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Why an Online Information Technology Degree is Worth It

Why an Online Information Technology Degree is Worth It

Whether you’re dipping your toes into the vast and varied field of information technology (IT) for the first time or you’re an established IT professional in some capacity, you’ve likely heard that IT jobs are on the rise - and have been for some time now.

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) projects that employment in computer and information technology jobs will grow by 13% between 2020 and 2030, bringing more than 667,600 new jobs to the workforce in this incredibly essential industry. Moreover, as of May 2020, the median salary for computer and IT professionals is $91,250, making these technical careers very attractive.

Lucrative salaries combined with job security against today’s ever-evolving and, at times, disruptive workforce make IT careers stand out - and the competition to land one is fierce. To market yourself as a desirable applicant, you’ll need an information technology degree, preferably a master’s in information technology, to demonstrate you are technically focused and understand processes like cloud computing, storing and sending big data, and designing and managing systems organizations.

If you’ve ever asked yourself questions like, “is a master’s in information technology worth it?” or “what jobs can you get with an information technology degree?” then you’ve come to the right place. Read on to learn more about why an online IT degree is worthy of your time and financial investment.

EXPLORE MASTER’S IN IT

Is Information Technology a Good Career?

Pursuing a job in IT is a wise career choice for a plethora of reasons - well beyond the high median salary and increased job opportunities projected by the U.S. BLS. Here are a few of the most notable benefits to take into account when considering a career in information technology.

IT Occupations Experience Low Unemployment Rates

The positive momentum for technical careers is only growing - even despite the disruption the U.S. workforce experienced during the COVID-19 pandemic. As of November 2021, unemployment rates among IT professionals were reported to be a low 2.6% compared to the national unemployment rate of 4.2% for all other occupations. Moreover, an estimated 277,000 open IT positions were posted by employers in February 2021 alone. With such low unemployment rates and high job growth, even as the country continues to come off the heels of the pandemic, it’s no surprise that information technology is a stable and reliable industry to work in.

IT Jobs Are Available Across All Job Sectors

Technical positions are a staple in essentially all sectors of the economy. From education to telecommunications, healthcare to retail, entertainment to financial services, IT professionals are integral across more than 150 industries. With such a diverse range of sectors IT professionals work in, you’ll have your pick of where to put your technical skills and knowledge to use. Some of the top-paying industries worth prioritizing include aerospace, e-commerce, medical manufacturing, pharmaceutical manufacturing, natural gas distribution, and agriculture machinery.

IT Careers Are Full of Opportunities to Grow and Advance

Technology is constantly evolving and advancing, which means technical professionals need to quickly adapt to stay relevant in their careers. This particular benefit means that IT careers will inevitably push you to grow with the industry. From learning new programming languages to developing new organizations of systems management, a career in information technology will require you to keep up with the times by polishing and/or advancing your skills and expertise, which will cultivate your skillset and expand your experience.

What Can You Do with an Information Technology Degree?

Now that you have an idea of what the landscape for information technology careers looks like, let’s dive into the actual types of jobs you can earn with an information technology degree. Some typical job titles appropriate for a professional with a degree in IT may include database administrator, IT manager, web developer, and computer network architect, just to name a few.

It’s worth noting, however, that the growing need for tech-savvy IT professionals means there are many career paths you can take in this diverse industry. For most occupations, a minimum of a bachelor’s degree in information technology or a related field is required. Additionally, a master’s in IT is necessary for career advancement.

A few top job titles for IT degree graduates often include:

Software Developers

Software developers are the creative minds behind computer programs. In this career path, you would be responsible for creating applications, analyzing user needs, and creating, testing, and developing software to either solve a problem, provide entertainment, or generally automate a process to be more efficient.

Computer Programmers

Computer programmers work in tandem with software developers, as oftentimes computer programmers will write code to implement the program designs software developers create. As a computer programmer, you would identify and correct mistakes in codes, design simple and complex applications, write programs in a variety of computer languages (e.g. C++, JavaScript, Python, HTML, etc.), and regularly test and debug programs.

Network and Computer Systems Administrators

Network and computer systems administrators are critical positions, as they are responsible for handling tasks associated with computer systems operations. In this role, you’d find yourself installing and supporting data communication systems, organizing computer systems, overseeing data storage, managing telecommunication networks, and so on.

Computer Systems Analysts

Computer systems analysts typically act as a link between management and IT departments at an organization. In this position, typical responsibilities might include reviewing a company’s computer systems and identifying ways to improve their efficiency.

What to Expect from an Online Information Technology Degree

Now that you’re armed with a general understanding of the IT landscape and what you can do with a degree in information technology, you might be curious to learn what to expect from an IT degree.

Here at Champlain College Online (CCO), we offer more than 15 different types of technical degrees and programs catered to wherever you are in your educational journey. Whether you want to begin with an undergraduate certificate, earn an associate degree, begin or finish your baccalaureate, earn your master’s, or upskill with a graduate certificate, we give you every option so you can succeed as an IT professional.

All of our IT degrees and programs are 100% online, with asynchronous content delivery, meaning that you can keep up with your coursework any time, anywhere. Our flexible online learning environment puts you in the driver’s seat so that you can balance online learning with your preexisting professional and familial responsibilities.

Here’s a snapshot of what our undergraduate and graduate online IT programs look like:

Online Undergraduate IT Degrees at Champlain College Online

An IT degree is your ticket to demonstrating the necessary skills and expertise to stand out amongst the competition. At CCO, we offer a full suite of undergraduate certificates, associate degrees, and bachelor’s degrees under the general information technology umbrella. From computer & information systems to data science, software development to web design, we have plenty of options to get you started.

Online Master’s in Information Technology at Champlain College Online

If you already possess an undergraduate degree in a technical field, you may be a great candidate for our 100% online master’s in information technology degree. Our master’s in IT (MS IT) will take your existing technical skills and knowledge to the next level to help you master your craft and advance your skillset. You’ll emerge from the MS IT degree with a strategic, integrated view of information technology that will provide a robust framework for today’s technical professionals to think more critically and approach complex organization challenges more innovatively.

Interested in learning more about our online master’s in IT? Learn more!

About the Author

Rachael Warren

Senior Content Marketing Specialist

Rachael Warren is the Senior Content Marketing Specialist at Champlain College Online, where she is the voice behind the CCO blog and helps tell the college's story across multiple digital platforms. Rachael has extensive experience in writing, editing, and content marketing for mission-driven businesses and non-profit organizations. She holds a B.A. in Communication and a Minor in Sociology from the University of Southern Maine.

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