by our College Data Analytics TeamIn the latest year, 672 U.S. colleges awarded 48,933 degrees and certificates in Information Technology. Master’s degrees are the most popular award, at 48% of graduates. College Factual ranks 412 schools in its 2027 Best Information Technology Schools ranking and compares their cost in a Best Value ranking. Graduates earn a median $70,428 one year after completing, rising to $93,553 after four years.
Studying Information Technology explores Information Technology. A Program That Focuses On The Design Of Technological Information Systems, Including Computing Systems, As Solutions To Business And Research Data And Communications Support Needs. Includes Instruction In The Principles Of Computer Hardware And Software Components, Algorithms, Databases, Telecommunications, User Tactics, Application Testing, And Human Interface Design.
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; BLS; O*NET; College Factual rankings 2027. Data as of: July 2026.
In the U.S., information technology is a popular field of study, with 48,933 degrees awarded annually. 672 colleges award information technology degrees, an average of 73 graduates per school; the largest program awarded 3,921.
By level, the 48,933 awards include 1,305 certificates, 7,627 associate degrees, 15,924 bachelor’s degrees, 23,618 master’s degrees and 251 doctorates.
Women earned 30% of information technology degrees and certificates in the latest year (14,723 of 48,933). The largest groups of graduates by race and ethnicity are White (15,619) and Black or African American (7,591), and international students earned 8,834.
College Factual ranks 412 schools in its 2027 Best Information Technology Schools ranking, including 156 for associate degrees, 199 for bachelor’s degrees, 126 for master’s degrees and 17 for doctorates. It also ranks information technology schools within 42 states. In all, 672 colleges offer information technology programs; compare them by degree level below or in the Best Value Information Technology Colleges ranking, which weighs quality against cost.
The most common information technology credential is the master’s degree: 23,618 of the 48,933 awarded in the latest year. Jobs related to information technology call most for Reading Comprehension, Critical Thinking and Active Listening, and for knowledge of Computers and Electronics, English Language and Mathematics, according to O*NET. The most important abilities are Written Comprehension, Oral Comprehension and Deductive Reasoning.
Top skills, rated 0–5:
Top knowledge areas, rated 0–5:
How long an information technology degree takes:
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate | Varies | 1,305 |
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 7,627 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 15,924 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 23,618 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 251 |
Bachelor’s degree is the most common level of education among workers in jobs related to information technology, at 55.3%.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Bachelor’s degree | 55.3% |
| Master’s degree | 14.6% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 10.2% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 7.7% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 5.6% |
| Some college courses | 3.0% |
| Doctoral degree | 1.3% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 0.9% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 0.6% |
| First professional degree | 0.4% |
| Less than a high school diploma | 0.2% |
| Post-doctoral training | 0.1% |
Source: O*NET Online.
14 occupations are related to Information Technology, with an average median salary of $109,206; the strongest outlook belongs to Software Developers, at 13.5% projected job growth. Typical job titles include Data Analyst, Data Modeler, Technology Analyst and Systems Analyst.
The occupation related to information technology with the most projected jobs is Business Intelligence Analysts, at 585,851.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Business Intelligence Analysts | 585,851 | 1.3% |
| Information Security Analysts | 583,513 | 12.3% |
| Data Scientists | 507,848 | 8.1% |
| Health Informatics Specialists | 415,445 | 3.5% |
| Database Architects | 335,771 | 4.3% |
| Clinical Data Managers | 300,656 | -0.9% |
| Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers | 273,210 | -1.7% |
| Telecommunications Engineering Specialists | 242,585 | 5.7% |
Information Technology graduates earn a median $70,428 one year after completing their program, $93,553 after four years and $91,081 after five years, according to the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $70,428 |
| 4 years | $93,553 |
| 5 years | $91,081 |
Source: College Scorecard.
The highest-paying occupation related to information technology is Computer and Information Systems Managers, with a median salary of $175,079.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Computer and Information Systems Managers | $175,079 |
| Health Informatics Specialists | $156,714 |
| Database Architects | $148,480 |
| Business Intelligence Analysts | $143,840 |
| Telecommunications Engineering Specialists | $117,478 |
| Data Warehousing Specialists | $117,424 |
| Information Security Analysts | $111,930 |
| Data Scientists | $106,295 |
Information Technology has 5 similar majors in the Computer & Information Sciences field, which together award 84,765 degrees a year; the largest are Computer and Information Sciences, General (74,551), Informatics (3,572) and Computer and Information Sciences, Other (3,012). Browse all Computer & Information Sciences majors or the full list of college majors.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Computer and Information Sciences, General | 74,551 |
| Informatics | 3,572 |
| Computer and Information Sciences, Other | 3,012 |
| Artificial Intelligence | 2,630 |
| Human-Centered Technology Design | 1,000 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
