Computer Science Programs in Georgia
Updated August 13, 2024
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Georgia hosts a thriving technology industry. The Peach State is home to more than 18,000 tech companies, and major players like Amazon, Google, IBM, and Microsoft have a strong presence. Georgia also secured top-10 rankings for tech industry employment and job gains in the 2024 edition of CompTIA's State of the Tech Workforce index.
Leading tech occupations in the state include software development, IT support, cybersecurity, cloud engineering, and networking. CompTIA projects 2024 in-state growth rates of up to 4.8% for these professions.
This guide explains key considerations for face-to-face and online computer science degrees in Georgia at the undergraduate and graduate levels. Explore career paths and labor market trends for tech professionals to assess how well Georgia's profile aligns with your educational and career objectives.
Georgia at a Glance
- Number of Higher Learning Institutions: 105
- % of Workforce in Tech: 6.1%
- Economic Impact of Tech Industry: $59.5 billion
- Average Wage for Computer and Mathematical Occupations: $104,120
Sources: Cyberstates™, NCES, OEWS
Popular Online Computer Science Programs
Learn about start dates, transferring credits, availability of financial aid, and more by contacting the universities below.
Why Get an Online Computer Science Degree in Georgia?
A Franklin University study noted a sharp rise in computer science's popularity among Georgia college students. Researchers counted more than 6,200 computer science degrees conferred in Georgia in 2022 — an increase of 56% over 2018 figures.
Students have plenty of options for pursuing campus-based and online computer science degrees in Georgia, which ranks ninth among U.S. states for its number of degree-granting institutions.
Dozens of Georgia colleges offer computer science degree programs at every level. For undergraduates, Georgia's higher education costs also tend to fall below national averages.
Graduates emerge into a dynamic, booming technology job market. Nationally, Georgia ranked in the first quartile among states for tech industry wage premiums and cost of living in 2024. It also landed in the second quartile for its ratio of advertised tech job vacancies.
Education Statistics for Georgia
Online computer science programs in Georgia are readily available. The state's percentage of distance learners outpaces the national average, and many of Georgia's 105 undergraduate institutions offer campus-based, online, and hybrid computer science programs.
| Institutional Statistics | Georgia Data | National Data |
|---|---|---|
| Four-Year Colleges | 68 | 2,488 |
| Two-Year Colleges | 37 | 1,234 |
| Students Enrolled in Distance Education | 54.9% | 53% |
Sources: NCES
Accreditation for Georgia Schools
Students should only enroll in campus-based or online computer science degrees in Georgia hosted at properly accredited institutions. Accreditation offers multiple important assurances — it confirms high academic rigor and ensures employers and other schools will recognize your degree.
You can research a school's accreditation status through the Department of Education or the Council for Higher Education Accreditation.
Some computer science departments and programs hold additional, specialized accreditations. While optional, these credentials generally communicate that the school or program meets elevated and specific standards.
Organizations that provide specialized accreditations for computer science programs include ABET and the National Security Agency (NSA), which recognizes Centers of Academic Excellence (CAE) in cyberoperations, cyberdefense, and cybersecurity research. Multiple Georgia schools hold CAE status with the NSA.
Considerations for Computer Science Programs in Georgia
Many factors affect the school and program selection processes. Key examples for schools include cost, program length, and reputation. When comparing programs, students may consider concentration options, the skills and proficiencies the program develops, and faculty credentials.
Given the growing popularity of online learning, program delivery formats are an increasingly important priority for many. As the table below indicates, Georgia students engage with online learning at rates that slightly exceed national averages:
Computer Science Concentration Options
Campus-based and online computer science degrees in Georgia commonly offer concentration options. These specializations target specific topics and skills, building advanced proficiencies in chosen areas.
Accredited colleges in Georgia offer many different computer science concentrations. Given trends in Georgia's tech labor market, these are particularly relevant:
Software Development
Software development or software engineer schooling focuses on the programming languages and processes developers use when designing, testing, and updating software. More than 71,000 Georgia tech professionals work in software, programming, web development, and quality assurance.
Cybersecurity
Cybersecurity specializations develop the skills that help organizations prevent, detect, respond to, and mitigate cyberattacks and security breaches. Like many other states, Georgia's labor market continues to experience a cybersecurity skills gap.
Information Technology
IT-focused computer science degrees cover the hardware, software, and technical components of transmitting and storing electronic data. These functions govern a large percentage of computing activity in the public and private sectors.
