A Guide to Online Computer Science Degrees in New Jersey

New Jersey, or the “Garden State,” is the fourth-smallest state by land and the yet the most densely populated state in the country. In 2016 it was the third-wealthiest state by median income in the country. The state has a significant Native American history, with tribes like the Lenape living there for thousands of years before it was colonized by Europeans. In American history, New Jersey was essential to the Industrial Revolution, with Camden, Paterson, Newark, Trenton, Jersey City and Elizabeth as major industrial cities. The progression of commuter rail changed New Jersey drastically, as it became a suburban counterpart to New Yorkers. In 2016, New Jersey’s GDP was $510,586,000,000, which represents 3.12% of the countries’ GDP. It was the 8th largest state economy in America in 2016. Major New Jersey industries include pharmaceutical industry, the financial industry, chemical development, telecommunications, food processing, electric equipment, printing, publishing, and tourism.

New Jersey has an extensive tech history. Thomas Edison invented the light bulb, the phonograph and the movie camera in the state. Decades later, Bell Labs invented the transistor there. Today, New Jersey is still a leader in tech. It has 214,737 tech workers, and ranks 11th among the 50 states for tech industry employment. In 2016, 1,941 new tech jobs were created in New Jersey. The average salary for a New Jersey tech industry worker was an estimated $121,100 in 2016, 94% more than the average state wage at $62,300. New Jersey ranks fourth nationally in average tech industry wages. New Jersey ranks fifth in the nation in the Cyberstates 2017 Innovation Score, based on an analysis of new tech patents, tech startups and new tech business establishments on a per capita basis. There are approximately 16,114 tech business establishments in New Jersey, and the industry employs 5.5 percent of the overall state workforce. Top New Jersey tech jobs include application software developers (41,470), computer programmers (15,010) and computer systems analysts (14,370). As major New Jersey economic sectors like agriculture, pharmaceuticals and others are increasingly automated, there are large, upcoming opportunities for tech work in the state.

New Jersey Educational Costs

In-state tuition for New Jersey schools comes in at $4,724 for 2-year, public institutions, and at $13,560 for public four-year institutions of higher education. This places New Jersey in the middle though slightly towards the higher end of public school costs nationwide. For context, the most affordable in-state tuition on average by state is $5,060 in Wyoming. The most expensive on average is $15,650 for New Hampshire four-year public schools. Of course below we’re looking at both public and private, though many schools do offer preferential tuition rates for students who study primarily online.

New Jersey Tech Salaries

  • Web Developer: $84,651
  • Application Developer: $86,756
  • Computer Systems Analyst: $75,685
  • Database Administrator: $83,894
  • Data Scientist: $121,006
  • Information Technology Manager: $97,437


While students should first and foremost make sure that a university offers the exact field of study they’re interested in pursuing, knowing the overall quality of an online degree providing university is also important. Below we’ve surveyed all of the computer science-related degree providers in California and ranked them according to academic prestige and the breadth of their academic offerings. Our academic prestige metric takes into account online-centered predictors of program quality such as class size, the range of online support services, the percentage of faculty with terminal degrees in their field, and admissions profiles. Together these two metric categories help to flesh out some of the overall best online degree-granting institutions for computer science in the state. Check out our top offerings below!

1
Thomas Edison State University
CSZ Score: 98/100
Online Tech Degrees: 8

Thomas Edison is based out of Trenton, NJ. The school serves over 18,000 students and was founded in 1972. Thomas Edison has over 100 fields of study and confers Associate, Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees. Its programming comes through five schools: The Heavin School of Arts and Sciences, which offers degrees in liberal arts, natural/social sciences plus comprehensive degree programs in human services, The School of Business and Management, The W. Cary Edwards School of Nursing, The John S. Watson School of Public Service and Continuing Studies, and finally, The School of Applied Science and Technology, which combines the technical with the practical to birth the next wave of competitive computer scientists, engineers, and more. Thomas Edison was recently designated as a University in 2015, after being a college for years.

