Best Online Information Technology (IT) Degrees of 2024

Earning a bachelor's IT degree online serves as a gateway to higher-than-average salaried careers. Here, we explain IT degree requirements and your post-college salary expectations.
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Updated May 1, 2024

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Are you ready to discover your college program?

Attending one of the best online IT schools won't help you if there aren't jobs after graduation. Luckily, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) projects 377,500 information technology roles will open every year from 2022-2032.

Information technology degrees have staying power. The most recent National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) data reported 11,715 undergraduate and 5,458 graduate-level degrees in information technology were awarded.

With this degree, you can pursue careers as computer network architects, computer programmers, computer systems analysts, software developers, and web developers, thanks to the technical knowhow it offers.

Continue reading to explore the best online IT schools, with comprehensive details on tuition, costs, job outcomes, and projected salaries for graduates.

Popular Online IT Programs

Learn about start dates, transferring credits, availability of financial aid, and more by contacting the universities below.

Best 10 Schools for Online IT Degrees

#1 Best Online Information Technology (IT) Degrees of 2024

Western Governors University

  • Salt Lake City, UT
  • 2 years
  • Online

Cost per Semester: $3,625

Credits to Graduate: 120 competency units

WGU's online B.S. in information technology provides entry-level skills in computer information systems and technology. The program allows students to earn technology certifications like CompTIA and Certified Internet Web Professional (CIW) at the same time as their degree. 

WGU's program includes courses in networks, programming, and data management. The school's competency-based education allows students to advance when they feel ready, often allowing them to finish faster. Seventy percent of WGU graduates finish within 48 months. These students also report an income growth of $22,000 after two years. 

Average Undergrad Tuition
In-state
$7,162
Out-of-state
$7,162
Average Graduate Tuition
In-state
$7,500
Out-of-state
$7,765
Retention Rate
73%
Acceptance Rate
Not provided
Students Enrolled
150,116
Institution Type
Private
Percent Online Enrollment
Not provided
Accreditation
Yes Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities

#2 Best Online Information Technology (IT) Degrees of 2024

Florida International University

  • Miami, FL
  • 4 years
  • Online + Campus

Programmatic Accreditation: ABET

Cost per Credit:
In-State | $236
Out-of-State | $649

Credits to Graduate: 120

Before gaining admission into FIU's online BS in information technology, students must first apply to the university and complete six prerequisites. These include programming, math, psychology, and computer science courses. 

Once accepted into the IT program, learners can choose between the BA or BS in information technology, and personalize the curriculum. Besides the core tech classes, enrollees must select five IT electives from approved system network and application development courses. FIU also requires students to complete nine interdisciplinary credits. These can count toward a minor or certificate. 

Average Undergrad Tuition
In-state
$6,168
Out-of-state
$18,566
Average Graduate Tuition
In-state
$911
Out-of-state
$2,003
Retention Rate
91%
Acceptance Rate
64%
Students Enrolled
54,906
Institution Type
Public
Percent Online Enrollment
65% Percentage of all students who are enrolled online.
Accreditation
Yes Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges

#3 Best Online Information Technology (IT) Degrees of 2024

Colorado State University-Global Campus

  • Aurora, CO
  • 4 years
  • Online

Cost per Credit:
In-State |  $350
Out-of-State |  $350

Credits to Graduate: 120

CSU-Global's BS degree in information technology includes 14 core classes covering topics like human-computer interaction and network enterprise solutions. Students can personalize the program with an optional specialization. CSU-Global offers many, but the most popular for IT students include organization leadership, healthcare management, and marketing. 

The online degree program also prepares learners for several industry certifications, like the CompTIA Network+ and AWS Cloud Administrator exams. CSU-Global's IT graduates typically earn starting salaries over $77,000 and earn a 15% average pay increase after one year.

