Explore jobs
Find specific jobs
Explore careers
Explore professions
Best companies
Explore companies
Desktop support technician education requirements
Updated January 8, 2025
4 min read
There are several educational requirements to become a desktop support technician. Desktop support technicians usually study computer information systems, computer science, or information technology. 46% of desktop support technicians hold a bachelor's degree, and 38% hold an associate degree. We analyzed 16,160 real desktop support technician resumes to see exactly what desktop support technician education sections show.
The most common colleges for desktop support technicians are the DeVry University and the DeVry University.
There are also many online desktop support technician courses to help get the education required to be a desktop support technician.
There are certain desktop support technician certifications that you should consider. These desktop support technician certifications include Certified Network Computer Technician (CNCT) and Security 5 Certification.
What education do you need to become a desktop support technician?
What degree do you need to be a desktop support technician?
- Bachelor's, 46%
- Associate, 38%
- Diploma, 5%
- High School Diploma, 5%
- Other Degrees, 6%
What should I major in to become a desktop support technician?
- Computer Science, 15%
- Computer Networking, 11%
- Other Majors, 44%
Most common colleges for desktop support technicians
| Desktop support technician common college | Percentages |
|---|---|
| DeVry University | 23.52% |
| University of Phoenix | 19.30% |
| Strayer University | 7.84% |
| University of Maryland - College Park | 4.10% |
| Western Washington University | 3.86% |
Best majors for desktop support technicians
| Rank | Major | Percentages |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Computer Information Systems | 15.4% |
| 2 | Computer Science | 15.4% |
| 3 | Information Technology | 14.8% |
| 4 | Computer Networking | 10.7% |
| 5 | Business | 10.1% |
Best colleges for desktop support technicians
The best colleges for desktop support technicians are University of Pennsylvania, Carnegie Mellon University, and Stanford University.
A desktop support technician with advanced education typically earns a higher salary and has access to better jobs. That's why Zippia looked into the best colleges for desktop support technicians. We based this list on several metrics: admissions rate, retention rate, mean earnings of graduates, the ratio of working vs. non-working students ten years after admission, the average cost of attendance, and median debt for graduates who become desktop support technicians.
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
20 best online courses for desktop support technicians
Advertising disclosure
1. Introduction to Technical Support
Technical Support professionals are in great demand! This is the first course in the IBM IT Support Professional Certificate program, designed to prepare you for a rewarding career in technical support. You will begin this self-paced course by learning what Informational Technology (IT) support is all about. You'll find out the roles and responsibilities of Technical Support professionals and become familiar with all the different career paths you can take in Technical Support. You will also...
2. IBM IT Support
Prepare for an in-demand career in Information Technology (IT). In this program, you’ll develop a strong foundation in IT fundamentals, networking, cybersecurity, and cloud computing to get job-ready in as little as 3 months, with no prior experience or degree needed to get started.\n\nAlmost every organization, business, or individual relies on technology. A career in IT Support is about providing technological assistance to better optimize organizational efficiency. This can include...
3. Computer Network Fundamentals- IT Helpdesk & Desktop Support
Learn the basic fundamentals of computer networking & OSI model for desktop support and IT service desk technicians...
4. 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...
5. IT/Desktop Computer Support- Troubleshooting for Technicians
Learn how to troubleshoot desktop computer issues as an IT Support Technician on real-world organisational networks...
6. Basic Computer Course - Windows 7/10 - IT & Desktop Support
Basic computer course with troubleshooting skills -computer hardware and computer networking, for IT support technicians...
7. Computer Hardware, Operating System and Networking
For Any Graduates/Engineering/Diploma/Arts & Science/Freshers/Home Users/Individuals/Desktop Support/FM/Service Engineer...
8. IT & Technical Support Guide to Helpdesk, Desktop & Servers
Learn how the different levels of IT technical support work, from service desk to infrastructure and server support...
9. IT Support Technical Skills Bootcamp
Hands-on Technical skills for IT Support Professionals...
10. IT Support Technical Skills Helpdesk
Hands-on Technical skills for IT Support Learners...
11. Active Directory & Group Policy Administration for IT Techs
Active Directory & Group Policy Administration Basics for Helpdesk and Desktop / IT Support Technicians...
12. Advanced IT Troubleshooting for Helpdesk Support Technicians
Learn some of the less common IT troubleshooting techniques for Windows computers...
13. Remote Desktop Services Windows Server 2016
Learn RDS Sessions and Application on Windows Server 2016 and Get Everything You Need To Start Deploying RDS...
14. Deploying Windows Virtual Desktop in Microsoft Azure
Delivering Remote Desktops and Apps in Azure with Windows Virtual Desktop and Azure AD Domain Services...
15. AZ-140 Azure Virtual Desktop (AVD)
Journey to Cloud Desktop...
16. Windows Server 2019: Active Directory, GPO, R. Server Access
Training For Beginners - Become a Network Administrator in Microsoft Windows Server 2019 with Remote Server Access!...
17. IT Support/HelpDesk Fundamentals - 9 Topics in one course!
Master the skills and attributes sought after by employers for IT Help Desk, IT Support, and IT Technician positions...
18. The Complete Computer Basics Course: Become a Power User
Basic Computer Course - IT Support - Computer Fundamentals - Desktop Support - Basic Computer Skills...
19. Zero to Hero with Azure Virtual Desktop AVD
Getting started with Azure Virtual Desktop (AVD) ARM (previously named Windows Virtual Desktop WVD)...
20. Customer Service & Support For Customer Service Executives
Learn Customer Service Skills & Provide Excellent Customer Support, Customer Experience & How To Manage Upset Customers...
Top 10 most affordable universities for desktop support technicians
The most affordable schools for desktop support technicians are Brooklyn College of the City University of New York, hunter college of the city university of new york, and clayton state university.
If the best universities for desktop support technicians are out of your price range, check out these affordable schools. After factoring in in-state tuition and fees, the average cost of attendance, admissions rate, average net price, and mean earnings after six years, we found that these are the most affordable schools for desktop support technicians.
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 technicians
The hardest universities for desktop support technicians to get into are University of Pennsylvania, Carnegie Mellon University, and Stanford University.
Some great schools for desktop support technicians are hard to get into, but they also set your career up for greater success. The list below shows the most challenging universities to get into for desktop support technicians based on an institution's admissions rates, average SAT scores accepted, median ACT scores accepted, and mean earnings of students six 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 easy-to-apply-to universities for desktop support technicians
The easiest schools for desktop support technicians to get into are Saint Martin's University, nyack college, and oklahoma wesleyan university.
Some schools are much easier to get into. If you want to start your career as a desktop support technician without much hassle, check out the list of schools where you will be accepted in no time. We compiled admissions rates, average SAT scores, average ACT scores, and average salary of students six years after graduation to uncover which were the easiest schools to get into for desktop support technicians.
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 technician salary by education level
| Desktop support technician education level | Desktop support technician salary |
|---|---|
| Master's Degree | $48,689 |
| High School Diploma or Less | $39,557 |
| Bachelor's Degree | $43,346 |
| Doctorate Degree | $46,849 |
| Some College/ Associate Degree | $40,273 |
Desktop support technician education FAQs
Have more questions? See all answers to common computer and mathematical questions.
Search for desktop support technician jobs
Updated January 8, 2025
Updated January 8, 2025