University of Illinois logo

Master of Computer Science

Join us for a live webinar on January 15, 2025 to learn more about the program. Register here!

University of Illinois logo

Master of Computer Science

University of Illinois

Final deadline: February 15, 2025

Start your application or request more info.

Apply

Accredited master's degree

Offered by University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

$19,840 - $24,128 USD

Competitively priced with pay-as-you-go tuition

Finish in 12-36 months

8 courses total, 10-12 hours per week

100% online learning

Hands-on learning from anywhere, no travel required

Advance your career with a master's from a top-5 computer science school.

If you want to launch or advance a successful data science or computer science career, you can learn the most in-demand skills while earning your Master of Computer Science. As a graduate, you’ll be qualified to pursue a variety of roles: scientist, analyst, engineer, leader, and more. In 2024, Fortune ranked University of Illinois as having one of the Best Online Master’s in Data Science Program.

The University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign is a global leader in research, teaching, and public engagement. The UIUC Siebel School of Computing and Data Science was named a top-5 computer science school in 2024 by U.S. News and World Report. MCS faculty are known for a pioneering legacy, as they have been at the forefront of new industries and technologies.

What’s in this degree program?

8 courses (32 credit hours) accredited by the Higher Learning Commission
Choose between the Computer Science or Data Science paths
Apply mathematical foundations, algorithmic principles, and computer science theory to real-word problems
Get lectures and quizzes on demand, and chat with professors and teaching assistants in virtual office hours and on discussion boards
Join one of the largest alumni networks, with more than 800,000 alumni worldwide

Application Information

Applications are open three times per year, for cohorts starting in the fall, spring, and summer.

Summer 2025 Application Information:

  • Application deadline: February 15, 2025.

Join our next event: University of Illinois' Master of Computer Science (MCS) and (MCS-DS) Program Webinar | January 15 at 11 a.m. CT | Register now!

Have questions? Please email the Illinois MCS team at online-mcs@siebelschool.illinois.edu .

Final deadline: February 15, 2025

Start your application or request more info.

Apply

Accredited master's degree

Offered by University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

$19,840 - $24,128 USD

Competitively priced with pay-as-you-go tuition

Finish in 12-36 months

8 courses total, 10-12 hours per week

100% online learning

Hands-on learning from anywhere, no travel required

Accredited master's degree

Offered by University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

$19,840 - $24,128 USD

Competitively priced with pay-as-you-go tuition

Advance your career with a master's from a top-5 computer science school.

If you want to launch or advance a successful data science or computer science career, you can learn the most in-demand skills while earning your Master of Computer Science. As a graduate, you’ll be qualified to pursue a variety of roles: scientist, analyst, engineer, leader, and more. In 2024, Fortune ranked University of Illinois as having one of the Best Online Master’s in Data Science Program.

The University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign is a global leader in research, teaching, and public engagement. The UIUC Siebel School of Computing and Data Science was named a top-5 computer science school in 2024 by U.S. News and World Report. MCS faculty are known for a pioneering legacy, as they have been at the forefront of new industries and technologies.

What’s in this degree program?

8 courses (32 credit hours) accredited by the Higher Learning Commission
Choose between the Computer Science or Data Science paths
Apply mathematical foundations, algorithmic principles, and computer science theory to real-word problems
Get lectures and quizzes on demand, and chat with professors and teaching assistants in virtual office hours and on discussion boards
Join one of the largest alumni networks, with more than 800,000 alumni worldwide

Application Information

Applications are open three times per year, for cohorts starting in the fall, spring, and summer.

Summer 2025 Application Information:

  • Application deadline: February 15, 2025.

Join our next event: University of Illinois' Master of Computer Science (MCS) and (MCS-DS) Program Webinar | January 15 at 11 a.m. CT | Register now!

Have questions? Please email the Illinois MCS team at online-mcs@siebelschool.illinois.edu .

Placeholder

Choose from pathways in computer science or data science

Master of Computer Science (MCS): The MCS degree is for computing professionals who want to build skills in advanced topics in computer science, such as artificial intelligence, database & information systems, parallel computing, graphics, systems & networking, scientific computing, and more. This degree will accelerate your career and help you move into leading a team of engineers.

Master of Computer Science in Data Science (MCS-DS): The MCS-DS degree gives its graduates full programmable control of the instrumentation of big data as well as the full-stack understanding of how to process the data to discover new insights and optimize organizational decision-making. Students in this track earn the same MCS degree, but their curriculum concentrates on data science courses.

