<SUBMISSION>
<ACCESSION-NUMBER>0001247524-08-000103
<TYPE>4
<PUBLIC-DOCUMENT-COUNT>1
<PERIOD>20080520
<FILING-DATE>20080617
<DATE-OF-FILING-DATE-CHANGE>20080617
<ISSUER>
<COMPANY-DATA>
<CONFORMED-NAME>COMPUTER PROGRAMS & SYSTEMS INC
<CIK>0001169445
<ASSIGNED-SIC>7371
<IRS-NUMBER>743032373
<STATE-OF-INCORPORATION>DE
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>1231
</COMPANY-DATA>
<BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>6600 WALL STREET
<CITY>MOBILE
<STATE>AL
<ZIP>36695
<PHONE>2516398100
</BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
</ISSUER>
<REPORTING-OWNER>
<OWNER-DATA>
<CONFORMED-NAME>MUSCAT MICHAEL K
<CIK>0001215650
</OWNER-DATA>
<FILING-VALUES>
<FORM-TYPE>4
<ACT>34
<FILE-NUMBER>000-49796
<FILM-NUMBER>08903303
</FILING-VALUES>
<BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>C/O CPSI SOLUTIONS
<STREET2>6600 WALL ST
<CITY>MOBILE
<STATE>AL
<ZIP>36695
<PHONE>2516398100
</BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<MAIL-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>PO BOX 648
<CITY>POINT CLEAR
<STATE>AL
<ZIP>36564
</MAIL-ADDRESS>
</REPORTING-OWNER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgar.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2008-05-20</periodOfReport>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001169445</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>COMPUTER PROGRAMS &amp; SYSTEMS INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>CPSI</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001215650</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>MUSCAT MICHAEL K</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>6600 WALL STREET</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>MOBILE</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>AL</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>36695</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2008-05-20</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>5</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>G</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>100</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>544412</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Bona fide gift.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Darrell G. West, by power of attorney</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2008-06-17</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SUBMISSION>
