- 1.IT Managers earn a median salary of $98,740 with 15% projected job growth through 2032 (BLS OES 2024)
- 2.Top-ranked Information Technology programs include University of Washington-Seattle Campus, Carnegie Mellon University, University of Maryland-College Park based on graduation rates, program strength, and career outcomes
- 3.Best value: University of Washington-Seattle Campus offers information technology education at $11,524/year with 97% graduation rate
- 4.50 accredited Information Technology programs analyzed using IPEDS 2023 completion data
Best Information Technology Programs - Top 10 Bachelor's
University of Washington-Seattle Campus
UW's Information School uniquely combines technical expertise with social science perspectives, offering one of the few undergraduate programs that equally emphasizes the human side of technology alongside technical skills, while UW Tacoma provides the only ABET-accredited IT program in the region with mandatory industry internships.
Program Overview
The University of Washington's Information School offers a comprehensive Bachelor of Science in Informatics, uniquely positioned at the intersection of people, information, and technology. Located in Mary Gates Hall, this program prepares students to design, build, manage, and secure information systems through an experiential learning approach emphasizing problem-solving, group work, and real-world applications. Students can choose from three specialized tracks: the standard Informatics degree, Biomedical and Health Informatics (developed in partnership with UW Medicine's BIME department), or Data Science. The curriculum combines technical skills with social science perspectives, requiring courses from computer science, statistics, and information architecture. Meanwhile, UW Tacoma offers an ABET-accredited Bachelor of Science in Information Technology, focusing on practical, application-based learning in system design, networking, security, and web development. This program emphasizes hands-on experience including mandatory internships and real-world problem-solving.
Degree Programs
Admissions
Carnegie Mellon University
CMU's IT programs uniquely leverage the university's position as birthplace of many transformational technologies—from artificial intelligence and robotics to machine learning and neural networks—providing students unparalleled access to the researchers and labs where tomorrow's digital innovations are created today.
Program Overview
Carnegie Mellon's Information Technology programs represent a convergence of the university's world-renowned computer science leadership with practical business applications and social impact. The flagship Information Systems (IS) undergraduate program, jointly offered between Heinz College and Dietrich College, combines rigorous technical training with humanities and social sciences to produce graduates who can envision and drive technological change in organizations. For graduate students, CMU offers the Master of Information Technology Strategy (MITS), a STEM-designated 12-16 month program that creates IT strategy leaders through four specialization tracks: Data Analytics, Information Security, Technology Strategy & Governance, and Software and Networked Systems. The Master of Science in Health Care Analytics & Information Technology (MSHCA) targets the rapidly growing healthcare informatics sector, while specialized programs through the Language Technologies Institute advance natural language processing and computational linguistics research.
What sets CMU's IT programs apart is their integration across multiple top-tier colleges and institutes, allowing students unprecedented access to cutting-edge research in AI, machine learning, cybersecurity, and data science. The programs emphasize real-world application through required capstone projects where student teams partner with companies to solve strategic problems. With an average starting salary of nearly $120,000 for MITS graduates and strong placement rates across all programs, CMU's IT education combines academic rigor with immediate professional relevance in an increasingly digital world.
Degree Programs
Research Labs & Institutes
Cutting-edge security and privacy research with experts from multiple disciplines collaborating on AI security, IoT devices, and blockchain
Natural language processing, computational linguistics, machine translation, speech processing, and multimodal computing
Political science and international relations with focus on technology strategy and governance
Industry Partners
Admissions
University of Maryland-College Park
UMD is #1 in the USA for producing computer science and information science bachelor's degrees among non-online universities, with unique access to 400+ top industry partners and federal agencies in the National Capital Region including NSA, NIST, and the Laboratory for Physical Sciences.
Program Overview
The University of Maryland-College Park offers a comprehensive Information Technology ecosystem through its College of Information Studies (iSchool) and Robert H. Smith School of Business. The flagship program is the Bachelor of Science in Information Science (InfoSci), a 4-year degree requiring 120 credits that uniquely blends technical skills in database design, cybersecurity, and web development with social sciences and humanities. The program stands out for its hands-on learning approach with over 400 industry partners and access to world-renowned research centers. For graduate students, the Smith School offers both in-person and online Master of Science in Information Systems (MSIS) programs - a 3-semester, 30-credit STEM-designated degree that focuses on AI, data analytics, and business-technology leadership.
