Best Online Computer Science Programs in Ottawa, IL (2026)

Ottawa, Illinois has 5 accredited schools offering computer science programs, with tuition ranging from $3,432 to $14,661 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 5 accredited institutions below are the closest among the 5 schools in our directory that offer computer science programs near Ottawa. Distances are calculated from Ottawa 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 Ottawa. Advertising never affects these rankings. Read the full methodology.

#1

Illinois Valley Community College

Oglesby, IL 14.3 miles from Ottawa BOC Score58.3
Published tuitionContact school for pricing
Online programsYes

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#2

Joliet Junior College

Joliet, IL 35.9 miles from Ottawa BOC Score55.1
Published tuitionContact school for pricing
Online programsYes

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#3

Waubonsee Community College

Sugar Grove, IL 36.1 miles from Ottawa BOC Score59.6
Published tuition$3,432 - $14,661
Online programsYes

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#4

Aurora University

Aurora, IL 37.3 miles from Ottawa BOC Score66.4
Published tuitionContact school for pricing
Online programsYes

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#5

University of St Francis

Joliet, IL 39.9 miles from Ottawa BOC Score74.9
Published tuitionContact school for pricing
Online programsYes

Visit website

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


Computer Science Wages Near Ottawa

OccupationMedian 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

MetricValueSource
Population18,714Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B01003)
Median household income$73,011Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B19013)
Adults 25+ with bachelor’s+21.9%Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B15003)
Computer Science-related employment in LaSalle County106 workers, 13 establishmentsBLS 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 (39.9 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: 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.