Des Moines, Washington has 5 accredited schools offering computer science programs, with tuition ranging from $4,711 to $22,040 per year for indexed programs. Des Moines has a population of about 32,545. Median household income is $89,787 (Census ACS 2023, 5-year). About 33.2% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. In the Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA metro area, the top-earning computer science-related role is Computer and Information Systems Manager at a median $214,680 annually (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
Closest Computer Science Schools to Des Moines
The accredited institutions listed below are the closest in our directory that offer computer science programs near Des Moines, ranked by BOC Score and straight-line distance from Des Moines 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:
BOCSCORE
- 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 Des Moines.
Advertising never affects these rankings. Read the full methodology.
Graduation rate
37%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry
$47,869
Avg net price
$9,879/yr
TuitionIn‑state$4,772
Out‑of‑state$5,332
Source:Accreditor: Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities · IPEDS · College Scorecard
Source: IPEDS / College Scorecard (2023 cohort). Browse all Washington schools on the Washington computer science page.
Computer Science Wages Near Des Moines
Des Moines is part of the Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA metro area (BLS area code 42660). Where MSA-level wages are published, the table below shows MSA medians; otherwise it falls back to Washington statewide.
| Occupation |
Median Wage |
Source |
COL-Adjusted (US=100) |
| Software Developer |
$167,280 |
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA |
$150,567 |
| Computer Systems Analyst |
$133,690 |
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA |
$120,333 |
| Computer Network Architect |
$172,650 |
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA |
$155,401 |
| Database Administrator |
$133,180 |
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA |
$119,874 |
| Database Architect |
$105,430 |
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA |
$94,896 |
| Information Security Analyst |
$161,780 |
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA |
$145,617 |
| Computer Network Support Specialist |
$104,610 |
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA |
$94,158 |
| Computer User Support Specialist |
$78,330 |
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA |
$70,504 |
| Web Developer |
$130,440 |
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA |
$117,408 |
| Web and Digital Interface Designer |
$133,760 |
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA |
$120,396 |
| Computer and Information Systems Manager |
$214,680 |
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA |
$193,231 |
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.
Des Moines at a Glance
| Metric |
Value |
Source |
| Population |
32,545 |
Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B01003) |
| Median household income |
$89,787 |
Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B19013) |
| Adults 25+ with bachelor’s+ |
33.2% |
Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B15003) |
| Regional Price Parity (US=100) |
111.1 (above U.S. average) |
BEA RPP 2024 |
| Computer Science-related employment in King County |
50,750 workers, 6,492 establishments |
BLS QCEW 2024 annual |
Other Des Moines-Area Cities With Computer Science Programs
- SeaTac, WA – 3.7 mi away (28,873 pop)
- Kent, WA – 4.8 mi away (127,514 pop)
- Federal Way, WA – 5.8 mi away (96,757 pop)
- Burien, WA – 6.0 mi away (50,997 pop)
- Tukwila, WA – 6.1 mi away (20,033 pop)
Frequently Asked Questions
How many accredited computer science schools are near Des Moines, WA?
Our directory has 5 accredited schools offering computer science programs near Des Moines. The closest is Highline College in Des Moines, WA (0.6 miles), and the farthest of the schools shown is Bates Technical College (11.4 miles). 3 of the highlighted schools are flagged as offering distance education.
What are the highest-paying computer science roles near Des Moines?
Based on BLS OEWS May 2025 wage data, the top-paying computer science-related roles near Des Moines are: Computer and Information Systems Manager ($214,680), Computer Network Architect ($172,650), Software Developer ($167,280). These reflect MSA-level medians where published, with Washington statewide fallback for occupations not reported at the metro level.
Should I look at programs in SeaTac instead of Des Moines?
SeaTac, WA is 3.7 miles from Des Moines 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 Des Moines an affordable place to study computer science?
