Best Free Online Computer Science Degree Programs of 2025

Computer science and information technology is a fast-growing field with a variety of lucrative opportunities, such as computer network architects, database administrators, and software developers.

Earning a degree in computer science is often the first step toward a career in this field. For students looking to make earning their degree more affordable and accessible, there are a number of options to help lower or eliminate out-of-pocket costs.

To help students find a free or low-cost online computer science degree program, Intelligent.com compiled this list of programs that offer generous financial support. We also spoke to Blanca Villagomez, a program coordinator and counselor at UC-Irvine, for her insight into choosing the right online computer science degree program and how to pay for this degree.

What You Should Know About Free Online Computer Science Degree Programs

Attending an online computer science program for free typically means that a student receives enough financial support from the institution and other sources to fully cover the cost of the program, not that the school doesn’t charge tuition and fees for attendance. Students should carefully research any colleges that claim to offer degrees without charging tuition, as this is not common among legitimate post-secondary institutions.

For students who want to attend an online computer science degree program without paying anything out of pocket or borrowing student loans, the most common financial aid resources include the following:

Prior learning assessment

Prior learning assessment (PLA) allows students to earn college credits for knowledge and skills they have earned outside of a classroom setting, such as in the military or through work experience. This lowers the overall number of college courses they must enroll in and pay for.

One example of this is advanced placement (AP) exams. These are advanced courses taken in high school that incorporate college-level material. If the student has a satisfactory test score, they can opt out of taking the course in college. The International Baccalaureate (IB) program is a similar example.

If students have work or military experience, they may be able to test out of courses through College-Level Examination Program (CLEP) exams. Although there is a small fee to take a CLEP exam, it is far less than you would pay to take the course at the college level. CLEP exams are good for basic topics required by your curriculum, such as chemistry or principles of management. By testing out of these courses, you save significantly on tuition costs.

Scholarships and grants

Scholarships and grants are considered “gift aid,” as they don’t need to be repaid. Getting a scholarship or grant is essentially receiving free money to pay for tuition and other educational-related expenses.

There are two types of scholarships – need-based and merit-based. In most cases, students who are applying for scholarships based on financial need must submit the Free Application for Federal Aid (FAFSA). Schools and other scholarship-granting organizations use the information from the FAFSA to determine what students are eligible for need-based scholarships.

Schools and organizations award merit-based scholarships for achievement in a variety of different areas, including academics, athletics, arts, community service, or unique talents. Students may have to submit separate applications, including essays, resumes, and interviews, to be considered for merit-based scholarships.

Grants are typically awarded based on financial need, although some may also have specific eligibility criteria, such as academic achievement or community service. Many grants are offered by federal or state governments, as well as private organizations, foundations, and corporations. Students must typically submit the FAFSA in order to be considered for grants.

The Federal Pell Grant is an excellent need-based grant offered by the U.S. Department of Education to help low-income students pay for college. The amount of the Pell Grant varies depending on the student’s financial need, the cost of attendance, and whether the student is enrolled full- or part-time. For the 2024-25 academic year, the maximum Pell Grant award is $7,395.

Students should give themselves ample time to research all options for scholarships and grants, as there is no limit to how much of this type of funding students can collect. Depending on the cost of the program and the amount of scholarship money received, it may be possible to cover all tuition and education expenses with scholarships. However, most scholarships and grants have specific application requirements and deadlines.

Some scholarships designed for students in computer science and related degree programs include:

• Microsoft Tuition Scholarships: Microsoft gives out several merit-based scholarships each year. You must be enrolled in a four-year college or university and have a demonstrated record of academic success and a minimum 3.0 GPA.
• Blacks at Microsoft Scholarship: Another offering from Microsoft, these $20,000 scholarships support high school seniors of African descent with a minimum 3.3 GPA and financial need.
• National Center for Women & Information Technology Collegiate Award: Available for undergraduate and graduate women, genderqueer, and non-binary students. Sponsored by Qualcomm and Amazon.
• Generation Google Scholarship: $10,000 for US students; $5,000 for Canadians. Applicants must demonstrate a strong academic record and financial need.
• IBM Linda Sanford Women’s Technical Advancement Scholarship: A renewable scholarship of $1,250. Applicants must be female with a minimum GPA of 3.5 and studying computer science or a related field. Sponsored by the Society of Women Engineers.

