Is an Information Technology (IT) Degree Worth It?

Information technology (IT) is an evolving field that refers to all the ways that businesses use technology. If that sounds like a lot, it is. Information technology is broad with many opportunities to find your niche. From hardware and software to data and databases, you can specialize in a range of ways.

If you're interested in problem-solving, creative thinking and staying on top of the newest trends in technology, learning more about IT might be the next step in your educational or professional journey.

Majoring in Information Technology

Maybe you have an interest in computer systems, or maybe you know an IT specialist in your own life. Or maybe you’re like Josh Tolentino ’23, who pursued his bachelor’s in IT at Southern New Hampshire University (SNHU) because of his role as his family’s fix-it guy.

The more time he spent fixing technology that wasn’t working, the more he realized that he wanted to pursue IT, instead of nursing like his family expected. His family wasn't sure about IT at first, but now that he’s graduated? “My family feels amazed. It’s even reached my family members in the Philippines," Tolentino said. "My family couldn’t be any prouder or happier."

If you’re thinking about getting a bachelor’s degree in information technology, you have the option to get a Bachelor of Science (BS) or a Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree. Both BA and BS degrees will require 120 credits and often take around four years to finish, but the focus — and as a result, course requirements — can vary.

At SNHU, for example, you can get your IT degree as either a BA or a BS. While the two degrees share the same core curriculum needed to build a solid foundation in IT, there are some distinctions to keep in mind if you’re choosing between the two.

BA in IT

At SNHU, the BA in IT has room for 21 free elective credits. This degree can be a good fit if you already work in IT, and you’re looking for additional skills or a career change. The free elective credits can be especially transfer-friendly.

BS in IT

The BS in IT, on the other hand, offers fewer free elective credits, but provides you the opportunity to specialize in an area of interest. You can select one of five concentrations at SNHU:

• Business Management
• Cybersecurity
• Data Analytics
• Project Management for IT
• Software Development

What You’ll Learn in Your IT Degree

During an IT degree, you can learn the skills and knowledge needed for various IT careers. The technological infrastructure that makes today’s world possible is vast, and your coursework will cover a range of topics.

To get an idea of what you might learn in an IT degree, check out these three courses from SNHU’s BA and BS in IT.

'Introduction to Scripting' (3 credits)

In "Introduction to Scripting," you’ll learn about programming concepts that will be foundational in your IT degree, like:

• Data types
• Decision statements
• File handling
• Functions and loops
• Variables

This course also will also teach you how to use common scripting languages and develop your own simple scripts.

'Fundamentals of Information Technology' (3 credits)

"Fundamentals of Information Technology" offers an overview of the IT field and the knowledge and skills needed for IT professionals. This course will give you the opportunity to explore both the various technologies used in IT and the roles and responsibilities of different IT professionals.

'Communication in STEM Professions' (3 credits) 

Technology skills aren’t the only ones IT professionals need. In addition to working with technology, they work in organizational environments where they have to communicate with other teammates, departments and stakeholders.

In "Communication in STEM Professions," you’ll learn how to communicate technical and non-technical information to experts and non-experts alike.

What to Do With a Bachelor’s in IT

Once you’ve graduated with your bachelor’s degree in information technology, there are many paths your academic or professional career might take. For Tolentino, he sees his bachelor’s degree as another step in a lifetime of learning and travel, and intends to pursue a master's degree.

“I really want to be an expert in my field. One of my biggest goals is to be an expat overseas — and take any IT certification and take anything I’ve learned, especially from SNHU, and work overseas," Tolentino said. "I want to be able to travel with this degree and keep leveraging myself to do better things.”

There are a variety of IT jobs you might choose to pursue depending on your interests or specializations.

Here are just a couple of the computer and information technology careers you can pursue with a bachelor’s degree in IT, along with information on both from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).

Database Administrators and Architects

• 2023 median salary, according to BLS: $117,450*
  
• BLS projected job growth: 9%*

Database administrators and architects are IT specialists who design, organize and manage systems to safely store data, according to the BLS. According to the BLS, companies often handle sensitive data like financial records and customer information, while working with data analysts and other stakeholders.

If you have strong communication and programming skills and you enjoy stretching your analytical thinking, database architecture or administration might be a career path for you.

Computer Systems Analysts

• 2023 median salary, according to BLS: $103,800*
  
• BLS projected job growth: 11%*

Computer systems analysts — also known as systems architects — are another type of IT professional. According to the BLS, they are responsible for evaluating and improving an organization's computer systems, which might mean looking at existing technologies and processes or even designing new ones.

Computer systems analysts guide IT decisions that can help an organization meet their strategic goals. If you have a knack for research, enjoy weighing costs and benefits and are comfortable navigating both hardware and software, a career in computer systems analysis could be a great fit.

So, is an IT Degree Worth It?

When it comes to jobs in computer and information technology, BLS projects more than 350,000 job openings each year between 2023 and 2033 — this is better than the average openings across all occupations, and can be an important factor to consider when determining the worth of a particular field or degree.*

Beyond the numbers though, an IT degree can also provide you with a versatile skill set that can apply to a variety of roles.

*Cited job growth projections may not reflect local and/or short-term economic or job conditions and do not guarantee actual job growth. Actual salaries and/or earning potential may be the result of a combination of factors including, but not limited to: years of experience, industry of employment, geographic location and worker skill.

Meg Palmer ’18 is a writer and scholar by trade who loves reading, riding their bike and singing in a barbershop quartet. They earned their bachelor’s degree in English, language and literature at SNHU and their master’s degree in writing, rhetoric and discourse at DePaul University (’20). They are currently attending Northeastern University as a first-year PhD student studying English with a focus in rhetoric and digital humanities. While attending SNHU, Meg served as the editor-in-chief of the campus student newspaper, The Penmen Press, where they deepened their passion for writing. Connect with them on LinkedIn.