IT degrees teach you to run and secure the technology organizations depend on. Here is what the coursework covers at each level and what to check before enrolling.

Information technology programs are among the most widely offered degrees at American colleges, and the name covers a lot: networking, cybersecurity, databases, system administration and technical support. That breadth makes the degree flexible, but it also makes programs hard to compare, because two courses with the same title can teach different material. This explainer describes what IT degrees teach at each level, how they differ from computer science, and what to verify before you pay a deposit.

What an IT degree covers, and how it differs from computer science

Information technology focuses on making technology work for an organization: handling data from the moment it is stored to the moment it is delivered, and keeping the systems that do that work running reliably and securely. Computer science focuses on creating technology in the first place, through algorithms, software development and the theoretical foundations of computing. One field builds tools; the other puts them to work and keeps them working.

The two fields overlap. Programming appears in both, and both attract people who like solving problems. But the day-to-day work points in different directions:

Question	Information technology	Computer science
Central focus	Managing and securing existing systems, networks and data	Designing new software, algorithms and computational tools
Typical roles	Network administration, cybersecurity, database management, tech support	Software development, systems analysis, research
Foundation	Practical operation of hardware, software and networks	Strong math and programming foundations

Federal job descriptions follow the same split. Computer and information systems managers, often called IT managers, set an organization’s technology agenda and oversee the staff who carry it out. To reach that role, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reports, people usually build on a bachelor’s degree in computer science or information technology plus time spent working in the field, and some employers prefer a graduate degree. Information security analysts decide which safeguards an organization’s networks and systems need, then put those safeguards in place. Network and computer systems administrators keep those networks and systems operating as they should. Software developers and computer programmers, who design applications and write the code that makes them run, sit closer to the computer science side.

Degrees at every level, from certificate to master’s

IT programs exist at several levels, and the level changes what the credential tends to prepare you for. Our guide to degree levels explained covers the full ladder; the short version for IT looks like this:

• Certificates and course sequences can build a specific skill, such as networking fundamentals, without a full degree.
• Associate degrees take about two years and align with entry-level support and network roles. Federal data shows an associate degree is the usual entry credential for network support specialists, while user support specialists often arrive with some college coursework.
• Bachelor’s degrees are the typical credential for administration, security and management tracks, and for anyone who may want a graduate degree later.
• Master’s degrees are sometimes required or preferred by employers hiring for management roles.

Certifications matter at the entry level, too. Some candidates qualify for support roles with a high school diploma and the right IT certifications, so judge a certificate program on whether it teaches skills employers actually test for, not on its length alone.

Typical coursework, from networking to cybersecurity

IT coursework centers on operating and protecting systems rather than building them from scratch. Program descriptions and occupational summaries point to a common core:

• Networking: how the networks connecting an organization’s computers, from small local setups to wide area links and intranets, are built, adjusted and kept running.
• System administration: setting up servers and similar systems, then supporting and maintaining them over time.
• Cybersecurity: measures that protect networks and data, a topic that appears in both fields but gets heavy emphasis in IT.
• Database management: building and structuring the systems that hold an organization’s data and keep it safe.
• Technical support: diagnosing user problems and documenting fixes.
• Project management and customer service: IT degrees typically touch both, since much of the work involves coordinating people as well as machines.

Computer science coursework, by contrast, leans on theoretical foundations: data structures, algorithms, computational theory and software development, with room for topics like artificial intelligence and machine learning. If a program labeled “IT” spends most of its credits on advanced mathematics and software engineering, check whether it is really a computer science degree under another name, and whether that matches what you want to do after graduation.

Certifications you may earn along the way

Many IT courses align with certifications offered by industry organizations, and some programs build exam preparation directly into the curriculum. Certifications can demonstrate specific skills to employers, and at the support level they can sometimes substitute for formal education. What varies is cost and coverage: some programs include exam fees, others leave them to you. Ask which certifications the curriculum maps to, whether exam vouchers are included in tuition, and whether the program prepares you for current versions of the exams.

How to check whether a program is legitimate

Start with institutional accreditation, the baseline check that a college is recognized by an accreditor the US Department of Education reviews. Our guide to college accreditation walks through that check in a few minutes.

