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Top 5 Online Bachelor’s in Information Technology (IT)

Written by College Cliffs Team At CollegeCliffs.com, our team, comprising seasoned educators and counselors, is committed to supporting students on their journey through graduate studies. Our advisors, holding advanced degrees in diverse fields, provide tailored guidance, current program details, and pragmatic tips on navigating application procedures.

Reviewed by Linda Weems I got started researching colleges and universities about 10 years ago while exploring a second career. While my second career ended up being exactly what I’m doing now, and I didn’t end up going to college, I try to put myself in your shoes every step of the way as I build out College Cliffs as a user-friendly resource for prospective students.

Updated: April 1, 2024, Reading time: 12 minutes

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Many people associate information technology (IT) with the folks you call when you need assistance with a computer problem. While such a perspective on information technology isn’t entirely incorrect, it vastly underestimates the field’s importance.

Information Technology (IT) is an interdisciplinary course that embraces theory, practice, and processes in the field. IT graduates are in high demand as many businesses adopt security protocols to gather, store, and protect sensitive customer data.

To an aspiring IT specialist, an IT online degree is a perfect gateway to the country’s top fast-growing professional field. To have a secure career path in the field of Information Technology, take the time to find the right college.

Core abilities in applied mathematics and technical communication are expected to be developed. Web design and development, basic programming, and database administration are just a few of the skills you’ll learn in an undergraduate IT degree. You may obtain specific skills in areas like cybersecurity and healthcare informatics by choosing from various emphasis options.

Many IT programs include business lessons as part of their curriculum due to the international nature of today’s economies. Project management, organizational behavior, and financial planning are all relevant subjects. Bachelor’s degree applicants typically complete an applicable capstone project and/or comprehensive test to complete their coursework.

For an audio summary, listen here:

College Cliffs is an advertising-supported site. Featured or trusted partner programs and all school search, finder, or match results are for schools that compensate us. This compensation does not influence our school rankings, resource guides, or other editorially-independent information published on this site.

What is Information Technology? What does it cover?

IT addresses commercial or organizational challenges on a large scale. Regardless of their position, a member of an IT department collaborates with others to address both large and small technological issues.

An IT department’s significant pillars of duty are as follows:

IT governance refers to rules and procedures that guarantee IT systems are running efficiently and in line with the organization’s requirements.

This is a catch-all category for the day-to-day activities of an IT department. Assisting clients with technical difficulties, network maintenance, security testing, and device management is part of this job.

This focus area includes all physical components of IT infrastructure. This IT pillar encompasses routers, servers, phone systems, individual devices like laptops, and their installation and maintenance.

An organization’s IT department is responsible for various activities and plays a crucial role in operating. The ideal IT department is one that you aren’t aware of. This means they can automate and establish procedures for many of their everyday duties, ensuring the business’s seamless operation.

The ideal IT department is also connected with the company’s goals and open in its procedures, allowing the rest of the organization to understand and contribute.

RELATED READ: Free Online Information Technology Courses

Why is Information Technology Important?

Simply put, most organizations’ activities would grind to a stop if their IT systems failed. It would be challenging to find a business that does not rely on computers and the networks that connect them in some manner. Maintaining a good level of service, security, and connectivity is a big job, but it’s far from the only duty or challenge they have.

More companies are trying to implement more complicated and user-friendly solutions. IT might provide a company the edge it needs to outsmart, outpace, and out-deliver competitors. Let’s have a look at the problems that IT workers may encounter in the future:

Businesses are required to process large amounts of data. This necessitates a significant amount of processing power, software, and human analytical ability.

Today, most firms allow employees to work from home utilizing Wi-Fi hotspots and roam features on cell phones, tablets, and laptops.

Most businesses no longer have their own “server farms” for storing significant amounts of data. Many companies increasingly employ cloud services, which are data hosting platforms provided by third parties.

As videoconferencing systems have grown in popularity, more network bandwidth is required to support them adequately.

Employment of computer and information research scientist jobs is expected to expand by 23%, much faster than the average for all jobs from now until 2032.

Which field of IT is in demand the most?

One of the most in-demand IT fields includes cloud computing. Cloud computing is a technology that allows businesses to store and access data and applications on remote servers hosted on the internet.

What career opportunities in IT should I consider?

You may be wondering what the specific positions inside an IT department are now that you know the general duties. In many IT departments, you’ll find the following positions:

Computer support professionals are on the front lines when dealing with technology issues, including software glitches, crashes, and hardware failures. These professionals may also be able to assist senior IT personnel with larger-scale network issues.

Network administrators are concerned about the overall image of the network system and its security and performance.

Behind the scenes, computer systems analysts guarantee that IT and smart business solutions are linked. They usually specialize in a particular field or work directly while working for a technical company, such as banking or government.

Information security analysts are responsible for safeguarding a company’s computer networks, testing, and developing best security practices for the entire organization.

Keep in mind that depending on the size and breadth of the firm, several of these jobs may vary. Smaller organizations may need you to be more of a jack-of-all-trades with broader expertise, while larger companies may require you to have more comprehensive knowledge.

IT personnel in large companies have a wider range of potential emphasis areas. For example, some may work their way up into management and strategic planning positions, while others may explore specialist areas like cybersecurity.

Methodology

If you want to get a leg up in the increasingly vital and continuously evolving field of Information Technology, be sure to conduct a detailed college search and explore your options for IT degrees. Take your pick from world-renowned academic institutions that make the Information Technology degree available at your fingertips. Continue reading to discover more about the prognosis for particular computer-related fields.

