Columbia College
Published tuitionContact school for pricing
Online programsYes
Best Online Computer Science Programs in Columbia, MO (2026)
Columbia, Missouri has 5 accredited schools offering computer science programs, with tuition ranging from $28,860 to $49,646 per year for indexed programs. Columbia has a population of about 127,200. Median household income is $64,488 (Census ACS 2023, 5-year). About 56.5% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. In the Columbia, MO metro area, the top-earning computer science-related role is Computer and Information Systems Manager at a median $129,700 annually (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
Closest Computer Science Schools to Columbia
The 5 accredited institutions below are the closest among the 5 schools in our directory that offer computer science programs near Columbia. Distances are calculated from Columbia 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 Columbia. Advertising never affects these rankings. Read the full methodology.
University of Missouri-Columbia
Published tuitionContact school for pricing
Online programsYes
Westminster College
Published tuition$34,188 - $49,646
Online programsYes
William Woods University
Published tuition$28,860 - $44,907
Online programsYes
Central Methodist University-College of Graduate and Extended Studies
Published tuitionContact school for pricing
Online programsYes
Source: IPEDS / College Scorecard (2023 cohort). Browse all Missouri schools on the Missouri computer science page.
Computer Science Wages Near Columbia
Columbia is part of the Columbia, MO metro area (BLS area code 17860). Where MSA-level wages are published, the table below shows MSA medians; otherwise it falls back to Missouri statewide.
| Occupation | Median Wage | Source | COL-Adjusted (US=100) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Software Developer | $101,020 | Columbia, MO | $112,998 |
| Computer Systems Analyst | $77,760 | Columbia, MO | $86,980 |
| Computer Network Architect | $111,310 | Columbia, MO | $124,508 |
| Database Administrator | $79,240 | Columbia, MO | $88,635 |
| Database Architect | $99,000 | Columbia, MO | $110,738 |
| Information Security Analyst | $97,600 | Columbia, MO | $109,172 |
| Computer Network Support Specialist | $66,380 | Columbia, MO | $74,251 |
| Computer User Support Specialist | $56,670 | Columbia, MO | $63,389 |
| Web Developer | $81,050 | Columbia, MO | $90,660 |
| Web and Digital Interface Designer | $70,970 | MO statewide | $79,385 |
| Computer and Information Systems Manager | $129,700 | Columbia, MO | $145,078 |
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.
Columbia at a Glance
| Metric | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 127,200 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B01003) |
| Median household income | $64,488 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B19013) |
| Adults 25+ with bachelor’s+ | 56.5% | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B15003) |
| Regional Price Parity (US=100) | 89.4 (below U.S. average) | BEA RPP 2024 |
| Computer Science-related employment in Boone County | 642 workers, 66 establishments | BLS QCEW 2024 annual |
Other Columbia-Area Cities With Computer Science Programs
- Jefferson City, MO – 27.5 mi away (58,439 pop)
- Sedalia, MO – 51.7 mi away (26,302 pop)
- Rolla, MO – 75.7 mi away (20,692 pop)
- Warrensburg, MO – 76.5 mi away (22,227 pop)
- Wentzville, MO – 79.0 mi away (37,395 pop)
Frequently Asked Questions
How many accredited computer science schools are near Columbia, MO?
Our directory has 5 accredited schools offering computer science programs near Columbia. The closest is Columbia College in Columbia, MO (0.7 miles), and the farthest of the schools shown is Central Methodist University-College of Graduate and Extended Studies (23.9 miles). 5 of the highlighted schools are flagged as offering distance education.
What are the highest-paying computer science roles near Columbia?
Based on BLS OEWS May 2025 wage data, the top-paying computer science-related roles near Columbia are: Computer and Information Systems Manager ($129,700), Computer Network Architect ($111,310), Software Developer ($101,020). These reflect MSA-level medians where published, with Missouri statewide fallback for occupations not reported at the metro level.
Should I look at programs in Jefferson City instead of Columbia?
Jefferson City, MO is 27.5 miles from Columbia 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 Columbia an affordable place to study computer science?
Columbia’s median household income of $64,488 (Census ACS 2023) is one input. Online programs let students stay in Columbia while attending lower-cost out-of-state schools, and Missouri 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 Missouri
- Computer Science programs by state
Other Programs Available in Columbia
Compare every accredited online degree program with city-level data for Columbia:
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Related from Our Editorial Library
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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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