OVERVIEW
An Online Computer Science Degree That Ensures You're Ready for an Exciting Career
Solving problems, impacting industries, taking on a new challenge every day. If you're looking for excitement in your career, computer science could be for you. And an online bachelor's degree in computer science is a crucial step to helping you be ready for this always-changing industry. WGU's B.S. in Computer Science prepares you to design, develop, and optimize systems that will meet current and future industry needs. We strive to make it one of the most applicable computer science degrees available.
And with this online computer science degree, you can earn while you learn! While you are completing coursework for your bachelor's degree in computer science, you will be prepared and qualified to earn top industry certifications at no extra cost, helping you boost your résumé before you graduate. These certifications and the skills you learn in this online computer science degree will allow you to impress employers and colleagues with your knowledge and credentials. Flexibility helps you earn as you learn by letting you continue to work while you pursue your online computer science degree. With completely online coursework that you can complete at any time, you can keep your full-time job while attending school and earning your computer science degree online. You'll gain vital skills in logic, architecture and systems, data structures, AI, and computer theory making you a highly qualified, and in-demand professional in a diverse and promising industry.
71% of students finish within
27 Months
WGU lets you move more quickly through material you already know and advance as soon as you're ready. The result: You may finish your degree faster.
Tuition per six-month term is
$3,625
Tuition charged per term—rather than per credit—helps you control the ultimate cost of your computer science degree. Finish faster, pay less!
Income growth after two years
$18,200
Just two years after graduation, WGU grads report earning $18,200 more per year. Four years after graduation, WGU grads report earning $25,900.*
*2021 Harris Poll survey of 1,252 WGU graduates.
COURSES & COMPETENCIES
Computer Science Courses
Earning a bachelor’s degree in Computer Science online designed by industry experts combines theoretical depth and technical know-how, all adding to the practical knowledge you've acquired through experience and certifications. The experts who make up our IT Program Council know exactly what it takes for an online degree program to help you be successful in the field of computer science.
This program focuses on the skills you need to become a linchpin in your organization. In addition to core IT skills, the program focuses on algorithms and data structures, artificial intelligence and robotics, database and information retrieval, human-computer communication, numerical and symbolic computation, and more. Start earning your degree online today.
The B.S. Computer Science degree program is an all-online program that you will complete by studying and working independently with instruction and support from WGU faculty. You will be expected to complete at least 12 competency units each 6-month term. (One course is typically 3 or 4 units.)
35 Courses
Program consists of 35 courses
At WGU, we design our curriculum to be timely, relevant, and practical—all to ensure your degree is proof you really know your stuff.
Capstone Project
Special requirements for this program
At the end of your program, you will complete a capstone project that represents the culmination of all your hard work—a project that allows you to take what you’ve learned and apply it to a real-world situation, proposing a solution to an actual issue faced in an actual place of business.
“I truly enjoyed my experience with, and time at, WGU. I appreciate the innovative approach to education making it competency-based. Especially compared to a traditional university that would rather I instead pointlessly sit in a class for 6 months even if I am already competent in the areas the class is aiming to educate me in. My mentor was also amazing and helped me power through the program at the pace I expected. Couldn't have done it without him. Literally can't recommend WGU enough!”
—Steven Christensen
B.S. Computer Science
Why WGU?
Affordability
WGU tuition is charged per six-month term, not per credit. That means if you want to move faster through the online computer science degree program, you'll pay less.
On Your Schedule
No class times, no assignment deadlines. You are in charge of your learning and schedule. You can move through your courses as quickly as you master the material, meaning you can graduate faster.
Entirely Online
The computer science bachelor's degree at WGU is 100% online, which means it works wherever you are. You can do your coursework at night after working at your full-time job, on weekends, while you're traveling the world or on vacation—it's entirely up to you.
Accredited, Respected,
Recognized
One important measure of a degree’s value is the reputation of the university where it was earned. When employers, industry leaders, and academic experts hold your alma mater in high esteem, you reap the benefits of that respect. WGU is a pioneer in reinventing higher education for the 21st century, and our quality has been recognized.