Thomas Edison offers several Computer Science degrees entirely online. It confers Associate degrees in Applied Computer Studies, Computer and Information Technology, and Computer Science. Its Bachelor degrees include Computer Science, Information Technology, Computer Information Systems, and Cybersecurity. Thomas Edison continues its Computer Science programming with Master’s degrees in Educational Technology and Online Learning, as well as Information Technology. Thomas Edison also offers undergraduate and graduate certificate programs in Computer Science. In undergrad: Computer Information Systems and Computer Science, and in graduate: Cybersecurity – Critical Infrastructure, and Online Learning and Teaching.

2
Rutgers University New Brunswick
CSZ Score: 97.5/100
Online Tech Degrees: 1

Rutgers is a public research university founded in 1825, but with a history stretching back to 1766 (as Queen’s College). It’s the largest higher education institution in New Jersey. It has locations in New Brunswick, Newark and Camden. Over 50,000 students attend Rutgers. It offers Certificates (in 1-2 years, post-baccalaureate, and post-master’s), Associate’s, Bachelor’s, Master’s, and Doctoral degrees. Despite its gargantuan student body, Rutgers offers students a 15:1 student to faculty ratio. In the 2018 U.S. News & World Report ranking of American national universities (both public and private), Rutgers is tied for 69th, and was ranked 25th among public universities.

Rutgers offers one IT program entirely online. It’s a Master’s in Information. This program gives students the theory and practical knowledge required to practice library and information science. Graduates will be able to protect and provide digital records for posterity in a growing and evolving information storage landscape. This program requires 36 credits. There are 3 yearly start dates, and full/part-time options. Students may also choose to focus on Library and Information Science, Data Science, Technology, Information, and Management, Archives and Preservation, or customize the program to reflect their own goals. Rutgers has been ranked ranked #7 in Library and Information Science/Studies and #1 in School Library Media by USNR.

3
New Jersey Institute of Technology
CSZ Score: 97.5/100
Online Tech Degrees: 3

NJIT is a public research university based out of Newark, NJ. It opened in 1881. It offers students 50 undergraduate (Bachelor of Science/Arts) majors and 78 graduate (Masters and PhD) programs, in addition to professional programs in conjunction with Rutgers Medical School and Seton Hall Law School. Over 11,000 students attend the school, which offers a 17:1 student to faculty ratio. NJIT has been highly commended by a variety of ranking sources. In 2015, it was ranked #1 on Business Insider’s list of “most underrated colleges” in America based on the high rate of employment and high average salary of its graduates. Then in 2016, NJIT was ranked in the Top 50 online colleges with the highest student satisfaction by OnlineCollegePlan.com.

NJIT offers Computer Science Master’s and Certificates. Its Master’s include Computer Science, Information Systems, IT Administration & Security, and Professional and Technical Communication. Its Comp Sci Certificates are Data Mining, Information Security, IT Administration, Management of Technology, Network Security and Information Assurance, Software Engineering, Analysis and Design, User Experience Essentials and Technical Communication Essentials. NJIT certificates require 12 credits and are formatted for maximum flexibility. The Master programs require for 30 credits, and can be completed in under two years.

4
Ocean County Community College
CSZ Score: 97.5/100
Online Tech Degrees: 4

OCC is a co-ed, public, two-year school based out of Toms River, New Jersey. It was founded in 1969. Over 8,600 students attend OCC, which boasts a 26:1 student to faculty ratio. It confers certificates that can be earned in less than a year, certificate programs that take less than two years, and Associate degrees. OCC has programming in Business, Communication, Journalism, Education, Engineering, Computer and Information Science, Foreign Languages, Health Professions, Homeland Security, Legal Studies, Natural Resources, and much, much more. 55% of OCC students receive financial aid.

OCC offers Associate degrees in Computer Science, Computer Science with an Information Technology option, and, unusually, a Game Development & Design option. Additionally, OCC offers a certificate of completion and certificate of proficiency program in Information Technology. Certificates of proficiency at OCC require 30 or more credits, and certificates of completion require less credits. Generally speaking, OCC certificate programs can be applied to an associate degree later on, and Associate degrees can be parlayed towards a Bachelor through OCC or another school, depending on whether the credits or programs are applicable to other programs.

