Best Online Bachelor’s in Information Technology Degree Programs for 2026

Badge for BEST ONLINE BACHELOR'S IN INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

By Dr. Winston Ewert and Dr. James Barham
Reviewed By Jenn Finley

Updated: May 13, 2026

Find top-ranked Online bachelor’s in information technology degree programs for students wanting to qualify for jobs like information technology consultants, computer network architects, and data scientists.

Key Takeaways

Top online IT programs offer a wide range of specializations such as cybersecurity, network management, and data analytics, allowing students to tailor their education to specific career goals in high-demand fields.
The best IT programs emphasize practical experience through virtual labs, simulations, and real-world projects, giving students opportunities to apply IT concepts in areas like software development, cloud computing, and system administration, preparing them for immediate job readiness.
The programs in our ranking are designed with flexibility in mind, offering asynchronous courses and customizable schedules, allowing students to balance their studies with full-time work or other responsibilities, making it ideal for those looking to advance or shift careers while earning their degree.

Table of Contents

Top 10 Online Information Technology Bachelor's Degrees in 2026

University of Missouri
Loyola University Chicago
Florida International University
University of Memphis
Thomas Jefferson University
University of Alaska Fairbanks
+1
Mercer University
–1
Northern Arizona University
Tennessee State University
Campbell University

Featured Programs

Best Online Bachelor’s in Information Technology Degree Programs

Career Outlook for Students with Information Technology Degree

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Information Technology

Degree Level: Bachelor's

Location: The U.S. (Private Schools)
Avg. Cost of Degree*: $9,953
Avg. Expenses*: $17,409
Avg. Starting Salary*: $61,324
Avg. Salary after 4 Years*: $78,332
Avg. Cost Recoup Time**: 8 years
Job Growth: 19.67%
Number of Jobs: 1,976,600
* denotes ‘annually’
** denotes ‘at 15% of annual salary’

Career Salaries

Career	Job Growth	Avg. Salary
Computer and Information Systems Managers	17.42%	$169,510
Computer and Information Research Scientists	25.68%	$145,080
Database Architects	10.75%	$134,700
Software Developers	17.94%	$132,270
Computer Network Architects	13.44%	$129,840
Information Security Analysts	32.71%	$120,360
Data Scientists	36.03%	$108,020
Computer Occupations, All Other	10.85%	$104,920
Computer Systems Analysts	10.72%	$103,800
Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers	11.80%	$101,800

Top Industries

Industry	Avg. Salary
Computer and Information Systems Managers	$169,510
Computer and Information Research Scientists	$145,080
Database Architects	$134,700
Software Developers	$132,270
Computer Network Architects	$129,840
Information Security Analysts	$120,360
Data Scientists	$108,020
Computer Occupations, All Other	$104,920
Computer Systems Analysts	$103,800
Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers	$101,800

Data from The Bureau of Labor Statistics, The Department of Education College Scorecard, The Department of Education NCES, and The Council for Community and Economic Research.

Frequently Asked Questions About Information Technology Degrees

Earning a bachelor’s degree in information technology can set you on a path toward a lucrative career in a high demand field. With programs available both online and in person, students can enjoy flexibility while completing the roughly 120 credits needed for graduation.

Over the course of four to five years, students will learn about topics like network administration, programming languages, project management, and information technology for businesses. Students may also have the option to choose a concentration, like telecommunications, cybersecurity, or software development. Students will learn how to troubleshoot and solve problems relating to technical issues as well as manage computer systems and software.

Graduates will qualify for jobs like information technology consultants, computer network architects, and data scientists.

Learn more about how to major in computer science.

Online IT Programs Looking for You

Online Degree Frequently Asked Questions

If this is your first time taking an online course, the experience may require a time of adjustment. Although you’ll typically learn the same material and take the same exams as your on-campus peers, going online will require greater independence and responsibility than going in person. You’ll be accountable for your own time management, for harnessing the online educational technology that you’ll need to use, and for completing the course requirements, such as listening to lectures, learning lessons, reading texts, and handing in assignments. This means you’ll need to create a suitable workspace for yourself, maintain a realistic schedule, and take the initiative in building relationships with your instructors and classmates. With online college, your goal is to find a balance between independence and engagement.

No. The only part of online education that’s easier than campus-based education is ease of access: all you need is a computer and an internet connection for online education. But even this seeming advantage of online education can be misleading: what’s easier, studying online with your computer and internet connection from your home where you need to cook, clean, pay rent, and maintain a job? Or studying on campus in a dorm where all your living needs are handled by the school, and college staff are there to help you every step of the way?

If you take the commute to campus out of the equation, campus-based education is easier. All the support structures available on campus for students, especially with real people to help you in person, are not there online. The demands on you as an online student will largely be the same as for your campus-based counterpart, but without the same helps.

In general, your online courses will present the same material and test you in the same way as traditional in-person courses. In many cases, you’ll even have the same instructors as your on-campus counterparts. In fact, if you are adjusting to the experience of independent learning with remote educational technology for the first time, online college may be considerably more challenging than campus-based college. For a few insights on how to manage this new online experience, check out our 10 Tips for Adjusting to School Online.

Accreditation is especially important when it comes to online college. This is because the online education landscape is a mix of highly-reputable non-profit institutions on the one end and less-than-reputable for-profit institutions on the other end. Accreditation gives you the power to identify the more reputable actors in online education. Accreditation is a stamp of approval from an independent accrediting agency indicating that a college or university is meeting standards of quality and credibility. School-wide accreditation falls into two major categories: regional and national accreditation. Regional accreditors generally hold jurisdiction only over schools in the states comprising their region, whereas national accreditors hold jurisdiction over schools in all states. Regional accreditation is widely regarded as a more rigorous standard of quality and credibility than national accreditation.

