In a lot of cases, a higher education can mean a higher salary or even a better job. That's why we found out the best colleges for desktop support specialists. We based this list on these metrics: admissions rate, retention rate, mean earnings of students working, ratio of working vs. non-working students 10 years after admission, average cost of attendance and median debt for graduates.
Best Colleges And Majors For Desktop Support Specialists
Best Colleges For Desktop Support Specialists
1. University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, PA • Private
In-State Tuition
$55,584
Enrollment
10,764
2. Carnegie Mellon University
Pittsburgh, PA • Private
In-State Tuition
$55,465
Enrollment
6,483
3. University of Southern California
Los Angeles, CA • Private
In-State Tuition
$56,225
Enrollment
19,548
4. University of California, Irvine
Irvine, CA • Private
In-State Tuition
$13,700
Enrollment
29,722
5. New York University
New York, NY • Private
In-State Tuition
$51,828
Enrollment
26,339
6. Boston University
Boston, MA • Private
In-State Tuition
$53,948
Enrollment
17,238
7. North Carolina State University
Raleigh, NC • Private
In-State Tuition
$9,101
Enrollment
23,708
8. Stevens Institute of Technology
Hoboken, NJ • Private
In-State Tuition
$52,202
Enrollment
3,420
9. University of Minnesota - Twin Cities
Minneapolis, MN • Private
In-State Tuition
$14,760
Enrollment
31,451
10. Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
Troy, NY • Private
In-State Tuition
$53,880
Enrollment
6,590
Desktop Support Specialist Education Requirements
The education needed to be a desktop support specialist is normally a bachelor's degree. Desktop support specialists usually study computer science, computer information systems or information technology. 52% of desktop support specialists hold a bachelor's degree and 33% hold a associate degree. We found these by analyzing 6,210 desktop support specialist resumes to investigate the topic of desktop support specialist education more precisely.
The most common colleges for students to pursue their goal of becoming a desktop support specialist are DeVry University and University of Phoenix. We also broke down what colleges provide the best overall education for a desktop support specialist. Students have a great path to earning their desktop support specialist qualifications at the following schools:
- University of Pennsylvania
- Carnegie Mellon University
- University of Southern California
If you're interested in getting a college degree in an affordable college for desktop support specialists - Brooklyn College of the City University of New York is an excellent option for you. If your SAT or ACT score aren't as high as you'd like, you can look at Saint Martin's University, as the admission requirements aren't too selective. On the other end of that spectrum are the University of Pennsylvania, Carnegie Mellon University and Stanford University.
For those who would rather stay in your pajamas during the day, we prepared some online courses that can help in desktop support specialist education paths.
We prepared a list of a desktop support specialist certifications that you should consider. The necessary certifications that desktop support specialists must have to succeed are Security 5 Certification and Certified Network Computer Technician (CNCT).
What Education Do You Need To Become a Desktop Support Specialist?
What degree do you need to be a Desktop Support Specialist?
The most common degree for desktop support specialists is bachelor's degree 52% of desktop support specialists earn that degree. A close second is associate degree with 33% and rounding it off is diploma with 4%.
- Bachelors, 52%
- Associate, 33%
- Diploma, 4%
- Masters, 4%
- Other Degrees, 7%
What Should I Major in to Become a Desktop Support Specialist?
Most desktop support specialists, 19% to be exact, major in computer science. Some other common majors for a desktop support specialist include computer information systems and information technology majors.
- Computer Science, 19%
- Business, 11%
- Other Majors, 43%
Most Common Colleges For Desktop Support Specialists
Here are the most common colleges for a desktop support specialist career in the US based on their resumes. Advocates often get their degree in DeVry University, University of Phoenix, and University of Houston .
| Desktop Support Specialist Common College | Percentages |
|---|---|
| DeVry University | 20.00% |
| University of Phoenix | 15.56% |
| University of Houston | 7.41% |
| Strayer University | 5.93% |
| American InterContinental University | 4.44% |
Best Majors For Desktop Support Specialists
| Rank | Major | Percentages |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Computer Science | 18.9% |
| 2 | Computer Information Systems | 14.3% |
| 3 | Information Technology | 13.1% |
| 4 | Business | 11.2% |
| 5 | Computer Networking | 9.6% |
20 Best Online Courses for Desktop Support Specialists
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2. Technical Support Fundamentals
This course is the first of a series that aims to prepare you for a role as an entry-level IT Support Specialist. In this course, you’ll be introduced to the world of Information Technology, or IT. You’ll learn about the different facets of Information Technology, like computer hardware, the Internet, computer software, troubleshooting, and customer service. This course covers a wide variety of topics in IT that are designed to give you an overview of what’s to come in this certificate program...
3. Desktop IT Support Level 1 & 2 in real life (Troubleshooting
Learn everything in real life Troubleshooting for IT Help Desk, Helpdesk, IT Support, System Administration and IT...
4. Computer Network Fundamentals- IT Helpdesk & Desktop Support
Learn the basic fundamentals of computer networking & OSI model for desktop support and IT service desk technicians...
5. Introduction to Technical Support
Gain the daily work skills and knowledge you’ll need for IT Technical Support career success. This course, part of the IBM Technical Support Professional Certificate, is designed for beginners with no prior IT experience or formal degree. Get an insider’s view into IT Support work. Learn about IT Support roles and levels, the support escalation matrix, ticketing systems, common support tools, and remote support software. Then, hear about career opportunities and career pathways from...