Des Moines’s median household income of $89,787 (Census ACS 2023) is one input. Online programs let students stay in Des Moines while attending lower-cost out-of-state schools, and Washington 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 Des Moines
Compare every accredited online degree program with city-level data for Des Moines:
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- Mathematics programs in Des Moines, WA
- General Studies programs in Des Moines, WA
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- Data Science programs in Des Moines, WA
- Electrical Engineering programs in Des Moines, WA
- Software Engineering programs in Des Moines, WA
- Engineering Management programs in Des Moines, WA
- Geography programs in Des Moines, WA
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- Public Policy programs in Des Moines, WA
- International Relations programs in Des Moines, WA
- Chemistry programs in Des Moines, WA
- Physics programs in Des Moines, WA
- Neuroscience programs in Des Moines, WA
- Spanish programs in Des Moines, WA
- Film programs in Des Moines, WA
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- Architecture programs in Des Moines, WA
- Urban Planning programs in Des Moines, WA
- Industrial Design programs in Des Moines, WA
- Game Design programs in Des Moines, WA
- Instructional Design programs in Des Moines, WA
- Higher Education Administration programs in Des Moines, WA
- Global Health programs in Des Moines, WA
- Art History programs in Des Moines, WA
- Creative Writing programs in Des Moines, WA
- Environmental Science programs in Des Moines, WA
- Nutrition programs in Des Moines, WA
- Theology programs in Des Moines, WA
- Library Science programs in Des Moines, WA
- Applied Behavior Analysis programs in Des Moines, WA
- Medical Billing and Coding programs in Des Moines, WA
- Medical Assistant programs in Des Moines, WA
- Pharmacy Technician programs in Des Moines, WA
- Health Science programs in Des Moines, WA
- Occupational Safety and Health programs in Des Moines, WA
- Entrepreneurship programs in Des Moines, WA
- Interior Design programs in Des Moines, WA
- Photography programs in Des Moines, WA
- Sustainability Management programs in Des Moines, WA
- Behavioral Health Science programs in Des Moines, WA
- Mental Health Counseling programs in Des Moines, WA
- Substance Abuse Counseling programs in Des Moines, WA
- Journalism programs in Des Moines, WA
- Public Relations programs in Des Moines, WA
- Communication Disorders programs in Des Moines, WA
- Speech Pathology programs in Des Moines, WA
- Technical Communication programs in Des Moines, WA
- Professional Writing programs in Des Moines, WA
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- Business Development programs in Des Moines, WA
- Construction Management programs in Des Moines, WA
- Economics programs in Des Moines, WA
- Financial Technology programs in Des Moines, WA
- Forensic Accounting programs in Des Moines, WA
- Health Information Management programs in Des Moines, WA
- Hospitality Management programs in Des Moines, WA
- International Business programs in Des Moines, WA
- Organizational Leadership programs in Des Moines, WA
- Management Information Systems programs in Des Moines, WA
- Nonprofit Management programs in Des Moines, WA
- Operations Management programs in Des Moines, WA
- Public Administration programs in Des Moines, WA
- Real Estate programs in Des Moines, WA
- Recreation Management programs in Des Moines, WA
- Retail Management programs in Des Moines, WA
- Risk Management programs in Des Moines, WA
- Statistics programs in Des Moines, WA
- Taxation programs in Des Moines, WA
- Corrections programs in Des Moines, WA
- Crime Analysis programs in Des Moines, WA
- Criminal Justice Administration programs in Des Moines, WA
- Criminology programs in Des Moines, WA
- Cybercrime programs in Des Moines, WA
- Emergency Management programs in Des Moines, WA
- Fire Science programs in Des Moines, WA
- Forensic Science programs in Des Moines, WA
- Legal Services programs in Des Moines, WA
- Legal Studies programs in Des Moines, WA
- Paralegal programs in Des Moines, WA
- Security Management programs in Des Moines, WA
- Cloud Computing programs in Des Moines, WA
- Computer Engineering programs in Des Moines, WA
- Innovation programs in Des Moines, WA
- Mobile App Development programs in Des Moines, WA
- Software Development programs in Des Moines, WA
- User Experience programs in Des Moines, WA
- Web Development programs in Des Moines, WA
- Artificial Intelligence programs in Des Moines, WA
- Machine Learning programs in Des Moines, WA
- Supply Chain Management programs in Des Moines, WA
- Data Analytics programs in Des Moines, WA
- Public Health programs in Des Moines, WA
- Human Resources programs in Des Moines, WA
- Project Management programs in Des Moines, WA
- Special Education programs in Des Moines, WA
- Homeland Security programs in Des Moines, WA
- Marketing programs in Des Moines, WA
- Finance programs in Des Moines, WA
- Kinesiology programs in Des Moines, WA
- Sports Management programs in Des Moines, WA
- Early Childhood Education programs in Des Moines, WA
- Elementary Education programs in Des Moines, WA
- Biology programs in Des Moines, WA
- Communications programs in Des Moines, WA
- Graphic Design programs in Des Moines, WA
- Human Services programs in Des Moines, WA
- MBA programs in Des Moines, WA
- Criminal Justice programs in Des Moines, WA
- Nursing programs in Des Moines, WA
- Business Administration programs in Des Moines, WA
- Psychology programs in Des Moines, WA
- Education programs in Des Moines, WA
- Engineering programs in Des Moines, WA
- Technology programs in Des Moines, WA
- Liberal Arts programs in Des Moines, WA
- Healthcare programs in Des Moines, WA
- Cybersecurity programs in Des Moines, WA
- Accounting programs in Des Moines, WA
- Healthcare Administration programs in Des Moines, WA
- Social Work programs in Des Moines, WA
- Counseling programs in Des Moines, WA
Data verified: September 6, 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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