Best Online Computer Science Programs in Seattle, WA (2026)

Seattle, Washington has a population of about 741,440. The city’s median household income is $121,984 (Census ACS 2023, 5-year). About 67.5% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. There are 5 accredited computer science programs within 100 miles of Seattle. In the Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA metro area, the top-earning computer science-related role is Computer and Information Systems Manager at a median $212,450 annually (BLS OEWS, May 2024).


Closest Computer Science Schools to Seattle

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

SchoolCityDistanceTuitionOnline
Seattle Central CollegeSeattle, WA0.4 miContact school for pricing
City University of SeattleSeattle, WA1.0 miContact school for pricing
University of Washington-Seattle CampusSeattle, WA2.4 miContact school for pricing
Seattle Pacific UniversitySeattle, WA2.6 miContact school for pricing
Seattle UniversitySeattle, WA3.9 miContact school for pricing

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


Computer Science Wages Near Seattle

Seattle 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.

OccupationMedian WageSourceCOL-Adjusted (US=100)
Software Developer$169,340Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA$152,421
Computer Systems Analyst$132,580Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA$119,334
Computer Network Architect$166,880Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA$150,207
Database Administrator$133,310Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA$119,991
Database Architect$155,880Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA$140,306
Information Security Analyst$152,660Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA$137,408
Computer Network Support Specialist$97,200Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA$87,489
Computer User Support Specialist$73,230Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA$65,914
Web Developer$120,750Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA$108,686
Web and Digital Interface Designer$132,310Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA$119,091
Computer and Information Systems Manager$212,450Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA$191,224

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.


Seattle at a Glance

MetricValueSource
Population741,440Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B01003)
Median household income$121,984Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B19013)
Adults 25+ with bachelor’s+67.5%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 County50,750 workers, 6,492 establishmentsBLS QCEW 2024 annual

Other Seattle-Area Cities With Computer Science Programs


Frequently Asked Questions

How many accredited computer science programs are near Seattle, WA?

Our directory lists 5 computer science programs within 100 miles of Seattle. The closest is Seattle Central College in Seattle, WA (0.4 miles), and the farthest in our top picks is Seattle University (3.9 miles). 0 of these programs are offered fully online.

What are the highest-paying computer science roles near Seattle?

Based on BLS OEWS May 2024 wage data, the top-paying computer science-related roles near Seattle are: Computer and Information Systems Manager ($212,450), Software Developer ($169,340), Computer Network Architect ($166,880). 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 Mercer Island instead of Seattle?

Mercer Island, WA is 6.1 miles from Seattle 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 Seattle an affordable place to study computer science?

Seattle’s median household income of $121,984 (Census ACS 2023) is one input. Online programs let students stay in Seattle 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.