Best Online Computer Science Programs in Chester, PA (2026)
Chester, Pennsylvania has a population of about 33,209. The city’s median household income is $39,809 (Census ACS 2023, 5-year). About 13.3% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. Our directory has 180 accredited schools offering computer science programs near Chester, with tuition ranging from $13,920 to $80,014 per year for indexed programs. In the Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD metro area, the top-earning computer science-related role is Computer and Information Systems Manager at a median $170,330 annually (BLS OEWS, May 2024).
Closest Computer Science Schools to Chester
The 10 accredited institutions below are the closest among the 180 schools in our directory that offer computer science programs near Chester. Distances are calculated from Chester city center.
| School | City | Distance | Tuition | Online |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Widener University | Chester, PA | 1.4 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Neumann University | Aston, PA | 4.1 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Swarthmore College | Swarthmore, PA | 4.2 mi | $62,412 - $80,014 | – |
| Pennsylvania Institute of Technology | Media, PA | 4.4 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Brandywine | Media, PA | 7.0 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Delaware County Community College | Media, PA | 8.4 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Cheyney University of Pennsylvania | Cheyney, PA | 10.3 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Salem Community College | Carneys Point, NJ | 11.4 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Strayer University-Delaware | Wilmington, DE | 11.7 mi | $13,920 | – |
| Haverford College | Haverford, PA | 11.7 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
Source: IPEDS / College Scorecard (2023 cohort). Browse all Pennsylvania schools on the Pennsylvania computer science page.
Computer Science Wages Near Chester
Chester is part of the Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD metro area (BLS area code 37980). Where MSA-level wages are published, the table below shows MSA medians; otherwise it falls back to Pennsylvania statewide.
| Occupation | Median Wage | Source | COL-Adjusted (US=100) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Software Developer | $130,670 | Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $127,359 |
| Computer Systems Analyst | $101,760 | Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $99,181 |
| Computer Network Architect | $129,360 | Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $126,082 |
| Database Administrator | $108,280 | Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $105,536 |
| Database Architect | $143,110 | Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $139,483 |
| Information Security Analyst | $124,270 | Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $121,121 |
| Computer Network Support Specialist | $79,120 | Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $77,115 |
| Computer User Support Specialist | $61,540 | Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $59,981 |
| Web Developer | $83,980 | Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $81,852 |
| Web and Digital Interface Designer | $85,580 | Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $83,411 |
| Computer and Information Systems Manager | $170,330 | Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $166,014 |
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.
Chester at a Glance
| Metric | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 33,209 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B01003) |
| Median household income | $39,809 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B19013) |
| Adults 25+ with bachelor’s+ | 13.3% | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B15003) |
| Regional Price Parity (US=100) | 102.6 (above U.S. average) | BEA RPP 2024 |
| Computer Science-related employment in Delaware County | 1,352 workers, 251 establishments | BLS QCEW 2024 annual |
Other Chester-Area Cities With Computer Science Programs
- Wilmington, DE – 11.3 mi away (71,442 pop)
- Camden, NJ – 15.4 mi away (74,420 pop)
- Philadelphia, PA – 16.9 mi away (5,591,554 pop)
- Norristown, PA – 19.2 mi away (34,370 pop)
- Newark, DE – 23.5 mi away (33,398 pop)
Frequently Asked Questions
How many accredited computer science schools are near Chester, PA?
Our directory has 180 accredited schools offering computer science programs near Chester. The closest is Widener University in Chester, PA (1.4 miles), and the farthest in our top picks is Haverford College (11.7 miles). 0 of the highlighted schools are flagged as offering distance education.
What are the highest-paying computer science roles near Chester?
Based on BLS OEWS May 2024 wage data, the top-paying computer science-related roles near Chester are: Computer and Information Systems Manager ($170,330), Database Architect ($143,110), Software Developer ($130,670). These reflect MSA-level medians where published, with Pennsylvania statewide fallback for occupations not reported at the metro level.
Should I look at programs in Wilmington instead of Chester?
Wilmington, DE is 11.3 miles from Chester 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 Chester an affordable place to study computer science?
Chester’s median household income of $39,809 (Census ACS 2023) is one input. Online programs let students stay in Chester while attending lower-cost out-of-state schools, and Pennsylvania 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.
Related Resources
- Online Computer Science Programs in Pennsylvania
- Main Computer Science Degree Guide
- Computer Science Programs by State
Data verified: May 5, 2026. Salary, employment, and tuition figures on this page are sourced from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (OEWS May 2024; 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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