Indiana is the 38th largest in area, and the 17th most populous state in the country. Indiana has a diverse economy that is growing rapidly. While manufacturing is a cornerstone of the Indiana economy, it hasn’t been hit quite as hard by the declining American economy as similar Rust Belt states. This is attributed in part to a highly skilled labor force that resides in smaller cities, which in turn is exploited by corporations and other organizations that see an opportunity to get top-notch work at a lower price. In result, overall business in Indiana is booming. It had a gross state product of $341.9 billion in 2016 (ranking 16th among the states and other districts). Its economy relies on manufacturing, farming and agriculture, professional athletics and Nascar, motor vehicles and auto exports, pharmaceutical products and other medical equipment, electric machinery and much more. In 2017, Indiana had a civilian labor force of nearly 3.4 million, the 15th largest in the U.S., and an unemployment rate of 3.4 percent, lower than the national average.
Indiana has a rapidly growing tech culture and industry. It’s one of two U.S. states with the largest percentage increases in software employment from 2014 to 2016 (the other is Kansas). Between 2014 and 2016, it grew by 32 percent, or about 8,800 jobs. In May 2017, Salesforce, which has its second-largest presence in the country, opened a new office tower in Indianapolis, the tallest in the city. It also promised to add 800 new jobs in the city over the next five years. Inc. magazine has placed 21 Indiana-based tech companies in its 2017 “America’s Fastest-Growing Private Companies” list. A great summation of Indiana’s growing tech scene comes to us via (by way of Forbes) Angie’s List CEO Scott Durchslag:
“There’s a great ecosystem of technology companies here that was originally anchored on ExactTarget – now Salesforce.com – Angie’s List, and Interactive Intelligence to name a few, plus a lot of start-ups built up around those anchors…Second, unlike Silicon Valley employees are here because they want to be here which tends to lead to much more loyal employees and a lower attrition rate. And third, we have a spectacularly supportive state and city government that incentives innovation and creates a highly attractive business environment.”
Indiana Educational Costs
According to College Calc, the average annual in-state tuition in Indiana was $16,703 for the 2016-2017 academic year. This is $3,117 higher than the national average and ranks Indiana as the 11th most expensive and 42nd most affordable state or district to attend college in. In contrast, the average national cost for tuition and fees in the 2016–2017 school year was $33,480 in private colleges, $9,650 for state residents attending public colleges, and $24,930 for out-of-staters going to public universities. Tennessee’s cost of living is lower than average, and as you’ll discover on this list, there are some affordable options in computer science. But the combination of lower wages and expensive tuition is something to consider about Indiana overall, despite the affordable options in Computer Science we’ve listed below.
Indiana Tech Salaries
- Web Developer: $54,030
- Software Application Developer: $83,995
- Computer Systems Analyst: $70,682
- Database Administrator: $$80,848
- Data Scientist: $113,474
- Information Technology Manager: $119,452
The 5 Best Online CS Degree Providers: IN
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!
Purdue is a public, research university based out of West Lafayette, Indiana. It’s the flagship school of the Purdue University system, which boasts over 75,000 students and is one of the largest university systems in the country. Purdue was founded in 1869. Its main campus serves over 41,500 students, and has a very low 12:1 student-to-faculty ratio. It has excellent programs in computer science, engineering, agriculture, and business administration, among many other disciplines. Its flagship campus in West Lafayette offers 200 majors for undergraduates, more than 69 masters and doctoral programs, and professional degrees in pharmacy and veterinary medicine. In 2017, U.S. News & World Report ranked Purdue University tied for the 20th-best public university in the country, tied at 60th overall in America, and 90th best globally.
Purdue offers a wealth of online Master’s degrees in Computer Science. These include seven distinct degree programs: a Master of Science in Computer Science, a Master of Science in Electrical Computer Engineering (MSECE),a Master of Science in Information Technology Project Management, Master of Science in Information Technology Business Analysis, and a Master of Science in Technology, Leadership, and Innovations with a Specialization in Biometrics. Purdue’s selection of Computer Science Master’s will give you an opportunity not only to earn an education that will be extremely marketable for years to come, you can also specialize in an overlapping discipline that will lead to job security, high earnings, and excellent career options. For example, the overlap between healthcare and computer science is especially desirable in today’s job market, and is expected to grow drastically in the coming decades. Project Management is also a growing, indispensable field that will pay far-reaching dividends to people who study it extensively.
IIT is a private, non-profit, Ph.D.-granting university in Fort Wayne, Indiana. It was founded in 1930. IIT serves over 8,100 students, and has a 31:1 student-to-faculty ratio. Its programs are conveyed through five colleges. IIT is known for its programs in business, engineering, computer science, education, criminal justice and more. It also offers traditional semester-long delivery formats in addition to accelerated degree programs and online programs through its College of Professional Studies. Its computer science programs cover topics like digital graphics & design, network management, web development, information systems, computer security and investigation, networking, software engineering, and more.
