Iowa State University
Published tuition$10,497 - $27,683
Online programsYes
Best Online Computer Science Programs in Ames, IA (2026)
Ames, Iowa has 5 accredited schools offering computer science programs, with tuition ranging from $5,304 to $27,683 per year for indexed programs. Ames has a population of about 66,112. Median household income is $60,102 (Census ACS 2023, 5-year). About 63.5% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. In the Ames, IA metro area, the top-earning computer science-related role is Computer and Information Systems Manager at a median $131,340 annually (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
Closest Computer Science Schools to Ames
The 5 accredited institutions below are the closest among the 5 schools in our directory that offer computer science programs near Ames. Distances are calculated from Ames 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 Ames. Advertising never affects these rankings. Read the full methodology.
Des Moines Area Community College
Published tuitionContact school for pricing
Online programsYes
Marshalltown Community College
Published tuition$5,304 - $13,993
Online programsYes
Iowa Central Community College
Published tuition$5,376 - $15,405
Online programsYes
University of Northern Iowa
Published tuitionContact school for pricing
Online programsYes
Source: IPEDS / College Scorecard (2023 cohort). Browse all Iowa schools on the Iowa computer science page.
Computer Science Wages Near Ames
Ames is part of the Ames, IA metro area (BLS area code 11180). Where MSA-level wages are published, the table below shows MSA medians; otherwise it falls back to Iowa statewide.
| Occupation | Median Wage | Source | COL-Adjusted (US=100) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Software Developer | $129,440 | Ames, IA | $145,766 |
| Computer Systems Analyst | $96,920 | Ames, IA | $109,144 |
| Computer Network Architect | $102,630 | Ames, IA | $115,574 |
| Database Administrator | $101,210 | IA statewide | $113,975 |
| Database Architect | $124,040 | IA statewide | $139,685 |
| Information Security Analyst | $107,520 | Ames, IA | $121,081 |
| Computer Network Support Specialist | $82,360 | Ames, IA | $92,748 |
| Computer User Support Specialist | $63,830 | Ames, IA | $71,881 |
| Web Developer | $64,210 | IA statewide | $72,309 |
| Web and Digital Interface Designer | $69,060 | IA statewide | $77,770 |
| Computer and Information Systems Manager | $131,340 | Ames, IA | $147,905 |
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.
Ames at a Glance
| Metric | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 66,112 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B01003) |
| Median household income | $60,102 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B19013) |
| Adults 25+ with bachelor’s+ | 63.5% | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B15003) |
| Regional Price Parity (US=100) | 88.8 (below U.S. average) | BEA RPP 2024 |
| Computer Science-related employment in Story County | 1,113 workers, 166 establishments | BLS QCEW 2024 annual |
Other Ames-Area Cities With Computer Science Programs
- Ankeny, IA – 20.6 mi away (58,627 pop)
- Johnston, IA – 24.0 mi away (21,114 pop)
- Urbandale, IA – 27.9 mi away (43,018 pop)
- Des Moines, IA – 31.4 mi away (476,689 pop)
- West Des Moines, IA – 33.6 mi away (64,560 pop)
Frequently Asked Questions
How many accredited computer science schools are near Ames, IA?
Our directory has 5 accredited schools offering computer science programs near Ames. The closest is Iowa State University in Ames, IA (0.9 miles), and the farthest of the schools shown is University of Northern Iowa (68.5 miles). 5 of the highlighted schools are flagged as offering distance education.
What are the highest-paying computer science roles near Ames?
Based on BLS OEWS May 2025 wage data, the top-paying computer science-related roles near Ames are: Computer and Information Systems Manager ($131,340), Software Developer ($129,440), Database Architect ($124,040). These reflect MSA-level medians where published, with Iowa statewide fallback for occupations not reported at the metro level.
Should I look at programs in Ankeny instead of Ames?
Ankeny, IA is 20.6 miles from Ames 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 Ames an affordable place to study computer science?
Ames’s median household income of $60,102 (Census ACS 2023) is one input. Online programs let students stay in Ames while attending lower-cost out-of-state schools, and Iowa 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 Iowa
- Computer Science programs by state
Other Programs Available in Ames
Compare every accredited online degree program with city-level data for Ames:
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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.
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