A Guide to Online Computer Science Degrees in Ohio

Ohio is the 7th most populous state in the country and is considered a Midwestern state in the Great Lakes region of the United States. It holds borders with Pennsylvania, Lake Erie, Michigan, Indiana, and Kentucky and Virginia to the south. It’s largest cities are Columbus, Cleveland, and Cincinnati. All cities are home to some of the largest institutions in the United States- Ohio State University, University of Cincinnati, Columbus State Community College, and Kent State. Industries like aerospace and defense, bioscience, healthare, and education are still prevalent across the state, with the addition of information technology focused businesses. Columbus has shifted to become a much more IT-centric economy. That combined with Ohio’s strong infrastructure, and continual large and small city growth has made Ohio a great option for jobs in computer science.

Computer Science opportunities in Ohio

Since 2010 we have seen Ohio continuously make an upward trend when it comes to percentage of the state employed (and downward for percentage unemployed). In fact, Ohio is currently at its lowest unemployment rate since 2007 at 4.9%, and in some parts even lower. Much of this is attributed to the success of innovative industries in cities like Columbus, Cincinnati, and Cleveland. The Cleveland Health-Tech Corridor (HTC) intersects two of the fastest-growing sectors. This is also a prime location due in part to the density of higher education: Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland State University, The Cleveland Institute of Art, and Cuyahoga Community College educate over 90,000 students throughout the sector. The region is also known for low cost of living. These institutions generate hundreds of millions for research and development. HTC is also known as an incubator for companies like BioEnterpris, Jumpstart, MagneGlobal Cardiovascula, Year Innovations Center, Cleveland Clinic Innovations, and Culinary Launch & Kitchen. It produces nearly $400 million in venture capital as well. And this is just Cleveland. In recent years, Forbes analyzed the best cities for technological growth and listed Columbus third after Seattle and Baltimore. The metrics were based on tech-hub success stories. Where we typically hear about Silicon Valley and Boston as tremendously important for health start-ups we don’t often hear about how many actually succeed. Columbus is that success story and continues to grow and develop also thanks to Ohio State University- one of the largest campuses in the United States. Innovation, and technology often work in tandem. Over the past 5 years Ohio has placed itself right near the top for best places for businesses, women business owners and tech start ups with no signs of slowing down. For those interested in joining in the computer science community or starting their own, there’s something for all in the great state of Ohio.

Cost for tuition against national average

Even with the prevalence of prestigious colleges and universities, Ohio public institutions remains far below than the national average, $5,900 compared to $9,404 at four-year schools for 2015-16. The Chronicle of Higher Education indicates a 4% tuition increase between 2008 and 20015 compared to states like Arizona that have seen close to an 80% increase. In fact, Ohio, Maryland, and Montana are the states who have seen the lowest tuition increase during this time period. Considering that some in-state tuitions run over $15k per year, Ohio residents are getting a steal for a top-ranked education. Two-year community colleges average $3,877 per year compared to a national average over $4k. If all follow historical trends, these affordable price tags should continue, allowing in-state students to save money and plan budgets.
Average Salary for various jobs in the state:

  • Web Designer $68,472
  • Software Applications Developer $54,851
  • Operating Systems Programmer $55,809
  • Database Administrator $58,471
  • Data Scientist $115,027
  • Information Technology Manager $113,264

The 5 Best Online CS Degree Providers: OH


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 Florida 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
Kent State University at East Liverpool
CSZ Score: 97/100
Online CS Degrees: 19

Kent State University is a public university located in East Liverpool, Ohio. There are 29,762 students enrolled, and the student-to-faculty ratio is 21:1. Regardless of enrollement, as Kent University is an 8-campus university system, the atmosphere remains similar to a small liberal arts college. According to U.S. News Kent State ranks as the 110th top public school in the nation with the 18th best School of Library and Information Science. The Higher Learning Commission accredits Kent State University to award associate, and bachelor’s degrees. The online campus extends programming to offer a number of master’s degrees. There are over 280 academic programs offered that range from accounting to zoology. According to G.I Jobs Kent State is recognized as a Military Friendly School for its department of Veteran services making it easier for veterans and active military access their G.I. Bill benefits.

Kent State University offers 19 online computer-science related degrees that range from the associate to master’s degree level. Programs include an A.A.Bin computer technology, A.A.B in Network Technology, B.T.A.S in computer technology and application development, Geographic Information Science, a Dual Degree in Instrucational Technology and Library Science,and a M.Ed. in Instructional Technology- Computer/Technology among others. With 15 years of online learning under their belt, Kent State has created programming that based in best-practice and adaptive to unique non-traditional learners. We like Kent State for its long track record of creating quality classes, their high number of flexible online programs as well as the great student support services that are invaluable to online learning success. Online students benefit from Kent State’s Helpdesk, career services, online library, student accessibility services, and veterans services.

