Information Technology Degree Programs
Find a program that’s right for you.
New software updates, innovative apps, and smarter cellphones underscore just how quickly and constantly technology evolves. It can be hard to stay on the cutting edge with advances in today’s software, hardware and networks. With so many new ways for people and companies to use technology, there is a need for technical guidance and insight from information technology professionals. This page explores how IT degree programs can help students enter a job market as diverse and fast-growing as modern technology itself.
Top 10 Information Technology Degree Programs
Rank | School | Location |
---|---|---|
1 | University of La Verne | La Verne, CA |
2 | Mills College | Oakland, CA |
3 | Vanderbilt University | Nashville, TN |
4 | Berea College | Berea, KY |
5 | Idaho State University | Pocatello, ID |
6 | National Louis University | Chicago, IL |
7 | Texas Woman's University | Denton, TX |
8 | Purdue University Northwest | Hammond, IN |
9 | Tufts University | Medford, MA |
10 | Siena Heights University | Adrian, MI |
Top Online Programs
Explore programs of your interests with the high-quality standards and flexibility you need to take your career to the next level.
Top 2017 Information Technology Programs
In our modern technological climate, it is nearly impossible for companies to function effectively without information technology (IT) support for their computing needs. With a degree in information technology, students will be put in the position to achieve a career as an IT support specialist and utilize their technological understanding in problem-solving scenarios. We’ve looked into what each school offers in terms of student services, tuition, and student success rate, and we’ve compiled a list of the best programs available throughout the country. Check out the top ranking schools for information technology below.
4 Year Colleges
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Stevens Institute of TechnologyLocation
Hoboken, NJ
Graduation Rate -
Carnegie Mellon UniversityLocation
Pittsburgh, PA
Graduation Rate87%
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Marist CollegeLocation
Poughkeepsie, NY
Graduation Rate80%
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Lindenwood UniversityLocation
St. Charles, MO
Graduation Rate41%
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George Mason UniversityLocation
Fairfax, VA
Graduation Rate66%
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Youngstown State UniversityLocation
Youngstown, OH
Graduation Rate32%
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Pace UniversityLocation
New York, NY
Graduation Rate56%
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Ferris State UniversityLocation
Big Rapids, MI
Graduation Rate53%
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Tiffin UniversityLocation
Tiffin, OH
Graduation Rate33%
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Rochester Institute of TechnologyLocation
Rochester, NY
Graduation Rate63%
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Illinois Institute of TechnologyLocation
Chicago, IL
Graduation Rate68%
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Oakland UniversityLocation
Rochester Hills, MI
Graduation Rate43%
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Champlain CollegeLocation
Burlington, VT
Graduation Rate64%
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Oklahoma State UniversityLocation
Stillwater, OK
Graduation Rate62%
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New Jersey Institute of TechnologyLocation
Newark, NJ
Graduation Rate54%
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Broward CollegeLocation
Fort Lauderdale, FL
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Saint Ambrose UniversityLocation
Davenport, IA
Graduation Rate63%
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La Salle UniversityLocation
Philadelphia, PA
Graduation Rate68%
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Ohio UniversityLocation
Athens, OH
Graduation Rate63%
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University of WashingtonLocation
Seattle, WA
Graduation Rate81%
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Point Park UniversityLocation
Pittsburgh, PA
Graduation Rate50%
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Elmhurst CollegeLocation
Elmhurst, IL
Graduation Rate74%
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The College of Saint RoseLocation
Albany, NY
Graduation Rate65%
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Murray State UniversityLocation
Murray, KY
Graduation Rate54%
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Loyola University ChicagoLocation
Chicago, IL
Graduation Rate70%
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DePaul UniversityLocation
Chicago, IL
Graduation Rate68%
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Northeastern UniversityLocation
Boston, MA
Graduation Rate79%
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Trevecca Nazarene UniversityLocation
Nashville, TN
Graduation Rate54%
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Idaho State UniversityLocation
Pocatello, ID
Graduation Rate31%
2 Year Colleges
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Bunker Hill Community CollegeLocation
Boston, MA
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Western Texas CollegeLocation
Snyder, TX
-
Sacramento City CollegeLocation
Sacramento, CA
-
Southwestern Oregon Community CollegeLocation
Coos Bay, OR
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Minnesota State Community and Technical CollegeLocation
Fergus Falls, MN
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Haywood Community CollegeLocation
Clyde, NC
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North Central Michigan CollegeLocation
