So you're sitting at your day job, dreaming about your escape plan . . . And then your boss walks in, hands you another assignment, and the cycle continues!
Sound familiar? If so, a career change might be in order.
A new career sounds incredibly intimidating, but it might be more in reach than you think thanks to a growing number of online bachelor's degrees in the field of information technology, a field that is experiencing rapid growth and unprecedented demand for professionals who can navigate this complex and ever-changing landscape.
What kind of online information technology degree should you get?
Common concentrations in information technology degree programs include cybersecurity, software and application development, and web design.
If you want to work with large enterprises to keep data safe, consider a program in cybersecurity. These programs teach skills like secure programming, network defense, and security risk management. Cybersecurity professionals also develop the communications and planning skills necessary to defend their organizations against social engineering attacks.
Software and application development focuses on the skills necessary to build applications for both computers and mobile devices. These courses teach programming languages like C++ and Python, enabling students to create functional applications for business or personal use.
Web design degrees look at the specific challenges of building content for the web. In these courses, expect to learn about user experience, using databases to support web services, and visually appealing design for desktop and mobile.
What can you do with an online bachelor's in information technology degree?
IT professionals work as analysts, developers, or administrators. The full job title will usually indicate which systems or services they oversee, such as web developer or network administrator.
Developer – Developers are responsible for the creation of the programs and websites used by the general public, or the underlying systems that allow those to exist. They make sure code runs smoothly, and also often play a role in visual design of the site or app.
Analyst – Analysts look at the systems and measures already in place in an organization, such as its IT implementations or network security. They then implement improvements that make the organization safer or more efficient.
Administrator – Administrators oversee and maintain IT systems, such as databases or local networks. They also often set policy on how these systems can be accessed.
How much money do people make with an online bachelor's in information technology degree?
Positions and pay scales within information technology vary significantly, with some professionals making slightly more than $50,000 per year and others breaking $100,000. Highly-paid positions in the field include computer network architects, who draw a median salary of $109,020 per year, and information security analysts, whose median salary in 2018 sat at $98,350. Web developers and computer support specialists, meanwhile, made between $50,000 and $70,000 per year.
New positions in computer science and information technology open every day. Most professions within the field are growing at a rate well ahead of the national average, with some showing projected growth of nearly 30 percent over the next decade.
What are the best online bachelor's degrees in information technology?
Looking for the best value in information technology degree programs? These rankings can help. Using data from U.S. News & World Report and Payscale.com, the rankings consider a mix of each school's academic quality, affordability, and student satisfaction. Schools that score highly are those with qualified faculty, reasonable tuition and fees, and solid graduation rates for their online bachelor's in information technology programs. You can look at these schools with confidence in their ability to prepare you for the job at fair annual prices.
Rankings
See our rankings methodology page.
