Illinois Grainger on Coursera: Program Overview on May 1 | Register here.
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?
Application Information
Applications are open three times per year, for cohorts starting in the fall, spring, and summer.
Fall 2025 Application Information:
- Application deadline: May 30, 2025.
Upcoming Events:
- Illinois Grainger on Coursera: Program Overview | May 1, 2025 - Register here
Have questions? Please email the Illinois MCS team at online-mcs@siebelschool.illinois.edu .
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?
Application Information
Applications are open three times per year, for cohorts starting in the fall, spring, and summer.
Fall 2025 Application Information:
- Application deadline: May 30, 2025.
Upcoming Events:
- Illinois Grainger on Coursera: Program Overview | May 1, 2025 - Register here
Have questions? Please email the Illinois MCS team at online-mcs@siebelschool.illinois.edu .
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.
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.
Pursue a diverse range of careers in information technology
Build your expertise in:
- Broadening understanding of new and emerging information technologies, along with applying and integrating these technologies
- Mastering administrative practices for effectively managing these technologies
- Delivering optimal technical and policy cloud computing solutions for various sectors, including business, industry, government, and nonprofits, as well as individuals
- Managing and deploying secure cloud-based information resources in an enterprise setting
Start your career
$132,930
Average salary of a software developer in the United States.
1,364,180
Job postings for software development in the U.S.
25% job growth by 2031
The field is expecting “much faster than average” year-over-year growth for 2021-2031.
Top careers
Cloud Solutions Architect
Cybersecurity Analyst
Software engineer
Systems engineer
Network engineer
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.
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.
Check out the latest updates from Illinois Tech
Best Online Master’s In Information Technology Programs Of 2023
The online Illinois Tech Master of Information Technology degree program has been ranked among the top for the best online master’s in information technology programs of 2023.
October 13, 2023
Illinois Tech Ranks #23 in WSJ/College Pulse Best Colleges in the U.S.
The Wall Street Journal, working with research partners College Pulse and Statista, published this year's edition of the Best Colleges in the U.S. and we're proud to announce Illinois Tech sits at #23. New updates to the ranking methodology this year remove colleges' wealth or reputation in and of themselves, and put a greater importance on student outcomes: graduation rates and graduate salaries.
September 5, 2023
Illinois Tech Ranks #35 Among Top U.S Colleges with Greatest Economic Diversity
We are proud to announce Illinois Tech ranks #35 in this year's Top U.S. Colleges with Greatest Economic Diversity from The New York Times College-Access Index, a list of the country’s most-selective universities ranked in order of economic diversity. The list covers the 286 most-selective colleges in the country, defined by Barron’s Profiles of American Colleges and other metrics.
September 6, 2023
Best National University Rankings - Illinois Tech
IL Tech has been ranked #12 in the nation for post-graduate earnings by U.S. News, among several other impressive accolades with regard to top tier performance. Check it out!
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.