The Fastest Online Computer Science Degrees: How to Get Your Computer Science Degree Fast

What Is an Accelerated Computer Science Degree?

An accelerated computer science degree enables enrolled students to obtain a bachelor’s degree within two to three years or a master’s degree in one to two years. Accelerated degrees provide students with the added advantage of speed and flexibility. With an accelerated computer science degree, graduates can reach their career goals as quickly as possible.

How Do Accelerated Degrees Work?

Accelerated degrees work by allowing students to cover more coursework in shorter periods compared to regular degrees. In accelerated programs, students still take the same courses as in traditional ones. However, rather than having the typical 16-week semesters, the semester length for accelerated degrees is about 10 weeks or less.

Many schools also emphasize a generous transfer policy, which means that they tend to be more flexible with accepting additional credits from past institutions in order to enable any transfer student to complete their accelerated degree program as fast as possible.

Types of Accelerated Computer Science Degrees

A wide range of accelerated computer science degrees is available for prospective students at any level. Regardless of your prior educational qualifications, you can always take advantage of one of these accelerated degree programs to achieve your academic goals.

Accelerated Associate Degrees

Accelerated associate degrees are typically provided by community colleges. While on-campus students pursuing a traditional associate degree usually complete their college credits within two years, the best accelerated associate degrees allow them to finish their coursework within 15 months or less.

Accelerated Bachelor’s Degrees

Accelerated bachelor’s degrees put undergraduate students on their career paths quickly by providing them with a high-quality education in less than four years. Accelerated bachelor’s degrees can be completed in about two to three years, depending on the specified number of credit hours for graduation.

Accelerated Master’s Degrees

Accelerated master’s degrees are fast-tracked graduate degrees. Students enrolled in an accelerated master’s program will gain technical skills and hands-on experience that is valuable for their particular industry. Some of the best computer science master’s programs have an accelerated option, the majority of which can be completed in about one year.

Combined Bachelor’s and Master’s Degrees

Combined bachelor’s and master’s degrees are a very popular option among students in the United States. By opting for this accelerated degree type, you can obtain a graduate and undergraduate degree in about five years instead of six or seven years.

Who Should Get an Accelerated Computer Science Degree?

Who Should Get an Accelerated Computer Science Degree? 

People who desire flexibility, reduced cost, and a quick boost in their earning capacity should get an accelerated computer science degree. Because accelerated degrees are completed in less time than traditional degree programs, enrolled students typically spend less money on added expenses.

In addition, most accelerated programs are either offered fully online or allow students to take some online courses to complete the required amount of semester hours. Incoming students in an accelerated program can have the freedom to choose how much they want to learn, depending on their schedule.

How to Get a Computer Science Degree Fast

Transfer your credits. If you have a prior college education in a similar technical field, you should consider transferring those credits to your current school in order to quickly meet the program curriculum requirements.

Take more classes per semester. Many programs have a flexible curriculum. By taking as many classes as you can each semester, you will be guaranteed to complete your degree as quickly as possible. However, you may need to speak to an academic advisor to get special permission to take additional courses.

Choose a self-paced program. Selecting a self-paced program will enable you to decide how long you will spend pursuing your degree. Most of these programs allow you to take a hefty course load to get your degree quickly.

Earn college credits from your professional experience. Many schools allow students to take the College-Level Examination Program (CLEP) and earn credits for subjects where they can demonstrate a reasonable amount of knowledge. CLEP exams can significantly reduce your coursework requirements.¹

Maximize your time in high school. You can begin setting the pace for early graduation by taking advanced placement courses in high school. Advanced Placement (AP) courses reward students who perform well on their exams with credits they can transfer to their college degree.²

What Is the Fastest Online Computer Science Degree?

The Bachelor of Science in Applied Computer Science offered by the University of Colorado Boulder is a post-baccalaureate program designed for students who already hold a bachelor’s degree. The program consists of 45 credits and can typically be completed in two to three years, though some students may finish in under two years depending on course load.³ Students enrolled in this program follow an accelerated plan that allows for flexible pacing. Other online accelerated computer science programs are listed below.

