Maryland Community Colleges
Computer Science Programs
Computer science and IT pathways at community colleges in this state. Programming, networking, cybersecurity, and transfer-track CS courses.
4 colleges · 79 sections · 50 unique courses · Fall 2026 · Updated today
Maryland 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 79 sections this term across 4 Maryland CC 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 Maryland 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 1101 — Computer and Information Sciences, General. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Allegany College of Maryland | 29 | 20 | 22 | 3 | — |
| Harford Community College | 28 | 17 | 14 | 25 | — |
| Hagerstown Community College | 12 | 5 | 5 | 22 | — |
| Carroll Community College | 10 | 8 | 7 | — | — |
Computer Science Availability Snapshot
How computer science sections are being offered across 4 colleges in Maryland this term (79 sections total).
Delivery format
- online48 (61%)
- in person27 (34%)
- hybrid4 (5%)
When sections meet
- Morning (before noon)21
- Afternoon (noon–5 PM)14
- Evening (5 PM and after)1
- Asynchronous / TBA43
Start dates
Sections begin on 7 distinct dates. 10 late-start more than two weeks after the term's earliest start.
Instructor diversity
Taught by 20 distinct instructors across 4 colleges.
Degree requirements by college
Expand a college to see the courses required for graduation. Data sourced from each college's official catalog.
Anne Arundel Community College5 programs
Carroll Community College2 programs
Common Computer Science courses
- CIS 102Introduction to Information Sciences (GI)(10 sections)
- COMP 101Computer Literacy(9 sections)
- CSC 102Intro to Information Tech(4 sections)
- CSC 130Fundamentals of Prog. Design(3 sections)
- CIS 101Intro. to Comp. Info. Systems(3 sections)
- CSC 109UNIX/Linux Operating Sys(2 sections)
- CSC 132Computer Science I(2 sections)
- CIS 115Fundamentals of Programming(2 sections)
- CIS 119Programming I: Java(2 sections)
- COMP 103Computer Logic(2 sections)
- CSC 134Intro to JAVA Prog(1 section)
- CIS 104Computer Operating Systems(1 section)
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 Maryland’s typical pay to the national picture before choosing where to study.
Maryland's typical pay is about 7% 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 Maryland 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 Maryland CCs?
- Yes — it's one of the highest-employment direct-career paths from a CC. Most Maryland 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 Maryland’s computer science programs stack up.
Other programs in Maryland
Some programs may not be offered at every college — pages render only when the program meets a coverage threshold for the state.