Best Online Computer Science Programs in Houston, TX (2026)
Houston, Texas has a population of about 2,300,419. The city’s median household income is $62,894 (Census ACS 2023, 5-year). About 36.0% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. Our directory has 23 accredited schools offering computer science programs near Houston, with tuition ranging from $12,836 to $24,909 per year for indexed programs. In the Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX metro area, the top-earning computer science-related role is Computer and Information Systems Manager at a median $167,630 annually (BLS OEWS, May 2024).
Closest Computer Science Schools to Houston
The 10 accredited institutions below are the closest among the 23 schools in our directory that offer computer science programs near Houston. Distances are calculated from Houston city center.
| School | City | Distance | Tuition | Online |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| University of Houston-Downtown | Houston, TX | 2.5 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Houston Community College | Houston, TX | 3.3 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| University of St Thomas | Houston, TX | 3.5 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Rice University | Houston, TX | 4.8 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Texas Southern University | Houston, TX | 5.0 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| University of Houston | Houston, TX | 5.5 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Houston Christian University | Houston, TX | 9.8 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| North American University | Stafford, TX | 15.2 mi | $12,836 - $24,909 | – |
| San Jacinto Community College | Pasadena, TX | 18.9 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| University of Houston-Clear Lake | Houston, TX | 22.7 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
Source: IPEDS / College Scorecard (2023 cohort). Browse all Texas schools on the Texas computer science page.
Computer Science Wages Near Houston
Houston is part of the Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX metro area (BLS area code 26420). Where MSA-level wages are published, the table below shows MSA medians; otherwise it falls back to Texas statewide.
| Occupation | Median Wage | Source | COL-Adjusted (US=100) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Software Developer | $127,940 | Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | $129,757 |
| Computer Systems Analyst | $114,260 | Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | $115,882 |
| Computer Network Architect | $127,730 | Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | $129,544 |
| Database Administrator | $111,390 | Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | $112,972 |
| Database Architect | $128,650 | Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | $130,477 |
| Information Security Analyst | $120,170 | Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | $121,876 |
| Computer Network Support Specialist | $65,840 | Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | $66,775 |
| Computer User Support Specialist | $57,060 | Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | $57,870 |
| Web Developer | $95,760 | Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | $97,120 |
| Web and Digital Interface Designer | $82,710 | Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | $83,884 |
| Computer and Information Systems Manager | $167,630 | Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | $170,010 |
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.
Houston at a Glance
| Metric | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 2,300,419 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B01003) |
| Median household income | $62,894 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B19013) |
| Adults 25+ with bachelor’s+ | 36.0% | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B15003) |
| Regional Price Parity (US=100) | 98.6 (below U.S. average) | BEA RPP 2024 |
| Computer Science-related employment in Harris County | 31,144 workers, 3,503 establishments | BLS QCEW 2024 annual |
Other Houston-Area Cities With Computer Science Programs
- Pearland, TX – 16.4 mi away (113,570 pop)
- Pasadena, TX – 17.1 mi away (153,351 pop)
- Missouri City, TX – 17.7 mi away (74,561 pop)
- Deer Park, TX – 18.0 mi away (33,782 pop)
- Sugar Land, TX – 19.3 mi away (88,177 pop)
Frequently Asked Questions
How many accredited computer science schools are near Houston, TX?
Our directory has 23 accredited schools offering computer science programs near Houston. The closest is University of Houston-Downtown in Houston, TX (2.5 miles), and the farthest in our top picks is University of Houston-Clear Lake (22.7 miles). 0 of the highlighted schools are flagged as offering distance education.
What are the highest-paying computer science roles near Houston?
Based on BLS OEWS May 2024 wage data, the top-paying computer science-related roles near Houston are: Computer and Information Systems Manager ($167,630), Database Architect ($128,650), Software Developer ($127,940). These reflect MSA-level medians where published, with Texas statewide fallback for occupations not reported at the metro level.
Should I look at programs in Pearland instead of Houston?
Pearland, TX is 16.4 miles from Houston 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 Houston an affordable place to study computer science?
Houston’s median household income of $62,894 (Census ACS 2023) is one input. Online programs let students stay in Houston while attending lower-cost out-of-state schools, and Texas 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 Texas
- 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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