Best 20 Computer Science Schools in Florida in 2024

Located in Tallahassee, Florida State University offers several programs in Computer Science, ranging from a bachelor’s to doctorate-level degree. The Bachelor of Science program is accredited by the national ABET Computing Accreditation Commission and has educated at least five NSF CAREER Award Winners. Cyber security and information assurance courses are also available, allowing students to pursue degrees in these industries.

The Department of Computer & Information Science & Engineering at the University of Florida was founded in 1972 and has grown in size, with more than 2,300 students and over 50 faculty members. The ABET-accredited computer science program requires at least 39 credits in computer science-related courses, including Data Structure and Algorithms. The program is available as both an on-campus and online program.

The University of Central Florida has been ranked as the top college in Florida by high school seniors and the 12 U.S. states in the southeast region. This highly ranked status could be due to the fact that the institution has state-of-the-art equipment, such as 3-D printers and laser cutters, at the Texas Instruments Innovation Lab. Graduates from the Computer Science program at UCF have gone on to work at Google, Apple, Microsoft, and other prestigious companies.

The College of Engineering and Computer Science at Florida Atlantic University has been internationally recognized for its innovative research and quality education. Several programs are available in the field of Computer Science, including a Master’s of Science in AI and a Master of Science in Data Science and Analytics. The college has research programs available to students majoring in Computer Science to give them a more hands-on educational experience.

Located in Tampa Bay, the University of South Florida is a large institution that educates almost 25,000 undergraduate students. Over 14 colleges and 180 majors and concentrations are available at the three campus locations, including a Bachelor’s and Master’s in Computer Science. Accredited by the Computing Accreditation Commission of ABET, the College of Computer Science and Engineering at USF was ranked as the 34th Computer Science Department in all U.S. Public Universities.

Since The Department of Computer and Information Sciences was first established in 1967, Florida Agricultural & Mechanical University has been graduating between 30 and 50 students each year from one of the 250 majors available. The Bachelor of Science in Computer Science program is comprised of 46 computer science credits and 36 general elective credits. Students are also encouraged to join one of their internship programs.

Eastern Florida State College offers several Associate and Bachelor degrees in computer science-related majors, such as cybersecurity, information technology, and computing. The educational platforms include a combination of hands-on learning and in-person lectures. Students are also invited to take Computer IT Industry Certification Tests to enhance their resumes and increase their chances of getting hired after graduation.

Bachelors, Masters, and Ph.D. level degrees are available for students wanting to further their education in computer science. Florida International University first established The School of Computing and Information Sciences in 1987 where two tracks are available for Bachelor’s degrees: Computer Science (CS) and Software Design and Development (SDD). Students are also able to work with local and regional organizations to solve issues with their current technological systems.

Florida Gulf Coast University offers a Bachelor of Science in Software Engineering, which used to be named Computer Science. The program consists of both traditional Computer Science and Software Engineering courses, requiring at least 120 credits to graduate with 48 of those credits being from upper-division courses. The program is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET.

The Computer Science program at Florida Polytechnic University offers three areas of concentration: cybersecurity, software engineering, and game development and simulation. Along with the 120 major credits required to graduate, there are more than 35 computer science-related clubs for students to learn more about the industry. Some of the clubs students can join is Programming Club and the Purple Fire Robotics club.

Located in the Hal Marcus College of Science and Engineering in sunny Pensacola near the beautiful white sand beaches of the Gulf of Mexico, the University of West Florida offers Bachelors and Master’s degrees in Computer Science, Cybersecurity, and Information Technology. Along with offering a Computing Accreditation Commission of ABET-accredited Computer Science program, the university is in the process of accrediting its Cybersecurity program. Minors and certifications in Computer Science are also available.

The University of Miami offers a BS and BA in Computer Science, an MS in Computer Science, and an accelerated program that allows students to earn a Bachelor’s and Master’s in Computer Science in as little as five years. The Bachelor of Science degree allows students to choose from several different tracks: Comprehensive, Flexible, Data Science, Computational Science, Cryptography and Security, or Graphics and Games.

Rated as the 26th Best College Campuses in America, the University of Tampa is a mid-sized college that offers over 200 majors to 9,300 students from all over the country. Before graduation students will have the opportunity to get hands-on experience with a capstone project that enables them to work in a team environment. A minor in Computer Science is also available.

Florida Institute of Technology has been ranked as a Tier One Best National University and is known for its cutting-edge research and innovative use of technology. Along with the core courses required to complete the degree program, students will be able to attend seminars on the workings of computer science and career tips. A Bachelor’s, Master’s, and Ph.D. in Computer Science are available to choose from.

The private, small institution of Nova Southeastern University has 15 colleges and schools for students to choose their majors from, including the College of Computing and Engineering. This department was ranked 13 out of 18 for “Best Online Master’s in Computer Science Degrees” and is accredited by the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. The program can be done entirely online.

As a long-running Catholic university, Saint Leo University has been offering over 50 degree programs to its 6,100 students for more than 100 years. The Bachelor of Science in Computer Science degree can be completed on-campus or online that offers a wide range of computer science courses, including computer forensics, programming logic and design, and network defense and security.

The ABET-accredited Bachelor of Science in Computer Science program at Florida Memorial University requires 122 credit hours to graduate and can be completed within four years. The program teaches students how to use logic to analyze and solve complex real-world problems, preparing them for careers as a web developer, information technology, business analytics, and more.

Located in Daytona Beach, the diverse campus of Bethune-Cookman University became an accredited institution in 1931. The undergraduate Computer Science program requires 125 credits and is geared towards students who are interested in a career that focuses on the technical side of information technology.

The unique Computer Science program at the Polytechnic University of Puerto Rico- Orlando is a flexible degree that can be tailored to fit the needs of each unique student. The Orlando campus is small, allowing each future computer scientist to get the individualized attention and mentorship needed. The program requires 122 credit hours, 58 credits of which should be computer science-related.

Barry University offers both Computer Science and Computer Information Sciences programs; the Computer Science program is for students who want to learn the technical side of computers, while the Computer Information Sciences program is perfect for those interested in cybersecurity and digital media. The faculty at this institution has received grants from nationally-known organizations, like NASA and NSA.