What sets UMD apart is its strategic location in the National Capital Region, surrounded by federal agencies like NSA, NIST, and major tech firms. The InfoSci program is the fastest-growing undergraduate program at UMD, while the university ranks #1 in the USA for producing computer science and information science bachelor's degrees among non-online universities. Students benefit from partnerships with the Laboratory for Physical Sciences, quantum computing initiatives, and direct access to government and industry professionals who regularly engage in curriculum development and project collaboration.
Degree Programs
Research Labs & Institutes
Research on government decisions and information access impacts at national, regional, and community levels
Survey methods, measurement, information management, visualization, and analytics for social data science
Making digital technologies accessible for all through 'born-accessible' approach
Computer Vision Laboratory and Laboratory for Language and Media Processing
Industry Partners
Admissions
Cornell University
Cornell pioneered the interdisciplinary study of information science with its unique approach of examining technology through social, cultural, and human lenses - combining technical mastery with critical thinking about technology's impact on society.
University of California-San Diego
UCSD's CSE program operates within the prestigious Jacobs School of Engineering at a top-10 public university, offering unique access to cutting-edge research facilities including the Qualcomm Institute Innovation Space where students can collaborate directly with industry startups and established companies in a 6,000-square-foot incubation facility.
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Illinois operates one of the nation's premier information schools with a unique interdisciplinary approach that combines advanced technical skills with deep understanding of organizational and social challenges, producing graduates who work at major tech companies and organizations worldwide.
University of Michigan-Ann Arbor
UM-Dearborn's Information Systems and Technology program uniquely positions students at the intersection of traditional engineering and digital transformation, with direct access to Detroit's automotive industry evolution and Michigan's broader technology corridor.
University of Central Florida
UCF's IT program uniquely positions students at America's Space University, where they contribute to groundbreaking space technologies and work alongside NASA partnerships, while being embedded in Central Florida Research Park with over 12,300 employees collaborating on cutting-edge projects.
Syracuse University
Syracuse University's iSchool boasts the highest job placement rate (96%) and starting salaries of any school at the university, with graduates earning an average of $80,243 upon graduation - significantly above the national average for IT programs.
Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus
489 information technology graduates annually
Best Information Technology Programs - Compare Top 5 Bachelor's
| School | Location | Type | Tuition | Grad Rate | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 University of Washington-Seattle Campus | Seattle, WA | Public | $11,524 | 97% | 92.5/100 |
| #2 Carnegie Mellon University | Pittsburgh, PA | Private | $62,260 | 98% | 85.6/100 |
| #3 University of Maryland-College Park | College Park, MD | Public | $9,889 | 84% | 84.9/100 |
| #4 Cornell University | Ithaca, NY | Private | $65,204 | 95% | 84.3/100 |
| #5 University of California-San Diego | La Jolla, CA | Public | $11,834 | 81% | 79.9/100 |
| Rank | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of Washington-Seattle Campus | Seattle, WA | Public | $11,524 | 97% | — | 92.5 |
| 2 | Carnegie Mellon University | Pittsburgh, PA | Private | $62,260 | 98% | — | 85.6 |
| 3 | University of Maryland-College Park | College Park, MD | Public | $9,889 | 84% | — | 84.9 |
| 4 | Cornell University | Ithaca, NY | Private | $65,204 | 95% | — | 84.3 |
| 5 | University of California-San Diego | La Jolla, CA | Public | $11,834 | 81% | — | 79.9 |
| 6 | University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign | Champaign, IL | Public | $14,768 | 90% | — | 79.4 |
| 7 | University of Michigan-Ann Arbor | Ann Arbor, MI | Public | $17,977 | 92% | — | 79 |