Petoskey, MI
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Piedmont Community CollegeLocation
Roxboro, NC
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Rowan-Cabarrus Community CollegeLocation
Salisbury, NC
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Fort Peck Community CollegeLocation
Poplar , MT
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Durham Technical Community CollegeLocation
Durham, NC
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Lenoir Community CollegeLocation
Kinston, NC
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Washtenaw Community CollegeLocation
Ann Arbor, MI
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Blue Ridge Community CollegeLocation
Weyers Cave, VA
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Ivy Tech Community CollegeLocation
Indianapolis, IN
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South Mountain Community CollegeLocation
Phoenix, AZ
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South Central CollegeLocation
North Mankato, MN
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Owens Community CollegeLocation
Perrysburg, OH
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Edison State Community CollegeLocation
Piqua, OH
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Oakland Community CollegeLocation
Bloomfield, MI
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Stanly Community CollegeLocation
Albemarle, NC
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Wayne Community CollegeLocation
Goldsboro, NC
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Pitt Community CollegeLocation
Winterville, NC
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Forsyth Technical Community CollegeLocation
Winston-Salem, NC
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Sinclair Community CollegeLocation
Dayton, OH
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Prairie State CollegeLocation
Chicago Heights , IL
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Glendale Community CollegeLocation
Glendale, CA
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Capital Community CollegeLocation
Hartford, CT
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Anne Arundel Community CollegeLocation
Arnold, MD
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McDowell Technical Community CollegeLocation
Marion, NC
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Alamance Community CollegeLocation
Graham, NC
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Davidson County Community CollegeLocation
Thomasville, NC
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Lorain County Community CollegeLocation
Elyria, OH
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Waukesha County Technical CollegeLocation
Pewaukee, WI
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Cosumnes River CollegeLocation
Sacramento, CA
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Mesa Community CollegeLocation
Mesa, AZ
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Hillsborough Community CollegeLocation
Tampa, FL
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Sierra CollegeLocation
Rocklin, CA
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Beaufort County Community CollegeLocation
Washington, NC
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Southwestern Illinois CollegeLocation
Belleville, IL
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Catawba Valley Community CollegeLocation
Hickory, NC
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Southwestern Community CollegeLocation
Sylva, NC
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Fayetteville Technical Community CollegeLocation
Fayetteville, NC
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Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community CollegeLocation
Asheville, NC
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Vance-Granville Community CollegeLocation
Henderson, NC
-
Central Piedmont Community CollegeLocation
Charlotte, NC
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Great Falls College Montana State UniversityLocation
Great Falls, MT
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Central Carolina Community CollegeLocation
Sanford, NC
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Dutchess Community CollegeLocation
Poughkeepsie, NY
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Edmonds Community CollegeLocation
Lynnwood, WA
Information Technology Snapshot
A degree in information technology goes beyond learning how hardware or software work, and teaches you how to apply technology to address specific needs. Information technology professionals create unique solutions with the technology at their disposal and effectively communicate these solutions to a range of people. Most importantly, IT is an ever-expanding industry with a variety of available jobs, leading to a bright outlook for graduates of programs.
A 2011 report by the Georgetown University Center forecasts that 51 percent of jobs in the science, technology, engineering, and math industry will be computer occupations by 2018.
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that there will be more computing job openings than information technology professionals can fill through 2022.
As businesses continue to expand to digital platforms, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics anticipates that employment in the computer and information systems management field will grow 15 percent between 2014 and 2024.
The U.S. Department of Labor notes that more than 90 percent of information technology professionals are employed outside of the information technology industry, with specialized training in business sectors like healthcare, manufacturing, or financial services.
