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Computer Programmer Education Requirements
Updated January 8, 2025
4 min read
There are several educational requirements to become a computer programmer. Computer programmers usually study computer science, computer programming, or business. 60% of computer programmers hold a bachelor's degree, and 22% hold an associate degree. We analyzed 6,449 real computer programmer resumes to see exactly what computer programmer education sections show.
The most common colleges for computer programmers are the University of Maryland - College Park and the University of Maryland - College Park.
There are also many online computer programmer courses to help get the education required to be a computer programmer.
There are certain computer programmer certifications that you should consider. These computer programmer certifications include Programming in C# Certification and Software Engineering Master Certification (SEMC).
What education do you need to become a computer programmer?
What degree do you need to be a computer programmer?
- Bachelor's, 60%
- Associate, 22%
- Master's, 10%
- Diploma, 3%
- Other Degrees, 5%
What should I major in to become a computer programmer?
- Computer Science, 36%
- Computer Programming, 11%
- Business, 10%
- Other Majors, 35%
Most common colleges for computer programmers
Computer Programmer Common College  | Percentages |
|---|---|
| University of Maryland - College Park | 11.57% |
| DeVry University | 8.31% |
| Pennsylvania State University | 7.12% |
| Brigham Young University | 6.23% |
| Western Washington University | 5.34% |
Best majors for computer programmers
| Rank | Major | Percentages |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Computer Science | 35.6% |
| 2 | Computer Programming | 11.0% |
| 3 | Business | 9.7% |
| 4 | Computer Information Systems | 7.6% |
| 5 | Mathematics | 4.6% |
Best colleges for computer programmers
The best colleges for computer programmers are Carnegie Mellon University, University of Chicago, and Stanford University.
A computer programmer with advanced education typically earns a higher salary and has access to better jobs. That's why Zippia looked into the best colleges for computer programmers. We based this list on several metrics: admissions rate, retention rate, mean earnings of graduates, the ratio of working vs. non-working students ten years after admission, the average cost of attendance, and median debt for graduates who become computer programmers.
1. University of Chicago
Chicago, IL • Private
In-State Tuition
$58,230
Enrollment
6,600
2. Carnegie Mellon University
Pittsburgh, PA • Private
In-State Tuition
$55,465
Enrollment
6,483
3. Tulane University
New Orleans, LA • Private
In-State Tuition
$54,820
Enrollment
7,920
4. University of Washington
Seattle, WA • Private
In-State Tuition
$11,207
Enrollment
30,905
5. North Carolina State University
Raleigh, NC • Private
In-State Tuition
$9,101
Enrollment
23,708
20 best online courses for computer programmers
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Top 10 most affordable universities for computer programmers
The most affordable schools for computer programmers are Brooklyn College of the City University of New York, suny farmingdale, and hunter college of the city university of new york.
If the best universities for computer programmers are out of your price range, check out these affordable schools. After factoring in in-state tuition and fees, the average cost of attendance, admissions rate, average net price, and mean earnings after six years, we found that these are the most affordable schools for computer programmers.
1. Brooklyn College of the City University of New York
Brooklyn, NY • Private
In-State Tuition
$7,240
Cost of Attendance
13,991
2. SUNY Farmingdale
Farmingdale, NY • Private
In-State Tuition
$8,306
Cost of Attendance
16,091
3. Hunter College of the City University of New York
New York, NY • Private
In-State Tuition
$7,182
Cost of Attendance
13,998
4. Brigham Young University
Provo, UT • Private
In-State Tuition
$5,620
Cost of Attendance
18,136
5. Metropolitan State University
Saint Paul, MN • Private
In-State Tuition
$7,879
Cost of Attendance
21,223
Top 10 hardest universities to get into for computer programmers
The hardest universities for computer programmers to get into are Carnegie Mellon University, University of Chicago, and Stanford University.
Some great schools for computer programmers are hard to get into, but they also set your career up for greater success. The list below shows the most challenging universities to get into for computer programmers based on an institution's admissions rates, average SAT scores accepted, median ACT scores accepted, and mean earnings of students six years after admission.
1. Carnegie Mellon University
Pittsburgh, PA • Private
Admissions Rate
17%
SAT Average
1,507
2. University of Chicago
Chicago, IL • Private
Admissions Rate
7%
SAT Average
1,520
3. Stanford University
Stanford, CA • Private
Admissions Rate
4%
SAT Average
1,497
4. Northwestern University
Evanston, IL • Private
Admissions Rate
8%
SAT Average
1,508
5. Tulane University
New Orleans, LA • Private
Admissions Rate
17%
SAT Average
1,428
Top 10 easy-to-apply-to universities for computer programmers
The easiest schools for computer programmers to get into are Nyack College, saint martin's university, and university of maine at fort kent.
Some schools are much easier to get into. If you want to start your career as a computer programmer without much hassle, check out the list of schools where you will be accepted in no time. We compiled admissions rates, average SAT scores, average ACT scores, and average salary of students six years after graduation to uncover which were the easiest schools to get into for computer programmers.
1. Nyack College
New York, NY • Private
Admissions Rate
98%
SAT Average
999
2. Saint Martin's University
Lacey, WA • Private
Admissions Rate
96%
SAT Average
1,111
3. University of Maine at Fort Kent
Fort Kent, ME • Private
Admissions Rate
95%
SAT Average
1,005
4. Oklahoma Wesleyan University
Bartlesville, OK • Private
Admissions Rate
68%
SAT Average
964
5. La Roche College
Pittsburgh, PA • Private
Admissions Rate
99%
SAT Average
1,008
Average computer programmer salary by education level
| Computer Programmer education level | Computer Programmer salary |
|---|---|
| Master's Degree | $75,184 |
| Bachelor's Degree | $72,834 |
| Doctorate Degree | $76,657 |
| Some College/ Associate Degree | $66,048 |
Computer Programmer Education FAQs
Have more questions? See all answers to common computer and mathematical questions.
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Updated January 8, 2025
Updated January 8, 2025