Here are some tips for selecting schools, based on an analysis comparing each school to all others across dozens of factors:
Schools Concentrating On Computer Programmers
- Focus: For schools with a focus on this career area, look at LSCS, Richland College, San Antonio College, and TCC.
Fastest Response From Schools
- Request Info: For the fastest information for prospective students, look at the Spotlight schools on this page.
Student Body
- Part-Time: For schools emphasizing part-time studies, consider Texas A&M Kingsville, Texas Wesleyan University, Paul Quinn College, and UTEP.
- Female: For schools particularly welcoming to female students, consider Texas Woman's University.
- Diverse: For a diverse student body, consider Paul Quinn College, Texas Southern, TAMIU, and South Texas College.
- Adult Learners: For lots of adult learners, consider University of Houston-Victoria, Northwood University, Texas Woman's University, and University of Houston-Clear Lake.
School Setting
- Out of State: For geographic diversity, take note of Central Texas College, University of Dallas, SMU, and Rice University.
- Dorms: For a residential campus environment, take note of Southwest Collegiate Institute for the Deaf, Jarvis Christian, Southwestern University, and Texas Lutheran University.
Excellence
- SAT: For students with high SAT scores, look at Rice University, Trinity University, Southwestern University, and SMU.
- % Accepted: For selective institutions, look at Rice University, Hardin - Simmons, Prairie View A & M University, and Paul Quinn College.
- Class Size: For small class sizes, look at Rice University, Southwestern University, Texas Wesleyan University, and Trinity University.
Working as a Computer Programmer in Texas
The primary job of computer programmers is to write programs that have been conceptualized and designed by computer software engineers. They convert the design into a series of logical instructions that can be followed by computers. For the coding process, computer programmers use specific languages like Python, or C++. At times, they may be required to work on existing programs and modify, update, or repair these programs. Read a detailed Computer Programmer job description and schools overview.
Aspiring computer programmers may find useful resources at Association for Computing Machinery – University of Texas Chapter. This is a group for students in the computer science and allied fields. Another local ACM organization is the Austin ACM SIGGRAPH Professional Chapter.
State Requirements
Computer programmers do not have to obtain any licenses or certificates to work in the State of Texas.
Student/Alumnus Reviews of Schools for This Career and State
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TechSkills • Houston, TX
Studying CCNA (Perl Is My Main Programming Language) (completion in 2008)
• 7/27/2011
"Like I said before, it is a great school. They also offer additional non-development related classes."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | It is a great school and worth the money spent. You must have dedication though. If you are not willing to put the time in, then what is the point? |
| Program Reputation | 10 | I love the school. They have a great reputation and I have hired multiple people from TechSkills to work in my department. |
| Program Quality | 9 | The TechSkills program is awesome. The instructors are helpful and the way the program is setup work out great for anyone going through it. Definitely lets you go at your own pace. |
| Instruction | 5 | Preparing for a career in this field is definitely tedious and requires a good deal of commitment. I believe in the 10 years I have worked in I.T. I have learned a great deal about how things work. What the exams show you and what you see in industry practice are two completely different things. |
| How Difficult | 5 | I am a quick learner and I'm pretty smart, so while it was difficult when I started, I picked it up quick and stuck with it. However the workload for developers regardless of title is ridiculous. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | While there was a bunch of reading, we also had hands-on training on a daily basis. The instructor would assign us vague instructions and see what we came up with. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 10 | Best schedule ever. Aside from after 9pm till 6am when they were closed, you were able to come at any time and stay as long or as short as you wanted to. |
| Academic Facilities | 10 | Fully stocked library with all the latest technical and exam guides, books, simulations, equipment, and certified instructors to boot. |
| Social Life | 1 | When I attended the classes I was focused on learning and not on making friends. So I am unable to speak to the social aspect of the school. |
| Placement Services | 5 | I already had a job when I went to the school. So I did not utilize their career placement program. |
Texas A&M University • College Station, TX
Studying Information And Operations Mgmt (completion in 2008)
• 7/27/2011
"Very satisfied with my college selection. I think the school did a good job preparing me for the real work. I hope my kids follow in my footsteps and attend."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | I do many tours and high school presentations in my hometown. I always recommend my school. I honestly think it was the best time in my life, and also the most rewarding. |
| Program Reputation | 9 | I consider A&M to have a great reputation among companies, especially in Texas. Many companies have expressed interest based on the program's past graduates and expect loyal, hard working individuals. |
| Program Quality | 8 | In terms of languages, did not use what I learned in school (a lot of VB classes). What helped me more was learning the project life cycle and learning to work in groups (requirements, testing, etc). |
