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Information support specialist education requirements

Updated January 8, 2025
4 min read

There are several educational requirements to become an information support specialist. Information support specialists usually study business, computer science, or computer information systems. 50% of information support specialists hold a bachelor's degree, and 36% hold an associate degree. We analyzed 419 real information support specialist resumes to see exactly what information support specialist education sections show.

The most common colleges for information support specialists are the University of Phoenix and the University of Phoenix.

There are also many online information support specialist courses to help get the education required to be an information support specialist.

What education do you need to become an information support specialist?

What degree do you need to be an information support specialist?

The most common degree for information support specialists is bachelor's degree, with 50% of information support specialists earning that degree. The second and third most common degree levels are associate degree degree at 36% and associate degree degree at 8%.
  • Bachelor's, 50%
  • Associate, 36%
  • Master's, 8%
  • High School Diploma, 3%
  • Other Degrees, 3%

What should I major in to become an information support specialist?

You should major in business to become an information support specialist. 18% of information support specialists major in business. Other common majors for an information support specialist include computer science and computer information systems.

Most common colleges for information support specialists

Information support specialists often get their degrees at University of Phoenix, Middle Tennessee State University, and Strayer University. Here are the most common colleges for information support specialists in the US based on their resumes.
Information support specialist common collegePercentages
University of Phoenix10.20%
Middle Tennessee State University10.20%
Strayer University8.16%
Tennessee State University8.16%
University of Memphis4.08%

Best majors for information support specialists

Best colleges for information support specialists

The best colleges for information support specialists are Stanford University, Northwestern University, and University of Pennsylvania.

An information support specialist with advanced education typically earns a higher salary and has access to better jobs. That's why Zippia looked into the best colleges for information support specialists. 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 information support specialists.

1. Stanford University

Stanford, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$51,354

Enrollment

7,083

2. University of Pennsylvania

Philadelphia, PA • Private

In-state tuition

$55,584

Enrollment

10,764

3. Northwestern University

Evanston, IL • Private

In-state tuition

$54,568

Enrollment

8,451

4. University of Southern California

Los Angeles, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$56,225

Enrollment

19,548

5. California State University - Bakersfield

Bakersfield, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$7,309

Enrollment

9,142

6. SUNY at Binghamton

Vestal, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$9,808

Enrollment

13,990

7. San Diego State University

San Diego, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$7,488

Enrollment

30,018

8. Boston University

Boston, MA • Private

In-state tuition

$53,948

Enrollment

17,238

9. New York University

New York, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$51,828

Enrollment

26,339

10. Worcester Polytechnic Institute

Worcester, MA • Private

In-state tuition

$50,530

Enrollment

4,571

20 best online courses for information support specialists

Advertising disclosure

1. Introduction to Technical Support

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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

coursera

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. Desktop IT Support Level 1 & 2 in real life (Troubleshooting

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4.2
(1,443)

Learn everything in real life Troubleshooting for IT Help Desk , Helpdesk , IT Support , System Administration and IT...

4. Computer Hardware, Operating System and Networking

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4.1
(314)

For Any Graduates/Engineering/Diploma/Arts & Science/Freshers/Home Users/Individuals/Desktop Support/FM/Service Engineer...

5. Computer Hardware and Software

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This course provides foundational understanding of how computers process information through hardware and software. You will investigate the world of Information Technology (IT) and survey hardware components, mobile devices, operating systems, programs and apps, network fundamentals, the Internet, and touch on security and ethics...

6. Network Support Fundamentals

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Dive into the realm of network support with the Network Support Fundamentals course. This online course is meticulously designed to introduce you to the essential skills needed for supporting enterprise networks - one of the most in-demand skill sets in the digital landscape. By the end of this course you will be able to explain network security basics, monitor network performance, and provide essential professional support. Ideal for beginners aiming for an entry-level IT career or current IT...

7. IT Support Technical Skills Bootcamp

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4.5
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Hands-on Technical skills for IT Support Professionals...

8. Basic Computer Course - Windows 7/10 - IT & Desktop Support

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4.7
(1,213)

Basic computer course with troubleshooting skills -computer hardware and computer networking, for IT support technicians...

9. Computer Network Fundamentals- IT Helpdesk & Desktop Support

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4
(409)

Learn the basic fundamentals of computer networking & OSI model for desktop support and IT service desk technicians...

10. IT Support Technical Skills Helpdesk

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4.7
(1,561)

Hands-on Technical skills for IT Support Learners...

11. IT & Technical Support Guide to Helpdesk, Desktop & Servers

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4.2
(1,138)

Learn how the different levels of IT technical support work, from service desk to infrastructure and server support...

12. Advanced IT Troubleshooting for Helpdesk Support Technicians

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4.2
(1,080)

Learn some of the less common IT troubleshooting techniques for Windows computers...

13. Active Directory & Group Policy Administration for IT Techs

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4.5
(651)

Active Directory & Group Policy Administration Basics for Helpdesk and Desktop / IT Support Technicians...

14. Active Directory on Windows Server

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4.6
(8,804)

Learn how to deploy and manage all aspects of Active Directory, Group Policy, DNS and many more technologies...