5
Felician College
CSZ Score: 96.5/100
Online Tech Degrees: 1

PCCC is a co-ed, two year, public, community college established in Passaic County, New Jersey. It has campuses in Paterson, Wanaque, Passaic and Wayne, NJ. It was founded in the 1970’s, and serves over 8,100 students (over 13,000 when online offerings are considered). PCCC offers students a 21:1 student to faculty ratio. PCCC has more than 60 degree and career programs, an award-winning faculty, and continuing education and community-based programs. It offers certificates and Associates degrees in Business, Education, Computer Science, Communication Technologies, Engineering, Foreign Languages, Homeland Security, Visual and Performing Arts, among other programming. PCCC is also known for its articulation agreements with many four-year colleges and universities, to help graduating students smoothly transfer into their next degree.

PCCC offers an entirely online Associate’s degree in Health Information Technology. The program is aimed at giving students the “knowledge and skills required to collect, analyze and utilize information essential to the health care industry through a mixture of general education, professional course work and clinical experience at local health care facilities.” Courses include Health Care Organization, Health Care Terminology, Professional Practice Experience I (in which students work in a health care facility), Health Record Management, among other courses. A fascinating course in the program, Culture of Healthcare, explores

“quality of care, patient safety, communication, customer service/professionalism, privacy, regulatory compliance, medical ethics, and professional values are discussed. Interrelationships of quality measurement, performance improvement, socio-technological aspects, and reimbursement are introduced.”

Directory of Online Computer Science Degrees in New Jersey

Thomas Edison State University Trenton, NJ Online Tech Degrees: 8


ADDRESS & CONTACT INFO
(888) 442-8372
111 W State St, Trenton, NJ 08608

UNDERGRADUATE DEGREES

  • Associate of Applied Science (Aas) Degree in Applied Computer Studies Associate of Science in Applied Science And Technology (Asast) Associate of Science in Natural Sciences And Mathematics (Asnsm) – Computer ScienceBachelor of Science in Business Administration (Bsba) – Computer Information Systems Bachelor of Science in Applied Science And Technology (Bsast) – Information Technology Bachelor of Arts in Computer Science

GRADUATE DEGREES

  • Master of Science in Applied Science And Technology Master of Science in Information Technology
Ocean County Community College Toms River, NJ Online Tech Degrees: 4


ADDRESS & CONTACT INFO
(732) 255-0400
1 College Dr, Toms River, NJ 08754

UNDERGRADUATE DEGREES

  • Associate of Science in Computer Science Associate of Science in Computer Science – Game Development/Design Associate of Science in Computer Science – Information Systems Associate of Science in Computer Science – Information Technology
New Jersey Institute of Technology Newark, NJ Online Tech Degrees: 3


ADDRESS & CONTACT INFO
(973) 596-3000
323 Dr Martin Luther King Jr Blvd, Newark, NJ 07102

GRADUATE DEGREES

  • Master of Science in Business And Information Systems Master of Science in Computer Science Master of Science in Information Systems
Rutgers University New Brunswick New Brunswick, NJ Online Tech Degrees: 1


ADDRESS & CONTACT INFO
(732) 445-4636
New Brunswick, NJ

GRADUATE DEGREES

  • Master of Library And Information Science
Felician College Rutherford, NJ Online Tech Degrees: 1


ADDRESS & CONTACT INFO
(201) 559-6000
1 Felician Way, Rutherford, NJ 07070

UNDERGRADUATE DEGREES

  • Bachelor of Science in Cybersecurity
Rowan College at Burlington County Pemberton, NJ Online Tech Degrees: 1


ADDRESS & CONTACT INFO
(856) 222-9311
601 Pemberton Browns Mills Road, Pemberton, NJ 08068

UNDERGRADUATE DEGREES

  • Associate of Applied Science in Business Management Technology

Passaic County Community College Paterson, NJ Online Tech Degrees: 1


ADDRESS & CONTACT INFO
(973) 684-6800
1 College Blvd, Paterson, NJ 07505

UNDERGRADUATE DEGREES

  • Associate of Applied Science in Health Information Technology