Best Online Computer Science Programs in Kansas City, MO (2026)

Kansas City, Missouri has a population of about 508,233. The city’s median household income is $67,449 (Census ACS 2023, 5-year). About 37.8% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. There are 5 accredited computer science programs within 100 miles of Kansas City, with tuition ranging from $19,890 to $34,291 per year. In the Kansas City, MO-KS metro area, the top-earning computer science-related role is Computer and Information Systems Manager at a median $160,500 annually (BLS OEWS, May 2024).


Closest Computer Science Schools to Kansas City

The five accredited institutions below are the closest options indexed in our directory that offer computer science programs. Distances are calculated from Kansas City city center.

SchoolCityDistanceTuitionOnline
Park UniversityParkville, MO8.1 miContact school for pricing
Kansas City Kansas Community CollegeKansas City, KS10.3 miContact school for pricing
William Jewell CollegeLiberty, MO11.7 mi$19,890 - $34,291
Ottawa University-OnlineOverland Park, KS14.0 miContact school for pricing
Ottawa University-Kansas CityOverland Park, KS14.0 miContact school for pricing

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


Computer Science Wages Near Kansas City

Kansas City is part of the Kansas City, MO-KS metro area (BLS area code 28140). Where MSA-level wages are published, the table below shows MSA medians; otherwise it falls back to Missouri statewide.

OccupationMedian WageSourceCOL-Adjusted (US=100)
Software Developer$114,440Kansas City, MO-KS$123,719
Computer Systems Analyst$99,860Kansas City, MO-KS$107,957
Computer Network Architect$110,480Kansas City, MO-KS$119,438
Database Administrator$109,010Kansas City, MO-KS$117,849
Database Architect$126,930Kansas City, MO-KS$137,222
Information Security Analyst$104,230Kansas City, MO-KS$112,681
Computer Network Support Specialist$69,550Kansas City, MO-KS$75,189
Computer User Support Specialist$57,220Kansas City, MO-KS$61,859
Web Developer$81,840Kansas City, MO-KS$88,476
Web and Digital Interface Designer$81,110Kansas City, MO-KS$87,686
Computer and Information Systems Manager$160,500Kansas City, MO-KS$173,514

Source: BLS, May 2024 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.


Kansas City at a Glance

MetricValueSource
Population508,233Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B01003)
Median household income$67,449Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B19013)
Adults 25+ with bachelor’s+37.8%Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B15003)
Regional Price Parity (US=100)92.5 (below U.S. average)BEA RPP 2024
Computer Science-related employment in Jackson County8,896 workers, 415 establishmentsBLS QCEW 2024 annual

Other Kansas City-Area Cities With Computer Science Programs


Frequently Asked Questions

How many accredited computer science programs are near Kansas City, MO?

Our directory lists 5 computer science programs within 100 miles of Kansas City. The closest is Park University in Parkville, MO (8.1 miles), and the farthest in our top picks is Ottawa University-Kansas City (14.0 miles). 0 of these programs are offered fully online.

What are the highest-paying computer science roles near Kansas City?

Based on BLS OEWS May 2024 wage data, the top-paying computer science-related roles near Kansas City are: Computer and Information Systems Manager ($160,500), Database Architect ($126,930), Software Developer ($114,440). 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 Gladstone instead of Kansas City?

Gladstone, MO is 6.2 miles from Kansas City 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 Kansas City an affordable place to study computer science?

Kansas City’s median household income of $67,449 (Census ACS 2023) is one input. Online programs let students stay in Kansas City 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.