Our list of the Best Online Bachelor’s in Information Technology degree programs is meant to provide you with the best educational options! These institutions feature:

See our Methodology page for more information about how we chose these online Information Technology degrees.

Top 5 Information Technology Online Universities

Penn State World Campus

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Penn State World Campus offers degree courses from the Liberal Arts to Sciences and Engineering. Their motto, “A world of possibilities. Online.” drives the University to its leading advantage. Pennsylvania State’s College of Information Sciences and Technology (IST) is a Tier 1 Member of all schools offering Information Technology.

This emerging group of academic institutions calls themselves Information Schools or iSchools. As the name suggests, iSchools underscore the importance of preparing students for the competitive Information Technology field.

Teachers and professors in the online program operate in a similar manner to the typical on-campus faculty. This is because Penn State understands the importance of exceptional mentors to guide students in reaching their full potential. Because of the online school’s long history of providing distance education, online learning for students will be a breeze. You will encounter rigorous academics to prepare you for a career-driven future.

Complete 125 credits and maintain a grade of C or higher in all the courses to finish the degree. Do you think you have what it takes to earn a Penn State diploma? Enroll in the College of IST! You might just find the right college in this humble but promising university.

Learn more about the Penn State World Campus’ Online IT program in this video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u9Ur4AzVuFA

Grand Canyon University

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Grand Canyon University’s Bachelor of Science in Information Technology prepares students as they enter a career in the field of IT. The program provides the fundamentals of the course with professionalism and efficiency. With this technique, IT graduates become competent members of the workplace.

It is especially noteworthy that Grand Canyon University maintains its Christian-based education in its Information Technology program. Teaching the course through the Christian lens inspires ethical practices among their students.

Students who enter the Bachelor of Science in Information Technology get to be effective in communication and problem-solving. Additionally, the distance learning program encourages online students to gain self-confidence and resilience in their approach to problem-solving.

Although independence is the central aspect of an online degree, Grand Canyon allows its students to work as a team. With hands-on and engaging instructors, you are off to a good start in the field of Information Technology.

You will need to complete a total of 120 program credits. Each course generally takes 7 weeks to complete but may differ in length. The following courses may take up to 8 weeks to complete:

Grand Canyon has been accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC) since 1968.

Purdue University

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Technology-based careers will hit the ultimate high in the near future. Demand for tech-savvy individuals is expected to soar. In fact, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) predicts a consistent growth in job opportunities in the field.

Purdue University Global acknowledges and continuously works toward the improvement of technology in our everyday lives. It offers an online information technology degree. It is committed to helping students develop IT skills and teaching core business concepts. As a result, students of Purdue Global take the lead in whatever career they choose after graduation.

And an online degree from Purdue Global offers promising opportunities to its graduates. The faculty and staff in the distance learning program are very supportive and interactive. With Purdue University Global, you will not only find the right college, but you will also find a family. Your college years will be an unforgettable experience!

What is most noteworthy about Purdue Global’s Competency-Based Degree Program is that it pushes for innovative ways to earn a bachelor’s degree online. The university adopts ExcelTrack Bachelor’s Degree in Information Technology, a revolutionary state-of-the-art approach for developing and learning IT concepts and tools for career growth.

This enables the online university’s IT internship Program to provide a strategic advantage for young professionals entering the workforce.

Find the right college in Purdue Global. Start your future here. Be ready from day one.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kQOlkgYTTrI&frags=pl%2Cwn

Walden University

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Do you have a vision of changing the world through technology? This is possible with an online Bachelor of Science in Information Technology from Walden University. The program provides every IT student with a solid foundation with a highly competent online degree program. With its integrated IT and business curriculum, Walden University lets you gain technical skills that will equip you to solve real-world challenges in the field.

With an online IT-driven environment, Walden University has earned an accreditation from ABET, which sets the standard for quality information technology learning. In addition to this remarkable recognition, Walden University’s IT program is designed by the National Security Agency (NSA).

Most importantly, the university has been the National Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense Education for years. Both the NSA and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) gave this stunning designation as a mark of quality.

All you need is 135 credits to earn a diploma. What more could you possibly look for? Enroll now.

Loyola University Chicago

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Loyola Online: Loyola University Chicago offers a wide range of college majors under its distance learning program. Loyola Online has accreditation from the Higher Learning Commission (HLC). They offer high-quality and rigorous courses and produce professional graduates.

The online school also promises a transformative experience for students as they integrate the Jesuit tradition into their curriculum. This is how Loyola Online becomes uniquely appealing to its students.

One of its most sought-after online degrees is a Bachelor of Arts in Information Technology (BA IT). This program transforms students into tech-savvy professionals through a state-of-the-art skills training approach. Loyola Online engages students in software and web development.

You can come to Loyola with zero knowledge of computer technology and graduate with a master’s in the field.

At Loyola Online, courses are available at your convenience, including during the evenings or weekends. What the program requires is you compete in 13 Major Courses under BA IT. All you need is eight weeks of hands-on learning, and you are off to start your career. You hold your future, so make intelligent decisions when it comes to attending an online IT college!

We hope that you find the right college from the best five we have listed for you! With these online IT colleges, you earn a Bachelor’s Degree, a valuable achievement no one can take away from you. Ultimately, an IT degree will help you land a promising and rewarding profession in the field.

As careers in the Information Technology field these days are rapidly on the rise, you need unsurpassed education and training for you to be an indispensable asset in this industry.

Invest in a future in IT. Start your journey by checking out these online colleges!