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2023 Information Technology Degree Guide

Rapid Growth in Information Technology Degrees Awarded

#35 Most Popular Major
31.5k Degrees Awarded
10.6% Increase in Graduates

In 2020-2021, information technology was the 35th most popular major nationwide with 31,531 degrees awarded. This is a difference of 3,357 over the prior year, a growth of 10.6%.

This year's Best Information Technology Schools ranking compares 261 of them to identify the best overall programs in the country. Explore this or one of our many other custom IT rankings further below.

2023 Best Colleges for Information Technology
2023 Overall Best Information Technology Colleges >

Best Information Technology Schools by Degree

Associate Degrees in Information Technology
Bachelor's Degrees in Information Technology
Master's Degrees in Information Technology
Doctorate Degrees in Information Technology

 

What Are The Requirements For a Degree in Information Technology

Information Technology majors are found most commonly in careers in which using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems is important. Required skills include understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents and giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.

Prior Education for an IT Program

information technology degree applicants generally need have finished high school or their GED. Many schools may also have GPA and SAT/ACT score minimums that must be met. Once you obtain your degree, additional IT certifications required to pursue a career in this field.

Information Technology Degree Types

IT degree levels vary. You can spend many years getting as high as a in information technology to something that takes less time like a . The type of IT degree you choose will determine how long it takes to get your diploma.

Degree Credit Requirements Typical Program Length
Associate Degree 60-70 credits 2 years
Bachelor’s Degree 120 credits 4 years
Master’s Degree 50-70 credits 1-3 years
Doctorate Program required coursework including thesis or dissertation At least 4 years

A bachelor's degree is the most common level of education achieved by those in careers related to IT, with approximately 49.7% of workers getting one. See the the most common levels of education for IT workers below.

Level of Education Percentage of Workers
Bachelor’s Degree 51.6%
Master’s Degree 17.5%
Associate’s Degree (or other 2-year degree) 9.5%
Post-Baccalaureate Certificate 6.4%
Post-Secondary Certificate 5.2%

79.8% of IT workers have at least a bachelor's. See the chart below for the most common degree level workers in information technology have received.

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The education level required is different depending on the IT career you are seeking.

Career Opportunities for IT Majors

Above Average Number of Jobs
115k Avg. Related Jobs Salary
18% Growth Job Outlook 2016-26

High Growth Projected for IT Careers

Want a job when you graduate with your IT degree? Information Technology careers are expected to grow 17.7% between 2016 and 2026.

The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to information technology.

Occupation Name Projected Jobs Expected Growth
Software Applications Developers 1,086,600 30.7%
Computer Systems Analysts 654,900 9.1%
Systems Software Developers 472,100 11.1%
Computer and Information Systems Managers 411,800 12.0%
Computer Network Architects 173,200 6.5%

IT Degree Salary Potential

As you might expect, salaries for IT graduates vary depending on the level of education that was acquired.

High Paying Careers for IT Majors

Salaries for information technology graduates can vary widely by the occupation you choose as well. The following table shows the top highest paying careers IT grads often go into.

Occupation Name Median Average Salary
Computer and Information Systems Managers $152,860
Computer and Information Research Scientists $123,850
Systems Software Developers $114,000
Computer Network Architects $111,130
Software Applications Developers $108,080

Getting Your Information Technology Degree

With over 1,253 different IT degree programs to choose from, finding the best fit for you can be a challenge. Fortunately you have come to the right place. We have analyzed all of these schools to come up with hundreds of unbiased IT school rankings to help you with this.


 

Study Areas in Information Technology

One of 5 majors within the Computer Information Systems area of study, Information Technology has other similar majors worth exploring.

Related Major Annual Graduates
General Computer & Information Sciences 51,681
Informatics 2,726
Other Computer & Information Sciences 1,887
Artificial Intelligence 518
Human-Centered Technology Design 91

View All IT Related Majors >

References

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