2
University of Cincinnati
CSZ Score: 97/100
Online CS Degrees: 5

The University of Cincinnati is a public research university that is the oldest institution for higher education in the city. There are 36,087 students enrolled, and the student-to-faculty ratio is 17:1. Most classes contain fewer than 20 students. The Higher Learning Commission accredits the University of Cincinnati to award associate, bachelor’s, master’s, doctoral and professional certifications. There are over 600 academic programs available many of which rank in the top 50 in the nation. According to The Chronicle of Higher Education UC is a “research heavyweight” and it’s not wonder as UC has over 200 years of breakthroughs to boast about including the oral polio vaccine, the world’s first electronic organ, and now programming that seeks to marry the worlds of commercialization and research and innovation. Additionally, the University of Cincinnati was recognized as the “Diversity Champion” according to Insight Into Diversity in 2016. We love the University of Cincinnati for is broad range of high quality classes and its on-campus and online programs that remain flexible and obtainable to both traditional and nontraditional students.

When it comes to computer science-related degrees online the University of Cincinnati offers 5. They range from the associate to master’s level and include an A.A.S. in Health Information Systems Technology, A.A.B. in Business Information Technology, B.S. in Health Information Management and Administration, a M.S. in Health Informatics, and a M.S. in Information Technology. Distance learning at UC dates back to 1984 with their open learning fire science program to help fire fighters advance their careers. Today 12 UC college provide online degrees asynchronously. We like the University of Cincinnati for their flexible online degrees as well as the fantastic student support services which include academic advising, exam proctoring services, library resources, tutoring, and a writing lab. While programs vary by degree, the majority of graduate programs may be completed either part of full time and will require 1-2 years for completion.. Associate and bachelor’s degree programming may be completed in as little as 2 years and as many as 6 for those who study at the bachelor’s level part time. We like these programs because they work well for those who are looking to work while studying as well as for those who are looking for an accelerated path.

3
Franklin University
CSZ Score: 96.5/100
Online CS Degrees: 8

Franklin University is a private institution founded in 1902 as an adult eduction institution. The main campus is located in Columbus, the state capital with additional campuses located around the state of Ohio and in Indianapolis. Franklin offers nearly 30 bachelor’s degrees, and 5 master’s degrees all of which may be taken online. Franklin University is accredited by The Higher Learning Commission. Program subjects include business, health, public administration, and the Arts, Sciences and Technology. The accelerated course model is extremely flexible allowing for a student to complete a course in as few as 3 weeks or as long as 15 weeks. We like Franklin University for its quality of classes and flexible programming that truly caters to adult learners from many walks of life.

When it comes to online computer science-related degrees, Franklin University offers 8: 6 bachelor’s, and 2 master’s degrees. They include areas like application development, computer security and forensics, web development and more. We selected Franklin University for their flexible and convenient course format as well as their quality relevant course material and affordable prices. Franklin University uses Blue Quill which is an online academic tool that organizes your online learning experience and helps you stay on top of assignments and engage in online learning effectively. The bachelor’s in computer science focuses on skills that will help you hit the ground running in the workplace upon graduation. You will learn about widely used languages as well as how to build reusable software components. All courses are taught by real-world computer professionals to ensure that course material is current and relevant. In addition to flexible programming that is geared towards today’s market and needs, students enrolled at Franklin have the opportunity to build their community of professionals through their chapter of the Association for Computing Machinery (ACM) as well as their committee for women in computing (ACM-W).

4
University of Toledo
CSZ Score: 96/100
Online CS Degrees: 7

The University of Toledo is a public research university located in the Scott Park neighborhood of Toledo. There are 20,377 students enrolled, and the student-to-faculty ratio is 20:1. The student body is diverse and represents 46 states and 82 nations. According to U.S. News , UT ranks highly for their on-campus business and engineering programming as well as their online bachelor’s programming. There are over 300 undergraduate, graduate and professional programs offered through their 14 colleges. The Higher Learning Commission- accredits the University of Toledo to offer associate, bachelor’s, master’s, specialist, and doctoral degree programs. G.I Jobs , and Military Times both rank the University of Toledo among the top military friendly schools in the nation. We like the University of Toledo for its affordable programming, quality of education, and vast range of online learning options- everything from accounting to theater.

