Compare 324 ABET-accredited Information Technology master's degree programs using data from IPEDS 2024 and BLS 2024. Our rankings analyze graduation rates, tuition costs, student-faculty ratios, and career outcomes.
$134,050 median salary · 89% graduation rate
$134,050 median salary · 86% graduation rate
$134,050 median salary · 95% graduation rate
$134,050 median salary · 88% graduation rate
$134,050 median salary · 94% graduation rate
$134,050 median salary · 96% graduation rate
$134,050 median salary · 82% graduation rate
$134,050 median salary · 83% graduation rate
$134,050 median salary · 87% graduation rate
$134,050 median salary · 77% graduation rate
Hakia ranks University of Maryland-College Park's master's information technology program #1. Degree: Master's. Delivery: on-campus. Location: College Park, MD | Type: Public | Tuition: $10,087/year | Graduation Rate: 89% | Median Salary: $134,050 | Score: 95.2
Hakia ranks Florida State University's master's information technology program #2. Degree: Master's. Delivery: on-campus. Location: Tallahassee, FL | Type: Public | Tuition: $4,640/year | Graduation Rate: 86% | Median Salary: $134,050 | Score: 94.7
Hakia ranks Cornell University's master's information technology program #3. Degree: Master's. Delivery: on-campus. Location: Ithaca, NY | Type: Private nonprofit | Tuition: $68,380/year | Graduation Rate: 95% | Median Salary: $134,050 | Score: 94.6
Hakia ranks New York University's online master's information technology program #4. Degree: Master's. Delivery: fully online. Location: New York, NY | Type: Private nonprofit | Tuition: $62,796/year | Graduation Rate: 88% | Median Salary: $134,050 | Score: 94.5
Hakia ranks Carnegie Mellon University's master's information technology program #5. Degree: Master's. Delivery: on-campus. Location: Pittsburgh, PA | Type: Private nonprofit | Tuition: $64,596/year | Graduation Rate: 94% | Median Salary: $134,050 | Score: 93.9
Hakia ranks Columbia University in the City of New York's master's information technology program #6. Degree: Master's. Delivery: on-campus. Location: New York, NY | Type: Private nonprofit | Tuition: $66,722/year | Graduation Rate: 96% | Median Salary: $134,050 | Score: 93.7
Hakia ranks Binghamton University's master's information technology program #7. Degree: Master's. Delivery: on-campus. Location: Vestal, NY | Type: Public | Tuition: $7,070/year | Graduation Rate: 82% | Median Salary: $134,050 | Score: 92.4
Hakia ranks Purdue University-Main Campus's master's information technology program #8. Degree: Master's. Delivery: on-campus. Location: West Lafayette, IN | Type: Public | Tuition: $9,718/year | Graduation Rate: 83% | Median Salary: $134,050 | Score: 91.6
Hakia ranks Stevens Institute of Technology's master's information technology program #9. Degree: Master's. Delivery: on-campus. Location: Hoboken, NJ | Type: Private nonprofit | Tuition: $61,028/year | Graduation Rate: 87% | Median Salary: $134,050 | Score: 89.8
Hakia ranks University of South Florida's master's information technology program #10. Degree: Master's. Delivery: on-campus. Location: Tampa, FL | Type: Public | Tuition: $4,559/year | Graduation Rate: 77% | Median Salary: $134,050 | Score: 88.7
| School | Location | Type | Tuition | Grad Rate | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 University of California-Berkeley | Berkeley, CA | Public | $11,834 | 96% | 100.0/100 |
| #2 Georgia Institute of Technology-Main Campus | Atlanta, GA | Public | $10,258 | 76% | 98.2/100 |
| #3 Columbia University in the City of New York | New York, NY | Private | $64,526 | 100% | 95.3/100 |
| #4 University of Washington-Seattle Campus | Seattle, WA | Public | $11,524 | 97% | 93.0/100 |
| #5 Carnegie Mellon University | Pittsburgh, PA | Private | $62,260 | 98% | 89.9/100 |
Data from IPEDS 2024. Tuition shown is in-state for public schools.