Learn about the curriculum

Placeholder

Pay-as-you-go tuition and flexibility to study on your schedule

Discover the Top 10 Affordable Online Masters in Data Science Programs for 2024, by Fortune!

  • $19,840 - $24,128 USD tuition cost With flexible payment options, you can pursue a high-quality education at the pace you choose.
  • Pay-as-you-go Pay for your degree as you go. Each time you take a course, pay tuition for that course only. If a scheduling conflict arises, you are free to take a term off and you won’t be charged during that term.
  • Financial aid & scholarships The MCS program is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission, and enrolled students are eligible for financial assistance. See the Office of Student Financial Aid for more information.

Advance your career in Computer Science or Data Science

  • Build expertise in advanced computer science topics, such as artificial intelligence, parallel computing, and computer security.
  • Learn essential database systems and data mining methods.
  • Discover key approaches to machine learning using computer vision, NLP, geopositioning, and more.
  • Develop reactive web pages for narrative data storytelling.

Advance your career

$131,490 average salary

Average salary of a Computer Scientist in the United States (Bureau of Labor Statistics)

21% growth by 2031

The CS field is seeing strong growth, with much higher year-over-year growth (2021-2031) than average.

$145,526 average salary

Average salary of a Data Scientist in the United States (Indeed)

36% job growth by 2031

The DS field is seeing strong growth, with much higher year-over-year growth (2021-2031) than average.

Qualify for in-demand jobs

  • Computer Scientist

  • Data Scientist

  • Computer Programmer

  • Software Engineer

  • Computer Systems Analyst

  • Data Engineer

  • Business Analyst

Placeholder

Invest in your future with in-demand computer and data science skills

Build expertise and career skills in the most important computer science and data science topics. This degree program includes advanced coursework in artificial intelligence, databases, interactive computing, software engineering, scientific computing, high-performance computing, and more.

Learn more about the curriculum

Placeholder
Placeholder

Not sure if you’re ready? Try a course

If you would like to get an idea of how the courses are structured in the degree program, or, if you want to get a head start on learning the material for when you start the degree, you can take a Specialization or an Open Content course. Although they do not convey course credit, you will be able to familiarize yourself with the course material before starting the class.

Placeholder

Events

January 15

University of Illinois MCS/ MCS-DS Program Overview January 15 at 11 a.m. CT

Register today!

Check out the latest news from the University of Illinois Urbana Champaign

Caesar's Passion for IoT Helps Transition his Graduate Course into an Online, Hands-on Coursera Specialization

Over the past decade, Illinois CS professor Matt Caesar became and remained enthralled with the progress behind the Internet of Things (IoT). So much so that he’s made it a clear focus of his research and developed it into a series of graduate-level courses.

July 13, 2021

Zhai Inducted into Inaugural Class of New ACM Information Retrieval Academy

Illinois CS professor ChengXiang Zhai was one of 25 individuals recently inducted into the first class of the ACM Special Interest Group on Information Retrieval (SIGIR) Academy, which honors researchers who have made significant contributions to the development of…

May 24, 2021

Four CS Faculty Honored with College and Campus Awards for Excellence in Research and Instruction

CS faculty Girish Chowdhary, John Hart, Derek Hoiem, and Edgar Solomonik are receiving college- and campus-level awards this spring for their research and instructional accomplishments.

April 20, 2021

Illinois to Lead 2 of 7 New National AI Institutes, Adve to Direct AIFARMS

The National Science Foundation and the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture have announced seven new national artificial intelligence institutes, with two based at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Each of the new institutes will receive about $20 million over five years.

August 25, 2020

Prepare for this degree

These courses may provide you with a preview of the topics, materials and instructors in a related degree program which can help you decide if the topic or university is right for you.

  • University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

    Analyze Text, Discover Patterns, Visualize Data

  • University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

    Gain real-world experience with IoT

  • University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

    Clouds, Distributed Systems, Networking

Frequently asked questions

Yes. Whether you study online or on campus, students who complete all degree requirements receive the same Master of Computer Science degree and diploma from the University of Illinois. There will be no mention of “online” or Coursera on your diploma or transcripts.

Yes. Master’s-level CS students should be able to learn new languages so they can develop a rich skill set, which lets them problem-solve using the most appropriate tools. The CS department has some flexibility with language proficiency when possible, to allow students to program in languages they are most comfortable using. Students should already be proficient in at least one compiled object-oriented programming language.

Coursera financial aid is available for the Specializations component of the program.

Domestic students may qualify for Federal Student Aid, since the Master of Computer Science, like all Illinois degrees, is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.