Average Undergrad Tuition
In-state
$8,400
Out-of-state
$8,400
Average Graduate Tuition
In-state
$9,000
Out-of-state
$9,000
Retention Rate
35%
Acceptance Rate
96%
Students Enrolled
10,844
Institution Type
Public
Percent Online Enrollment
Not provided
Accreditation
Yes Higher Learning Commission

#4 Best Online Information Technology (IT) Degrees of 2024

University of Missouri-Columbia

  • Columbia, MO
  • 4 years
  • Online + Campus

Cost per Credit:
In-State | $541
Out-of-State |  $541

Credits to Graduate: 120

Missouri Online's online B.S. in information systems and technology merges technology with business while preparing students for management positions. The curriculum includes information systems analysis, database management, and project management. Graduates go on to become IT managers, applications developers, and business analysts.

Students also take business courses covering the processes, costs, and budgets of maintaining business technology infrastructure. Combined, the IT and business courses cover content that are applicable to several certifications, including Project Management Professional (PMP) and Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP).

Average Undergrad Tuition
In-state
$10,074
Out-of-state
$30,441
Average Graduate Tuition
In-state
$10,447
Out-of-state
$28,605
Retention Rate
89%
Acceptance Rate
79%
Students Enrolled
31,344
Institution Type
Public
Percent Online Enrollment
63% Percentage of all students who are enrolled online.
Accreditation
Yes Higher Learning Commission

#5 Best Online Information Technology (IT) Degrees of 2024

Abilene Christian University-Undergraduate Online

  • Addison, TX
  • 4 years
  • Online + Campus

Cost per Credit:
In-State | $395
Out-of-State | $395

Credits to Graduate: 120 

ACU's online B.S. in information technology administration focuses on two areas: developing software applications and maintaining technology infrastructures, like network databases. The core curriculum includes courses in computer science, IT, and mathematics. These courses cover foundational skills like programming languages, networking, and information security.

Each student must choose one of three concentrations: general, application development, or information assurance. The general concentration provides the broadest skill sets for IT careers. Application development focuses on designing and writing software applications. Information assurance teaches students how to join a network security team.

Average Undergrad Tuition
In-state
$14,220
Out-of-state
$14,220
Average Graduate Tuition
In-state
Not provided
Out-of-state
Not provided
Retention Rate
Not provided
Acceptance Rate
100%
Students Enrolled
422
Institution Type
Private
Percent Online Enrollment
Not provided
Accreditation
Yes Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges

#6 Best Online Information Technology (IT) Degrees of 2024

Keiser University-Ft Lauderdale

  • Fort Lauderdale, FL
  • 4 years
  • Online + Campus

Cost per Credit:
In-State | $433
Out-of-State | $433

Credits to Graduate: 60

Keiser's online B.S. in information technology management is a degree completion program. Applicants need an associate of science degree in a computer-related field, such as IT or software development. Keiser teaches one of its two online B.S. in IT degree programs in Spanish. About 81% of online Keiser students receive federal financial aid.

Students must finish 60 credits hours at Keiser to graduate. Course topics include ethics in IT, systems analysis, and accounting for non-financial majors. The program's objectives are providing basic business principles of IT management, business knowledge, and written and oral skills needed for management-level positions.

Average Undergrad Tuition
In-state
$20,800
Out-of-state
$20,800
Average Graduate Tuition
In-state
$29,632
Out-of-state
$29,632
Retention Rate
68%
Acceptance Rate
97%
Students Enrolled
18,800
Institution Type
Private
Percent Online Enrollment
50% Percentage of all students who are enrolled online.
Accreditation
Yes Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges

#7 Best Online Information Technology (IT) Degrees of 2024

Purdue University Global-Indianapolis

  • West Lafayette, IN
  • 4 years
  • Online + Campus

Programmatic Accreditation: ABET

Cost per Credit:
In-State |   $371
Out-of-State |  $371

Credits to Graduate: 180

Purdue Global's online BS in information technology program has surged in popularity, with enrollees more than doubling in the last five years. This might result from the multiple concentration options: game development, supply chain management and logistics, IT management, network administration, information security and assurance, C#, Python, Java, and web languages.

The major includes 17 information technology classes that explore database and network concepts, plus 3-6 concentration courses. Students finish the program by completing a capstone project or internship. Within 18 months, 91% of IT graduates have landed a job or continued their education. 