| Instruction | 8 | Very knowledgeable professors. Curriculum allowed flexibility which some students took advantage of and were able to graduate with few coding classes. |
| How Difficult | 9 | Difficult, but that was we wanted out of the program. We often had company executive come critique our work. This was harsh some of the time, but a great learning experience. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | Very good mix of hands on learning and books. I think the closer you got to graduation the more lab oriented the classes became. Books were used as a reference and not as a teaching source. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 9 | I was able to work 2 jobs and 40+ hours a week while getting my degree. This gets a little trickier your final year when the course offerings may only include 1-2 classes per session. But for the most part I considered it extremely flexible. |
| Academic Facilities | 8 | Most professors were wonderful at making time for the students. We had multiple labs located in the building and/or at libraries. These labs had a large selection of the necessary software. Tutoring sessions were also readily available. |
| Social Life | 10 | I was very active in a fraternity. School spirit doesn't get any better than it does at Texas A&M. Aggies have the best school traditions in the country. I attended as many athletic events as possible. |
| Placement Services | 9 | The school had a good career center, but what set us apart from other majors in that MIS had its own IT program where students could interact with IT professionals throughout their studies. This acted as a wonderful career assistance program and was responsible for many getting a job. |
| Alumni Network | 10 | Texas A&M in general has wonderful alumni support. And this just extends into the MIS graduates. My job lead was given to me by a fellow alum working at the company. |
University Of Texas • Austin, TX
Studying Electrical Engineering (completion in 1999)
• 7/27/2011
"The professors and students all made learning fun and not a chore. In addition, there were plenty of extracurricular activities to keep me occupied."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | I highly recommend UT-Austin as a choice for a budding computer programmer. The course work is challenging, but the professors are willing to go the extra mile to teach you. The outside activities are outstanding. |
| Program Reputation | 9 | UT-Austin is consistently ranked in the top 20 Engineering schools in the country. The Electrical Engineering department is particularly strong. |
| Program Quality | 10 | The Electrical Engineering program at UT-Austin provided the practical and theoretical foundation for a solid career. The professors took great interest in helping the students succeed. |
| Instruction | 9 | The quality of instruction prepared me well for the real world. The classes were very relevant to problems I have faced at NASA. The amount was sufficient for me to succeed at my job. |
| How Difficult | 8 | While most classes were very difficult, a few were easy. The mathematics courses were especially difficult. In addition, the engineering laboratory classes were hard. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | The mix was just right. The theoretical foundations were taught in the first two years while the hands on courses were taught in the last two years. A capstone project was also required. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 2 | The schedule was not flexible. Some courses were offered only at a few certain times, and it was required to take them. Weekends and evening classes were not available. |
| Academic Facilities | 10 | The facilities were top notch. Professors wanted the undergraduate students to assist the graduate students with their research. The building was new and computers were plentiful. |
| Social Life | 10 | UT athletics are one of the top programs in the country. Football, baseball, and basketball games are always sold out. The student body is very social and parties are frequent. |
| Placement Services | 9 | Career Services helped me out greatly and arranged all my interviews. They also offered resume guidance and interview coaching. |
| Alumni Network | 9 | The UT Alumni Association is always sending me letters and email informing me of events. In addition, they send a magazine on a monthly basis. |
Lonestar College • Kingwood, TX
Studying Computer Science (completion in 2014)
• 10/4/2011
"The school is providing the classes that I need. I'm really not looking for more than my requirements."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | If, like me, they are attempting to earn their degree while working, this is the school for them. The classes are well-rounded with many available times. |
| Program Reputation | 5 | It's just average, it's not a highly rated school. I'm only attending because of the availability of night courses. |
| Program Quality | 5 | It's a two year college. It isn't anything special. |
| Instruction | 5 | So far, I've not seen anything spectacular. I'm learning, but not terribly inspired. |
| How Difficult | 5 | The classes I've taken so far have been interesting, though not terribly inspiring. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | There seems to be a nice mix of hands-on as well as book. I enjoy both and have had good experiences with the classes. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 10 | The flexibility is the reason I'm attending. There are classes on multiple campuses, at all hours and including weekends. |
| Academic Facilities | 7 | I have had good experiences in the libraries, classroom space, and the accessibility of professors. All of the professors have been available via email, and the school is networked to a really good library. |
| Social Life | 4 | I've had no social experiences at all. I work a full-time job and attend classes at night and on weekends. |