Fastest Online Computer Science Degrees: The Basics

Degree Title	School	Required Time
Bachelor of Science in Applied Computer Science	University of Colorado Boulder	Under 2 years (accelerated); typically 2–3 years
Master of Science in Computer Science	Lewis University	1 year
Bachelor of Science in Applied Computer Science	Concordia University Wisconsin	As few as 1.5 years
Bachelor of Science in Computer Science	Oregon State University	As little as 1 year full-time
Master of Science in Computer Science	Eastern Kentucky University	1–2 years
Bachelor of Science in Computer Science	Concordia University, St. Paul	2.5 years
Bachelor of Science in Computer Science	Full Sail University	As few as 2.5 years
Bachelor of Science in Computer Science	Colorado Technical University	Less than 4 years
Bachelor of Science in Computer Information Systems + Master of Science in Information Systems FastForward Program	Regis University	5 years
Accelerated Computer Science Bachelor of Science (BS)/Master of Science (MS)	University of North Dakota	5 years

The Fastest Online Computer Degrees, Explained

Bachelor of Science in Applied Computer Science | University of Colorado Boulder³ 

• School Accreditation: Higher Learning Commission 
• Tuition: up to $815/credit in-state (with College Opportunity Fund) and $942/credit out-of-state 
• Required Time: Under 2 years (accelerated); typically 2-3 years 

To be eligible for this degree, you must have a bachelor’s degree from any other field of study. Online students in this 45-credit program will have strong data science skills and knowledge of programming languages to be able to work with various databases and perform routine data analysis, mining, and visualization using modern software tools.

Master of Science in Computer Science | Lewis University⁴ 

• School Accreditation: Higher Learning Commission 
• Tuition: $875/credit hour
• Required Time: 1 year

Online courses in this accelerated program are offered in eight-week semesters to enable students to earn their graduate degree in one year. Lewis University’s 33- to 51-credit computer science graduate degree offers concentrations in artificial intelligence, cyber security, digital forensics, enterprise and cloud computing, and software engineering.

Bachelor of Science in Applied Computer Science | Concordia University Wisconsin⁵ 

• School Accreditation: Higher Learning Commission 
• Tuition: $750-$1500/credit hour
• Required Time: As few as 1.5 years 

Concordia University Wisconsin’s BS in Applied Computer Science offers an accelerated pathway that enables students to transfer credits and graduate in record time. Depending on the number of credits you transfer, you could graduate in as little as one and a half years. This 120-credit program includes courses on software engineering and operating systems.

Bachelor of Science in Computer Science | Oregon State University⁶ 

• School Accreditation: Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities 
• Tuition: $605/credit (post-baccalaureate rate)
• Required Time: As little as 1 year full-time

This post-baccalaureate program is open to students who already have a bachelor’s degree in another field but are interested in making the switch to computer science. Students enrolled in this program at Oregon State University will take 60 quarter-credits of coursework in topics such as programming languages, web development, and computer networking.

Master of Science in Computer Science | Eastern Kentucky University⁷ 

• School Accreditation: Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges 
• Tuition: $676/credit hour
• Required Time: 1-2 years 

This 30-credit graduate online degree program at Eastern Kentucky University provides a balanced mix of theoretical and practical instruction to help graduates thrive in various computer science roles. Students in this program will enjoy accelerated seven-week semesters to enable them to cover more coursework in less time and graduate faster than a traditional computer science master’s.

Bachelor of Science in Computer Science | Concordia University, St. Paul⁸ 

• School Accreditation: Higher Learning Commission 
• Tuition: $420/credit hour
• Required Time: 2.5 years 

Concordia University, St. Paul’s online computer science program allows students to complete 120 credit hours of coursework in as few as two and a half years. Online students will be taught computer programming with Java, web and user experience design, and software development. They will also take on a capstone project to improve their technical skills.

Bachelor of Science in Computer Science | Full Sail University⁹ 

• School Accreditation: Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges 
• Tuition: $542/credit hour
• Required Time: As few as 2.5 years

Full Sail University’s online BS in Computer Science degree covers topics required for a fulfilling computer science career, including data structures and algorithms, programming, software engineering, and data logic. This online program can be completed in just 29 months.

Bachelor of Science in Computer Science | Colorado Technical University¹⁰ 

• School Accreditation: Higher Learning Commission 
• Tuition: $340/credit hour
• Required Time: Less than 4 years 

This 183-credit program equips students with the knowledge required to build software and other related computing solutions. The BS in Computer Science degree at Colorado Technical University is one of the few programs that qualify for CTU Fast Track, which allows students to earn prior learning assessment credits and finish their program up to 30 percent earlier.

Bachelor of Science in Computer Information Systems + Master of Science in Information Systems | Regis University¹¹ 

• School Accreditation: Higher Learning Commission 
• Tuition: $599/credit undergraduate; $1,066/credit graduate
• Required Time: 5 years 

This program at Regis University is part of the FastForward program, an option that allows students to earn a graduate and undergraduate degree in just five years. The BS and MS in Computer Information Systems degrees deliver intensive courses to allow students to secure high-paying jobs like database administrator, network architect, and information systems analyst roles.

