Best Online Computer Science Programs in Madison, WI (2026)
Madison, Wisconsin has a population of about 275,568. The city’s median household income is $76,983 (Census ACS 2023, 5-year). About 59.2% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. Our directory has 51 accredited schools offering computer science programs near Madison, with tuition ranging from $4,696 to $12,397 per year for indexed programs. In the Madison, WI metro area, the top-earning computer science-related role is Database Architect at a median $158,140 annually (BLS OEWS, May 2024).
Closest Computer Science Schools to Madison
The 10 accredited institutions below are the closest among the 51 schools in our directory that offer computer science programs near Madison. Distances are calculated from Madison city center.
| School | City | Distance | Tuition | Online |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| University of Wisconsin-Madison | Madison, WI | 0.7 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Edgewood College | Madison, WI | 2.3 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Madison Area Technical College | Madison, WI | 4.3 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Herzing University-Madison | Madison, WI | 6.7 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Maranatha Baptist University | Watertown, WI | 34.0 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| University of Wisconsin-Whitewater | Whitewater, WI | 37.0 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Blackhawk Technical College | Janesville, WI | 38.7 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Beloit College | Beloit, WI | 43.9 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Highland Community College | Freeport, IL | 56.9 mi | $4,696 - $12,397 | – |
| Rock Valley College | Rockford, IL | 57.2 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
Source: IPEDS / College Scorecard (2023 cohort). Browse all Wisconsin schools on the Wisconsin computer science page.
Computer Science Wages Near Madison
Madison is part of the Madison, WI metro area (BLS area code 31540). Where MSA-level wages are published, the table below shows MSA medians; otherwise it falls back to Wisconsin statewide.
| Occupation | Median Wage | Source | COL-Adjusted (US=100) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Software Developer | $104,670 | Madison, WI | $107,575 |
| Computer Systems Analyst | $92,020 | Madison, WI | $94,573 |
| Computer Network Architect | $116,590 | Madison, WI | $119,825 |
| Database Administrator | $95,530 | Madison, WI | $98,181 |
| Database Architect | $158,140 | Madison, WI | $162,528 |
| Information Security Analyst | $98,850 | Madison, WI | $101,593 |
| Computer Network Support Specialist | $85,710 | Madison, WI | $88,088 |
| Computer User Support Specialist | $58,570 | Madison, WI | $60,195 |
| Web Developer | $76,320 | Madison, WI | $78,438 |
| Web and Digital Interface Designer | $81,900 | Madison, WI | $84,173 |
| Computer and Information Systems Manager | $138,010 | Madison, WI | $141,840 |
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.
Madison at a Glance
| Metric | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 275,568 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B01003) |
| Median household income | $76,983 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B19013) |
| Adults 25+ with bachelor’s+ | 59.2% | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B15003) |
| Regional Price Parity (US=100) | 97.3 (below U.S. average) | BEA RPP 2024 |
| Computer Science-related employment in Dane County | 5,084 workers, 821 establishments | BLS QCEW 2024 annual |
Other Madison-Area Cities With Computer Science Programs
- Fitchburg, WI – 6.8 mi away (28,875 pop)
- Sun Prairie, WI – 10.6 mi away (32,820 pop)
- Fort Atkinson, WI – 29.7 mi away (21,399 pop)
- Janesville, WI – 33.4 mi away (70,299 pop)
- Watertown, WI – 34.3 mi away (23,304 pop)
Frequently Asked Questions
How many accredited computer science schools are near Madison, WI?
Our directory has 51 accredited schools offering computer science programs near Madison. The closest is University of Wisconsin-Madison in Madison, WI (0.7 miles), and the farthest in our top picks is Rock Valley College (57.2 miles). 0 of the highlighted schools are flagged as offering distance education.
What are the highest-paying computer science roles near Madison?
Based on BLS OEWS May 2024 wage data, the top-paying computer science-related roles near Madison are: Database Architect ($158,140), Computer and Information Systems Manager ($138,010), Computer Network Architect ($116,590). These reflect MSA-level medians where published, with Wisconsin statewide fallback for occupations not reported at the metro level.
Should I look at programs in Fitchburg instead of Madison?
Fitchburg, WI is 6.8 miles from Madison 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 Madison an affordable place to study computer science?
Madison’s median household income of $76,983 (Census ACS 2023) is one input. Online programs let students stay in Madison while attending lower-cost out-of-state schools, and Wisconsin 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 Wisconsin
- 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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