Look for These Features in Online Master’s in Computer Science Programs

Online education has grown so pervasive that it’s easy to forget how new it is. Not so long ago, streaming capacities restricted online programs to clunky bulletin boards and slow-loading file-sharing apps (and not much longer ago, effective online education simply wasn’t possible). Only in the past decade have computing power and bandwidths expanded enough to accommodate the media that make great online learning possible: streaming video, live online classes, and interactive apps.

Now that it’s here, don’t expect online education to go anywhere: the benefits, to both institutions and students, are simply too great. With instruction no longer confined to campus classrooms, schools can vastly increase their student bodies and, not insignificantly, their revenues. Online students love being able to attend their dream school without having to relocate. The fact that students engage online content asynchronously—i.e. anywhere, any time they can access a wifi connection—further augments the convenience of online study.

Online computer science programs vary widely in quality. All claim to be as rigorous as their on-campus counterparts, and many are, but some fall short either in commitment or execution. Check comments at sites like reddit.com and quora.com to see what students are saying about the program you’re considering. Also speak with a school admissions representative and ask to preview the online content. Different programs present material online very differently, and you want to make sure you’re comfortable in your program’s Learning Management System (LMS) before you enroll.

What to look for when considering online master’s degrees in computer science

There are hundreds of online degree programs in computer science in the United States.

Consider these features as you winnow your list:

Admissions criteria: Does the program require a bachelor’s degree in computer science or a related field? Does it mandate a list of prerequisite courses? A minimum GPA or GRE score? All these factors may limit your choices.

Content delivery: Is all the content delivered asynchronously, or will you be required to attend some live classes online? If so, are the live classes small-group or large-group? Small group classes (15 students are fewer) are great for getting individualized help from instructors and peers; large group classes are just an inconvenience, delivering content that should have been made available asynchronously. Also, what is the primary format for asynchronous content? Is it text? Video? Interactive apps? The more interactive and engaging the content is, the better you will learn it.

Variety of specializations/concentrations: Does the school offer any areas of specialization, or is its program one-size-fits-all? Specializations are good indicators of a program’s strengths, and, conversely, the absence of a specialization may indicate weakness in a particular area. They can also help you figure out how well the program fits your career goals.

Specialization areas can include courses in areas like:

• Applied computer science
• Artificial intelligence/machine learning
• Computer architecture
• Computer-human interface
• Computer programming
• Computing systems
• Cryptography
• Cybersecurity
• Data mining
• Data science
• Data structures
• Game design
• Information security
• Network
• Software engineering
• Systems management

Flexibility: Is the master’s degree program fully online, or is some in-person participation required? Will you be able to take a semester off if work or life requires, or does the program require continuous enrollment?

Thesis? Capstone project?: Does the program require a thesis option, a non-thesis or other end-of-program deliverable? More broadly, what are the degree requirements? There’s no ‘better’ option here; it’s simply a matter of personal preference.

Which computer science online master’s programs should you consider?

The ten online master’s programs listed below (in alphabetical order) consistently rank high across various ratings systems. All of these programs are 100 percent online (i.e. no in-person requirement) unless otherwise noted under features:

Boston University

• Degree: Master of Science in Computer Information Systems
• Tuition: $465 per credit for 500 level courses; $880 per credit for 600-900 level courses. Full-time tuition (12 or more credits per semester): $26,408/semester
• Curriculum: Ten courses (five core courses plus a sixth required course in probability and statistics; four electives)
• Specializations/concentrations: Computer networks; data analytics; database management and business intelligence; health informatics; IT project management; security; web application development
• Features: Small live course sections; university is recognized by NSA and DHS as a Center of Academic Excellence in Cyberdefense and Research
• Other online degrees offered: Master of Science in Software Development

Columbia University

• Degree: Master of Science in Computer Science
• Tuition: $2,018 per credit hour; estimated cost of $6,554 per course; estimated cost of MS is $64,595
• Curriculum: 30 credits (four breadth-requirement courses: at least one each in theory, systems, and AI; other requirements vary by specialization)
• Specializations/concentrations: Computational biology; computer security; foundations of computer science; machine learning; natural language processing; network systems; software systems; vision, graphics, interactions and robotics
• Features: Focus on theoretical computer science and mathematics and on experimental computer technology

Drexel University

• Degree: Master of Science in Computer Science
• Tuition: $1,265 per academic credit
• Curriculum: Quarterly calendar, 45 credits (six core courses; three breadth requirements; two depth requirements; two additional upper-level courses; choice of two more upper-level courses or master’s thesis)
• Specializations/concentrations: None. Course categories include: theory; intelligent systems; programming systems; computer systems; vision and graphics; and applications
• Features: Availability of electives from Drexel Online’s 150+ graduate programs (including electrical engineering, information science, and business analytics)
• Other online degrees offered: Master of Science in Software Engineering

