Best Online Computer Science Programs in Lancaster, PA (2026)

Lancaster, Pennsylvania has 5 accredited schools offering computer science programs. Lancaster has a population of about 57,683. Median household income is $63,421 (Census ACS 2023, 5-year). About 27.1% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. In the Lancaster, PA metro area, the top-earning computer science-related role is Database Architect at a median $146,400 annually (BLS OEWS, May 2025).


Closest Computer Science Schools to Lancaster

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

#1

Pennsylvania State University-Penn State York

York, PA 22.2 miles from Lancaster BOC Score 38.7
  • 4 year
Graduation rate 19%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $63,435
Avg net price $19,047/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 77%
  • Programs offered: 9

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

#2

York College of Pennsylvania

York, PA 23.5 miles from Lancaster BOC Score 66.2
  • 4 year
  • Campus + Online
  • Accredited
Acceptance rate 74%
Graduation rate 62%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $61,012
Avg net price $18,556/yr
Tuition
In‑state$25,588
Out‑of‑state$25,588
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 78%
  • Programs offered: 45

Source:Accreditor: Middle States Commission on Higher EducationIPEDSCollege Scorecard

#3

Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Harrisburg

Middletown, PA 25.3 miles from Lancaster BOC Score 41.3
  • 4 year
  • Accredited
Acceptance rate 98%
Graduation rate 28%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $63,435
Avg net price $23,330/yr
Tuition
In‑state$15,972
Out‑of‑state$26,958
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 82%
  • Programs offered: 29

Source:Accreditor: Middle States Commission on Higher EducationIPEDSCollege Scorecard

#4

Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Berks

Reading, PA 28.3 miles from Lancaster BOC Score 37.0
  • 4 year
  • Accredited
Acceptance rate 99%
Graduation rate 28%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $63,435
Avg net price $24,356/yr
Tuition
In‑state$15,972
Out‑of‑state$26,958
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 77%
  • Programs offered: 13

Source:Accreditor: Middle States Commission on Higher EducationIPEDSCollege Scorecard

#5

Harrisburg University of Science and Technology

Harrisburg, PA 34.1 miles from Lancaster BOC Score 45.2
  • 4 year
  • Campus + Online
  • Accredited
Acceptance rate 87%
Graduation rate 39%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $52,374
Avg net price $15,376/yr
Tuition
In‑state$24,400
Out‑of‑state$24,400
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 73%
  • Programs offered: 16

Source:Accreditor: Middle States Commission on Higher EducationIPEDSCollege Scorecard

#6

Messiah University

Mechanicsburg, PA 37.2 miles from Lancaster BOC Score 65.5
  • 4 year
  • Campus + Online
Graduation rate 77%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $54,064
Avg net price $26,502/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 87%
  • Programs offered: 41

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

#7

West Chester University of Pennsylvania

West Chester, PA 37.8 miles from Lancaster BOC Score 69.4
  • 4 year
  • Campus + Online
Graduation rate 73%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $61,258
Avg net price $23,331/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 84%
  • Programs offered: 46

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

#8

Central Penn College

Summerdale, PA 37.9 miles from Lancaster BOC Score 47.6
  • 4 year
  • Campus + Online
  • Accredited
Acceptance rate 18%
Graduation rate 43%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $45,370
Avg net price $18,953/yr
Tuition
In‑state$19,854
Out‑of‑state$19,854
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 64%
  • Programs offered: 27

Source:Accreditor: Middle States Commission on Higher EducationIPEDSCollege Scorecard

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


Computer Science Wages Near Lancaster

Lancaster is part of the Lancaster, PA metro area (BLS area code 29540). Where MSA-level wages are published, the table below shows MSA medians; otherwise it falls back to Pennsylvania statewide.

OccupationMedian WageSourceCOL-Adjusted (US=100)
Software Developer$104,740Lancaster, PA$106,551
Computer Systems Analyst$86,830Lancaster, PA$88,332
Computer Network Architect$133,350Lancaster, PA$135,656
Database Administrator$86,720Lancaster, PA$88,220
Database Architect$146,400Lancaster, PA$148,932
Information Security Analyst$96,540Lancaster, PA$98,210
Computer Network Support Specialist$78,060Lancaster, PA$79,410
Computer User Support Specialist$58,610Lancaster, PA$59,624
Web Developer$80,710Lancaster, PA$82,106
Web and Digital Interface Designer$67,090Lancaster, PA$68,250
Computer and Information Systems Manager$142,460Lancaster, PA$144,924

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.


Lancaster at a Glance

MetricValueSource
Population57,683Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B01003)
Median household income$63,421Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B19013)
Adults 25+ with bachelor’s+27.1%Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B15003)
Regional Price Parity (US=100)98.3 (below U.S. average)BEA RPP 2024
Computer Science-related employment in Lancaster County1,071 workers, 160 establishmentsBLS QCEW 2024 annual

Other Lancaster-Area Cities With Computer Science Programs


Frequently Asked Questions

How many accredited computer science schools are near Lancaster, PA?

Accredited schools offering computer science programs near Lancaster 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 Lancaster?

Based on BLS OEWS May 2025 wage data, the top-paying computer science-related roles near Lancaster are: Database Architect ($146,400), Computer and Information Systems Manager ($142,460), Computer Network Architect ($133,350). 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 Lebanon instead of Lancaster?

Lebanon, PA is 21.6 miles from Lancaster 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 Lancaster an affordable place to study computer science?

Lancaster’s median household income of $63,421 (Census ACS 2023) is one input. Online programs let students stay in Lancaster 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.


Learn More About Computer Science Programs

Other Programs Available in Lancaster

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

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.