Average Undergrad Tuition
In-state
$10,080
Out-of-state
$13,356
Average Graduate Tuition
In-state
$8,730
Out-of-state
$9,700
Retention Rate
75%
Acceptance Rate
Not provided
Students Enrolled
43,458
Institution Type
Public
Percent Online Enrollment
100% Percentage of all students who are enrolled online.
Accreditation
Yes Higher Learning Commission

#8 Best Online Information Technology (IT) Degrees of 2024

Excelsior College

  • Albany, NY
  • 2 years
  • Online

Programmatic Accreditation: ABET

Cost per Credit:
In-State |  $510
Out-of-State | $510

Credits to Graduate: 120

Excelsior accepts up to 113 transfer credits from prior academic experience, on-the-job expertise, and military experience. This helps applicants accelerate Excelsior's online BS in information technology. 

The curriculum covers several IT topics, from system administration to web design and development. Students gain hands-on experience with labs and practice working through the system development life cycle. They also choose between a cybersecurity and network operations concentration — or design their own. Instead of a final project, learners complete an online exam. 

Average Undergrad Tuition
In-state
Not provided
Out-of-state
Not provided
Average Graduate Tuition
In-state
Not provided
Out-of-state
Not provided
Retention Rate
Not provided
Acceptance Rate
Not provided
Students Enrolled
14,584
Institution Type
Private
Percent Online Enrollment
Not provided
Accreditation
Yes Middle States Commission on Higher Education

#9 Best Online Information Technology (IT) Degrees of 2024

Indian River State College

  • Fort Pierce, FL
  • 4 years
  • Online + Campus

Cost per Credit:
In-State | $117
Out-of-State | $400

Credits to Graduate: 120

Before applying to IRSC's online BS in IT management and cybersecurity, students must complete an associate degree — either at IRSC or another school. IRSC offers a completely online AS in computer information technology, which can fulfill all prerequisites for the bachelor's degree. 

These two programs combined cover computer, programming, database, and security topics. Some courses also prepare students to sit for the A+ certification exam. Before graduating with a bachelor's degree, learners must complete a capstone project.  

Average Undergrad Tuition
In-state
$2,496
Out-of-state
$9,360
Average Graduate Tuition
In-state
Not provided
Out-of-state
Not provided
Retention Rate
Not provided
Acceptance Rate
Not provided
Students Enrolled
14,461
Institution Type
Public
Percent Online Enrollment
66% Percentage of all students who are enrolled online.
Accreditation
Yes Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges

#10 Best Online Information Technology (IT) Degrees of 2024

Kennesaw State University

  • Kennesaw, GA
  • 4 years
  • Online + Campus

Programmatic Accreditation: ABET

Cost per Credit:
In-State |  $186
Out-of-State |  $186

Credits to Graduate: 120

Learners begin KSU's online BS in information technology with several lower-division classes in programming and computing foundations. The core courses then immerse students into software and data management concepts, preparing them for upper-level topics. 

Enrollees must choose from four advanced concentration options: enterprise systems, data analytics and technology, technology and innovation, or cyber operations security.

KSU also offers a Double Owl Pathway for students wanting to continue with an online master's in information technology. Learners can accelerate their learning by taking some graduate-level courses that count toward both degrees.

Average Undergrad Tuition
In-state
$4,450
Out-of-state
$15,704
Average Graduate Tuition
In-state
$5,238
Out-of-state
$19,188
Retention Rate
74%
Acceptance Rate
82%
Students Enrolled
42,899
Institution Type
Public
Percent Online Enrollment
59% Percentage of all students who are enrolled online.
Accreditation
Yes Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges

Methodology / How We Rank Schools

When it comes to providing rankings, transparency is our goal at TheBestSchools.org. We aim to help students pick quality educational programs through our ranking methodology that considers each school's academics, online enrollment, and affordability.

We primarily source data from federal agencies, as well as the information provided directly from the schools. Most of our data comes from Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS), but also the U.S. Department of Education's NCES.

