Best Online Degrees of 2026
Quick answer
If you already hold a bachelor's, Georgia Tech's OMSCS is the standout: an accredited computer science master's at $227 per credit hour, or $6,810 in tuition for 30 credit hours before per-semester fees (as of 2026-10-02). For a bachelor's, WGU's BS in Computer Science ($4,125 per six-month term, NWCCU accredited) is the best value for fast, disciplined learners. University of the People is the cheapest at about $7,260 in total fees, but it has no federal aid. ASU Online costs the most at $580 per credit hour plus fees. Firsthand does not survey students; ratings use accreditor records, College Scorecard data and official tuition pages.
An online degree is a large commitment, so accreditation and total cost matter more than marketing. This guide compares four accredited online computer science degrees: Georgia Tech's OMSCS (a master's), and bachelor's programmes from Western Governors University, University of the People and ASU Online. We confirmed each institution's accreditation in the accreditor's own directory or in the US Department of Education's College Scorecard data, and took prices from each institution's official tuition page as of 2026-10-02. Earnings figures from College Scorecard are institution-wide, not programme-specific. UK options such as the Open University and the University of London are not included yet, because we could not confirm their current fees and course details from their official pages on 2026-10-02. We score each one on five weighted criteria: Outcomes (30%), Cost and Value (25%), Academics (20%), Support Services (15%) and Flexibility (10%). Firsthand does not audit programs or survey students. We read the provider's own published pages, and every price carries an as-of date.
How we scored: every program below was rated 0–10 on five weighted criteria — Outcomes (30%), Cost & Value (25%), Academics (20%), Support Services (15%), and Flexibility (10%). Firsthand does not audit schools or survey students: ratings analyze officially published data and each provider's own documentation, and each figure is cited to a primary source with an as-of date; self-reported outcomes are labeled as such. Affiliate commissions never affect scores or rank order. Read our full methodology.
2026 rankings at a glance
| # | Product | Rating | Best for | Price | Actions |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Georgia Tech Online Master of Science in Computer Science (OMSCS)Not an affiliate — no commission earned | 8.4/10 | Working professionals with a bachelor's degree who want an accredited computer science master's at a fraction of typical cost. | $227 per credit hour (Fall 2026) plus an online learning fee of $212 (under 4 credit hours) or $531 (4+ hours) per semester; 30 credit hours means $6,810 in tuition before fees (as of 2026-10-02) | |
| 2 | WGU Bachelor of Science in Computer ScienceNot an affiliate — no commission earned | 7.3/10 | Self-motivated adults who want an accredited computer science bachelor's and can move quickly through material they already know. | $4,125 tuition per six-month term plus a $200 e-books and resources fee; flat rate however many courses you complete (as of 2026-10-02) | |
| 3 | University of the People Bachelor of Science in Computer ScienceNot an affiliate — no commission earned | 6.6/10 | Budget-limited students anywhere in the world who want an accredited US bachelor's and can study on their own. | Tuition-free; $60 one-time application fee plus $180 assessment fee per course, about $7,260 in total for the 40-course degree (as of 2026-10-02) | |
| 4 | ASU Online Bachelor of Science in Computer ScienceNot an affiliate — no commission earned | 6.6/10 | Students who want a public university's online CS degree and can use federal aid or employer support to cover the higher price. | $580 per credit hour for most undergraduate programmes in 2026-27, plus programme fees; 120 credit hours (as of 2026-10-02) |
Georgia Tech Online Master of Science in Computer Science (OMSCS)
8.4/10Georgia Tech's OMSCS is an accredited online master's in computer science at $227 per credit hour. For 30 credit hours that is $6,810 in tuition before fees. It is a graduate degree, so it suits people who already hold a bachelor's.
- Very low cost for an accredited master's: $227 per credit hour in Fall 2026, or $6,810 in tuition for the 30 required credit hours before per-semester fees (as of 2026-10-02)
- It is a master's degree, so you need a bachelor's first; it is not comparable to the bachelor's programmes in this guide
WGU Bachelor of Science in Computer Science
7.3/10WGU's online BS in Computer Science charges $4,125 per six-month term with no cap on courses per term. It is accredited by NWCCU and suits fast, disciplined learners.
- Flat-rate tuition: $4,125 per six-month term covers as many courses as you complete, so faster students pay less (as of 2026-10-02)
- WGU states the programme has ABET accreditation, but ABET's search page did not load for us, so we could not confirm it there
University of the People Bachelor of Science in Computer Science
6.6/10University of the People offers a tuition-free, WSCUC-accredited online BS in Computer Science for about $7,260 in fees. It is the cheapest bachelor's here, but it has no federal aid and little published outcome data.
- Lowest total price for a bachelor's here: about $7,260 for the whole degree in assessment fees, with no tuition (as of 2026-10-02)
- Not eligible for US federal student aid: UoPeople says it does not receive Title IV funds, and it does not appear in College Scorecard
ASU Online Bachelor of Science in Computer Science
6.6/10ASU Online's BS in Computer Science is a 120-credit online degree from Arizona State University at $580 per credit hour plus fees. It comes from a public university and has the highest price here.
- Arizona State University's online degree; ASU states the programme is ABET accredited
- The most expensive option here: 120 credit hours at $580 is $69,600 in tuition before programme fees (as of 2026-10-02)
Frequently asked questions
How do I check that an online degree is accredited?
Look the institution up in its accreditor's own directory (for example NWCCU, WSCUC or The Commission on Colleges and Universities) or in the US Department of Education's College Scorecard. We did both for the programmes in this guide on 2026-10-02.
Which online computer science degree is cheapest?
For a bachelor's, University of the People at about $7,260 in total fees. For a master's, Georgia Tech OMSCS at $227 per credit hour plus per-semester fees (as of 2026-10-02).
Can I use federal financial aid?
WGU, ASU Online and Georgia Tech appear in College Scorecard. University of the People says it does not receive Title IV funds, so US federal aid does not apply there.
Are the earnings figures for these specific degrees?
No. The College Scorecard earnings we cite are for each whole institution or online unit, not for the computer science programme.
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