New Jersey 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 · 213 sections · 66 unique courses · Fall 2026 · Updated today
New Jersey 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 213 sections this term across 5 NJ County Colleges 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 New Jersey 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hudson County Community College | 77 | 16 | 21 | 134 | $61,783 |
| Essex County College | 54 | 26 | — | 1 | — |
| Rowan College at Burlington County | 35 | 22 | 20 | — | — |
| Bergen Community College | 26 | 8 | 10 | 1 | — |
| Raritan Valley Community College | 21 | 1 | — | 39 | $53,401 |
Computer Science Availability Snapshot
How computer science sections are being offered across 5 colleges in New Jersey this term (213 sections total).
Delivery format
- in person146 (69%)
- online41 (19%)
- hybrid16 (8%)
- zoom10 (5%)
When sections meet
- Morning (before noon)53
- Afternoon (noon–5 PM)43
- Evening (5 PM and after)49
- Asynchronous / TBA68
Start dates
Sections begin on 10 distinct dates. 32 late-start more than two weeks after the term's earliest start.
Instructor diversity
Taught by 48 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.
Bergen Community College6 programs
Common Computer Science courses
- CSC 100Intro to Computers & Computing(51 sections)
- COMP 102COMPUTER LITERACY(21 sections)
- CIS 131Micro Computers in Business(10 sections)
- CIS 165Network & Systems Admin(9 sections)
- CSC 104Network Fundamentals(5 sections)
- CSC 113Computer Logic & Discrete Math(5 sections)
- CSC 226Database Design and Concepts(5 sections)
- CIS 265Adv Programming Concepts(5 sections)
- CSC 116Intro to Comp/Network Security(4 sections)
- CSC 214Data Structures & Adv Progmng(4 sections)
- CIS 138Intro to Operating Sys(4 sections)
- CIS 161Computer Applications(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 New Jersey’s typical pay to the national picture before choosing where to study.
New Jersey's typical pay is about 13% 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 New Jersey 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 New Jersey CCs?
- Yes — it's one of the highest-employment direct-career paths from a CC. Most New Jersey 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 New Jersey’s computer science programs stack up.
Other programs in New Jersey
Some programs may not be offered at every college — pages render only when the program meets a coverage threshold for the state.