| Placement Services | 5 | I've not had any experience with the school's job placement services. I have heard mixed reviews about it. |
| Alumni Network | 5 | I've done nothing with the alumni network. I don't know anyone who has. |
Austin Community College • Austin, TX
Studying Webmaster (completion in 2000)
• 11/8/2011
"Lots of hands on experience in the field. Professors were very knowledgeable."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | More practical knowledge than you'd get at a 4 year university. The program is very targeted at this industry and the skills needed. |
| Program Reputation | 5 | It's just a community college, so the reputation is not as great as that of a 4 year school. However, I've heard from employers that they have a good opinion of the program. |
| Program Quality | 9 | School offered good choices in classes related to the topic. Staff and faculty were helpful and knowledgeable. |
| Instruction | 9 | The program had a lot of hands on practical work. The instructors were very knowledgeable and were actively working in the field. |
| How Difficult | 6 | I already had a lot of self-taught skills, so it did not seem difficult to me. The level of difficulty was appropriate for that topic. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | Lots of hands on experience. Created websites and web applications. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 8 | Lots of evening courses available. Online courses available as well. |
| Academic Facilities | 6 | Processors were accessible. I did not make use of other facilities. |
| Social Life | 5 | I did not participate in social events. However, I know that the college does have socials and celebrates holidays and such. |
| Placement Services | I did not use these services. I had a job before finishing. | |
| Alumni Network | 2 | Haven't been involved in alumni network. Haven't been contacted about it. |
Texas A&M • College Station, TX
Studying Engineering Technology (completion in 2012)
• 11/29/2011
"A&M is a good school, though a little traditional for my tastes. It is very expensive, too. I took a few classes at the next-door community college while I was there, and their lecture and lab style was so progressive that it made me really wish A&M would innovate. Taking exams in the comfort of my own room on my own computer and at my own leisure VASTLY improved my exam scores. I do very poorly on exams typically, but every time I took online exams, I noticed about a 20-point raise, on average, of my exam scores. I wish A&M had more online exam classes."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | If you want a job in computer science or engineering, come to A&M. The major author of C++ is your head of department in Computer Engineering, you have amazing professors and facilities in Computer Science, and if you want to work in the lab or as a versatile programmer, go into Engineering Technology. |
| Program Reputation | 8 | There is nothing particularly wrong with the major; it is just based in a very small building and is very unknown. It offers a far more competent degree than most other technical majors, but it is still very obscure. Once people know about it, they are usually impressed. |
| Program Quality | 8 | The program wasn't EXACTLY intended for programmers, but it gave me valuable experience that I needed. The program is very small and underfunded, which is a shame, because it's an amazing program. |
| Instruction | 7 | I would say about 50% of the stuff I learned applied to a programming job. The major is not intended to get you ready to be a programmer specifically; it is just one of the many options you can pursue. |
| How Difficult | 5 | I don't think the program was overly hard. The professors were truly amazing in their field and were always willing to help resolve problems/issues. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | I derived almost no knowledge that I use now from my lectures. My major is advertised as and fulfills its promise of being extremely hands on. I wouldn't change how I learned what I know from this major at all. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 9 | A&M has a ton of class times for the most popular classes, and they have very organized registration. It is easy to build a flexible schedule. Across my 3 years here so far, I have never had an 8am class, and I have only had a class with Friday lectures twice. |
| Academic Facilities | 8 | Though our building is small, we have a fairly extensive lab structure and library resources. I wish the program had more funding, so we could more quickly acquire new Trojan boards when the originals broke. |
| Social Life | 10 | A&M is incredibly social. It is a school soaked in traditions of friendliness and family. When you go to a football game and watch thousands of students join arms and sing the school song, there is no question that you are in a friendly place. |
| Placement Services | 7 | I don't have much to say about this personally. I have friends who have their jobs because of this service, and they said it works, so I suppose it's pretty good. |
| Alumni Network | 8 | A&M has a pretty astounding alumni network. I have not yet graduated, but I have coworkers and many acquaintances who have, and they all love being alumni. |
Hallmark College Of Technology • San Antonio, TX
Studying Computer Network Systems Technology (completion in 2010)
• 1/13/2012
"The only reason I went there was because the VA paid for most of the tuition."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | no | I would not recommend this to anyone because they mislead me on tuition cost and it was not a quality education. |
| Program Reputation | 6 | The reputation of the school is poor. They're known for simply taking your money and providing bad teachers. |
| Program Quality | 6 | Hallmark's program is good, I just wish it was more hands. |