15. IT/Desktop Computer Support- Troubleshooting for Technicians

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4.2
(306)

Learn how to troubleshoot desktop computer issues as an IT Support Technician on real-world organisational networks...

16. Windows Server 2019: Active Directory, GPO, R. Server Access

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4.7
(4,916)

Training For Beginners - Become a Network Administrator in Microsoft Windows Server 2019 with Remote Server Access!...

17. TOTAL: Active Directory with Windows Server 2016

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4.6
(2,189)

Identity, Access, and Authentication with Microsoft AD and Identity with Windows Server 2016...

18. Windows 10 Troubleshooting

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4.4
(2,331)

This course is designed to give users an understanding and the skills to troubleshoot Windows 10...

19. [Active Directory] Management using Windows PowerShell

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4.5
(1,078)

[Power Shell] Simplified practical knowledge for automation & management of [Active Directory] using Windows Power Shell...

20. Active Directory and Windows Server 40+ Hour with Labs

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4.4
(283)

Domain Controllers (DC), Global Catalog, FSMO, Groups, Users, Security, Domains and Forests ,Trusts, GPO, much more....

Top 10 most affordable universities for information support specialists

The most affordable schools for information support specialists are California State University - Bakersfield, suny farmingdale, and brooklyn college of the city university of new york.

If the best universities for information support specialists 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 information support specialists.

1. California State University - Bakersfield

Bakersfield, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$7,309

Cost of attendance

16,714

2. SUNY Farmingdale

Farmingdale, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$8,306

Cost of attendance

16,091

3. Brooklyn College of the City University of New York

Brooklyn, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$7,240

Cost of attendance

13,991

4. California State University - Dominguez Hills

Carson, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$6,942

Cost of attendance

14,469

5. Brigham Young University

Provo, UT • Private

In-state tuition

$5,620

Cost of attendance

18,136

6. California State University - Long Beach

Long Beach, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$6,798

Cost of attendance

18,306

7. University of Puerto Rico - Mayaguez

Mayaguez, PR • Private

In-state tuition

$4,094

Cost of attendance

14,302

8. California State University - Los Angeles

Los Angeles, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$6,749

Cost of attendance

14,823

9. New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology

Socorro, NM • Private

In-state tuition

$7,770

Cost of attendance

21,244

10. Baruch College of the City University of New York

New York, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$7,262

Cost of attendance

14,046

Top 10 hardest universities to get into for information support specialists

The hardest universities for information support specialists to get into are Stanford University, Northwestern University, and University of Pennsylvania.

Some great schools for information support specialists 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 information support specialists 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. Stanford University

Stanford, CA • Private

Admissions rate

4%

SAT average

1,497

2. Northwestern University

Evanston, IL • Private

Admissions rate

8%

SAT average

1,508

3. University of Pennsylvania

Philadelphia, PA • Private

Admissions rate

8%

SAT average

1,492

4. University of Southern California

Los Angeles, CA • Private

Admissions rate

13%

SAT average

1,445

5. Boston University

Boston, MA • Private

Admissions rate

22%

SAT average

1,420

6. New York University

New York, NY • Private

Admissions rate

20%

SAT average

1,419

7. Vanderbilt University

Nashville, TN • Private

Admissions rate

10%

SAT average

1,514

8. Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute

Troy, NY • Private

Admissions rate

43%

SAT average

1,415

9. George Washington University, The

Washington, DC • Private

Admissions rate

42%

SAT average

1,380

10. University of Rochester

Rochester, NY • Private

Admissions rate

29%

SAT average

1,422

Top 10 easy-to-apply-to universities for information support specialists

The easiest schools for information support specialists to get into are Oklahoma Wesleyan University, barry university, and nyack college.

Some schools are much easier to get into. If you want to start your career as an information support specialist 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 information support specialists.

1. Oklahoma Wesleyan University

Bartlesville, OK • Private

Admissions rate

68%

SAT average

964

2. Barry University

Miami, FL • Private

Admissions rate

91%

SAT average

1,006

3. Nyack College

New York, NY • Private

Admissions rate

98%

SAT average

999

4. La Roche College

Pittsburgh, PA • Private

Admissions rate

99%

SAT average

1,008

5. LIM College

New York, NY • Private

Admissions rate

83%

SAT average

1,061

6. Notre Dame College

Cleveland, OH • Private

Admissions rate

90%

SAT average

994

7. Saint Martin's University

Lacey, WA • Private

Admissions rate

96%

SAT average

1,111

8. Cardinal Stritch University

Milwaukee, WI • Private

Admissions rate

71%

SAT average

1,035

9. Iona College

New Rochelle, NY • Private

Admissions rate

88%

SAT average

1,089

10. Holy Names University

Oakland, CA • Private

Admissions rate

70%

SAT average

849

Average information support specialist salary by education level

Information support specialists with a Master's degree earn more than those without, at $81,619 annually. With a Doctorate degree, information support specialists earn a median annual income of $77,188 compared to $68,968 for information support specialists with an Bachelor's degree.
Information support specialist education levelInformation support specialist salary
Master's Degree$81,619
High School Diploma or Less$60,406
Bachelor's Degree$68,968
Doctorate Degree$77,188
Some College/ Associate Degree$61,996

Information support specialist education FAQs

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Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

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