by our College Data Analytics TeamComputer & IS Security was the 50th most popular major in the 2020-2021 school year. Colleges in the United States reported awarding 22,829 degrees in this year alone. This is a difference of 2,129 over the prior year, a growth of 9.3%.
Our 2023 Best Computer & IS Security Schools ranking analyzes 252 of these schools to determine the best overall colleges for computer and IS security students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of computer and information systems security / auditing / information assurance programs later in this article.
Computer & IS Security 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 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 and understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
computer and IS security 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 computer and information systems security / auditing / information assurance certifications required to pursue a career in this field.
There are many different computer and information systems security / auditing / information assurance degree levels. Computer & IS Security programs offered by schools range from a to a , which is the highest computer and information systems security / auditing / information assurance degree you can get. Depending on the computer and IS security degree you choose, obtaining your diploma can take anwhere from 1 to 4+ years.
| 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 computer and information systems security / auditing / information assurance, with approximately 50.2% of workers getting one. People currently working in careers related to computer and information systems security / auditing / information assurance tend obtained the following education levels.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Bachelor’s Degree | 49.7% |
| Associate’s Degree (or other 2-year degree) | 13.9% |
| Some College Courses | 9.7% |
| Master’s Degree | 9.6% |
| Post-Secondary Certificate | 8.5% |
About 69.5% of workers in careers related to computer and information systems security / auditing / information assurance obtain at least bachelor's degrees. See the chart below for the most common degree level workers in computer and IS security have received.
This of course varies depending on which computer and information systems security / auditing / information assurance career you choose.
Want a job when you graduate with your computer and information systems security / auditing / information assurance degree? Computer & IS Security careers are expected to grow 10.2% between 2016 and 2026.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to computer and IS security.
| Occupation Name | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Network and Computer Systems Administrators | 415,300 | 6.1% |
| Computer and Information Systems Managers | 411,800 | 12.0% |
| Computer Network Support Specialists | 215,200 | 8.2% |
| Computer Network Architects | 173,200 | 6.5% |
| Database Administrators | 133,200 | 11.5% |
As you might expect, salaries for computer and information systems security / auditing / information assurance graduates vary depending on the level of education that was acquired.
Salaries for computer and IS security graduates can vary widely by the occupation you choose as well. The following table shows the top highest paying careers computer and information systems security / auditing / information assurance grads often go into.
| Occupation Name | Median Average Salary |
|---|---|
| Computer and Information Systems Managers | $152,860 |
| Computer Network Architects | $111,130 |
| Information Security Analysts | $102,470 |
| Database Administrators | $92,030 |
| Network and Computer Systems Administrators | $87,070 |
With over 1,354 different computer and information systems security / auditing / information assurance 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 computer and information systems security / auditing / information assurance school rankings to help you with this.
Computer & IS Security is one of 6 different types of Information Technology programs to choose from.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Network & System Administration/Administrator | 5,501 |
| Information Technology Management | 4,009 |
| Computer Support Specialist | 3,176 |
| System, Networking, & LAN/WAN Management/Manager | 2,077 |
| Information Technology Project Management | 2,076 |
View All Computer and Information Systems Security/Auditing/Information Assurance Related Majors >
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