Computer Programmer Education Requirements

Q: What degree do you need to be a computer programmer?

To be a computer programmer, you need a bachelor's degree in computer and information technology or a related field. It is possible to be hired if you hold a different degree but have experience in specific programming languages. While holding a bachelor's degree is often required to obtain a position as a computer programmer, it is important to note that experience and knowledge are more important than education for computer programmers. Just having a degree will not set you apart. It is important to have a solid understanding of relevant programming languages. Internships can be extremely beneficial to get real-world experience in programming. This can also be beneficial for networking with other programmers. You can also obtain certifications that demonstrate your fluency in specific programming languages and mechanics.

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?

The most common degree for computer programmers is bachelor's degree, with 60% of computer programmers earning that degree. The second and third most common degree levels are associate degree degree at 22% and associate degree degree at 10%.

Bachelor's, 60%

Associate, 22%

Master's, 10%

Diploma, 3%

Other Degrees, 5%

What should I major in to become a computer programmer?

You should major in computer science to become a computer programmer. 36% of computer programmers major in computer science. Other common majors for a computer programmer include computer programming and business.

Computer Science, 36%

Computer Programming, 11%

Business, 10%

Computer Information Systems, 8%

Other Majors, 35%

Most common colleges for computer programmers

Computer programmers often get their degrees at University of Maryland - College Park, DeVry University, and Pennsylvania State University. Here are the most common colleges for computer programmers in the US based on their resumes.

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%

Show more common computer programmer colleges

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%

Show more common computer programmer majors

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

6. Brooklyn College of the City University of New York

Brooklyn, NY • Private

In-State Tuition

$7,240

Enrollment

13,954

7. Minnesota State University - Mankato

Mankato, MN • Private

In-State Tuition

$8,184

Enrollment

11,675

8. Metropolitan State University

Saint Paul, MN • Private

In-State Tuition

$7,879

Enrollment

6,768

9. North Carolina Central University

Durham, NC • Private

In-State Tuition

$6,464

Enrollment

5,913

10. Elon University

Elon, NC • Private

In-State Tuition

$35,319

Enrollment

6,196

20 best online courses for computer programmers

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A Computer Science & software programming / coding bootcamp for absolute beginners. No coding background necessary...

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18. The Foundations of Computer Design

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Build REST Api's With Asp.Net , Entity Framework and C#...

20. Learn and Master C Programming For Absolute Beginners!

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Become C code expert in Visual Studio on Windows! Learn about arrays, pointers, files, strings, dynamic memory and more!...

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

6. University of Washington

Seattle, WA • Private

In-State Tuition

$11,207

Cost of Attendance

25,275

7. Queens College of the City University of New York

Queens, NY • Private

In-State Tuition

$7,338

Cost of Attendance

14,281

8. Clayton State University

Morrow, GA • Private

In-State Tuition

$5,419

Cost of Attendance

17,697

9. Minot State University

Minot, ND • Private

In-State Tuition

$7,064

Cost of Attendance

15,576

10. Purdue University

West Lafayette, IN • Private

In-State Tuition

$9,992

Cost of Attendance

22,430

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

SAT Average

1,520

3. Stanford University

Stanford, CA • Private

Admissions Rate

SAT Average

1,497

4. Northwestern University

Evanston, IL • Private

Admissions Rate

SAT Average

1,508

5. Tulane University

New Orleans, LA • Private

Admissions Rate

17%

SAT Average

1,428

6. Vanderbilt University

Nashville, TN • Private

Admissions Rate

10%

SAT Average

1,514

7. Amherst College

Amherst, MA • Private

Admissions Rate

13%

SAT Average

1,449

8. University of Rochester

Rochester, NY • Private

Admissions Rate

29%

SAT Average

1,422

9. Tufts University

Medford, MA • Private

Admissions Rate

15%

SAT Average

1,461

10. University of Tulsa

Tulsa, OK • Private

Admissions Rate

41%

SAT Average

1,321

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

6. Barry University

Miami, FL • Private

Admissions Rate

91%

SAT Average

1,006

7. Linfield College

McMinnville, OR • Private

Admissions Rate

81%

SAT Average

1,117

8. Capitol Technology University

Laurel, MD • Private

Admissions Rate

69%

SAT Average

1,070

9. Cardinal Stritch University

Milwaukee, WI • Private

Admissions Rate

71%

SAT Average

1,035

10. Fitchburg State University

Fitchburg, MA • Private

Admissions Rate

87%

SAT Average

1,078

Average computer programmer salary by education level

According to our data, computer programmers with a Doctorate degree earn the highest average salary, at $76,657 annually. Computer programmers with a Master's degree earn an average annual salary of $75,184.

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

What degree do you need to be a computer programmer?

What is the best college for Computer Programmers?

Have more questions? See all answers to common computer and mathematical questions.

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Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

Updated January 8, 2025

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