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Information technology/support technician education requirements

Updated January 8, 2025
4 min read

There are several educational requirements to become an information technology/support technician. Information technology/support technicians usually study computer science, information technology, or computer information systems. 51% of information technology/support technicians hold a bachelor's degree, and 32% hold an associate degree. We analyzed 17,473 real information technology/support technician resumes to see exactly what information technology/support technician education sections show.

The most common colleges for information technology/support technicians are the University of Phoenix and the University of Phoenix.

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

There are certain information technology/support technician certifications that you should consider. These information technology/support technician certifications include Network 5 Certification and Certified Information Technology Professional (CITP).

What education do you need to become an information technology/support technician?

What degree do you need to be an information technology/support technician?

The most common degree for information technology/support technicians is bachelor's degree, with 51% of information technology/support technicians earning that degree. The second and third most common degree levels are associate degree degree at 32% and associate degree degree at 6%.
  • Bachelor's, 51%
  • Associate, 32%
  • High School Diploma, 6%
  • Master's, 5%
  • Other Degrees, 6%

What should I major in to become an information technology/support technician?

You should major in computer science to become an information technology/support technician. 19% of information technology/support technicians major in computer science. Other common majors for an information technology/support technician include information technology and computer information systems.

Most common colleges for information technology/support technicians

Information technology/support technicians often get their degrees at University of Phoenix, DeVry University, and Western Washington University. Here are the most common colleges for information technology/support technicians in the US based on their resumes.
Information technology/support technician common collegePercentages
University of Phoenix20.77%
DeVry University20.57%
Western Washington University5.51%
Strayer University4.92%
University of Maryland - College Park4.04%

Best majors for information technology/support technicians

Best colleges for information technology/support technicians

The best colleges for information technology/support technicians are University of Pennsylvania, Carnegie Mellon University, and Stanford University.

An information technology/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 information technology/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 information technology/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 information technology/support technicians

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

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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

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4
(409)

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

4. 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...

5. 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...

6. IT/Desktop Computer Support- Troubleshooting for Technicians

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4.2
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Learn how to troubleshoot desktop computer issues as an IT Support Technician on real-world organisational networks...

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

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

8. IT Support Technical Skills Helpdesk

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

9. IT Support Technical Skills Bootcamp

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

10. Computer Hardware, Operating System and Networking

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

11. Advanced IT Troubleshooting for Helpdesk Support Technicians

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4.2
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Learn some of the less common IT troubleshooting techniques for Windows computers...

12. Active Directory & Group Policy Administration for IT Techs

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4.5
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Active Directory & Group Policy Administration Basics for Helpdesk and Desktop / IT Support Technicians...

13. 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...

14. IT Support/HelpDesk Fundamentals - 9 Topics in one course!

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4.6
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Master the skills and attributes sought after by employers for IT Help Desk, IT Support, and IT Technician positions...

15. Information Technology Essentials

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4.4
(575)

Introduction to Information Technology and Information Systems...

16. Customer Service & Support For Customer Service Executives

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4.5
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Learn Customer Service Skills & Provide Excellent Customer Support, Customer Experience & How To Manage Upset Customers...

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

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

18. Information Security Basics for IT Support Technicians

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4.3
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Learn the basics of information security and what you need to know to be compliant with data protection regulations...

19. Active Directory on Windows Server

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

20. Customer Service, Customer Support, And Customer Experience

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4.6
(2,666)

Customer service, customer support, and customer experience training. Loyal clients through world-class customer service...

Top 10 most affordable universities for information technology/support technicians

The most affordable schools for information technology/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 information technology/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 information technology/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 information technology/support technicians

The hardest universities for information technology/support technicians to get into are University of Pennsylvania, Carnegie Mellon University, and Stanford University.

Some great schools for information technology/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 information technology/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 information technology/support technicians

The easiest schools for information technology/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 an information technology/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 information technology/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 information technology/support technician salary by education level

Information technology/support technicians with a Master's degree earn more than those without, at $56,947 annually. With a Doctorate degree, information technology/support technicians earn a median annual income of $53,840 compared to $48,080 for information technology/support technicians with an Bachelor's degree.
Information technology/support technician education levelInformation technology/support technician salary
Master's Degree$56,947
High School Diploma or Less$42,084
Bachelor's Degree$48,080
Doctorate Degree$53,840
Some College/ Associate Degree$43,198

Information technology/support technician 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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