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 information systems 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 Information Systems Specialists
Best Colleges For Information Systems 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
Information Systems Specialist Education Requirements
The education needed to be an information systems specialist is normally a bachelor's degree. Information systems specialists usually study business, computer science or computer information systems. 60% of information systems specialists hold a bachelor's degree and 24% hold a associate degree. We found these by analyzing 3,866 information systems specialist resumes to investigate the topic of information systems specialist education more precisely.
The most common colleges for students to pursue their goal of becoming an information systems specialist are University of Phoenix and DeVry University. We also broke down what colleges provide the best overall education for an information systems specialist. Students have a great path to earning their information systems specialist qualifications at the following schools:
- Stanford University
- University of Pennsylvania
- Northwestern University
If you're interested in getting a college degree in an affordable college for information systems specialists - California State University - Bakersfield is an excellent option for you. If your SAT or ACT score aren't as high as you'd like, you can look at Oklahoma Wesleyan University, as the admission requirements aren't too selective. On the other end of that spectrum are the Stanford University, Northwestern University and University of Pennsylvania.
For those who would rather stay in your pajamas during the day, we prepared some online courses that can help in information systems specialist education paths.
We prepared a list of an information systems specialist certifications that you should consider. The necessary certifications that information systems specialists must have to succeed are Network 5 Certification and Certified Information Technology Professional (CITP).
What Education Do You Need To Become an Information Systems Specialist?
What degree do you need to be an Information Systems Specialist?
The most common degree for information systems specialists is bachelor's degree 60% of information systems specialists earn that degree. A close second is associate degree with 24% and rounding it off is master's degree with 9%.
- Bachelors, 60%
- Associate, 24%
- Masters, 9%
- High School Diploma, 4%
- Other Degrees, 3%
What Should I Major in to Become an Information Systems Specialist?
Most information systems specialists, 20% to be exact, major in business. Some other common majors for an information systems specialist include computer science and computer information systems majors.
- Business, 20%
- Computer Science, 18%
- Other Majors, 40%
Most Common Colleges For Information Systems Specialists
Here are the most common colleges for an information systems specialist career in the US based on their resumes. Advocates often get their degree in University of Phoenix, DeVry University, and Strayer University .
| Information Systems Specialist Common College | Percentages |
|---|---|
| University of Phoenix | 20.14% |
| DeVry University | 11.95% |
| Strayer University | 9.22% |
| University of Maryland - College Park | 7.51% |
| Marshall University | 4.78% |
Best Majors For Information Systems Specialists
| Rank | Major | Percentages |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Business | 19.7% |
| 2 | Computer Science | 17.6% |
| 3 | Computer Information Systems | 12.8% |
| 4 | Information Technology | 8.7% |
| 5 | Information Systems | 4.6% |
20 Best Online Courses for Information Systems Specialists
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1. Introduction to Hardware and Operating Systems
If you're ready to enter the world of Information Technology (IT), you need job-ready skills. This course enables you to develop the skills to work with computer hardware and operating systems, and is your first step to prepare for all types of tech related careers that require IT Fundamental skills. First, learn about the essential software brain of a computer—its operating system software when you explore Microsoft Windows. Next, discover internal key hardware computer components, including...
2. Information Systems Auditing, Controls and Assurance
The course is awarded The Best Free Online Courses of All Time, and Best Online Courses of the Year (2021 Edition) by Class Central (http://www.classcentral.com). --- Information systems (IS) are important assets to business organizations and are ubiquitous in our daily lives. With the latest IS technologies emerging, such as Big Data, FinTech, Virtual Banks, there are more concerns from the public on how organizations maintain systems’ integrity, such as data privacy, information security, the...
3. Information Technology Essentials
Introduction to Information Technology and Information Systems...
4. Active Directory on Windows Server
Learn how to deploy and manage all aspects of Active Directory, Group Policy, DNS and many more technologies...
5. 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...
6. Information Technology (IT) and Cloud Fundamentals
In today’s connected world, core knowledge of IT hardware, software, networking, cybersecurity, and cloud technologies is vital for almost every function, or role within an organization. Adding storage, updating an operating system, connecting to a network, recognizing phishing, and setting up Cloud instances are some of the skills employees need or need help with. This five-course specialization provides prerequisite skills for almost all IT careers, including technical support specialist,...
7. TOTAL: Active Directory with Windows Server 2016
Identity, Access, and Authentication with Microsoft AD and Identity with Windows Server 2016...
8. 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...
9. Computer Hardware and Software
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...
10. Technical Support Case Studies and Capstone
This course allows you to show what you’ve learned in the previous IT Technical Support professional certification courses and apply that knowledge to realistic situations. The IT Technical Support Capstone leads you through a series of technical support case studies that require hands-on work to resolve. You will practice analyzing user help requests and troubleshooting various issues. You’ll demonstrate your knowledge of hardware, software, networking, security, and cloud computing. You’ll...
11. IT Support Technical Skills Bootcamp
Hands-on Technical skills for IT Support Professionals...
12. The Absolute Beginners Guide to Information Technology 2022
Gain a solid foundation knowledge of all 4 main branches of Information Technology...
13. System Administration and IT Infrastructure Services
This course will transition you from working on a single computer to an entire fleet. Systems administration is the field of IT that’s responsible for maintaining reliable computers systems in a multi-user environment. In this course, you’ll learn about the infrastructure services that keep all organizations, big and small, up and running. We’ll deep dive on cloud so that you’ll understand everything from typical cloud infrastructure setups to how to manage cloud resources. You'll also learn...
14. Introduction to Computer Information Systems
This Specialization is intended for anyone seeking to learn basic computer skills. Through 3 courses, you will study computer hardware, software, and data safety. You will also learn about digital literacy and productivity tools. These courses will prepare you for a number of jobs within the field of computer information systems...
15. 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!...
16. Beginner's Guide to Information Technology
Learn the basics of Information Technology and Computer Engineering...
17. Operating Systems and You: Becoming a Power User
In this course -- through a combination of video lectures, demonstrations, and hands-on practice -- you’ll learn about the main components of an operating system and how to perform critical tasks like managing software and users, and configuring hardware. By the end of this course you’ll be able to: ● navigate the Windows and Linux filesystems using a graphical user interface and command line interpreter ● set up users, groups, and permissions for account access ● install, configure, and remove...
18. Windows 10 Troubleshooting
This course is designed to give users an understanding and the skills to troubleshoot Windows 10...
19. [Active Directory] Management using Windows PowerShell
[PowerShell] Simplified practical knowledge for automation & management of [Active Directory] using Windows PowerShell...
20. Certified Information Systems Security Officer (CISSO)
Certified Information Systems Security Officer (CISSO) Certification Exam Prep Course...
Top 10 Affordable Universities For Information Systems 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 information systems 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 Systems 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. 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 Easier To Apply Universities For Information Systems 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. 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 Systems Specialist Salary by Education Level
Information systems specialists with a Masters degree earn more than those without, at $90,198 annually. With a Doctorate degree, information systems specialists earn a median annual income of $85,657 compared to $77,181 for information systems specialists with an Bachelors degree.
| Information Systems Specialist Education Level | Information Systems Specialist Salary |
|---|---|
| High School Diploma or Less | $68,272 |
| Master's Degree | $90,198 |
| Bachelor's Degree | $77,181 |
| Doctorate Degree | $85,657 |
| Some College/ Associate Degree | $69,934 |