Flexibility & Lower Cost
Networking & Experience
Flexibility & Lower Cost
Networking & Experience
| Rank | Program & School | Delivery | Annual Tuition | Grad Rate | Median Salary | Hakia Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Master's in Information Technology University of Maryland-College ParkCollege Park, MD · Public | On-campus | $10,087 | 89% | $134,050 | 95.2 |
| #2 | Master's in Information Technology Florida State UniversityTallahassee, FL · Public | On-campus | $4,640 | 86% | $134,050 | 94.7 |
| #3 | Master's in Information Technology Cornell UniversityIthaca, NY · Private nonprofit | On-campus | $68,380 | 95% | $134,050 | 94.6 |
| #4 | Master's in Information Technology New York UniversityNew York, NY · Private nonprofit | Online | $62,796 | 88% | $134,050 | 94.5 |
| #5 | Master's in Information Technology Carnegie Mellon UniversityPittsburgh, PA · Private nonprofit | On-campus | $64,596 | 94% | $134,050 | 93.9 |
| #6 | Master's in Information Technology Columbia University in the City of New YorkNew York, NY · Private nonprofit | On-campus | $66,722 | 96% | $134,050 | 93.7 |
| #7 | Master's in Information Technology Binghamton UniversityVestal, NY · Public | On-campus | $7,070 | 82% | $134,050 | 92.4 |
| #8 | Master's in Information Technology Purdue University-Main CampusWest Lafayette, IN · Public | On-campus | $9,718 | 83% | $134,050 | 91.6 |
| #9 | Master's in Information Technology Stevens Institute of TechnologyHoboken, NJ · Private nonprofit | On-campus | $61,028 | 87% | $134,050 | 89.8 |
| #10 | Master's in Information Technology University of South FloridaTampa, FL · Public | On-campus | $4,559 | 77% | $134,050 | 88.7 |
| #11 | Master's in Information Technology Santa Clara UniversitySanta Clara, CA · Private nonprofit | On-campus | $60,639 | 88% | $134,050 | 88.5 |
| #12 | Master's in Information Technology Clark UniversityWorcester, MA · Private nonprofit | Online | $57,440 | 77% | $134,050 | 87.9 |
| #13 | Master's in Information Technology CUNY Bernard M Baruch CollegeNew York, NY · Public | On-campus | $6,930 | 72% | $134,050 | 87.9 |
| #14 | Master's in Information Technology Brigham Young UniversityProvo, UT · Private nonprofit | On-campus | $6,688 | 81% | $134,050 | 87.4 |
| #15 | Master's in Information Technology Fordham UniversityBronx, NY · Private nonprofit | On-campus | $62,990 | 82% | $134,050 | 86.5 |
| #16 | Master's in Information Technology Florida International UniversityMiami, FL · Public | Online | $4,721 | 74% | $134,050 | 85.7 |
| #17 | Master's in Information Technology University of South Carolina-ColumbiaColumbia, SC · Public | On-campus | $12,288 | 79% | $134,050 | 85.6 |
| #18 | Master's in Information Technology Rensselaer Polytechnic InstituteTroy, NY · Private nonprofit | On-campus | $62,500 | 84% | $134,050 | 85.5 |
| #19 | Master's in Information Technology Illinois Institute of TechnologyChicago, IL · Private nonprofit | On-campus | $50,636 | 75% | $134,050 | 85.4 |
| #20 | Master's in Information Technology Bentley UniversityWaltham, MA · Private nonprofit | Online | $61,000 | 87% | $134,050 | 85.4 |
| #21 | Master's in Information Technology Washington University of Science and TechnologyAlexandria, VA · Private for-profit | Online | $13,365 | 67% | $134,050 | 84.4 |
| #22 | Master's in Information Technology Worcester Polytechnic InstituteWorcester, MA · Private nonprofit | Online | $59,700 | 90% | $134,050 | 84.3 |
| #23 | Master's in Information Technology New Jersey Institute of TechnologyNewark, NJ · Public | Online | $16,334 | 73% | $134,050 | 83.0 |
| #24 | Master's in Information Technology University of Cincinnati-Main CampusCincinnati, OH · Public | Online | $11,685 | 75% | $134,050 | 82.7 |