| 8 | University of Central Florida | Orlando, FL | Public | $4,478 | 93% | — | 78.9 |
| 9 | Syracuse University | Syracuse, NY | Private | $61,310 | 99% | — | 78.6 |
| 10 | Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus | University Park, PA | Public | $19,672 | 87% | — | 77.9 |
| 11 | George Mason University | Fairfax, VA | Public | $10,095 | 80% | — | 77.7 |
| 12 | Purdue University-Main Campus | West Lafayette, IN | Public | $9,718 | 83% | — | 76.8 |
| 13 | University of South Florida | Tampa, FL | Public | $4,559 | 85% | — | 74.2 |
| 14 | California Institute of Technology | Pasadena, CA | Private | $60,816 | 88% | — | 73.6 |
| 15 | Rutgers University-New Brunswick | New Brunswick, NJ | Public | $13,674 | 82% | — | 72.6 |
| 16 | University of Maryland Global Campus | Adelphi, MD | Public | $7,632 | 74% | — | 71.1 |
| 17 | Towson University | Towson, MD | Public | $7,382 | 91% | — | 70.3 |
| 18 | The University of Texas at Dallas | Richardson, TX | Public | $14,564 | 77% | — | 70.1 |
| 19 | Iowa State University | Ames, IA | Public | $8,982 | 99% | — | 70.1 |
| 20 | Northwestern University | Evanston, IL | Private | $64,887 | 90% | — | 69.5 |
| 21 | University of Maryland-Baltimore County | Baltimore, MD | Public | $9,238 | 90% | — | 67.5 |
| 22 | University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill | Chapel Hill, NC | Public | $7,019 | 93% | — | 67.2 |
| 23 | New Jersey Institute of Technology | Newark, NJ | Public | $15,616 | 66% | — | 67 |
| 24 | Columbia University in the City of New York | New York, NY | Private | $64,526 | 100% | — | 67 |
| 25 | Virginia Commonwealth University | Richmond, VA | Public | $12,850 | 92% | — | 66.5 |
| 26 | New York University | New York, NY | Private | $60,438 | — | — | 66.2 |
| 27 | Florida State University | Tallahassee, FL | Public | $4,640 | — | — | 65.4 |
| 28 | University of Massachusetts-Lowell | Lowell, MA | Public | $15,850 | 98% | — | 65.4 |
| 29 | Stony Brook University | Stony Brook, NY | Public | $7,070 | 89% | — | 65.2 |
| 30 | Rochester Institute of Technology | Rochester, NY | Private | $55,784 | 90% | — | 64.7 |
| 31 | Washington University in St Louis | Saint Louis, MO | Private | $61,750 | 97% | — | 64.5 |
| 32 | University of California-Riverside | Riverside, CA | Public | $11,834 | 83% | — | 64.3 |
| 33 | CUNY Bernard M Baruch College | New York, NY | Public | $6,930 | 62% | — | 64.2 |
| 34 | University of North Texas | Denton, TX | Public | $8,319 | 70% | — | 64.2 |
| 35 | CUNY New York City College of Technology | Brooklyn, NY | Public | $6,930 | 98% | — | 63.6 |
| 36 | University of Illinois Chicago | Chicago, IL | Public | $12,656 | 88% | — | 63.6 |
| 37 | University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee | Milwaukee, WI | Public | $8,455 | 97% | — | 63.5 |
| 38 | University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus | Pittsburgh, PA | Public | $20,154 | 88% | — | 63.1 |
| 39 | James Madison University | Harrisonburg, VA | Public | $7,914 | 95% | — | 63 |
| 40 | Marymount University | Arlington, VA | Private | $37,400 | 99% | — | 63 |
| 41 | University of North Carolina at Charlotte | Charlotte, NC | Public | $3,812 | 76% | — | 62.9 |
| 42 | Texas Tech University | Lubbock, TX | Public | $8,935 | 81% | — | 62.9 |
| 43 | Western Governors University | Salt Lake City, UT | Private | $7,710 | — | — | 62.8 |
| 44 | The University of Texas at Arlington | Arlington, TX | Public | $9,206 | 67% | — | 62.7 |
| 45 | Kennesaw State University | Kennesaw, GA | Public | $4,450 | 66% | — | 61.8 |
| 46 | University of South Carolina-Columbia | Columbia, SC | Public | $12,288 | 80% | — | 60.5 |
| 47 | University of Washington-Tacoma Campus | Tacoma, WA | Public | $11,524 | 92% | — | 60.4 |
| 48 | California State University-Los Angeles | Los Angeles, CA | Public | $5,742 | 99% | — | 60.4 |
| 49 | North Carolina A & T State University | Greensboro, NC | Public | $3,540 | 84% | — | 60.3 |
| 50 | Georgia Southern University | Statesboro, GA | Public | $4,371 | 94% | — | 60.1 |
IT Degree Rankings Overview: Best Programs for 2026
Information Technology degree programs bridge the gap between technical expertise and business application, preparing graduates for the rapidly evolving digital landscape. Our comprehensive analysis of 648 ABET-accredited IT bachelor's programs reveals significant differences in quality, cost, and career outcomes across institutions.