“Technology innovation is poised to explode in the next decade. IT is already becoming more than a support/cost center, and it will evolve into a strategic arm of organizations. Because technology is now smart enough to mostly support itself, the focus in the foreseeable future will center on getting, understanding, and acting on massive amounts of relevant data.”
— Grant Kirby
Information Technology Degrees by Level
Higher education programs allow students to enter the broad and quickly growing IT field. An associate or bachelor’s degree can help students narrow down the type of information technology career they are interested in pursuing. These educational experiences can be applied to later graduate programs or to acquire IT certifications in specialized areas, such as the Cisco Certified Network Professional (CCNP), Project Management Professional (PMP) certification, or Microsoft Certified Solutions Expert (MCSE).
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Information Technology Associate Degrees
Type of Schools: Community colleges, technical schools
Time to Complete: One to two years
Career Opportunities: Systems Administrator, Network Specialist, Security Engineer, Applications Engineer, Technology Support Specialist
Overview: Previous job experience or certifications in information technology may apply towards an associate degree, but students do not need any initial IT education to apply for associate degree programs. Many of the course credits for an associate degree can fulfill course requirements for students who plan to take their education further with a bachelor’s or graduate-level degree.
Learning Outcomes: Students take classes designed to develop critical thinking skills as well as technical skills in coding, computer hardware and software, web design, cybersecurity, and data and network management. Students can also choose elective courses that explore more specialized knowledge areas. Colleges may ask students to purchase particular hardware and software to complete the technology coursework.
Below are examples of classes that students typically register for and the skills that you would be expected to learn over the course of an associate degree education.
- Intro to Software Development: An introductory course on designing, coding, running, and understanding computer programs, with an emphasis on troubleshooting business and engineering applications.
- Web Site Design: A survey of Internet concepts, network protocols, and client-server communications. Students learn the basics of HTML, CSS, JavaScript, and DOM to create interactive web pages.
- Intro to Programming Logic: Explores how to problem-solve via programming logic methods. Students learn and apply programming language constructs, including a project that translates real-life problems into forms that allow computer programs to solve those problems.
- Human Relations in Administration: By studying human interaction skills (e.g. leadership, motivation, group dynamics, stress and time management), students learn techniques for effective workplace interaction, including international workplaces.
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Information Technology Bachelor’s Degrees
Type of Schools: Four-year universities, community colleges, technical colleges
Time to Complete: Three to four years
Career Opportunities: Systems Analyst, Software Developer, Network Security Engineer
Learning Outcomes: A Bachelor of Science in information technology provides a strong foundation in information technology essentials like programming, systems administration, database and network management, security, and ethics. Students learn to program in at least one high-level programming language; evaluate operating systems and networks; and create, organize, and maintain modern databases.
Courses also teach project management skills that help build students leadership abilities and establish effective tactics for on teams. At the bachelors level, students will typically specialize in a particular area of information technology, such as programming software applications, security, or network management.
Undergraduate programs often require courses outside of information technology classes, such as humanities and science electives, that are part of a university’s general education requirements for all students. The following list presents information technology classes that students usually encounter when pursuing a bachelors degree.
- Introduction to Project Management: An examination of project manager techniques, such as efficient time use, accurate budgeting, and setting achievable project goals.
- Fundamentals of Networking: Students acquire a foundational knowledge of current data communication and networking technologies, from the hardware to the components and connections of a network. Covers network protocols and the basic functions of network administration and operation.
- Structured Query Language for Data Management: Covers structured query language, which is a standard tool for getting information from a database. Students use structured query language to store, retrieve, and manipulate data.
- Introduction to Computer Security: A study of computer system security topics including cryptography, access control systems, telecommunications and network security, and disaster recovery programming.
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Master’s & Doctorate Degrees in Information Technology
Type of Schools: Four-year universities, technical colleges
Time to Complete: Two to four years (not including previous time in bachelors degree programs)
Career Opportunities: Professor, Senior Consultant, Director or Vice President of Information Technology, Chief Information Officer
Overview: Ultimately, graduate programs teach students to understand business management functions, analyze and design integrated systems, confidently recommend IT strategies, demonstrate leadership and communication skills in project management positions, and conduct original research that contributes to knowledge in the information technology field.
