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Most Popular Online Computer Science Associate Degree Schools in California

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2023 Most Popular Online Computer Science Associate Degree Schools in California

9 Schools Ranked
$9,239 Avg Tuition & Fees*
$16,665 Avg Student Debt

It's not easy to decide which computer science program to enroll in when you have so many options available. With more and more schools offering online options, you could even register for a great program on the other side of the country. Alternatively, you may choose a trade school or bootcamp that prepares you to enter the workforce with knowledge in a specific field.

To assist you in seeing some of the education options that are available to you, Computer Science Degree Search has created its Most Popular Online Computer Science Associate Degree Schools in California ranking. This report analyzed 9 schools in California to see which ones had the most popular online associate degree programs for computer science students. To create this ranking we looked at how many students graduated from schools with online programs.

Learn more about these popular schools with online programs:

#1

University of the People

Pasadena, California
80 Total Awards

Our 2023 rankings named University of the People the most popular school in California for computer science students working on their associate degree. Pasadena, California is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out associate degrees to 80 students in 2020-2021.

Around 16% of those degree recipients were women.

University of the People is one of the schools on our list that is primarily online. Each undergraduate student at the school took at least one class online.

Full University of the People Report

#2

College of San Mateo

San Mateo, California
36 Total Awards
$1,440 Average Tuition & Fees
$16,091 Avg Student Debt

A rank of #2 on this year’s list means College of San Mateo is a great place for computer science students working on their associate degree. San Mateo, California is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associate degrees to 36 students in 2020-2021.

In-state students pay an average of $1,440 in tuition and fees if they attend CSM full time. Those students who come from outside the state pay an average of $10,114. On average, associate degree students take out $16,091 in loans while pursuing their degree. Of those students who received their degree, 19% were women.

Full College of San Mateo Report

#3

Laurus College

San Luis Obispo, California
28 Total Awards
$35,609 Avg Student Debt

You’ll be in good company if you attend Laurus College. The school came in at #3 on this year’s Most Popular Online Computer Science Associate Degree Schools in California list. Laurus College is a very small private for-profit school located in San Luis Obispo, California that handed out 28 associate degrees in 2020-2021.

Associate Degree recipients from Laurus College accumulate an average of $35,609 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. Around 21% of those degree recipients were women.

Interested in an online degree? Then you definitely want to check out Laurus College. Every undergraduate student at the school took at least one class online.

Read full report on Laurus College

#4

Academy of Art University

San Francisco, California
20 Total Awards
$25,424 Average Tuition & Fees
$34,310 Avg Student Debt

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Academy of Art University. It ranked #4 on our 2023 Most Popular Online Computer Science Associate Degree Schools in California list. Located in San Francisco, California, the medium-sized private for-profit school handed out 20 associate degree awards in 2020-2021.

The average tuition and fees at Academy of Art University is $25,424. In-state students do not receive a discount, however you may be able to reduce your price if you receive financial aid. Associate Degree recipients from Academy of Art University accumulate an average of $34,310 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. Of those students who received their degree, 65% were women.

In 2019-2020 about 91% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.

Full Academy of Art University Report

#5

San Joaquin Valley College-Visalia

Visalia, California
16 Total Awards
$20,946 Avg Student Debt

A rank of #5 on this year’s list means San Joaquin Valley College-Visalia is a great place for computer science students working on their associate degree. Located in Visalia, California, the small private for-profit school handed out 16 associate degree awards in 2020-2021.

On average, associate degree students take out $20,946 in loans while pursuing their degree. Around 6% of those degree recipients were women.

To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 68% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2019-2020.

Read More…

#6

Santa Barbara City College

Santa Barbara, California
34 Total Awards
$1,232 Average Tuition & Fees
$21,459 Avg Student Debt

Santa Barbara City College landed the #6 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular associate degree computer science programs. SBCC is located in Santa Barbara, California and has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 34 associate degrees to qualified students.

Full-time students from California pay an average of $1,232 in tuition and fees if they choose to attend SBCC. Those students who come from outside the state pay an average of $8,912. Associate Degree recipients from SBCC accumulate an average of $21,459 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. Around 24% of those degree recipients were women.

During the 2019-2020 year, about 59% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.

Read More…

1 Total Awards
$15,390 Average Tuition & Fees
$19,458 Avg Student Debt

California Institute of Arts & Technology ranked #7 on this year’s Most Popular Online Computer Science Associate Degree Schools in California list. Located in San Diego, California, the very small private for-profit school awarded 1 diplomas to qualifed associate degree students in 2020-2021.

If you don’t receive financial aid, you can expect a bill for $15,390 to cover tuition and fees at California Institute of Arts & Technology. The school does not offer an in-state discount. On average, associate degree students take out $19,458 in loans while pursuing their degree.

California Institute of Arts & Technology is one of the schools on our list that is primarily online. Each undergraduate student at the school took at least one class online.

Full California Institute of Arts & Technology Report

#8

Compton College

Compton, California
$1,142 Average Tuition & Fees

Compton College ranked #8 on this year’s Most Popular Online Computer Science Associate Degree Schools in California list.

In-state students pay an average of $1,142 in tuition and fees if they attend Compton College full time. If you are from out of state, expect to pay an average of $8,990.

To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 34% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2019-2020.

Read full report on Compton College

$10,805 Average Tuition & Fees

With a ranking of #8, California Intercontinental University did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for computer science students working on their associate degree.

The average tuition and fees at California Intercontinental University is $10,805. In-state students do not receive a discount, however you may be able to reduce your price if you receive financial aid.

Since California Intercontinental University is primarily an online school, it is an excellent choice for undergraduate students who need more flexibility than what is offered at some other schools.

Read full report on California Intercontinental University

Most Popular Online Computer Science Associate Degree Schools in the Far Western US Region

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Notes and References

Footnotes

*These averages are for the top 9 schools only.

References

  • The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE) serves as the core of our data about colleges.
  • Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
  • Information about the national average student loan default rate is from the U.S. Department of Education and refers to data about the 2016 borrower cohort tracking period for which the cohort default rate (CDR) was 10.1%.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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