Attending a college or university that is not regionally accredited could limit your opportunities. For students seeking an online education, we strongly recommend that they opt for regionally accredited schools. Regional accreditation ensures eligibility for federal loans and grants, ensures your college credits can be transferred between schools, and ensures that your degree credits can be accepted if you wish to earn an advanced degree. For more on this important topic, check out our What is Accreditation and Why Does It Matter? College & University Accreditation Guide.

As long as your online college degree is regionally accredited (see the previous point), you should have little difficulty transferring most of your credits or credentials to another regionally accredited undergraduate school. Every school carries its own standards and procedures for granting a transfer of credits. In many cases, you will encounter some bureaucratic haggling in which some of your credits will be transferred and others may be refused. However, provided that you have attended an online school with recognized regional accreditation, you should be in good shape in transferring your credits earned online.

In most cases, as long you graduate from a well-regarded, regionally-accredited online college, prospective employers won’t look sideways at your degree. In fact, unless you attend an exclusively online college or university, there will likely be no specific indicator on your degree, transcript, or resumé differentiating your school from its brick-and-mortar counterpart. This means that your employer will likely only differentiate between an online and in-person degree if you mention this distinction.

Some employers may express the concern that because you did your degree online, you may need to transition from an online education experience to in-person workplace experience. But in an age of Covid, that concern seems much diminished. The fact is that much employment these days is remote. And collaboration increasingly happens online over Zoom. Many employers will therefore view your online degree as evidence of valuable 21st century professional skills such as independence, self-motivation, time management, and tech savvy.

If you are a student who thrives on the dynamic energy of in-person discussion, who requires the physical surroundings of a classroom to feel engaged, or who considers the social aspects of education to be of equal importance to the actual content of your courses, online education will be less than ideal for you (though depending on your circumstances, it may also be the only viable option).

While there is much in traditional campus-based education that can be substituted or simulated through the online medium, some students may find that there is nothing that can replace the conversation, collaboration, and motivation that occur in an actual in-person classroom setting. As you transition to online education, one of the biggest challenges you will likely face in getting the most out of your online classes is overcoming this difference between “real reality” and “virtual reality.” Fortunately, we’ve got some great Tips for Online Education Beginners.

The advantages of online classes are many. Above all, online courses give you the freedom and flexibility to attend class from anywhere that works for you, whether you’re at home, in a coffee shop, or in a quiet conference room at work. In many cases, you’ll also enjoy the convenience of asynchronous learning opportunities-educational experiences that you can complete at your own pace and on your own schedule. This may include pre-taped lectures, ongoing chat-board discussions, and 24/7 access to digital materials. And of course, just as there are some learners who prefer the energy of a live classroom, there are those who learn best when working in their own personal space, free from distractions. If this sounds like you, you might find the solitude of online learning to be a major advantage.

Whether you’re just getting started on your college search, you’re looking for survival tips on your way to a bachelor’s degree, or you’re preparing for the transition into grad school, we’ve got guides, how to’s and tons of other valuable resources to keep you moving forward in your educational journey.

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Best Online Bachelor’s in Information Technology Degree Programs for 2026

Key Takeaways

Top 10 Online Information Technology Bachelor's Degrees in 2026

Featured Programs

Best Online Bachelor’s in Information Technology Degree Programs

Last Year’s Ranking:

Career Outlook for Information Technology degree at University of Missouri

Online Degrees

Career Outlook for Information Technology degree at Loyola University Chicago

Online Degrees

Career Outlook for Information Technology degree at Florida International University

Online Degrees

Career Outlook for Information Technology degree at University of Memphis

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Concentrations

Career Outlook for Information Technology degree at Thomas Jefferson University

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Career Outlook for Information Technology degree at University of Alaska Fairbanks

Online Degrees

Concentrations

Career Outlook for Information Technology degree at Mercer University

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Concentrations

Career Outlook for Information Technology degree at Northern Arizona University

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Career Outlook for Information Technology degree at Tennessee State University

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Career Outlook for Information Technology degree at Campbell University

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Career Outlook for Information Technology degree at University of Massachusetts Lowell

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Career Outlook for Information Technology degree at Western Kentucky University

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Career Outlook for Information Technology degree at University of Nebraska Omaha

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Career Outlook for Information Technology degree at Oral Roberts University

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Career Outlook for Information Technology degree at California State University, East Bay

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Career Outlook for Information Technology degree at Georgia Southern University

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Career Outlook for Information Technology degree at Regent University

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Career Outlook for Information Technology degree at Southern New Hampshire University

Online Degrees

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Career Outlook for Information Technology degree at Missouri State University

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Career Outlook for Information Technology degree at Keiser University

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Career Outlook for Information Technology degree at Upper Iowa University

Online Degrees

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Career Outlook for Information Technology degree at Daytona State College

Online Degrees

Career Outlook for Information Technology degree at Columbus State University

Online Degrees

Career Outlook for Information Technology degree at Rogers State University

Online Degrees

Career Outlook for Students with Information Technology Degree

Information Technology

Degree Level: Bachelor's

Career Salaries

Top Industries

Frequently Asked Questions About Information Technology Degrees

Why get a bachelor’s in information technology?

What will I be learning about while getting a bachelor’s in information technology?

What can I do with a bachelor’s in information technology?

Online IT Programs Looking for You

Online Degree Frequently Asked Questions

What can I expect from an online college course?+

Is online college easier than campus-based college?+

Why does accreditation matter in online college?+

Will I be able to transfer my online college degree?+