranked by BOC Score and straight-line distance from Ottawa city center. The list is rebuilt from federal IPEDS data on every site update.

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 Ottawa. Advertising never affects these rankings. Read the full methodology.

Ranked by BOC Score — U.S. Dept. of Education outcome data. Advertising never affects rankings.

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#1

Aurora University

Aurora, IL 37.3 miles from Ottawa
  • 4 year
  • Offers a fully online program
66.4 BOC Score
Graduation rate 67%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $58,709
Avg net price $18,838/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 77%
  • Programs offered: 44

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

#2

University of St Francis

Joliet, IL 40.1 miles from Ottawa
  • 4 year
  • Offers a fully online program
74.9 BOC Score
Graduation rate 70%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $63,926
Avg net price $13,006/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 76%
  • Programs offered: 54

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

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#3

Northern Illinois University

Dekalb, IL 40.3 miles from Ottawa
  • 4 year
  • Offers a fully online program
65.0 BOC Score
Graduation rate 64%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $57,808
Avg net price $13,391/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 70%
  • Programs offered: 92

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

#4

Lewis University

Romeoville, IL 42.7 miles from Ottawa
  • 4 year
  • Offers a fully online program
  • Accredited
73.8 BOC Score
Acceptance rate 71%
Graduation rate 65%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $66,099
Avg net price $17,028/yr
Tuition
In‑state$39,200
Out‑of‑state$39,200
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 81%
  • Programs offered: 85

Source:Accreditor: Higher Learning CommissionIPEDSCollege Scorecard

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#5

North Central College

Naperville, IL 46.1 miles from Ottawa
  • 4 year
  • Offers a fully online program
67.2 BOC Score
Graduation rate 69%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $60,123
Avg net price $21,044/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 79%
  • Programs offered: 70

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

#6

Benedictine University

Lisle, IL 48.0 miles from Ottawa
  • 4 year
  • Offers a fully online program
56.0 BOC Score
Graduation rate 59%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $63,446
Avg net price $22,313/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 68%
  • Programs offered: 55

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

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#7

DeVry University-Illinois

Lisle, IL 48.5 miles from Ottawa
  • 4 year
  • Offers a fully online program
39.0 BOC Score
Graduation rate 28%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $45,987
Avg net price $30,770/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 65%
  • Programs offered: 19

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

#8

Olivet Nazarene University

Bourbonnais, IL 51.5 miles from Ottawa
  • 4 year
  • Offers a fully online program
54.0 BOC Score
Graduation rate 63%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $53,213
Avg net price $20,729/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 69%
  • Programs offered: 85

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

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

Computer Science Wages Near Ottawa

Occupation Median Annual Wage (Illinois, statewide)
Software Developer $132,110
Computer Systems Analyst $101,570
Computer Network Architect $132,790
Database Administrator $104,650
Database Architect $142,500
Information Security Analyst $124,180
Computer Network Support Specialist $68,530
Computer User Support Specialist $59,860
Web Developer $84,820
Web and Digital Interface Designer $85,710
Computer and Information Systems Manager $171,730

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.

Ottawa at a Glance

Metric Value Source
Population 18,714 Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B01003)
Median household income $73,011 Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B19013)
Adults 25+ with bachelor’s+ 21.9% Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B15003)
Computer Science-related employment in LaSalle County 106 workers, 13 establishments BLS QCEW 2024 annual

Other Ottawa-Area Cities With Computer Science Programs

Frequently Asked Questions

How many accredited computer science schools are near Ottawa, IL?

Our directory has 5 accredited schools offering computer science programs near Ottawa. The closest is Illinois Valley Community College in Oglesby, IL (14.3 miles), and the farthest of the schools shown is University of St Francis (40.1 miles). 5 of the highlighted schools are flagged as offering distance education.

What are the highest-paying computer science roles in Illinois?

Based on BLS May 2025 state wage data, the top-paying computer science-related roles in Illinois are: Computer and Information Systems Manager ($171,730), Database Architect ($142,500), Computer Network Architect ($132,790). Wages for Ottawa workers will track these statewide medians, adjusted for local cost of living.

Should I look at programs in Peru instead of Ottawa?

Peru, IL is 15.7 miles from Ottawa 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 Ottawa an affordable place to study computer science?

Ottawa’s median household income of $73,011 (Census ACS 2023) is one input. Online programs let students stay in Ottawa while attending lower-cost out-of-state schools, and Illinois 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 Ottawa

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

Data verified: September 6, 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.

Back to Best Computer Science Schools in Illinois (2026)