IT CERTIFICATIONS
3rd Party Computer Science Certifications Included
In the IT field, certifications are extremely valuable along with your degree. That's why all of our IT degrees include the opportunity to earn top industry certifications, at no additional cost! We want to make sure your computer science degree is as beneficial to you and your career as possible.
- Project+
- ITIL®*^ Foundation Certification
*Subject to vendor availability.
^ITIL® is a registered trade mark of AXELOS Limited, used under permission of AXELOS Limited. All rights reserved.
COST & TIME
An Affordable CS Degree
By charging per six-month term rather than per credit—and empowering students to accelerate through material they know well or learn quickly—WGU helps students control the ultimate cost of their degrees. The faster you complete your program, the less you pay for your degree.
A College Degree Within Reach
There is help available to make paying for school possible for you:
The average student loan debt of WGU graduates in 2019 (among those who borrowed) was less than half* the national average.
Most WGU students qualify for financial aid, and WGU is approved for federal financial aid and U.S. veterans benefits.
Many scholarship opportunities are available. Find out what you might be eligible for.
FLEXIBLE SCHEDULE
Competency-Based Education Puts Busy Adult Students in the Driver’s Seat of Their Computer Science Degree
Your unique experience gives you something unique to offer. Maybe you’ve worked in tech for years. Maybe you have some certifications but no college experience.
Wherever you've been, the next step requires something you don't have: your degree. We believe your experience should count for something. You deserve a bachelor’s degree program that will take into account all the know-how you’ve already gained, allowing you to move through courses as quickly as you can prove you've mastered the material. No waiting for other students or the end of the semester. No sitting through classes you could teach. Just a smart, direct path to the degree your career needs and the respect you deserve.
"Online classes were great. Sometimes I would have difficulty on a subject and was able to promptly contact my instructor for further help. Scheduling a phone call was also easy.”
—Lehi Toskin
B.S. Computer Science
CAREER OUTLOOK
Computer Scientists Are in High Demand
The field of computer science is rapidly expanding into some truly exciting areas, including artificial intelligence, robotics, intelligent systems, and human-computer interaction. It's a high-demand field that taps some of America's best and brightest for extraordinarily successful and rewarding careers.
This online degree in computer science puts you in a position to have a lucrative, exciting, and rewarding career. According to the National Center for Education Statistics, there are almost 10 times more U.S. computing jobs open than there were students who graduated with a computer science degree in 2015. This means an online computer science degree puts you in a position of strength in the industry. Stand out from the competition and become a vital player on a team with the help of the right program.
Return on Your Investment
15%
The market for computer and information research scientists is projected to grow 15% through 2029.
—U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
Learn About Careers for Computer Science Graduates
Some of the job titles a graduate of this computer science bachelor’s degree program are qualified for include:
- Information Manager
- Data Engineer
- NLP Scientist
- Computer Vision Engineer
- Business Intelligence Developer
- Human-centered Machine Learning Specialist
- Algorithm Engineer
- Computational Linguist
- IT Consultant
- Machine Learning Engineer
WGU Grads Hold Positions With Top Employers
ADMISSIONS
Admissions Requirements Unique to Computer Science
Students must possess a high school diploma or its equivalent and be able to use key calculus principles, rules, and applications while in the B.S. Computer Science program. Students must demonstrate math readiness through successful and verifiable completion of a pre-calculus, calculus, or higher-than-calculus math course from an accredited post-secondary academic institution or WGU-approved third-party provider.
NOTE: You do not need to take the ACT or SAT to be admitted to this program. Learn why we don't require these tests.
Get Your Enrollment Checklist
Download your step-by-step guide to enrollment.
Get Your Questions Answered
Talk to an WGU Enrollment Counselor.
Questions about Computer Science at WGU
- General IT Program Questions
- Computer Science Program Questions
Ready to Start Your WGU Journey?