Best Computer Programming Schools (2026): 35 Ranked by Salary & ROI
These are the top schools offering Computer Programming, ranked by TradeSchoolOutlook Score. The score combines graduate earnings, job market demand, and return on tuition investment. The average Computer Programming graduate earns $41,895/yr across 35 schools.
BLS projects 5.9% employment growth for occupations in this field from 2024–2034, with approximately 162 annual job openings per related program area.
All Computer Programming Programs Ranked
Click any row for full earnings projections and career path breakdown.
| # | School | TSW Score | Earnings | ROI |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Indian Hills Community College
Ottumwa, IA · Computer Programming |
71
62–75 |
$63,559/yr | 72.4x |
| 2 |
University of Phoenix-Arizona
Phoenix, AZ · Computer Programming |
74
61–78 |
$60,496/yr | 93.5x |
| 3 |
Minneapolis Community and Technical College
Minneapolis, MN · Computer Programming |
69
57–73 |
$55,069/yr | 65.8x |
| 4 |
Cincinnati State Technical and Community College
Cincinnati, OH · Computer Programming |
70
58–75 |
$55,996/yr | 73.9x |
| 5 |
Dallas College
Dallas, TX · Computer Programming |
74
65–78 |
$53,830/yr | 112.6x |
| 6 |
Fox Valley Technical College
Appleton, WI · Computer Programming |
70
59–74 |
$54,652/yr | 75.2x |
| 7 |
Metropolitan Community College-Kansas City
Kansas City, MO · Computer Programming |
71
58–75 |
$46,804/yr | 100.5x |
| 8 |
Dallas College
Dallas, TX · Computer Programming |
74
64–78 |
$43,727/yr | 271.0x |
| 9 |
Chippewa Valley Technical College
Eau Claire, WI · Computer Programming |
66
54–70 |
$44,673/yr | 65.4x |
| 10 |
Hillsborough Community College
Tampa, FL · Computer Programming |
68
60–72 |
$42,710/yr | 84.2x |
| 11 |
Southeast Technical College
Sioux Falls, SD · Computer Programming |
61
54–65 |
$53,874/yr | 34.2x |
| 12 |
University of Phoenix-California
Ontario, CA · Computer Programming |
61
52–65 |
$60,496/yr | — |
| 13 |
Santa Fe College
Gainesville, FL · Computer Programming |
65
57–69 |
$39,098/yr | 75.3x |
| 14 |
Kirkwood Community College
Cedar Rapids, IA · Computer Programming |
60
48–65 |
$39,216/yr | 51.2x |
| 15 |
Community College of Allegheny County
Pittsburgh, PA · Computer Programming |
60
53–64 |
$42,640/yr | 43.0x |
| 16 |
Ozarks Technical Community College
Springfield, MO · Computer Programming |
59
50–62 |
$37,074/yr | 50.9x |
| 17 |
Amarillo College
Amarillo, TX · Computer Programming |
70
61–74 |
$37,250/yr | 173.4x |
| 18 |
Gateway Technical College
Kenosha, WI · Computer Programming |
60
52–63 |
$41,728/yr | 42.0x |
| 19 |
Valencia College
Orlando, FL · Computer Programming |
67
55–71 |
$36,601/yr | 135.4x |
| 20 |
Gwinnett Technical College
Lawrenceville, GA · Computer Programming |
63
51–68 |
$35,284/yr | 115.3x |
| 21 |
Cuyahoga Community College District
Cleveland, OH · Computer Programming |
61
48–65 |
$33,937/yr | 78.6x |
| 22 |
Amarillo College
Amarillo, TX · Computer Programming |
64
52–69 |
$32,074/yr | 135.2x |
| 23 |
Ranken Technical College
Saint Louis, MO · Computer Programming |
53
42–56 |
$43,573/yr | 15.8x |
| 24 |
Kent State University at Ashtabula
Ashtabula, OH · Computer Programming |
52
43–55 |
$36,388/yr | 27.0x |
| 25 |
Kent State University at East Liverpool
East Liverpool, OH · Computer Programming |
52
43–55 |
$36,388/yr | 27.0x |
| 26 |
Kent State University at Trumbull
Warren, OH · Computer Programming |
52
43–55 |
$36,388/yr | 27.0x |
| 27 |
Kent State University at Tuscarawas
New Philadelphia, OH · Computer Programming |
52
43–55 |
$36,388/yr | 27.0x |
| 28 |
Kent State University at Salem
Salem, OH · Computer Programming |
52
43–55 |
$36,388/yr | 27.0x |
| 29 |
Kent State University at Geauga
Burton, OH · Computer Programming |
52
43–55 |
$36,388/yr | 27.0x |
| 30 |
Community College of Rhode Island
Warwick, RI · Computer Programming |
52
44–55 |
$33,781/yr | 30.7x |
| 31 |
ECPI University
Virginia Beach, VA · Computer Programming |
51
41–55 |
$41,205/yr | 15.3x |
| 32 |
Texas State Technical College
Waco, TX · Computer Programming |
50
40–54 |
$32,473/yr | 28.1x |
| 33 |
Kent State University at Kent
Kent, OH · Computer Programming |
49
39–52 |
$36,388/yr | 14.9x |
| 34 |
Pittsburgh Technical College
Oakdale, PA · Computer Programming |
46
36–50 |
$33,829/yr | 15.2x |
| 35 |
FVI School of Nursing and Technology
Miami, FL · Computer Programming |
40
31–44 |
$15,968/yr | — |
Programs by State
Top states by program availability. Click a state for the full in-state ranking.
| State | Programs | Avg Earnings | Avg TSW Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ohio | 9 | $38,294/yr | 43 |
| Texas | 5 | $39,871/yr | 47 |
| Florida | 4 | $33,594/yr | 44 |
| Wisconsin | 3 | $47,018/yr | 51 |
| Missouri | 3 | $42,484/yr | 47 |
| Pennsylvania | 2 | $38,235/yr | 43 |
| Iowa | 2 | $51,388/yr | 53 |
| Virginia | 1 | $41,205/yr | 40 |
| South Dakota | 1 | $53,874/yr | 50 |
| Rhode Island | 1 | $33,781/yr | 40 |
| Minnesota | 1 | $55,069/yr | 54 |
| Georgia | 1 | $35,284/yr | 46 |
| California | 1 | $60,496/yr | 50 |
| Arizona | 1 | $60,496/yr | 55 |
About This Ranking
What we ranked
Best Computer Programming Schools ranks 35 programs across the United States by the TradeSchoolOutlook Score, which combines graduate earnings, return on investment, and job-market demand into a single 0-100 metric.
Data sources
Earnings figures come from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard, which tracks graduate income one and five years after program completion. Job-market projections use Bureau of Labor Statistics 2024-2034 employment data.
How to read the table
Use the sort controls below the headline to re-rank by earnings, ROI, or other metrics. Click any school name for full earnings projections, three-scenario modeling, and detailed program data. Most students attend a school within driving distance — local rankings are usually more actionable than national.
Caveats & limitations
Rankings reflect what the data can measure: post-graduation earnings, debt levels, and broad labor-market trends. They cannot capture program quality nuances like instructor expertise, hands-on equipment access, or industry connections. Treat rankings as a starting point — visit schools and talk to current students before committing.
Methodology
Programs are ranked by TradeSchoolOutlook Score, which combines graduate earnings (Year 1 after graduation), job market size (BLS annual openings), and earnings-to-tuition multiple (projected earnings vs. program tuition).
Earnings data comes from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, which reports actual median earnings of graduates — not self-reported surveys.