Accelerated Computer Science Bachelor of Science (BS)/Master of Science (MS)¹² 

• School Accreditation: Higher Learning Commission 
• Tuition: $611.75/credit undergraduate; $798.08/credit graduate 
• Required Time: 5 years 

This dual degree program at the University of North Dakota allows students to obtain a graduate and undergraduate degree in computer science online within five years. Students enrolled in this accelerated program will begin taking graduate-level computer science coursework in their fourth year so they can earn both degrees in a shorter timeframe.

Fastest Computer Science Degree Completion Programs 

Degree completion programs allow students to transfer credits from previous programs to shorten their graduation time. These programs are typically suited for individuals with an associate degree or those who have begun a bachelor’s program in the past but did not finish. Some of the fastest computer science degree completion programs are listed below.

Applied Computing Bachelor’s Degree Completion | University of Wisconsin – Extended Campus. This online accelerated degree completion program accepts applicants who have previously completed 60 credit units of general coursework, including college-level algebra. This degree requires graduates to complete 61 credits from 21 courses.¹³

Computer Science Online Degree Completion | California State University – Monterey Bay. To qualify for admission into this 24-month program, applicants must have a minimum of 60 transferable semester credits, including general courses. This program is also open to individuals with a non-computer science bachelor’s degree.¹⁴

BS in Computer Science Online Degree Completion for Transfer Students | DePaul University. To qualify for admission into this program, applicants must have at least 30 transferable semester credits (45 quarter hours), including one semester of Java or C++, and a minimum GPA of 2.0; the program is also open to transfer students in good academic standing from any field.¹⁵

Bachelor of Science in Computer Science | Old Dominion University. Old Dominion University provides an online degree completion option for individuals looking to begin a career in computer science. Enrolled students must have some credits from their previous school and be willing to complete up to 30 credits at Old Dominion University.¹⁶

Do Employers Respect Online Degrees?

Yes, employers respect online degrees because they retain the same educational quality as on-campus programs. In addition, online degrees remain an increasingly popular option among incoming students and prospective employers. According to the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), 8,876,919 undergraduates were enrolled exclusively in distance education courses in fall 2020.¹⁷

What Jobs Can You Get with an Accelerated Computer Science Degree?

All salary and job growth data retrieved August 2025.

Computer and Information Systems Manager | $171,200; 17% growth from 2023 to 2033¹⁸

Software Developer | $131,450; 17% growth from 2023 to 2033¹⁹

Computer Systems Analyst | $103,790; 11% growth from 2023 to 2033²⁰

Database Administrator | $123,100; 9% growth from 2023 to 2033²¹

Web Developer | $95,380; 8% growth from 2023 to 2033²²

Best Accelerated Computer Science Degree Jobs

The best accelerated computer science degree jobs include computer and information systems manager, software developer, computer systems analyst, database administrator, and web developer. These jobs pay lucrative salaries and show a favorable job outlook for future graduates of computer science fields.

Computer and Information Systems Manager¹⁸  

• Average Salary: $171,200 
• Job Outlook: 17% growth from 2023 to 2033

Computer and information systems managers identify the protocols necessary to fulfill their organization’s information technology needs. They are also responsible for ensuring that their company’s digital infrastructure remains efficient and secure.

Software Developer¹⁹ 

• Average Salary: $131,450 
• Job Outlook: 17% growth from 2023 to 2033 

Software developers create computer programs to solve real-world problems. Apart from developing solutions, they also conduct routine maintenance and upgrades of pre-existing software. By obtaining an accelerated computer science degree, you can become a software developer at any of the best technology companies in the world.

Computer Systems Analyst²⁰ 

• Average Salary: $103,790 
• Job Outlook: 11% growth from 2023 to 2033 

Computer systems analysts work as part of an organization’s information technology team. They work with other IT professionals to evaluate their company’s computer systems and provide solutions to improve overall performance. A graduate with an accelerated degree can quickly get started as a computer systems analyst and secure senior roles at leading companies.

Database Administrator²¹ 

• Average Salary: $123,100 
• Job Outlook: 9% growth from 2023 to 2033 

Database administrators are responsible for building efficient and secure software solutions for digital information storage. They also maintain databases and perform upgrades when necessary. Accelerated computer science degrees provide an easy pathway to securing a database administrator job.

Web Developer²² 

• Average Salary: $95,380 
• Job Outlook: 8% growth from 2023 to 2033 

Web developers create and maintain interactive websites. They are responsible for managing the overall functionality of a website and are required to customize their solutions to their employer’s specific requirements. Accelerated computer science programs will equip you with the technical skills and background knowledge required to perform these duties.

Are Online Computer Science Degrees Worth It?

Yes, online computer science degrees are worth it because they provide an easy and flexible pathway to obtaining one of the most in-demand degrees. By getting your computer science degree online, you can save time and cost and receive top-quality education from the best universities in the world without having to relocate to live on campus.

Fastest Online Computer Science Degrees FAQ