Program-level accreditation is a second layer worth knowing about. ABET, a nonprofit, non-governmental agency, reviews programs across four areas: applied and natural science, computing, engineering and engineering technology. It accredits programs, not institutions, and certificate, training and doctoral programs fall outside its scope. Its Computing Accreditation Commission covers computing programs at the associate, bachelor’s and master’s levels. ABET reports that 4,863 programs at 950 colleges and universities in 42 countries hold its accreditation, and that more than 200,000 students graduate from ABET-accredited programs each year. Program accreditation is voluntary, so a legitimate program can lack it; what matters is that any claim a school makes can be confirmed by the accreditor itself.

Delivery format should not change the standard. ABET holds online programs to the identical criteria it applies to campus-based ones, and it reserves its “100 percent online” label for programs where every graduation requirement can be met with online course content.

Caution: Some unaccredited schools and fake accreditors exist to sell worthless degrees, and technology programs are a common pitch. If a school’s accreditation cannot be confirmed in the records of recognized accreditors, walk away. Our guide to diploma mills explains the warning signs.

Illustration: a program’s homepage says it is ABET-accredited. You search the institution in ABET’s own program search tool. The school appears, but only its engineering technology programs are listed, not the IT degree you were considering. That is the kind of detail that matters: the accreditation belongs to different programs. You would then ask the school in writing which accreditor covers the IT program before paying an application fee.

What IT degrees cost and how outcomes vary

Published tuition for IT programs varies widely by institution type and delivery format, so compare total price rather than a single per-credit figure. Our guide to the College Scorecard shows how to pull federal data on cost, graduation and earnings for a specific school and program.

Outcomes also vary more than marketing suggests. Federal projections put the computer and information technology group as a whole on a quicker growth path than the average across all occupations between 2025 and 2035, with roughly 280,000 openings expected each year on average. But the growth is not even. Computer support specialist jobs are expected to shrink 3 percent over the decade, even though about 48,700 openings a year are still expected, mostly from workers transferring to other occupations or leaving the labor force. The outlook for computer and information systems managers is much brighter: 16 percent growth over the same period, well above the norm for all occupations.

Median pay reflects those differences. Computer network support specialists earned a median of $76,220 in May 2025, and user support specialists $61,860. Computer and information systems managers earned a median of $175,140, though that role typically requires years of work experience on top of a degree. The Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Occupational Outlook Handbook is the official source for these figures, and it lets you compare duties, growth and pay across the occupations an IT degree can lead to.

Questions to ask before you enroll

Admissions representatives should be able to answer these in writing, not just on a call:

• Which institutional accreditor holds the school’s accreditation, and which accreditor (if any) accredits the IT program specifically?
• What share of the program’s credits are technical, and which courses cover networking, security and databases?
• Which certifications does the curriculum align with, and are exam fees included in tuition?
• How do transfer credits and credit for prior learning or work experience work here?
• What is the total estimated cost, including fees, for someone on your expected schedule?
• Where do graduates of this program actually work, and what data supports any employment claims?

That last question deserves emphasis. A program can be fully legitimate and still be a poor match if its coursework points toward a role you do not want. Match the curriculum, the degree level and the total cost to your own goal, and confirm every claim in an official database before you enroll.

Readers ask

Is an IT degree the same as a computer science degree?

No. IT focuses on implementing, managing and securing technology for an organization, while computer science focuses on building software and studying computation. Programming appears in both fields, but the day-to-day work points in different directions.

Do I need a bachelor’s degree to work in IT?

Not always. An associate degree is the usual entry credential for network support specialists, while user support roles often call for some college coursework. Some candidates qualify with a high school diploma plus relevant IT certifications, and management roles generally call for a bachelor’s degree plus time in the field.

How can I tell whether an IT program is legitimate?

Confirm the school’s institutional accreditation and any program-level claim in the accreditor’s own database. ABET, an independent nonprofit accreditor, reviews computing programs at the associate, bachelor’s and master’s levels and offers a public program search tool.

What does IT coursework usually include?

Networking, system administration, cybersecurity, database management and technical support, often with project management and customer service mixed in. Curricula vary by program, so compare course lists rather than degree titles.

Admission rules, accreditation status and licensing requirements change. This guide is general information for students in the U.S.; confirm the details with the school, its accreditor or your state licensing board before you enroll.