Paying for Your Computer Science Degree
As the table below indicates, Georgia college students enjoy some cost advantages. Even so, higher education costs a lot of money, leading many students to seek financial aid. Start by seeking non-repayable financial aid sources, like scholarships, fellowships, and grants. These will reduce your costs without adding debt. Use loans only as a last resort, and prioritize federal loans over private sources since they offer more flexibility and better repayment terms.
In-State Versus Out-of-State Tuition
Most public colleges in the United States offer lower tuition for in-state students and charge out-of-state learners higher rates. However, many public institutions also participate in tuition reciprocity agreements, which extend tuition breaks to out-of-state students from member states.
Georgia is one of 16 states in the Southern Regional Education Board (SREB). If you reside in another SREB state and attend a participating Georgia college as an out-of-state student, you may qualify for in-state tuition or other cost-saving benefits.
Georgia's Cost of Living
Local living costs have a major effect on student budgets. In this respect, Georgia has another advantage since it has one of the lowest living costs of any U.S. state.
Cost of living uses 100 as the base score to represent the national average. As of July 2024, World Population Review gives Georgia a score of 91, indicating that the cost of living in Georgia is 9% lower than the average.
Schools With Online Computer Science Degrees in Georgia
Dozens of colleges offer campus-based, hybrid, and online computer science degrees in Georgia. The categorized sections below link to schools that offer face-to-face or online computer science programs at various levels.
While every effort was made to provide complete information, schools not listed below may also offer undergraduate or graduate computer science programs.
Associate Degrees in Computer Science
- Central Georgia Technical College
- Clayton State University
- Georgia Highlands College
- Georgia Military College
- Georgia Piedmont Technical College
- Georgia Southern University
- Georgia State University
- Gordon State College
- Middle Georgia State University
- South Georgia State College
- University of North Georgia
Bachelor's Degrees in Computer Science
- Albany State University
- Augusta University
- Berry College
- Clark Atlanta University
- Clayton State University
- Columbus State University
- Covenant College
- Emory University
- Fort Valley State University
- Georgia College & State University
- Georgia Gwinnett College
- Georgia Institute of Technology
- Georgia Southern University
- Georgia State University
- Herzing University-Atlanta
- Kennesaw State University
- Mercer University
- Middle Georgia State University
- Morehouse College
- Piedmont University
- University of Georgia
- University of North Georgia
- University of West Georgia
Advanced Degrees in Computer Science
- Augusta University
- Clark Atlanta University
- Columbus State University
- Emory University
- Georgia Institute of Technology
- Georgia Southern University
- Georgia Southwestern State University
- Georgia State University
- Kennesaw State University
- Mercer University
- Middle Georgia State University
- Strayer University
- University of Georgia
- University of North Georgia
- University of West Georgia
Discover Top-Ranked Computer Science Programs
Careers for Georgia Graduates With Computer Science Degrees
CompTIA's State of the Tech Workforce 2024 report tracked nearly 106,000 employer-posted tech job vacancies in 2023. This figure may indicate a bright outlook for candidates with bachelor's degrees in computer science or higher.
Beyond a growing technology sector, Georgia hosts many other major industries with advanced computing and IT needs. Examples include aerospace, defense, energy production, life sciences, and supply chain management.
According to CompTIA, the top specializations among members of the state's technology workforce include:
- Software, programming, web development, and quality assurance
- IT support and repair specialists
- Cybersecurity and systems engineers
- Networking, cloud engineering, and administration professionals
Georgia's tech economy also includes strong innovation activity — CompTIA reports that 17.6% of Georgia tech jobs posted in 2023 were from emerging employers. Overall, CompTIA projects that Georgia will add more than 10,600 new technology jobs to its economy by the end of 2024.
The subsections below introduce popular computer science careers with strong labor market demand in Georgia.
Computer Science Jobs in Georgia
Software Developer
Software developers apply deep knowledge of programming languages, coding, and software design to create applications for desktop and mobile computing systems. The best online software engineering degrees can help you get started in this booming field, which analysts expect to continue growing rapidly.
IT Architect
IT architects act as lead designers on enterprise-scale computer networking and security projects. The role typically requires at least a bachelor's degree in IT or computer science, along with multiple years of experience in a succession of increasingly senior roles.
Information Security Analyst
Labor market analysts use "information security analyst" as a catch-all for various cybersecurity and information security careers. You can enter the field with an undergraduate degree in computer science or cybersecurity and advance with experience and/or graduate education.