Georgia Institute of Technology

• Degree: Online Master of Science in Computer Science
• Tuition: $510 per three-credit course; estimated cost to complete program of $6,600
• Curriculum: 30 credits/10 courses (15 to 18 hours in field of specialization, remaining hours in electives)
• Specializations/concentrations: Computer perception and robotics; interactive intelligence; machine learning; computer systems
• Features: No core curriculum; MOOC based (large courses, largely automated grading: great for scaling programs and reducing costs, not so great for those who require personal attention); cost
• Other online degrees offered: Master of Science in Analytics

Johns Hopkins University

• Degree: Master of Science in Computer Science
• Tuition: Per course tuition ranges from $4,250 to $5,374
• Curriculum: Ten courses (three foundation courses; five computer science courses, of which at least three must be from the same track; two electives)
• Specializations/concentrations: Bioinformatics; cybersecurity; data communication and networking; data science and cloud computing; database systems and knowledge management; enterprise and web computing; human-computer interaction and visualization; software engineering; systems; theory
• Features: Designed for working professionals; some courses offered onsite only
• Other online degrees offered: Master of Science in Cybersecurity; Master of Science in Data Science; Master of Science in Electrical and Computer Engineering; Master of Science in Healthcare Systems Engineering; Master of Science in Information Systems Systems Engineering; Master of Science in Systems Engineering

North Carolina State University

• Degree: Master of Science in Computer Science
• Tuition: $779 per credit for North Carolina residents, $1,587 per credit for non-residents; total estimated cost of program is $24,149 for North Carolina residents and $49,197 for non-residents.
• Curriculum: 31 credit hours (three core courses, minimum of four additional graduate level courses within the computer science discipline, remaining electives may be chosen from offerings within College of Engineering or College of Sciences)
• Specializations/concentrations: None
• Features: Degree is based on coursework only; no thesis, no comprehensive exams; students may attend classes on campus but are not required to do so
• Other online degrees offered: Master of Science in Computer Engineering; Master of Science in Computer Networking

Stanford University

• Degree: Master of Science in Computer Science
• Tuition: $1,352 per quarter unit
• Curriculum: 45 academic units (significant implementation requirement, breadth requirement, depth requirement, specialization, electives)
• Specializations/concentrations: Artificial intelligence; biocomputation; computer and network security; human-computer interaction; information management and analytics; mobile and internet computing; real-world computing; software theory; systems; theoretical computer science
• Features: Designed for part-time study by working professionals; typically takes three to five years to complete
• Other online degrees offered: None

Stevens Institute of Technology

• Degree: Online Master in Computer Science (MSCS)
• Tuition: $1,686 Per Credit (30 Credits)
• Curriculum: The MSCS program consists of 30 credit hours, with 10 courses, and is 100% online.
• Features: Courses on operating systems, programming languages, and analysis of algorithms
• Other online degrees offered: Master in Data Science

University of Illinois—Urbana-Champaign

• Degree: Master of Computer Science
• Tuition: $600 per credit hour; $19,200 to complete degree
• Curriculum: 32 credit hours (breadth requirement of four four-credit courses; three advanced courses; one elective)
• Specializations/concentrations: None. Coursework offered in the following disciplines: artificial intelligence, databases, human-computer interaction, software engineering, scientific computing and high-performance computing
• Features: MOOC based (large courses, largely automated grading: great for scaling programs and reducing costs, not so great for those who require personal attention); flexible scheduling; no thesis required
• Other online degrees offered: Master of Computer Science in Data Science

University of Southern California

• Degree: Master of Science in Computer Science
• Tuition: $2,005 per credit hour
• Curriculum: 28 academic credits (12 credits required courses; 12 credits computer science electives; 4 credits additional elective).
• Specialized master’s: Computer security; data science; scientists and engineers (for STEM students with limited backgrounds in computer science) software engineering
• Features: Optional thesis
• Other online degrees offered: None

Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

• Degree: Master of Science in Computer Engineering (thesis required); Master of Engineering in Computer Engineering (project and report required)
• Tuition: For Virginia residents, $818.50 per credit hour; for non-residents, $1,595.25 per credit hour
• Curriculum: 32 credit hours (MS: 21 credit hours of senior and graduate-level coursework, 9 hours of thesis, 2 hours of seminar; MEng: 27 credit hours of senior and graduate-level coursework, 3 hours project and report, 2 hours of seminar)
• Specializations/concentrations: None
• Features: Excellent reputation of engineering school; cost
• Other online degrees offered: Master of Information Technology

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