| Instruction | 5 | The school was a mix, some classes were more difficult than others. |
| How Difficult | 8 | The beginning classes were easy and as it went on, the classes got very hard. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | It was 99% books until the final class I took. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 1 | I was told when and what classes to take. I didn't have any choice. |
| Academic Facilities | 3 | We had labs where we were never taught anything. |
| Social Life | 1 | There was nothing in the two years that I was there. |
| Placement Services | 2 | After I graduated it was as if I had never attended, there was no support. |
| Alumni Network | 2 | There was none. It seemed they gave you tons of attention when you were signing up but stop caring afterward. |
University Of Texas • Arlington, TX
Studying Computer Science (completion in 2013)
• 1/13/2012
"I am enjoying it here and am learning a lot. I'm glad to be here and wouldn't trade it for any other school."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | The program, the professors, the campus... all are amazing in their own ways. Being here is one of the best experiences of my life. |
| Program Reputation | 10 | Ever since I was in high school this was the school I have been hearing about for my program. The program itself ranks highly nation-wide. |
| Program Quality | 10 | UTA is an amazing school, from the curriculum to the campus. Their CSE department is outstanding. |
| Instruction | 10 | The professors I have been with are so excited to be teaching. It shows in how they approach everything in class. |
| How Difficult | 8 | It's a very immersive course that drives and pushes you so that you can be highly successful. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | The book was used as a starting place and foundation. But once we got what we needed from that it was very hands on, only using the books for reference. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 8 | There are a lot of options to pick your classes. But even with that they can never fully accommodate everyone. |
| Academic Facilities | 10 | Everything is top notch here. They make sure everything is state of the art or as close as funding will allow. |
| Social Life | I was busy with my studies so I didn't really go out much. | |
| Placement Services | I haven't used it. | |
| Alumni Network | I haven't graduated yet so I'm not sure of its quality. |
University Of Texas - Austin • Austin, TX
Studying Computer Science And Networking (completion in 2001)
• 1/12/2012
"Coming to UT was one of the best decisions I've ever made. It's a wonderful education at a great price."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | maybe | The size of UT Austin can be a big problem if you aren't ready for it. When you first arrive you feel more like a number than a name. |
| Program Reputation | 6 | UT Austin has a good reputation nationally for their computer science program. People associate the name of the university with competent students. |
| Program Quality | 6 | The school actually has a great computer science department. They have the latest technologies. |
| Instruction | 7 | I think your experience depends on your major. I was lucky enough to be in such a small department that the professors really knew who I was. The material I learned is very relevant to my job. |
| How Difficult | 4 | It wasn't difficult for me. I had to hire private tutors to help me study for my final exams. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | We read a lot of the stuff we learned from books. However, we also used our laptops a lot in class. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 7 | Classes were easy to get into. There were summer offerings and online courses. |
| Academic Facilities | 7 | One of the best things about UT is its size. You have so many different buildings with different functions that you'll never have to leave campus. |
| Social Life | 7 | I can honestly say I had the time of my life. I went Greek by joining a Pan-Hellenic Sorority with a house right on University Avenue and it was a wonderful experience. |
| Placement Services | 7 | Career services can seem overwhelming. If you make the effort to contact them they will do their best to help you. |
| Alumni Network | 8 | The alumni network is great. I can go anywhere in Texas and meet graduates from UT-Austin. |
University Of North Texas • Denton, TX
Studying Advanced Technology & Performance Improvement (completion in 2007)
• 1/3/2012
"I am happy with my education and what the school offered to me."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | The courses were flexible, campus is easy to get in and out of and counselors were available when needed. |
| Program Reputation | 8 | UNT has a great reputation for education degrees, which is the college I graduated from even though I have a technical degree. |
| Program Quality | 9 | I was able to customize my degree program with the school. This helped me take the classes I wanted in the order I wanted to take them. |
| Instruction | 8 | Most of my courses were online so instruction is hard to rate. The few in person courses I took had great instructors. |
| How Difficult | 4 | I thought the work load was light. The courses had little homework. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | My courses were very book-oriented in that most of them were online. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 10 | I was able to take over 75% of my courses online. |
| Academic Facilities | I did not study on campus, but I know there are several facilities available if I had chosen to do so. | |
| Social Life | My courses were mainly online and I did not live on or near the campus. | |
| Placement Services | I did not utilize the job placement or career services department of my school. | |
| Alumni Network | I get numerous calls from the alumni group at UNT but I do not participate with them. |
