by our College Data Analytics TeamIn the latest year, 81 U.S. colleges awarded 3,052 degrees and certificates in Information Systems. Master’s degrees are the most popular award, at 61% of graduates. College Factual ranks 38 schools in its 2027 Best Information Systems Schools ranking and compares their cost in a Best Value ranking. Graduates earn a median $53,145 one year after completing, rising to $73,219 after four years.
A degree in Information Systems involves the study of Computer Systems Analysis/analyst. A Program That Prepares Individuals To Apply Programming And Systems Analysis Principles To The Selection, Implementation, And Troubleshooting Of Customized Computer And Software Installations Across The Life Cycle. Includes Instruction In Computer Hardware And Software; Compilation, Composition, Execution, And Operating Systems; Low- And High-Level Languages And Language Programming; Programming And Debugging Techniques; Installation And Maintenance Testing And Documentation; Process And Data Flow Analysis; User Needs Analysis And Documentation; Cost-Benefit Analysis; And Specification Design.
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; BLS; O*NET; College Factual rankings 2027. Data as of: July 2026.
Across the country, information systems is a popular field of study, with 3,052 degrees awarded annually. 81 colleges award information systems degrees, an average of 38 graduates per school; the largest program awarded 320.
By level, the 3,052 awards include 19 certificates, 145 associate degrees, 1,019 bachelor’s degrees, 1,851 master’s degrees and 3 doctorates.
Women earned 31% of information systems degrees and certificates in the latest year (944 of 3,052). The largest groups of graduates by race and ethnicity are White (755) and Hispanic or Latino (493), and international students earned 1,124.
College Factual ranks 38 schools in its 2027 Best Information Systems Schools ranking, including 5 for associate degrees, 14 for bachelor’s degrees and 9 for master’s degrees. It also ranks information systems schools within 11 states. In all, 81 colleges offer information systems programs; compare them by degree level below or in the Best Value Information Systems Colleges ranking, which weighs quality against cost.
The most common information systems credential is the master’s degree: 1,851 of the 3,052 awarded in the latest year. Jobs related to information systems call most for Reading Comprehension, Critical Thinking and Speaking, and for knowledge of Computers and Electronics, English Language and Education and Training, according to O*NET. The most important abilities are Oral Comprehension, Oral Expression and Written Comprehension.
Top skills, rated 0–5:
Top knowledge areas, rated 0–5:
How long an information systems degree takes:
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate | Varies | 19 |
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 145 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 1,019 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 1,851 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 3 |
Master’s degree is the most common level of education among workers in jobs related to information systems, at 30.2%.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Master’s degree | 30.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree | 30.0% |
| Doctoral degree | 19.0% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 7.9% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 4.9% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 3.1% |
| Some college courses | 2.8% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 1.0% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 0.7% |
| First professional degree | 0.3% |
| Less than a high school diploma | 0.2% |
Source: O*NET Online.
9 occupations are related to Information Systems, with an average median salary of $99,809; the strongest outlook belongs to Computer Systems Analysts, at 8.2% projected job growth. Typical job titles include C++ Professor, Information Systems Professor (IS Professor), Computer Science Adjunct Instructor and Computer Applications Instructor.
The occupation related to information systems with the most projected jobs is Computer Science Teachers, Postsecondary, at 1,328,652.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Computer Science Teachers, Postsecondary | 1,328,652 | -4.2% |
| Health Informatics Specialists | 415,445 | 3.5% |
| Database Architects | 335,771 | 4.3% |
| Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers | 273,210 | -1.7% |
| Telecommunications Engineering Specialists | 242,585 | 5.7% |
| Computer Network Architects | 144,537 | -0.0% |
| Computer Systems Analysts | 142,406 | 8.2% |
| Computer Network Support Specialists | 128,152 | -3.8% |
Information Systems graduates earn a median $53,145 one year after completing their program, $73,219 after four years and $75,188 after five years, according to the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $53,145 |
| 4 years | $73,219 |
| 5 years | $75,188 |
Source: College Scorecard.
The highest-paying occupation related to information systems is Health Informatics Specialists, with a median salary of $156,714.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Health Informatics Specialists | $156,714 |
| Database Architects | $148,480 |
| Telecommunications Engineering Specialists | $117,478 |
| Data Warehousing Specialists | $117,424 |
| Computer Network Support Specialists | $107,799 |
| Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers | $80,062 |
| Computer Systems Analysts | $71,253 |
| Computer Network Architects | $63,411 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