The University of Toledo offers 7 fully online computer science-related degrees: 5 associate degrees and 2 bachelor’s degrees. They include accounting technology, computer network administration, information services and support, and health information administration among others. In fact, the bachelor’s in HIA was recently ranked as one of the 10 best online degrees according to Health Informatics Degree Center The University of Toledo online uses Blackboard and classes may require some video downloading or streaming. Students may enroll either full time or part time. Full-time bachelor’s degrees may be accelerated and completed in just two years for full-time students. The undergraduate HIA program aligns with the requirements to sit for the national Registered Health Information Administrator exam. We like the affordable tuition and optimal flexibility offered through UT. Their online resources include the eLibrary, eTutorin, financial aid, and online tech support.

5
Cincinnati State Technical and Community College
CSZ Score: 95/100
Online CS Degrees: 4

Cincinnati State Technical and Community College (Cincinnati State) is a public institution located in Cincinnati, Ohio. There are 11,167 students enrolled, and the student-to-faculty ratio is 16:1. The average classroom has 16 students. Students may select from over 20 different fields of study where the most popular programs are in health professions engineering and technology among others. In fact, there are more than 100 associate degree programs and certificates available in business technologies, health and public safety, engineering and information technologies, and humanities and sciences. Cincinnati State has one of the largest cooperative education programs for a U.S. two-year college and students may integrate their learning experience with one of 600 business and industry partners. Additionally, for those looking to use their associate and transfer to a four-year university, Cincinnati State has transfer agreements with more than 20 four-year institutions. Their Workforce Development Center is the largest workforce training facility in the region. We like the flexible programming, and affordable tuition. The Higher Learning Commission accredits Cincinnati State to award associate degrees and professional certifications.

Cincinnati State offers 4 online associate degrees in computer science-related fields. They include computer programming and database management, health information technology- healthcare informatics, health information technology- programming and analysis, and health information management. The curriculum for the A.S. in Health Information Management includes heathcare quality management and data analysis, medical terminology, health information strategies and more. The program is accredited by the Commission on accreditation for Health Informatics and Information Management Education and prepares students to sit for the Registered Health Information Technicians (RHIT) exam. All online programs provide the same quality standards as those expected from teh traditional classroom including by way of content and the student-to-faculty interaction. We like Cincinnati State because it has the entire package- affordable learning, flexible format, and high quality education that translated into a career in computer science.

Directory of Online Computer Science Degrees in Ohio

Kent State University at East Liverpool Liverpool, OH Online CS Degrees: 19




ADDRESS & CONTACT INFO

(330) 385-3805
400 E 4th St, East Liverpool, OH 43920




UNDERGRADUATE DEGREES

  • Office TechnologyComputer Technology (Application Development Technology)
  • Computer Technology (General Technology)
  • Computer Technology (Internet/Multimedia Technology)
  • Computer Technology (Network Technology)
  • Technical and Applied Studies (Computer Technology Application Development)
  • Technical and Applied Studies (Computer Technology Applied Computer Security and Forensics)
  • Technical and Applied Studies (Computer Technology General)
  • Technical and Applied Studies (Computer Technology Internet/Multimedia)
  • Technical and Applied Studies (Computer Technology Networking)

GRADUATE DEGREES

  • Geographic Information Science (Environmental Geographic Information Science)
  • Geographic Information Science (Geographic Information Science and Health)
  • Health InformaticsInstructional Technology (Computer/Technology)
  • Instructional Technology (Dual Degree with MLIS School Library)
  • Instructional Technology (ITEC/General)
  • Knowledge Management
  • Library and Information ScienceLibrary and Information Science (Dual Degree with MEd Instructional Technology)
  • Library and Information Science (School Library Media)
  • User Experience Design
Franklin University Columbus, OH Online CS Degrees: 8




ADDRESS & CONTACT INFO

(614) 797-4700
201 S Grant Ave, Columbus, OH 43215




UNDERGRADUATE DEGREES

  • Bachelors in Computer Science
  • Bachelors in Cyber Security
  • Bachelors in Information Systems
  • Bachelors in Information Technology
  • Bachelors in Interactive Media Design
  • Bachelors in Web Development

GRADUATE DEGREES

  • Masters in Computer Science
  • Masters in Instructional Design and Learning Technology
University of Toledo Toledo, OH Online CS Degrees: 7




ADDRESS & CONTACT INFO

(800) 586-5336
2801 W Bancroft St, Toledo, OH 43606




UNDERGRADUATE DEGREES

  • Accounting Technology
  • Computer Network Administration
  • Computer Software Specialist
  • Programming and Software Development
  • Information Services and Support
  • Health Information Administration (Degree Completion)
  • Applied Organizational Technology (Degree Completion)