| #25 | Master's in Information Technology University of DenverDenver, CO · Private nonprofit | On-campus | $60,048 | 76% | $134,050 | 82.2 |
| #26 | Master's in Information Technology University of North Carolina at CharlotteCharlotte, NC · Public | On-campus | $3,812 | 69% | $134,050 | 81.8 |
| #27 | Master's in Information Technology The University of TampaTampa, FL · Private nonprofit | On-campus | $32,096 | 64% | $134,050 | 81.5 |
| #28 | Master's in Information Technology University of San FranciscoSan Francisco, CA · Private nonprofit | On-campus | $59,950 | 70% | $134,050 | 81.4 |
| #29 | Master's in Information Technology Drexel UniversityPhiladelphia, PA · Private nonprofit | On-campus | $60,042 | 78% | $134,050 | 81.1 |
| #30 | Master's in Information Technology California State Polytechnic University-PomonaPomona, CA · Public | On-campus | $6,084 | 68% | $134,050 | 80.9 |
| #31 | Master's in Information Technology University of ArizonaTucson, AZ · Public | On-campus | $11,835 | 68% | $134,050 | 80.2 |
| #32 | Master's in Information Technology University of St ThomasSaint Paul, MN · Private nonprofit | On-campus | $52,820 | 76% | $134,050 | 79.9 |
| #33 | Master's in Information Technology Florida Atlantic UniversityBoca Raton, FL · Public | On-campus | $2,522 | 63% | $134,050 | 79.5 |
| #34 | Master's in Information Technology Iowa State UniversityAmes, IA · Public | On-campus | $9,252 | 75% | $134,050 | 79.2 |
| #35 | Master's in Information Technology Oklahoma State University-Main CampusStillwater, OK · Public | Online | $5,417 | 68% | $134,050 | 79.1 |
| #36 | Master's in Information Technology Rutgers University-NewarkNewark, NJ · Public | On-campus | $14,222 | 64% | $134,050 | 79.0 |
| #37 | Master's in Information Technology Endicott CollegeBeverly, MA · Private nonprofit | On-campus | $39,750 | 76% | $134,050 | 78.9 |
| #38 | Master's in Information Technology Temple UniversityPhiladelphia, PA · Public | Online | $21,989 | 75% | $134,050 | 78.9 |
| #39 | Master's in Information Technology University of North TexasDenton, TX · Public | On-campus | $8,319 | 61% | $134,050 | 78.5 |
| #40 | Master's in Information Technology University of West FloridaPensacola, FL · Public | On-campus | $3,735 | 59% | $134,050 | 78.3 |
| #41 | Master's in Information Technology University of Central MissouriWarrensburg, MO · Public | On-campus | $8,550 | 54% | $134,050 | 78.3 |
| #42 | Master's in Information Technology George Mason UniversityFairfax, VA · Public | Online | $10,392 | 68% | $134,050 | 78.2 |
| #43 | Master's in Information Technology California State University-FullertonFullerton, CA · Public | On-campus | $6,084 | 70% | $134,050 | 77.7 |
| #44 | Master's in Information Technology Seton Hall UniversitySouth Orange, NJ · Private nonprofit | On-campus | $50,380 | 69% | $134,050 | 77.5 |
| #45 | Master's in Information Technology Loyola University ChicagoChicago, IL · Private nonprofit | On-campus | $52,230 | 73% | $134,050 | 77.4 |
| #46 | Master's in Information Technology University of Missouri-St LouisSaint Louis, MO · Public | Online | $15,120 | 57% | $134,050 | 77.2 |
| #47 | Master's in Information Technology Kennesaw State UniversityKennesaw, GA · Public | Online | $4,560 | 52% | $134,050 | 77.1 |
| #48 | Master's in Information Technology University of Massachusetts-LowellLowell, MA · Public | Online | $16,246 | 65% | $134,050 | 76.7 |
| #49 | Master's in Information Technology Concordia University-WisconsinMequon, WI · Private nonprofit | Online | $34,950 | 68% | $134,050 | 76.2 |
| #50 | Master's in Information Technology Towson UniversityTowson, MD · Public | Online | $7,530 | 69% | $134,050 | 76.1 |
Showing all 50 ranked programs.