Dallas Baptist University • Dallas, TX
Studying Computer Science (completion in 2006)
• 2/7/2012
"It had a good atmosphere and good teachers. I wish I had learned more and that the coursework had been more up to date."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | no | I would recommend someone go to a more technology centered school that would have more up to date course work. However, if they really wanted the religious atmosphere or social setting, then DBU is great! |
| Program Reputation | 4 | I don't think DBU is known for excelling in science and technology. Frankly, that isn't why I went there. It's a religiously influenced school and it's strong points are rooted in that. |
| Program Quality | 4 | I feel I am very self-taught. My school's programs unfortunately did not keep up with the latest technologies. However, having a degree does help me acquire higher paying jobs more easily, so I do not regret it. |
| Instruction | 7 | Our teachers were very encouraging people. I always felt they encouraged me to ask questions so I could understand the basic concepts. |
| How Difficult | 4 | I feel due to the fact that I had already begun learning on my own, and that the program I was in started out on such a basic level, that in the end I did not find it quite challenging enough. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | I think it was an equal balance of both. I prefer to learn more hands on, so I found the bookwork tedious. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 7 | I enjoyed online classes and evening classes that worked around my schedule. They also have an adult program with accelerated courses. |
| Academic Facilities | 8 | Being a private school, DBU did have updated facilities. The professors were all very nice and easy to reach or schedule time with. |
| Social Life | 10 | One of the things I loved about DBU was living on campus. It's small, so everyone knows everyone else, which is great! There were always social events going on, and they were always open to everyone. |
| Placement Services | 3 | I found better opportunities by contacting recruiters on my own. DBU did provide options, but nothing I found appealing. |
| Alumni Network | 6 | I've kept in touch with many of my classmates over the years. DBU is also good about holding reunions, homecomings, and other events to get us all back together. They also had career placement support for after graduation, but I did not find it as helpful as I had hoped. |
University Of Texas, Arlington • Arlington, TX
Studying Computer Science (completion in 2005)
• 2/27/2012
"They gave me a great education. I had several job opportunities available to me when I graduated."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | They are still growing and expanding. I received an excellent education there. |
| Program Reputation | 8 | They are known as still a very strong program. It is not the best program in the area, though. |
| Program Quality | 10 | There were multiple choices of what we could specialize in. The professors were very supportive and got to know their students. |
| Instruction | 9 | They taught a wide range of information, although they were not completely up to date with the cutting-edge technology. |
| How Difficult | 9 | Most classes had huge projects that were very difficult. There were a few classes that were very easy; it helped to balance out the course load. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | Some classes were very hands on and required practical projects. Other classes were book-only types of classes with lectures. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 9 | They did not offer weekend classes. They did have evening, summer, and online options. |
| Academic Facilities | 10 | There were always a lot of resources available to us. They have recently expanded by adding new buildings. |
| Social Life | 10 | There were tons of organizations to join. The dorms also hosted meet-and-greet parties, especially for freshmen. |
| Placement Services | 7 | There were career fairs when I was there. Once you graduate, there's really nothing to help you. |
| Alumni Network | 2 | There is an alumni network that exists. It seems like they always only want money, though. |
San Antonio College • San Antonio, TX
Studying Web Development (completion in 2010)
• 3/14/2012
"The best time of my life. My professors and fellow classmates helped me with my studies and I returned the favor."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | I will definitely recommend my school to anyone who wants to pursue a career in computer programming because they have the best techniques and tools for the trade. |
| Program Reputation | 9 | The best in Texas - enough said. |
| Program Quality | 9 | My school is the best in this field because it gives hands on training and has the best professors in the game. |
| Instruction | 10 | Instruction in every class was perfect because we learned basic information on every aspect of the online world and everything revolving around the Internet and computers. |
| How Difficult | 8 | Really difficult to understand the process of websites. Every subject and course was a challenge. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | Hands on training is the key to a successful professional career. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 8 | Summer classes and Internet classes were available to anyone. They work with you in every way to get your career started. |
| Academic Facilities | 10 | Libraries and labs were available basically 24/7. The whole staff loved helping students out. |
| Social Life | 8 | I loved my time at SAC. |
| Placement Services | 9 | San Antonio College provides all their students with job placement help, because they believe in helping you as an person not as a number. |
| Alumni Network | 8 |
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