undergradly.
Major · Computer & Information Sciences

Networks, servers, and the plumbing of the internet

Computer Systems Networking and Telecommunications (CIP 11.0901) trains you to design, secure, and run the networks that everything else depends on. It is the sysadmin and network-engineering side of IT, distinct from computer science. Earnings cluster around $61,838 five years out, with a clear premium for bachelor’s completers.

Schools offering
386
Annual completions
3,699
Typical degree level
Associate's + Bachelor's
Median earnings (5yr)
$62k

About this major

Computer Systems Networking and Telecommunications (CIP 11.0901) sits in the middle of the computing-major landscape: less abstract than Computer Science, more infrastructure-focused than general Information Technology. Per the federal CIP definition, the program covers operating systems, networking theory, network management, configuration, security, and troubleshooting — the work of keeping linked systems running and protected.

The student profile here is hands-on rather than theoretical. Coursework typically runs through TCP/IP, routing and switching, server administration, virtualization, cloud fundamentals, and increasingly cybersecurity hygiene. Many programs braid in industry certifications — CompTIA, Cisco, Microsoft, Linux — because employers in this corner of IT screen on credentials almost as much as on the degree itself. That is a meaningful difference from Computer Science, where the diploma usually does heavier lifting.

One grounded observation worth sitting with: only 3,699 students complete this major nationally each year, against 50,272 in Computer Science and 20,296 in Information Technology. The smaller pipeline is partly because the work is also entered through associate’s programs, bootcamps, and direct certification routes — meaning a four-year program here has more direct competition from cheaper credentials than most majors face. The earnings split makes the same point quietly: bachelor’s completers earn about $72,592 five years out versus $56,583 for associate’s completers, a real but not enormous gap that should shape how you weigh the cost of the longer path.

Section 3 · Careers

Where this major leads

Occupations most often associated with this major, from the federal BLS+O*NET crosswalk. Job-growth projections and median wages are national.

Occupation Median wage Job growth Typical education
Computer and information systems managers $171k +15.2% Bachelor's degree
Computer systems analysts $104k +8.7% Bachelor's degree
Information security analysts $125k +28.5% Bachelor's degree
Computer network architects $130k +11.9% Bachelor's degree
Computer network support specialists $73k +1.8% Associate's degree
Computer science teachers, postsecondary $97k +5.3% Doctoral or professional degree
Section 4 · Earnings

Earnings at a glance

Median graduate earnings from the federal College Scorecard, 5 and 10 years out.

Median 5-year earnings

$62k

Associate's vs Bachelor's — early-career earnings

Associate's

$57k

Bachelor's

$73k

Who this major is for

Strong fit signals show up early. If you already enjoy taking things apart — home networks, virtual machines, a Raspberry Pi cluster — the coursework will feel like formal vocabulary for things you have been doing. Comfort with command-line work, patience for troubleshooting that does not yield on the first try, and a willingness to study for vendor certifications alongside the degree all point in the right direction. The job market backs this up: information security analysts (a common landing spot) project 28.5% growth, and network architects sit at 11.9%, both well above average.

The harder questions are about cost and credential strategy. Because certifications carry so much weight in network and systems hiring, paying full sticker price for a four-year private bachelor’s in this specific field deserves real scrutiny — the marginal earnings premium over associate’s plus certs ($72,592 versus $56,583) may not justify the debt depending on the school. Two specific patterns worth flagging from the data: top producers include large for-profit and online-flexible schools (DeVry, WGU), and the smaller national pipeline of 3,699 completers reflects how often this work is entered through cheaper paths. None of that disqualifies the major. It just means the choice of school matters more than usual, and the question to ask before enrolling is what the degree gives you that a $1,500 stack of certifications would not.

Section 6 · Where to study

Top colleges for Computer Systems Networking and Telecommunications

Ranked by annual completions at the associate's or bachelor's level — a proxy for program scale.

College Location Assoc. Bach. Total
DeVry University-Illinois Lisle, IL 159 33 192
Western Governors University Salt Lake City, UT 0 96 96
Houston Community College Houston, TX 92 0 92
University of North Carolina at Greensboro Greensboro, NC 0 85 85
Austin Community College District Austin, TX 81 0 81
Weber State University Ogden, UT 39 31 70
City College of San Francisco San Francisco, CA 58 0 58
Kean University Union, NJ 0 55 55
Northwest Vista College San Antonio, TX 48 0 48
University of Minnesota-Twin Cities Minneapolis, MN 0 44 44
Section 7 · Explore sideways

Related majors to explore

Computer Science

50,272 completions/yr

Computer and Information Sciences, General

34,556 completions/yr

Information Technology

20,296 completions/yr

Computer and Information Systems Security/Auditing/Information Assurance

17,632 completions/yr

Information Science/Studies

10,334 completions/yr

Management Information Systems, General

7,648 completions/yr

Computer Programming/Programmer, General

5,205 completions/yr

Network and System Administration/Administrator

1,663 completions/yr
Section 9 · Frequently asked

Common questions

How is this different from Computer Science or Information Technology?
Computer Science (CIP 11.0701) leans toward software, algorithms, and theory. Information Technology (11.0103) is broader and more user-facing. This major (11.0901) zeroes in on the network and systems layer: routers, switches, servers, virtualization, and telecom infrastructure. If you would rather rack and configure a firewall than write a sorting algorithm, this is the closer fit.
Do I actually need a four-year degree, or are certifications enough?
Honest answer: certifications carry real weight here. CompTIA Network+ and Security+, Cisco CCNA, Microsoft, and Linux credentials are often what hiring managers screen on, especially for entry-level network and support roles. The bachelor’s adds resume signal and opens management tracks, but plenty of practitioners enter via associate’s programs plus certs. Compare costs honestly before enrolling in a four-year program.
What does the earnings picture actually look like?
Median earnings five years after graduation sit at roughly $61,838 across all degree levels. Splitting by credential, associate’s completers earn around $56,584 and bachelor’s completers around $72,592. The bachelor’s premium is real but smaller than in some majors, which is part of why the cert-vs-degree math matters so much.
Which jobs do graduates actually land?
Common destinations include computer network support specialists ($73,340 median, associate’s typical), computer systems analysts ($103,790), computer network architects ($130,390, +11.9% growth), and information security analysts ($124,910, +28.5% growth). Computer and information systems manager is a longer-term ceiling at $171,200 with bachelor’s plus experience. The cybersecurity track is the strongest growth corridor.
Where is this major taught?
About 386 colleges report completions in this CIP code. The largest producers skew toward for-profit and online-friendly schools — DeVry University-Illinois (192 completions) and Western Governors University (96) lead — alongside community colleges like Houston Community College (92) and Austin Community College District (81). Total annual completions sit at 3,699, modest compared with Computer Science’s 50,272.
What if I want cybersecurity specifically?
There is a dedicated major for that — Computer and Information Systems Security/Auditing/Information Assurance (CIP 11.1003), with 17,632 annual completers. This networking major still feeds infosec roles well because security work is built on networking fundamentals, but if cybersecurity is the goal from day one, the security-specific CIP is the more direct path.