Master's Degrees
People applying for masters programs must have a bachelors degree and experience with calculus, statistics, and high level computer skills. Students can specialize in different concentrations such as global business, pharmaceutical management, or analytics and information.
Doctorate Degrees
Doctorate programs assume students have basic knowledge of calculus, statistics, computer science, probability, and linear algebra; a prior degree in computer science, information technology, or industrial engineering is advisable. Students seeking a PhD must defend an original dissertation and complete extensive independent research assignments, and some doctorate programs require students to teach an undergraduate seminar class or gain practical experience through internships.
Graduate programs offer opportunities for customized degree concentrations and independent research, but there are basic course requirements that most graduate students will need to fulfill. Below are some of the classes students might choose to take for a masters or doctorate in information technology.
- Multimedia Information Systems: Students learn the processes behind organizing multimedia content, physical storage and retrieval of multimedia data, content-based search and retrieval, and creating and delivering networked and multimedia presentations.
- Electronic Commerce: Covers the theoretical foundations, implementation problems, and research issues of electronic commerce.
- Network Administration: Students evaluate and recommend specific, current information technology processes in various areas, including network configuration, backup management, and system security. Students also examine network issues such as UNIX interoperability, addressing, and routing.
- Business Intelligence Systems and Methods: Explores methods that will increase a company’s business value and capabilities. Students determine how they can improve the competitive advantage of an enterprise, evaluate management and market trends, and enhance customer service.
How did you gain most of your IT knowledge?
“While so much knowledge can be gained through school, reading, seminars, and online tools, the real learning happens through controlled failures. Fail too much and you are out of a job. Fail too little and you become irrelevant.”
— Grant Kirby
Choosing an IT Degree Program: Must-Have List
- Opportunities for hands-on learning
- When looking into a degree program, consider how the courses explore various sides of the information technology industry. Will classes help students prepare for certification tests or give access to internships? Do professors hire research and teaching assistants? The more opportunities students have to use classroom knowledge in the real world, the more quickly they can discover a career path that excites them.
- Accreditation
- A college’s information technology program needs to be accredited by the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET) to ensure that a program meets the standards of the IT profession. ABET maintains a list of accredited associate, bachelor’s and master’s degree programs on their website.
- Preparation for certification
- Information technology is an active field, so look for professors involved in current research, classroom hardware and programs that are up to date, and courses that will give a strong overview of the basics. Both associate and bachelor’s degree programs should prepare students to take future certification tests through Cisco, Microsoft, or CompTIA, as these tests are a standardized way of demonstrating IT knowledge.
- Flexible course scheduling
- Many working professionals choose to take higher education classes to advance their careers, and students may explore the IT job market with internships or contract work to see what areas interest them the most. Finding an on-campus program with flexible scheduling option can allow students to balance work responsibilities with school.
- Lessons in communication & management skills
- Verbal and written communication skills and the ability to manage people are essential qualities in the information technology field. Information technology professionals may be in charge of planning a project and directing a group of people on implementing it, describing over the phone how to troubleshoot a faulty printer, or preparing manuals for employees or customers. Learning these skills should be integrated into an IT degree program.
Key Skills & Experience for IT Professionals
- High computer literacy
- All IT degree programs expect applicants to have basic computer skills before applying. Information technology students learn programming languages, network and device troubleshooting, and other specialized technical skills depending on the level of higher education they pursue and the certifications they take.
- Critical thinking
- Troubleshooting is an essential part of IT work. Information technology professionals can weigh different technology options and choose the best fit, usually based on their experience with or knowledge of a particular technology.
- Communication skills
- Information technology professionals work with people at all levels of the business hierarchy. They must be able to express ideas clearly over the phone, in person, and in writing. They may also manage groups of people during a project, where it is essential to be professional, confident in their own abilities, and able to listen and collaborate effectively with others.