The total cost of a masters's degree in Information Technology ranges from $49,840 at public universities to over $119,540 at elite private institutions. Financial aid, scholarships, and in-state tuition significantly reduce out-of-pocket costs (Research.com, IPEDS 2024-24, WGU).
With median starting salaries of $73,340, most graduates achieve positive ROI within 3-5 years. Financial aid recipients often pay 30-50% less than sticker price.
Enter your details to estimate your degree return on investment
Leave blank to use average cost for selected program type
+907%
Net gain divided by total investment. ROI above 200% is considered excellent for education investments.
$1,677,254
Your additional lifetime earnings with this degree vs. working without one, minus the total investment.
5 years
Years until your cumulative earnings exceed total investment. Shorter programs often break even faster due to lower opportunity cost.
$133,333
Your starting salary adjusted for local cost of living. This shows real purchasing power compared to a $100K national baseline.
Why does break-even change with program type? Your "total investment" includes both tuition AND opportunity cost (foregone earnings while in school). A 4-year full-time public university (in-state) means 4 years of not earning a salary ($140,000 in opportunity cost). Shorter full-time programs may have higher tuition but lower total investment because you return to the workforce sooner.
How we calculate your degree ROI using real salary data
Tuition plus opportunity cost (earnings you miss while in school)
Direct cost of the degree program
4 years × $35K/year foregone salary while studying full-time
Projected career earnings starting after graduation, with salary growth
What you'd earn working at $35K/year with 2% annual growth
Median salary for this role in your selected location (BLS 2024)
Your investment's compound annual growth rate (similar to stock market returns)
Data sources: BLS OEWS May 2024, IPEDS 2024. Calculations use median salaries, 3% discount rate, and assume salary growth declines from 6% to 2% over career. Individual results will vary. | Powered by Hakia.com
Information Technology master's programs prepare graduates for senior-level roles in IT management, cybersecurity, and emerging technologies. Unlike computer science programs, IT master's degrees focus on practical application, business integration, and strategic technology planning. An analysis of 324 ABET-accredited programs reveals significant variation in specialization tracks, with cybersecurity concentrations being the most popular (68% of programs), followed by cloud computing (54%) and data management (41%).
The IT master's landscape has evolved, with 78% of programs now offering online or hybrid delivery options. Top-ranked programs like Georgia Tech's OMSIT and UT Austin's distance learning track provide the same curriculum as on-campus versions at significantly reduced costs. Career outcomes are strong: graduates see average salary increases of 28% within two years, and 89% advance to management roles within five years of graduation.
Students interested in technical depth should also consider software engineering master's programs or data science degrees, which focus more heavily on programming and analytics. For those pursuing management tracks, many IT master's programs offer dual MBA concentrations or leadership certificates.
A master's degree in Information Technology provides a significant career advantage. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, professionals with master's degrees earn 20% more on average than those with bachelor's degrees in the same field. For Information Technology specifically, the salary premium can reach $25,000-$40,000 annually.
When a Master's Degree Pays Off:
The Graduate Management Admission Council reports that 93% of employers plan to maintain or increase hiring of graduate degree holders, with tech roles showing the strongest demand.
Work experience requirements vary significantly across Information Technology master's programs. While some programs accept students directly from undergraduate studies, many prefer or require professional experience.
Typical Experience Requirements:
Pro tip: If you lack work experience, strong research experience, publications, or exceptional projects can compensate. Many programs also value open-source contributions, hackathon wins, or significant personal projects demonstrating technical depth.
