Massachusetts Community Colleges
Computer Science Programs
Computer science and IT pathways at community colleges in this state. Programming, networking, cybersecurity, and transfer-track CS courses.
5 colleges · 224 sections · 100 unique courses · Fall 2026 · Updated today
Massachusetts community colleges offer two distinct CS pathways: an associate of applied science (AAS) for students aiming directly at help-desk, network admin, or junior developer roles, and a transfer-track AS that articulates to a bachelor's in computer science at a four-year school. The 224 sections this term across 5 MassCC institutions cover programming (Python, Java, JavaScript), data structures, networking, cybersecurity, and intro computer science theory.
Two-year CC programs aren't a shortcut to a software engineering career — most SWE roles still require a bachelor's — but the IT-support, sysadmin, and cybersecurity-tech career paths absolutely start here. For students who want to be a software developer, the transfer-track AS lets you complete two years at community-college tuition before continuing to a CS bachelor's, with credit articulation in place at most Massachusetts four-year programs.
Earnings & outcomes for Computer Science graduates
Federal College Scorecard data on what graduates of this program actually earn after completion. Where a school’s cohort is too small to publish, we show the national benchmark for the same field of study.
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, per-program (4-digit CIP) data. CIP 1107 — Computer Science. School cohorts are suppressed by the federal source when fewer than ~30 completers in the reporting cohort.
Colleges offering Computer Science
| College | Sections | Courses | Online | Awards/yr | 5-yr earnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bunker Hill Community College | 115 | 39 | 39 | 98 | — |
| Springfield Technical Community College | 65 | 35 | 24 | 25 | — |
| Middlesex Community College | 26 | 13 | 13 | 52 | — |
| Berkshire Community College | 12 | 12 | 7 | 8 | — |
| Greenfield Community College | 6 | 6 | 6 | 8 | — |
Computer Science Availability Snapshot
How computer science sections are being offered across 5 colleges in Massachusetts this term (224 sections total).
Delivery format
- hybrid75 (33%)
- online73 (33%)
- in person60 (27%)
- zoom16 (7%)
When sections meet
- Morning (before noon)86
- Afternoon (noon–5 PM)34
- Evening (5 PM and after)18
- Asynchronous / TBA86
Start dates
Sections begin on 4 distinct dates. 16 late-start more than two weeks after the term's earliest start.
Instructor diversity
Taught by 53 distinct instructors across 5 colleges.
Degree requirements by college
Expand a college to see the courses required for graduation. Data sourced from each college's official catalog.
Berkshire Community College2 programs
Bristol Community College3 programs
Bunker Hill Community College4 programs
Cape Cod Community College5 programs
Greenfield Community College1 program
General Education Requirements
6 credits- BIO 126Biology I(4 cr)5 sections
- BIO 127(4 cr)not offered
- CHE 111(4 cr)2 sections
- CHE 112(4 cr)not offered
- PHY 111General Physics I with Calculus(4 cr)1 section
- PHY 112General Physics II with Calculus(4 cr)not offered
- MAT 201Calculus with Analytic Geometry I(4 cr)2 sections
- MAT 202Calculus with Analytic Geometry II(4 cr)1 section
Program Requirements
Source: College catalog
Holyoke Community College1 program
GENERAL EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS: 26 CREDITS
26 creditsPROGRAM REQUIREMENTS: 31 CREDITS
31 creditsPROGRAM ELECTIVES: 6-8 CREDITS
6 creditsTOTAL: 63-65 CREDITS
63 creditsSee catalog for course list
Source: College catalog
MassBay Community College5 programs
Middlesex Community College8 programs
North Shore Community College4 programs
Northern Essex Community College2 programs
Quinsigamond Community College4 programs
Springfield Technical Community College4 programs
Common Computer Science courses
- CIT 110Applications/Concepts(29 sections)
- CIT 113Info Tech Problem Solving(8 sections)
- CSC 120Intro to Computer Sci/OOP(7 sections)
- CSC 125Python Programming(6 sections)
- CSC 151Programming I(5 sections)
- CIT 101Computer Essentials(5 sections)
- CIT 162CISCO Networking I(5 sections)
- CSC 101Programming Foundations(4 sections)
- CSC 156Operating Systems Basics and Security(4 sections)
- CSC 236SQL Programming(4 sections)
- CSC 239JAVA Programming(4 sections)
- CSE 110LLab: Intro Cmptr Sys Compt A+(4 sections)
Career outlook for Computer Science graduates
Federal Bureau of Labor Statistics wage data for the primary career outcome of this program (2024 OEWS release). Compare Massachusetts’s typical pay to the national picture before choosing where to study.
Massachusetts's typical pay is about 30% above the typical state — a strong sign of healthy local demand.
Wage data reflects all workers in the occupation, not just recent CC graduates — entry-level pay is typically lower. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS.
Frequently asked questions
- Can I become a software engineer with an associate degree?
- Possible but uncommon. Most software engineering roles require a bachelor's in computer science or equivalent experience. The realistic CC-grad direct path is IT support / help desk → junior systems administrator → systems engineer, often with industry certifications (CompTIA Network+, Security+, AWS) earned alongside the degree.
- Does community college CS credit transfer to a CS bachelor's?
- Yes, if you pick the transfer-track AS rather than the career-track AAS. The two tracks share courses but have different math sequences — transfer-track requires Calculus I and II; AAS often uses applied math or business math. Confirm with your target four-year school's transfer office before enrolling.
- What programming languages do Massachusetts community colleges teach?
- Python is dominant for intro courses and data-science tracks. Java is common in transfer-track CS sequences (mirroring what most four-year schools teach in their first two years). JavaScript appears in web-development AAS programs. C++ shows up in some game-dev and embedded-systems tracks. Check each college's catalog below for specifics.
- Is cybersecurity a good track at Massachusetts CCs?
- Yes — it's one of the highest-employment direct-career paths from a CC. Most Massachusetts community college cybersecurity programs are aligned with the NSA / DHS Center of Academic Excellence framework and prepare students for industry certifications like Security+ and CySA+. Graduates step into SOC analyst, junior pen-test, or IT-security-admin roles.
Compare Computer Science programs in other states
Same comparison view, different state systems. Useful if you’re considering an out-of-state community college or just want to see how Massachusetts’s computer science programs stack up.
Other programs in Massachusetts
Some programs may not be offered at every college — pages render only when the program meets a coverage threshold for the state.