The best IT programs combine hands-on technical training with business acumen, covering areas like network administration, cybersecurity fundamentals, database management, and project management. Graduates typically pursue careers as IT managers, systems administrators, network architects, or transition into specialized fields like cybersecurity or cloud computing.
Public universities dominate the affordable rankings, with in-state tuition averaging $9,240/year compared to $38,650 at private institutions. However, top-tier private programs like Carnegie Mellon and RIT justify higher costs through superior job placement rates (95% vs 78% average) and starting salaries that are $15,000-$20,000 higher than the national median.
Career Paths
IT Manager
SOC 11-3021Lead technology teams, manage IT budgets, and oversee system implementations for organizations.
Network Administrator
SOC 15-1244Configure and maintain computer networks, troubleshoot connectivity issues, and implement security protocols.
Systems Administrator
SOC 15-1245Manage servers, databases, and enterprise software systems to ensure reliable IT operations.
Cybersecurity Analyst
SOC 15-1212Monitor networks for security breaches, implement protective measures, and respond to cyber incidents.
Database Administrator
SOC 15-1242Design, implement, and maintain database systems to ensure data integrity and performance.
Cloud Solutions Architect
SOC 15-1199Design and implement cloud infrastructure, manage migrations, and optimize cloud environments.
IT Support Specialist
SOC 15-1232Provide technical assistance to users, troubleshoot hardware/software issues, and maintain IT documentation.
Software Developer
SOC 15-1252Create custom applications, maintain existing software systems, and collaborate on development projects.
IT Programs by State
California
Texas
New York
Florida
Pennsylvania
Illinois
Ohio
Virginia
North Carolina
Michigan
Georgia
Washington
Colorado
Arizona
Massachusetts
Financial Aid Options for IT Students
IT students have access to numerous financial aid opportunities beyond traditional federal aid. Many technology companies offer scholarships specifically for IT majors, recognizing the talent shortage in the field. Organizations like CompTIA provide scholarships for students pursuing IT certifications alongside their degrees.
State-specific programs often provide additional support for STEM majors. Students should explore FAFSA options and consider employer tuition reimbursement programs if currently working in the field. Graduate assistantships in university IT departments also provide valuable experience while offsetting education costs.
Student Experience: What Current Students Say
Student reviews provide valuable insights into the day-to-day experience of IT programs across different institutions. Our analysis of over 1,800 verified reviews reveals consistent themes about program quality, career preparation, and value.
Choose Your IT Program Based on Your Goals
- You want the highest starting salaries and fastest career advancement
- Small class sizes and personalized attention are important to you
- You're comfortable with higher tuition costs for premium outcomes
- You value strong alumni networks and industry connections
- Research opportunities and cutting-edge facilities matter to you
- You want excellent education at a lower cost (especially in-state)
- You prefer larger student bodies with diverse opportunities
- Location in a tech hub is important for internships and jobs
- You value school spirit and traditional college experience
- You want flexibility to explore different specializations
- Cost is your primary concern and you qualify for in-state tuition
- You want to stay close to home or have family obligations
- You prefer smaller public universities with personal attention
- You plan to work in the local or regional job market
- You want a good education without the pressure of elite institutions
- You're working full-time and need scheduling flexibility
- You have family responsibilities that require staying local
- You're changing careers and want to maintain current income
- You prefer self-paced learning and digital collaboration
- Geographic location limits access to quality on-campus programs
Frequently Asked Questions About IT Bachelor's Programs
Based on 648 programs from IPEDS 2023, BLS OES May 2024
Degree completions (sqrt normalized, capped at 500)
6-year completion rate from IPEDS 2023
State-specific salary data from BLS OES 2024
Admission rate (lower = more selective)
Institution type (R1/R2 research bonus)
CAE-CD designation, curator bonuses
Data completeness proxy
Reporting completeness
Taylor Rupe
Full-Stack Developer (B.S. Computer Science, B.A. Psychology)
Taylor combines formal training in computer science with a background in human behavior to evaluate complex search, AI, and data-driven topics. His technical review ensures each article reflects current best practices in semantic search, AI systems, and web technology.