Indiana Tech has a number of online computer science options at several degree levels. If your highest level of education was high school or an equivalent, you might consider an IIT Associate’s degree in either Information Technology or Health Information Technology. At the Bachelor’s level there are degrees in Cybersecurity, Health Information Management, Information Systems (both a B.A. and a B.S. degree). Once again, a healthcare track in combination with a computer science degree will be invaluable, and Cybersecurity is also another great option for building rabidly demanded experience. Finally, Indiana Tech offers a Master’s in Engineering Management – Information Systems. This degree is especially intriguing, and covers quality assurance, efficient manufacturing, enterprise resource planning, financial management, project management, managerial economics and much more.
Trine is a private, non-profit, series of regional campuses in Indiana and Michigan. It was established in 1884. Trine offers Associate’s, Bachelor’s, Master’s degrees and a Doctorate degree in over 35 major fields of study. Its online and non-traditional campuses serve over 700 students and offer a uncommonly low 10:1 student-to-faculty ratio. This student body size and faculty supply could lead to extra guidance in your computer science education.
Trine offers three degrees in computer science online. There’s an Associate’s in Engineering Technology, which covers design, manufacturing, testing, technical sales, and maintenance industries. This degree program will prepare you to work as an engineering technician. They follow this with a Bachelor of Science in Design Engineering Technology, in which students will be prepared to specify, test, document, operate, sell or maintain engineering systems. Finally, Trine offers a Master’s in Information Studies, which will build graduate’s skills in analysis, design, development, maintenance and operation of information systems. Sample courses for this program include Advanced Database, Network Management, Project Management, and more.
Ivy Tech is Indiana’s community college system. It’s made up of 30 campuses in 14 regions, and is headquartered in Indianapolis. That central campus serves over 78,900 students, with a 17:1 student-to-faculty ratio. That’s just a fraction of the students the system serves through its campuses and online programs. It’s approximated that there are around 200,000 students in the Ivy system, making it Indiana’s largest public postsecondary institution. Students can access more than 150 academic programs and concentrations for career development certificates, technical certificates, and associate degrees through Ivy. It’s also an incredibly affordable school, with the lowest tuition on the list.
Ivy Tech offers six distinct online computer science programs. These include Associate’s in Computer Science, Cyber Security/Information Assurance, Database Management and Administration, Informatics, Information Technology Support, and Software Development. If you want to break into this field, but really do need to start at square one, Ivy is a great option in terms of money, education, while still giving you educational options that prepare you for some of the most lucrative and demanded career paths in the tech world. These Associate’s degrees were designed for a seamless transfer into Bachelor programs, so you can get a cheaper head start on more advanced degrees while learning foundational computer science skills at Ivy.
Indiana Wesleyan University is a private, evangelical Christian university affiliated with the Wesleyan Church. It’s headquartered in Marion, Indiana, and is the largest private university in Indiana. IWU was founded in 1920. The school now serves over 14,000 students. Over 11,000 of them attend classes at education centers in Indiana, Kentucky and Ohio, and online, enjoying a 14:1 student-to-faculty ratio. IWU is known for paying close attention to the needs of professional adults who are looking to achieve new degrees. It’s grown by 200% since 1990. IWU has received many awards and ranks highly by many esteemed ranking sources. It notably placed 17th out of 150 universities in the midwest in 2013 on the U.S. News and World Report rankings.
IWU offers two computer science degrees online. The first is an Associate’s in Computer Information Technology. The program offers foundational business and Computer Information Technology analysis skills framed through a Biblical lens. It comes with a Bridge program that will easily allow you to transition into a Bachelor’s program. IWU follows that up with a Bachelor’s in Business Information Systems. This degree program builds students skills in planning, development, and operation of information systems. You’ll learn how to use these systems to automate processes, solve problems, and communicate effectively.
Directory of Online Computer Science Degrees in Indiana
| Indiana Institute of Technology | Fort Wayne, IN | Online CS Degrees: 7 | |
 ADDRESS & TUITION 1600 E Washington Blvd, Fort Wayne, Indiana 46803-1228 19861 |
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| Trine University-Regional/Non-Traditional Campuses | Fort Wayne, IN | Online CS Degrees: 3 | |
 ADDRESS & TUITION 9910 Dupont Circle Drive East, Fort Wayne, Indiana 46825 23171 |
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| Ivy Tech Community College | Indianapolis, IN | Online CS Degrees: 6 | |
 ADDRESS & TUITION 50 W. Fall Creek Parkway N. Drive, Indianapolis, Indiana 46208-5752 6094 |
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| Indiana Wesleyan University-National & Global | Marion, IN | Online CS Degrees: 2 | |
 ADDRESS & TUITION 1900 West 50th Street, Marion, Indiana 46953 20960 |
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| Indiana University-Purdue University-Fort Wayne | Fort Wayne, IN | Online CS Degrees: 1 | |
 ADDRESS & TUITION 2101 E Coliseum Blvd, Fort Wayne, Indiana 46805-1499 7270 |
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| Harrison College-Indianapolis | Indianapolis, IN | Online CS Degrees: 1 | |
 ADDRESS & TUITION 550 East Washington Street, Indianapolis, Indiana 46204-2611 21711 |
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