Best Online Computer Science Programs in Independence, KY (2026)

Independence, Kentucky has 5 accredited schools offering computer science programs. Independence has a population of about 29,024. Median household income is $98,653 (Census ACS 2023, 5-year). About 37.3% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. In the Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN metro area, the top-earning computer science-related role is Computer and Information Systems Manager at a median $169,530 annually (BLS OEWS, May 2025).


Closest Computer Science Schools to Independence

The accredited institutions listed below are the closest in our directory that offer computer science programs near Independence, ranked by BOC Score and straight-line distance from Independence 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 Independence. Advertising never affects these rankings. Read the full methodology.

#1

Northern Kentucky University

Highland Heights, KY 7.3 miles from Independence BOC Score 56.9
  • 4 year
  • Campus + Online
Graduation rate 51%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $50,220
Avg net price $8,191/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 77%
  • Programs offered: 51

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

#2

Georgetown College

Georgetown, KY 51.4 miles from Independence BOC Score 50.3
  • 4 year
  • Campus + Online
  • Accredited
Acceptance rate 91%
Graduation rate 48%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $52,074
Avg net price $14,095/yr
Tuition
In‑state$42,840
Out‑of‑state$42,840
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 68%
  • Programs offered: 21

Source:Accreditor: Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on CollegesIPEDSCollege Scorecard

#3

Kentucky State University

Frankfort, KY 54.6 miles from Independence BOC Score 40.3
  • 4 year
  • Campus + Online
  • Accredited
Acceptance rate 96%
Graduation rate 30%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $36,382
Avg net price $8,040/yr
Tuition
In‑state$9,387
Out‑of‑state$13,658
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 62%
  • Programs offered: 22

Source:Accreditor: Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on CollegesIPEDSCollege Scorecard

#4

University of Kentucky

Lexington, KY 62.6 miles from Independence BOC Score 70.9
  • 4 year
  • Campus + Online
  • Accredited
Acceptance rate 93%
Graduation rate 71%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $59,025
Avg net price $18,851/yr
Tuition
In‑state$13,502
Out‑of‑state$34,140
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 87%
  • Programs offered: 76

Source:Accreditor: Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on CollegesIPEDSCollege Scorecard

#5

Sullivan University

Louisville, KY 79.2 miles from Independence BOC Score 43.9
  • 4 year
  • Campus + Online
Graduation rate 36%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $38,008
Avg net price $25,532/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Programs offered: 40

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

#6

University of Louisville

Louisville, KY 82.8 miles from Independence BOC Score 59.3
  • 4 year
  • Campus + Online
  • Accredited
Acceptance rate 79%
Graduation rate 61%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $53,899
Avg net price $17,988/yr
Tuition
In‑state$13,136
Out‑of‑state$29,482
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 81%
  • Programs offered: 57

Source:Accreditor: Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on CollegesIPEDSCollege Scorecard

#7

Campbellsville University

Campbellsville, KY 119.3 miles from Independence BOC Score 33.5
  • 4 year
  • Campus + Online
Graduation rate 43%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $41,583
Avg net price $19,341/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 62%
  • Programs offered: 44

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

#8

Lindsey Wilson College

Columbia, KY 134.1 miles from Independence BOC Score 39.7
  • 4 year
  • Campus + Online
  • Accredited
Graduation rate 41%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $41,129
Avg net price $15,070/yr
Tuition
In‑state$27,808
Out‑of‑state$27,808
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 63%
  • Programs offered: 23

Source:Accreditor: Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on CollegesIPEDSCollege Scorecard

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


Computer Science Wages Near Independence

Independence is part of the Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN metro area (BLS area code 17140). Where MSA-level wages are published, the table below shows MSA medians; otherwise it falls back to Kentucky statewide.

OccupationMedian WageSourceCOL-Adjusted (US=100)
Software Developer$121,420Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN$127,275
Computer Systems Analyst$103,450Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN$108,438
Computer Network Architect$133,000Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN$139,413
Database Administrator$102,360Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN$107,296
Database Architect$134,480Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN$140,964
Information Security Analyst$114,300Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN$119,811
Computer Network Support Specialist$71,920Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN$75,388
Computer User Support Specialist$59,350Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN$62,212
Web Developer$80,910Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN$84,811
Web and Digital Interface Designer$82,820Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN$86,813
Computer and Information Systems Manager$169,530Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN$177,704

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.


Independence at a Glance

MetricValueSource
Population29,024Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B01003)
Median household income$98,653Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B19013)
Adults 25+ with bachelor’s+37.3%Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B15003)
Regional Price Parity (US=100)95.4 (below U.S. average)BEA RPP 2024
Computer Science-related employment in Kenton County1,232 workers, 293 establishmentsBLS QCEW 2024 annual

Other Independence-Area Cities With Computer Science Programs


Frequently Asked Questions

How many accredited computer science schools are near Independence, KY?

Accredited schools offering computer science programs near Independence are listed on this page, ranked by BOC Score and distance from the city center. The list is rebuilt from federal IPEDS and College Scorecard data on every site update, so it stays current as programs open and close.

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

Based on BLS OEWS May 2025 wage data, the top-paying computer science-related roles near Independence are: Computer and Information Systems Manager ($169,530), Database Architect ($134,480), Computer Network Architect ($133,000). These reflect MSA-level medians where published, with Kentucky statewide fallback for occupations not reported at the metro level.

Should I look at programs in Florence instead of Independence?

Florence, KY is 5.9 miles from Independence 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 Independence an affordable place to study computer science?

Independence’s median household income of $98,653 (Census ACS 2023) is one input. Online programs let students stay in Independence while attending lower-cost out-of-state schools, and Kentucky 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 Independence

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

Data verified: July 23, 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.