Why Get an IT Degree Online?

When you earn an IT degree online, you learn how to apply technical knowledge of computing and mathematics to design business solutions. The degree's core subjects provide a bachelor's-level knowledge of programming, networks, database design, and information security.

This versatile degree offers additional career development opportunities. Through group assignments, you'll build problem-solving and teamwork skills. You'll also learn how to work toward a common goal as a team leader or a group member.

During the degree, you'll practice communicating information technology solutions to people from a variety of backgrounds, using technical language and/or plain English. Lessons also teach you to better understand the project lifecycle and how to use project management techniques.

Students pursue a bachelor's in information technology degree to be eligible for graduate studies or to land entry-level IT positions.

Job and Salary Expectations for IT Degree Students

An information technology degree affords you the freedom to pursue careers outside of the confines of tech companies. The best IT degrees teach you the technical theory and programming skills required of computer network architects, computer programmers, and software developers.

With additional certifications, internships, and a graduate degree, you can compete for jobs as computer and information research scientists or positions in academia.

Those 377,500 job openings in computer and information technology we mentioned earlier encompass some of the roles in the table below.

IT Careers and Outlook
Careers for Bachelor's in IT Students Median Annual Wage, May 2023
Computer Network Architect $129,840
Computer Programmer $99,700
Computer Systems Analysts $103,800
Information Security Analysts $120,360
Software Developers $132,270
Source: BLS

What to Expect From an Online IT Degree Program

An online IT degree program typically requires 120 credits and teaches the fundamentals of programming, computer systems, cybersecurity, and data communication. Courses cover topics like cross-platform technology, computing as a service, IT operations, and scripting at the bachelor's level.

Coursework usually includes general requirements as well, especially in math, English, science, and history which you'll complete prior to starting your major. Internships and capstone projects provide experiential learning usually in your senior year, while electives offer the chance to study from faculty in other departments.

Online information technology degrees often offer concentrations in the following areas:

These specialized tracks allow students to better prepare for their future careers. Nevertheless, some graduates may not enter the workforce right away, as a bachelor's degree in IT online also prepares students for further education.

Graduate degrees open additional doors in the field and allow students to pursue research or teaching positions at postsecondary institutions and senior positions in tech.

How Long Does it Take to Get a Bachelor's in IT Degree?

Most full-time students complete an online bachelor's degree in information technology in four years, but colleges usually offer several additional options.

Average Cost for Schools With Online IT Degrees

Earning an online IT degree typically costs less than going to college on the traditional route. According to the NCES, an online IT degree costs $9,679 each year on average, while in-person you’ll pay an annual average of $11,339.

Online learning saves on campus housing and transportation fees, but schools often assess technology fees.

Average Annual Cost of an IT Degree

Online

$9,679

In-Person

$11,339

Source: National Center for Education Statistics

More Questions About Going to School for an Online IT Degree

What is information technology?

The broad category of information technology, or IT, comes from data processing. IT refers to information infrastructure and practical application of technology to process, store, send and receive information.

Is information technology a good career choice?

Information technology is a great career choice for many people. The industry offers stable, versatile, and well-paying career options. Furthermore, the BLS projects that computer and information technology openings will grow faster than average by 2032.

Is getting an IT degree worth it?

For many, an IT degree is worth the time commitment and expense. An information technology degree offers a high return on investment. Jobs in computer and information technology make a median annual salary of $100,530, according to the BLS.

Is an information technology degree difficult?

Yes, majoring in information technology can be challenging. But it's not as mathematically heavy as other majors, such as engineering. If you have a love of technology and knack for problem-solving, you can succeed in information technology.

Are online IT degrees respected?

Are online IT degrees respected? Yes, if the online IT degree comes from accredited school and recognized program. The reputation of school and program matter more than the learning format. In the fall 2020, the NCES reported some 422 exclusively online institutions.

Note: The insights on this page — excluding school descriptions — were reviewed by an independent third party compensated for their time by TheBestSchools. Page last reviewed November 16, 2023.

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