University of Cincinnati Cincinnati, OH Online CS Degrees: 5




ADDRESS & CONTACT INFO

(513) 556-6000
2600 Clifton Ave, Cincinnati, OH 45220




UNDERGRADUATE DEGREES

  • AAS Health Information Systems Technology
  • AAB Business Information Technology
  • Bachelor of Science in Health Information Management Administration

GRADUATE DEGREES

  • Master of Science in Health Informatics
  • Master of Science in Information Technology
Cincinnati State Technical and Community College Cincinnati, OH Online CS Degrees: 4




ADDRESS & CONTACT INFO

(513) 569-1500
3520 Central Pkwy, Cincinnati, OH 45223




UNDERGRADUATE DEGREES

  • Computer Programming and Database Management
  • Health Information Technology – Healthcare Informatics
  • Health Information Technology – Programming and Analysis
  • Health Information Management

Kent State University at Geauga Burton, OH Online CS Degrees: 4




ADDRESS & CONTACT INFO

(440) 834-4187
14111 Claridon Troy Rd, Burton, OH 44021




UNDERGRADUATE DEGREES

  • Associate of Applied Business in Computer Technology

GRADUATE DEGREES

  • Master of Education in Evaluation And Measurement
  • Master of Education in Instructional Technology
  • Master of Science in Health Informatics
Ohio University-Eastern Campus Clairsville, OH Online CS Degrees: 4




ADDRESS & CONTACT INFO

(740) 695-1720
45425 National Rd W, St Clairsville, OH 43950




UNDERGRADUATE DEGREES

  • Business Management Technology
  • Technical and Applied Studies
  • Technical Operations Management

GRADUATE DEGREES

  • Master of Information and Telecommunication Systems
Tiffin University Tiffin, OH Online CS Degrees: 3




ADDRESS & CONTACT INFO

(800) 968-6446
155 Miami St, Tiffin, OH 44883




UNDERGRADUATE DEGREES

  • Information Technology
  • Systems Administraiton

GRADUATE DEGREES

  • Data Analytics MBA
Columbus State Community College Columbus, OH Online CS Degrees: 3




ADDRESS & CONTACT INFO

(614) 287-5353
550 E Spring St, Columbus, OH 43215




UNDERGRADUATE DEGREES

  • Geographic Information Systems Associate of Applied Science
  • Health Information Management Technology Associate of Applied Science
  • Digital Marketing Major Associate of Applied Science

Muskingum University New Concord, OH Online CS Degrees: 1




ADDRESS & CONTACT INFO

(740) 826-8211
163 Stormont St, New Concord, OH 43762


GRADUATE DEGREES

  • Master of Information Strategy, Systems And Technology
Cleveland State University Cleveland, OH Online CS Degrees: 1




ADDRESS & CONTACT INFO

(216) 687-2000
2121 Euclid Ave, Cleveland, OH 44115


GRADUATE DEGREES

  • Master of Science in Educational Technology
Owens Community College Perrysburg, OH Online CS Degrees: 1




ADDRESS & CONTACT INFO

(567) 661-7000
30335 Oregon Rd, Perrysburg, OH 43551




UNDERGRADUATE DEGREES

  • Associate of Applied Business in Business Management Technology

Clark State Community College Springfield, OH Online CS Degrees: 1




ADDRESS & CONTACT INFO

(937) 325-0691
570 E Leffel Ln, Springfield, OH 45505




UNDERGRADUATE DEGREES

  • Associate of Applied Business in Computer Software Development

Marion Technical College Marion, OH Online CS Degrees: 1




ADDRESS & CONTACT INFO

(740) 389-4636
1467 Mt Vernon Ave, Marion, OH 43302




UNDERGRADUATE DEGREES

  • Associate of Applied Business in Office Information Technology

University of Northwestern Ohio Lima, OH Online CS Degrees: 1




ADDRESS & CONTACT INFO

(419) 998-3120
1441 N Cable Rd, Lima, OH 45805




UNDERGRADUATE DEGREES

  • Associate of Applied Business in Office Technology

Central Ohio Technical College Newark, OH Online CS Degrees: 1




ADDRESS & CONTACT INFO

(740) 366-9494
1179 University Dr, Newark, OH 43055




UNDERGRADUATE DEGREES

  • Associates of Business Management Technology

Zane State College Zanesville, OH Online CS Degrees: 1




ADDRESS & CONTACT INFO

(740) 454-2501
1555 Newark Rd, Zanesville, OH 43701




UNDERGRADUATE DEGREES

  • Associates of Information Assurance And Security Strategies