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19. Active Directory Administration for Helpdesk Technicians
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20. Tableau Desktop Specialist /Data Analyst Practice Tests 2022
6 MASTER PREP SERIES with 177 Q's + Study Guide + Tips & Instruction Guide+ Weekly Hands-on Assignments...
Top 10 Affordable Universities For Desktop Support Specialists
If those top 10 were a bit out of your price range, you might want to check these schools instead. After factoring in in-state tuition and fees, average cost of attendance, admissions rate, average net price and mean earnings after 6 years, we found that these are the most affordable schools for desktop support specialists.
1. Brooklyn College of the City University of New York
Brooklyn, NY • Private
In-State Tuition
$7,240
Cost of Attendance
13,991
2. Hunter College of the City University of New York
New York, NY • Private
In-State Tuition
$7,182
Cost of Attendance
13,998
3. Clayton State University
Morrow, GA • Private
In-State Tuition
$5,419
Cost of Attendance
17,697
4. Brigham Young University
Provo, UT • Private
In-State Tuition
$5,620
Cost of Attendance
18,136
5. California State University - East Bay
Hayward, CA • Private
In-State Tuition
$6,983
Cost of Attendance
21,371
6. Queens College of the City University of New York
Queens, NY • Private
In-State Tuition
$7,338
Cost of Attendance
14,281
7. Inter American University of Puerto Rico Ponce
Mercedita, PR • Private
In-State Tuition
$5,914
Cost of Attendance
13,564
8. Inter American University of Puerto Rico Bayamon
Bayamon, PR • Private
In-State Tuition
$5,940
Cost of Attendance
13,508
9. Purdue University
West Lafayette, IN • Private
In-State Tuition
$9,992
Cost of Attendance
22,430
10. Inter American University of Puerto Rico Barranquitas
Barranquitas, PR • Private
In-State Tuition
$5,902
Cost of Attendance
13,479
Top 10 Hardest Universities To Get Into For Desktop Support Specialists
Some people like a challenge. Well, we challenge you to get into one of these schools. It's not going to be easy. We know this based on these institutions' admissions rates, average SAT scores accepted, median ACT scores accepted and mean earnings of students 6 years after admission.
1. University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, PA • Private
Admissions Rate
8%
SAT Average
1,492
2. Carnegie Mellon University
Pittsburgh, PA • Private
Admissions Rate
17%
SAT Average
1,507
3. Stanford University
Stanford, CA • Private
Admissions Rate
4%
SAT Average
1,497
4. Northwestern University
Evanston, IL • Private
Admissions Rate
8%
SAT Average
1,508
5. University of Southern California
Los Angeles, CA • Private
Admissions Rate
13%
SAT Average
1,445
6. Boston University
Boston, MA • Private
Admissions Rate
22%
SAT Average
1,420
7. New York University
New York, NY • Private
Admissions Rate
20%
SAT Average
1,419
8. Vanderbilt University
Nashville, TN • Private
Admissions Rate
10%
SAT Average
1,514
9. Stevens Institute of Technology
Hoboken, NJ • Private
Admissions Rate
41%
SAT Average
1,412
10. Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
Troy, NY • Private
Admissions Rate
43%
SAT Average
1,415
Top 10 Easier To Apply Universities For Desktop Support Specialists
Why make getting a job harder on yourself than it has to be? With these colleges, you're sure to be accepted in no time. We compiled admissions rates, average SAT scores, average ACT scores and average salary of students 6 years after graduation in order to uncover which were the easiest schools to get into.
1. Saint Martin's University
Lacey, WA • Private
Admissions Rate
96%
SAT Average
1,111
2. Nyack College
New York, NY • Private
Admissions Rate
98%
SAT Average
999
3. Oklahoma Wesleyan University
Bartlesville, OK • Private
Admissions Rate
68%
SAT Average
964
4. Barry University
Miami, FL • Private
Admissions Rate
91%
SAT Average
1,006
5. Linfield College
McMinnville, OR • Private
Admissions Rate
81%
SAT Average
1,117
6. La Roche College
Pittsburgh, PA • Private
Admissions Rate
99%
SAT Average
1,008
7. Kean University
Union, NJ • Private
Admissions Rate
86%
SAT Average
991
8. Saint Mary's University of Minnesota
Winona, MN • Private
Admissions Rate
91%
SAT Average
1,148
9. Capitol Technology University
Laurel, MD • Private
Admissions Rate
69%
SAT Average
1,070
10. Cardinal Stritch University
Milwaukee, WI • Private
Admissions Rate
71%
SAT Average
1,035
Average Desktop Support Specialist Salary by Education Level
Desktop support specialists with a Masters degree earn more than those without, at $53,080 annually. With a Doctorate degree, desktop support specialists earn a median annual income of $50,904 compared to $46,781 for desktop support specialists with an Bachelors degree.
| Desktop Support Specialist Education Level | Desktop Support Specialist Salary |
|---|---|
| High School Diploma or Less | $42,355 |
| Master's Degree | $53,080 |
| Bachelor's Degree | $46,781 |
| Doctorate Degree | $50,904 |
| Some College/ Associate Degree | $43,188 |