A Guide to Online Computer Science Degrees in Florida

Ranked among the top 15 public schools in the country by US News, The University of Florida has an enrollment of over 50,000, 60% of which is undergraduate and is among the oldest schools in the country, founded in 1853. It also stands out for overall value: Kiplinger’s Finance and Fisk each ranked it #3 on their respective affordability lists, and 66% of students graduates with zero debt. With a 21:1 student-to-faculty ratio, courses combine a collaborative learning approach with individualized, tailored instruction. Nearly half of classes consist of less than 20 students — impressive for a school of Florida’s size – and less than 16% of classes have 50 or more. Financial aid is available, as well: about half of full-time undergraduates receive some form of aid, nearly all of which is met by the university.

Florida offers a variety of online tracks for computer science students and professionals. At the undergraduate level, UF has a BS in Computer Science and BS in Telecommunication Media & Society, each of which consist of 120 credits, with generous transfer policies in place (up to 60). At the graduate level, UF offers online master’s degrees in Electrical and Computer Engineering (with specializations in Communications and Semiconductor Device Technology), Computer Engineering (with a specialization in Bioinformatics), and Industrial and Systems Engineering (with 5 specializations, including Communication Systems Engineering and Information Systems Engineering). An online EdD in EdTech is also available. All courses are designed to fit students’ unique schedules, on full- and part-time bases, and asynchronous delivery allows for maximum flexibility. Additional benefits include personalized academic advising, tech support, career services, and enrollment assistance.
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The University of South Florida, founded in 1956, has a total enrollment of about 42,000. Ranked among the top public schools in the nation, the university system an annual budget of $1.6 billion and is ranked 43rd in for research expenditures among all universities; it is one of only four public universities in Florida classified as an R1 institution by the Carnegie Foundation. The school’s 24:1 student-to-faculty ratio supports a vibrant, collaborative educational community that also emphasizes personalized instruction. Nearly a third of classes have fewer than 20 students, and less than 16% have 50 or more — good numbers for a school of its size. Financial aid is available, too: 65% of full-time undergrads receive some form of aid. With additional campuses in Sarasota and St. Petersburg, online students have the option to attend some on-campus classes.

USF has several tracks for computer science students. At the undergraduate level, online BS tracks are available in Information Studies and Information Technology, each of which are customizable through a range of concentrations in areas like Health Informatics, Data Science & Analytics, Information Security, and Information Science & Technology. At the graduate level, students and working professionals choose between master’s in Cybersecurity, Health Informatics, Information Technology, and MEd/EdS tracks in Instructional Technology. Most graduate degrees can be completed in as little as two years. Through the Canvas learning platform, students have easy access to instructors, group discussion boards, live chat rooms, videoconferencing, and more, creating a dynamic learning atmosphere. Additional services include academic advising, library assistance, tech support, career services, and online orientation.
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Founded in 1958, Florida Institute of Technology has a total enrollment of about 6,600, divided between undergraduates and graduates. Ranked as a Tier One university by US News, Times Higher Education, Washington Monthly, Princeton Review, and Barron’s have all highlighted the school, the latter of which ranking it among the country’s “Best Buys.” The school’s 8:1 student-to-faculty is among the best in the nation, fostering a highly intimate, tight-knit educational community that combines collaborative learning with personalized instruction. Half of all classes have fewer than 20 students, and less than 5% have 50 or more. For those interested, FIT also offers excellent financial aid: 50% of full-time undergrads receive some form of aid, and the need met is over 75%.

FIT offers computer science-related degrees at several levels, including: an AS in Computer Information Systems; a bachelor’s in Computer Information Systems (with a Business Administration concentration option); and master’s in Information Assurance and Cybersecurity, Information Technology (with concentrations in Cybersecurity and Data Administration), and tech-centric MBA tracks in Cybersecurity and IT Management. FIT’s online learning platform features informative videos, interactive media, discussion boards and chat rooms, and all courses deliver in accelerated 8-week blocks and are asynchronous for students’ convenience and scheduling flexibility. Support services include enrollment assistance, on-call student services reps, 24/7 tech support, online tutoring, and career management services.
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Florida State University, founded in 1851, has an enrollment of 40,000, three-quarters of which is undergraduate. Ranked among the top public universities in the country, FSU has also been recognized for an affordable price-tag: the Princeton Review and USA Today rank it fourth overall in value, and the Fisk Guide calls the university a “Budget Ivy.” With a student-to-faculty ratio of 25:1, the university supports a highly collaborative educational community that also manages individualized instruction; about a third of classes have fewer than 20 students – a good number for a school of its size — and less than 20% have more than 50. For those interested, financial aid is available, too: over half of undergrads receive some form of aid, and the average need met is 61%. The school’s nationally recognized faculty include Nobel Laureates, two Pulitzer Prize winners, 11 active Guggenheim Fellowship recipients, and over 30 Fulbright Scholars.

FSU offers 4 online master’s which may interest computer science professionals: an MS in Information Technology, MSI in Information, MS in Management Information Systems, and MS in Instructional Systems and Learning Technologies. All tracks can be completed in as little as two years on a full-time basis, and part-time students typically finish course work in four years (students have up to 7 years). Most delivery is synchronous to simulate the traditional classroom experience, but the degrees remain highly flexible to accommodate students’ unique schedules. Through Blackboard, students have direct access to instructors, group discussion boards, live chat rooms, web conferencing, tech support, and more. Applicants should have earned at least a 3.0 undergraduate GPA, and some tracks require GRE or GMAT scores.
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Hodges University, founded in 1990, is a private school with a total enrollment of about 1,700. All course work is career-oriented and grounded in a real-world approach to prepare students for life after school. Hodges’s 15:1 student-to-factly supports an intimate, tight-knit educational community that balanced individualized instruction with peer-to-peer, collaborative learning opportunities. Over 85% of classes consist of fewer than 20 students, and none have over 49. For those interested, Hodges has top-notch financial aid services: 95% of full-time undergraduates receive some form of aid, and the average need met is over 75%.

For aspiring and current professionals in the computer science field, Hodges offers degrees at the associate, undergraduate, and graduate level, including pre-professional tracks in Digital Design & Graphics and Computer Information Technology; bachelor’s in Computer Information Technology, Cybersecurity and Forensics, Digital Design and Graphics, and Software Development; and an MS in Information Systems. All courses emphasize Hodge’s experiential learning model and are designed for maximum flexibility to accommodate a variety of students; accelerated and self-paced delivery are available for select programs. Through the Blackboard platform, students have access to group discussion boards, live chat rooms, video conferencing, tech support, and more. Additional support services include tutoring, enrollment assistance, and a personalized mentor program.
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