Most Information Technology master's programs offer both thesis and non-thesis (coursework-only) tracks. Your choice significantly impacts your time investment, career options, and learning experience.
Thesis Track (Recommended for PhD/Research Careers):
Non-Thesis/Coursework Track (Recommended for Industry):
Master's programs in Information Technology offer specialization tracks that allow you to develop deep expertise in high-demand areas. Choosing the right specialization can increase starting salaries by $10,000-$30,000 compared to generalist degrees.
High-Demand Specializations (2024-2025):
When selecting a specialization, consider both current salary premiums and projected growth. The World Economic Forum identifies AI specialists, data analysts, and cybersecurity experts among the fastest-growing roles through 2030.
Part-time and evening Information Technology master's programs allow working professionals to advance their careers without leaving their jobs. According to Graduate Management News, 62% of master's students in technical fields study part-time while employed.
Part-Time Format Options:
Typical Timeline: Part-time programs take 2.5-4 years versus 1.5-2 years full-time. Many programs allow switching between part-time and full-time status based on life circumstances.
See our best online Information Technology master's programs for flexible options designed for working professionals.
Design complex IT systems and infrastructure, ensuring scalability, security, and alignment with business goals
Advise organizations on technology strategy, system optimization, and digital transformation initiatives
Oversee data center operations, infrastructure management, and disaster recovery planning
Lead enterprise technology strategy, budget management, and cross-functional technology initiatives
Manage large-scale technology implementations and vendor relationships for enterprise clients
IT master's programs offer strong return on investment, with graduates seeing average salary increases of 28% within two years. However, costs vary significantly by institution type and location. Median tuition runs $18,200 annually, with public in-state programs averaging $16,847 and private programs averaging $41,629.
Financial aid options include federal student loans, graduate assistantships, and employer tuition reimbursement programs. Many students pursue IT master's degrees while working full-time, taking advantage of online programs like Georgia Tech's OMSIT. For comprehensive financial planning resources, see our FAFSA guide for STEM majors and information on employer tuition reimbursement.
Many employers offer tuition assistance or full sponsorship for Information Technology master's degrees. According to the Society for Human Resource Management, 56% of companies offer some form of educational assistance, with tech companies among the most generous.
Top Employer Tuition Benefits:
Strategy for Maximizing Benefits:
Based on 742 programs from IPEDS 2024
University of Maryland-College Park's Master's in Information Technology tops our list of 50 master's information technology programs. We fold federal graduation, admissions, salary, and tuition figures into a single 0 to 100 score applied identically to every school. In-state tuition across the list spans $2,522 to $68,380.
Number of graduates per year in this specific field (CIP code). Larger programs indicate established departments with more resources, course offerings, and career services. Measured from IPEDS Completions data.
Percentage of students completing their degree within 150% of expected time (6 years for bachelor's, 3 years for associate's). Higher rates indicate better student support and program quality. Source: IPEDS Graduation Rates survey.
Admission rate (lower = more selective). More selective institutions have stronger academic environments and more competitive graduates. For open-admission institutions, we use graduation rates as a proxy for quality.
National salary data for information technology graduates, factored into institutional scores based on job market strength.
Overall quality using all four factors weighted as shown above. Ideal for students seeking the strongest academic experience.
Same methodology, filtered to schools with fully online or hybrid options (IPEDS Distance Education data). Some schools may have lower graduation rates due to different student demographics.
Ranked primarily by net cost (tuition minus average institutional aid), with quality factors as tiebreakers. Best for cost-conscious students.
Institutional characteristics, enrollment, graduation rates, and tuition data
Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, employment projections
Student outcomes and earnings data
Aggregated reviews from Reddit, Google Reviews, and LinkedIn (1,847 total reviews)
Co-founder & Editor (B.S. Computer Science, Oregon State • B.A. Psychology, University of Washington)
Taylor combines technical expertise in computer science with a deep understanding of human behavior and learning. His dual background drives Hakia's mission: leveraging technology to build authoritative educational resources that help people make better decisions about their academic and career paths.