Computer Science Employers in Georgia
Delta Air Lines: As one of the largest airlines in the United States, Atlanta-based Delta employs more than 100,000 people globally. The company maintains a specialized portal for people interested in technical operations and engineering careers.
Global Payments: This Fortune 500 company ranks among the world's leading payment processing service providers. Global Payments regularly advertises vacancies in many technical areas, including software engineering and development, security, user experience design, and quality assurance analysts.
Southern Company: A major national nuclear energy company based in Atlanta, Southern Company enjoys a rising profile as a leading provider of emissions-free electricity. Given the highly technical nature of modern nuclear power operations and the critical importance of security, the company counts hundreds of computer scientists among its 28,000 employees.
Employment Trends in Georgia
| Year | State | National | Computer Hardware Engineers |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 Employment | 1,540 | 78,100 |
| 2032 Projected Employment | 1,690 | 81,600 |
| Projected Job Growth, 2022-2032 | +9.7% | +4.5% | Computer and Information Systems Managers |
| 2022 Employment | 13,540 | 557,400 |
| 2033 Projected Employment | 16,500 | 643,300 |
| Projected Job Growth, 2022-2032 | +21.9% | +15.4% | Web Developers |
| 2022 Employment | 1,430 | 98,800 |
| 2032 Projected Employment | 1,770 | 115,500 |
| Projected Job Growth, 2022-2032 | +23.8% | +16.9% |
Source: Projections Central
| Career | Georgia Employment | Georgia Annual Mean Wage | National Annual Mean Wage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Web Developers | 1,300 | $106,100 | $95,570 |
| Network and Computer Systems Administrators | 8,350 | $98,380 | $100,580 |
| Database Administrators | 2,860 | $106,880 | $104,810 |
| Computer Programmers | 3,340 | $95,500 | $107,750 |
| Computer Systems Analysts | 12,240 | $105,820 | $110,800 |
| Information Security Analysts | 6,060 | $121,260 | $124,740 |
| Software Developers | 51,960 | $125,290 | $138,110 |
| Computer Hardware Engineers | 1,260 | $116,720 | $147,770 |
| Computer and Information Research Scientists | 620 | $92,530 | $157,160 |
| Computer and Information Systems Managers | 15,350 | $174,710 | $180,720 |
Source: BLS OEWS
If you plan to launch and build a computer science career in Georgia, you may want to target roles that offer a combination of high employment numbers and lucrative pay rates. The software developer, computer and information systems manager, and computer hardware engineer tracks all fit this description.
You can also target areas poised for strong growth. According to Projections Central, Georgia received growth estimates of more than 20% for web developers and computer and information systems managers from 2022-2032.
Professional Organizations in Georgia
- AITP Atlanta Chapter: The Association of Information Technology Professionals operates a chapter in Atlanta that offers special events, networking programs, and mentorship opportunities. Members can engage with current issues facing the IT industry and build skills through workshops and seminars.
- Atlanta Technology Professionals: Focused on knowledge exchange and networking, ATP offers a busy annual calendar filled with social events, panel discussions, and volunteer programs. Members enjoy exclusive discounts, event access, and reduced membership rates for students.
- Technology Association of Georgia: Founded to encourage collaboration, TAG operates professional societies in 18 tech specializations. The organization's extensive professional development opportunities include knowledge development programs and members-only job boards.
FAQ About Online Computer Science Degrees in Georgia
Is computer science a good major in Georgia?
If you plan to pursue a tech career in Georgia, computer science is an excellent choice of major. According to CompTIA, 6.1% of Georgia's entire labor force works in technology and the state had more than 312,000 net tech jobs in 2023.
What computer science jobs are available in Georgia?
CompTIA's 2024 analysis of Georgia's tech labor market identifies software, programming, web development, quality assurance, IT support, cybersecurity, systems engineering, and networking among the state's leading computer science jobs. Together, positions in these categories accounted for nearly half of all tech jobs in the state in 2023.
Can I get an online computer science degree in Georgia?
Yes. The best online colleges for computer science offer diverse learning opportunities for Georgia students. You can enroll at a school based in Georgia or live in Georgia while studying online at an institution in another state.
Does Georgia Tech offer online computer science programs?
Yes. Georgia Tech hosts a 100% online master's programs in computer science and cybersecurity. However, the school does not offer any fully online bachelor's programs in computer science as of 2024.
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