Work-study

Work-study programs enable college students to earn money while they are enrolled in college. Like scholarships and grants, this money does not need to be repaid, making it a desirable financial aid option for those seeking to decrease their student debt.

Through work-study programs, students are employed by their college and are paid for their work. These jobs usually include positions in areas such as the library, campus bookstore, or student services.

Students who participate in work-study programs typically work part-time. The number of hours worked, and the pay rate varies depending on the school and the student’s financial need. Some examples may include the following:

• Federal Work-Study Program: The U.S. Department of Education offers this program and provides part-time jobs for undergraduate students with financial needs. Positions are available on and off campus, and the pay rate is at least minimum wage. To be eligible, students must complete the FAFSA.
• State Work-Study Programs: Many states offer their work-study programs for students attending colleges within the state. The programs may have specific eligibility criteria, such as residency or academic achievement. For example, the Massachusetts State Work-Study Program provides part-time jobs for veterans who are Massachusetts residents and have financial needs.
• College-Specific Work-Study Programs: Some colleges offer their work-study programs for students. These programs may have specific eligibility requirements or prioritize certain jobs or majors.

Teaching assistantships

Teaching assistantships, which are generally available at the graduate school level, offer financial support while at the same time giving students valuable teaching experience to help them hone their skills. Graduate teaching assistants, or TAs, are appointed to assist faculty members in teaching undergraduate courses. They may lead discussions, grade tests or papers, hold office hours, and provide academic support to students who need extra help.

Teaching assistantships are essentially part-time jobs that take up roughly 10-20 hours a week. TAs may be paid a stipend or regular hourly salary, or there may be benefits such as tuition waivers or subsidized health insurance. They work under the supervision of faculty members who teach the course and may receive feedback regularly throughout the semester.

Research assistantships

Research assistantships, like teaching assistantships, are primarily available at the graduate level, although some schools do allow undergraduates to perform and assist in research. With a research assistantship, instead of helping a professor in the classroom, you will work with them on a research project that they are pursuing.

The specific job responsibilities of an RA will vary based on the nature of the project. They may collect and analyze data, do literature reviews, and write or co-write reports or research papers. They may work with an individual professor or a research group that includes other RAs.

As is true of TAs, RAs receive a stipend or salary based on the extent of their work. They may also receive tuition waivers or other benefits, including the ability to network with other professionals and the chance to add a significant accomplishment to their resume.

Employer tuition assistance

Many employers offer workers tuition assistance benefits to help them pay for tuition and other educational expenses. The specific terms of the tuition assistance benefits vary by employer, but typically involve reimbursing students for some or all of their educational costs after the student successfully completes a course or program. Students who plan on working while earning their online computer science degree should inquire with their employer to find out if they’re eligible for any available tuition assistance benefits.

Avoid Non-Accredited Degree Mills

As mentioned previously, legitimate accredited colleges rarely advertise programs as “free.” This is instead a deceptive claim made by private, for-profit “degree mills” that operate like postsecondary institutions even though they don’t have the proper accreditation to award legitimate degrees.

Degree mills focus more on generating revenue than providing high-quality education. They often attract users by advertising free tuition, only to charge an assortment of other fees (exam fees, graduation fees, etc.).

However, they typically lack qualified faculty, effective curriculums, and sufficient support staff. Says Villagomez, “Attending a non-accredited college or degree mill can negatively impact a student’s post-graduate opportunities, including employment and future educational opportunities.”  Employers and legitimate degree-granting colleges do not recognize credits or degrees earned at degree mills.

The most reliable way to confirm that a college is legitimate is by checking with an accreditation database, such as the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) or the U.S. Department of Education’s Database of Accredited Postsecondary Institutions and Programs (DAPIP). Students who plan to continue earning a bachelor’s degree after getting their associate degree should be sure to select a regionally accredited college, as this is the most widely accepted type of accreditation.

Another clue to a college’s legitimacy is its domain name. The websites for legitimate educational institutions end in “.edu.” A school domain name that ends in “.org” or “.com” is typically a red flag that it’s not legitimate.