- Hands-on experience and applied knowledge
- Readings and classroom discussion are not a substitute for working directly on IT projects and learning from your own mistakes. Students who complete projects or complete internships will have an advantage when applying for jobs that are looking for practical knowledge and proven skills in an area of information technology.
- Certifications
- Many information technology jobs deal with specialized technical procedures or complex technology, and employers look for job applicants certified in these areas. IT workers can be certified as a technician in charge of maintaining computers, printers, and mobile devices; or a project management professional capable of directing a team. Becoming certified involves passing a skills exam through a credible certification firm such as CompTIA or Cisco, and it proves a candidate’s commitment to their area of the information technology field.
- Self-motivated research
- Those pursuing doctorates in information technology will engage in personal research projects that help develop the field, but students at any level can benefit from investigating an area that interests them and keeping up with changes and improvements. Employers appreciate candidates who have certifications and specific, specialized knowledge that proves their dedication to information technology.
What would you consider to be essential to succeed in an information technology job?
“The primary skillset of information technology has to do with problem solving. Each new wave of technology results in unintended problems that cannot be solved with the technology that created them. If a person does not maintain a healthy curiosity and a drive to solve these increasingly complex problems, IT is not a friendly place for them.”
— Grant Kirby
Opportunities in Information Technology: Careers & Specializations
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Computer & Information Systems Managers
Also known as information technology managers, computer and information systems managers plan, coordinate, and direct computer-related activities within a business. They set the technology goals for a company and put together the systems needed to meet those goals. This may include installing and supporting network systems, maintaining web sites, modeling data communications hardware and software, and supervising support specialists. Computer and information systems managers have strong leadership skills and project management abilities in addition to their knowledge of helpful technical systems.
- Projected Job Growth (2014-2024): 15 %
- Annual Salary: $127,640
- Typical Education: Bachelors or masters degree
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Computer Systems Analyst
Computer systems analysts connect the separate worlds of business and information technology in ways that are tailored to individual company needs. They examine a company’s existing technological systems and procedures in order to improve them, working within a budget or particular project guidelines. These professionals are troubleshooters and problem-solvers, but computer systems analysts are also collaborators; designing solutions for clients’ distinct needs requires teamwork and negotiation along with industry knowledge.
- Projected Job Growth (2014-2024): 21 %
- Annual Salary: $82,700
- Typical Education: Bachelor’s degree
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Computer Support Specialists
Computer support specialists advise people and organizations on the use of computer hardware or software. They help troubleshoot tasks such as printing, e-mail, program installation, and word processing. They provide technical assistance over the phone, in person, or electronically. When computer support specialists assist information technology employees within a specific organization, they are called computer network support specialists. When they assist laypeople and non-IT users who are having computer problems, they are called computer user support specialists.
- Projected Job Growth (2014-2024): 12 %
- Annual Salary: $50,380
- Typical Education: Associate degree and/or industry certifications
Similar Degree Programs
While information technology professionals help connect people and businesses with useful, relevant technology, there are degree programs that can prepare students for other branches of the technology industry.
- Computer Science: The field of computer science focuses on developing computer applications or data systems, or computer and information research. Students seeking a computer science degree delve into computer architecture and software development, programming, and engineering.
- Engineering: Students explore a diverse range of specialties in an engineering degree program, from software to electrical engineering. Associate degrees focus in more technical aspects, while bachelors degrees build on a general foundation with specialties in mathematics, computers, programming, or basic engineering. Graduate programs focus even more intently on one area of engineering, and can lead students to careers that range from agricultural to nuclear energy.
- Online Math Degrees: Math degrees follow many educational paths that can prepare students for careers in computer science, research, biomathematics, or finance. Associate degrees build a mathematical foundation, bachelors degrees examine those foundations more deeply, and graduate degrees in specialized areas prepare students for their chosen careers.
Resources for IT Students & Professionals
- Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology
- Association of Information Technology Professionals
- Cisco Systems – Training & Certifications
- CompTIA
- Information Systems Security Association
- Microsoft – Certifications
- National Initiative for Cybersecurity Careers & Studies
- Project Management Institute – Certifications
- Women in Technology International
Information Technology Degree Programs Near Me
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