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Computer & IS Security

Types of Degrees Computer & IS Security Majors Are Earning

People majoring in Computer & IS Security can earn degrees at several award levels.

Award Level	Graduates
Certificate	2,133
Associate’s Degree	6,070
Bachelor’s Degree	11,709
Master’s Degree	17,673
Doctor’s Degree	137

What Computer & IS Security Majors Need to Know

Studies in Computer & IS Security emphasize a specific mix of knowledge, skills, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in occupations that Computer & IS Security graduates commonly enter.

Knowledge Areas

This major prepares you for careers needing Computer & IS Security emphasizes the following knowledge areas:

• Computers and Electronics — Importance 4.5 / 5; level 5.9 / 7.
• English Language — Importance 3.7 / 5; level 4.0 / 7.
• Engineering and Technology — Importance 3.7 / 5; level 4.3 / 7.
• Telecommunications — Importance 3.4 / 5; level 3.8 / 7.
• Customer and Personal Service — Importance 3.2 / 5; level 4.0 / 7.

^{Importance is rated 1–5; level is 1–7. Source: ONET Online — weighted across related occupations.*}

Skills

The skill set developed in a Computer & IS Security program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:

• Critical Thinking — Importance 3.9 / 5; level 4.0 / 7.
• Reading Comprehension — Importance 3.8 / 5; level 4.1 / 7.
• Complex Problem Solving — Importance 3.7 / 5; level 3.7 / 7.
• Active Listening — Importance 3.7 / 5; level 3.8 / 7.
• Judgment and Decision Making — Importance 3.6 / 5; level 3.7 / 7.

Abilities

Abilities most relevant to Computer & IS Security careers — again drawn from O*NET surveys of related occupations:

• Oral Comprehension — Importance 3.9 / 5; level 4.3 / 7.
• Written Comprehension — Importance 3.9 / 5; level 4.1 / 7.
• Problem Sensitivity — Importance 3.9 / 5; level 3.9 / 7.
• Deductive Reasoning — Importance 3.8 / 5; level 4.1 / 7.
• Inductive Reasoning — Importance 3.8 / 5; level 3.9 / 7.

Common Job Activities

Day-to-day, Computer & IS Security graduates report doing:

Activity	Frequency / Importance
Working with Computers	4.8 / 7
Getting Information	4.4 / 7
Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge	4.2 / 7
Making Decisions and Solving Problems	4.1 / 7
Analyzing Data or Information	4.1 / 7
Processing Information	4.1 / 7
Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates	4.1 / 7
Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events	4.1 / 7
Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards	3.8 / 7
Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work	3.8 / 7

Technology Skills Used on the Job

Most frequently-cited tools used by Computer & IS Security professionals:

Tool / Software	Category	In-Demand
McAfee	Transaction security and virus protection software	—
Microsoft SQL Server	Data base user interface and query software	✓
Python	Object or component oriented development software	✓
IBM Domino	Communications server software	—
UNIX	Operating system software	✓
Microsoft PowerPoint	Presentation software	✓
Microsoft Visual Basic Scripting Edition VBScript	Development environment software	—
KornShell	Operating system software	—
Nagios	Network monitoring software	—
Linux	Operating system software	✓
Microsoft Office software	Office suite software	✓
Shell script	Operating system software	—

^{Source: ONET Online technology skills, weighted across related occupations.*}

Sample Job Titles

Real job postings for Computer & IS Security graduates include:

• Network Security Systems Analyst
• Network Security Analyst
• AI Security Specialist (Artificial Intelligence Security Specialist)
• Data Storage Specialist
• Database Specialist
• Cyber Operator
• IT Auditor (Information Technology Auditor)
• Cybersecurity Multi-Disciplined Language Analyst
• Systems Analyst
• Cybersecurity Threat Analyst
• Cyber Defense Forensics Analyst
• Information Technology Analyst (IT Analyst)
• Cybersecurity Target Network Analyst
• Intrusion Detection Analyst
• Cyber Incident Responder

Education Typically Required

Across the occupations open to Computer & IS Security graduates, the typical level of education actually held by current workers is distributed as:

Education Level	Share of Workers
Bachelor’s degree	57.2%
Associate’s degree (or other 2-year)	10.4%
Post-baccalaureate certificate	10.1%
Postsecondary certificate	8.8%
Master’s degree	5.9%
Some college courses	5.3%
High school diploma or equivalent	1.2%
First professional degree	0.6%
Less than a high school diploma	0.4%
Post-master’s certificate	0.1%

^{Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*}

Who Is Earning a Degree in Computer & IS Security?

Gender Distribution

This field skews predominantly male, with men earning 77.9% of Computer & IS Security degrees.

Gender	Graduates	Share
Women	8,426	22.1%
Men	29,662	77.9%

Racial-Ethnic Diversity

At the national level, the racial-ethnic distribution of Computer & IS Security graduates is as follows:

Race / Ethnicity	Graduates	Share
White	16,551	43.5%
Asian	2,808	7.4%
Hispanic or Latino	5,640	14.8%
Black or African American	6,293	16.5%
American Indian / Alaska Native	195	0.5%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander	105	0.3%
Two or More Races	1,560	4.1%
Race Unknown	2,005	5.3%
International Students	2,931	7.7%

^{See minority definition below.}

How Much Do Computer & IS Security Graduates Earn?

Federal data tracks median earnings of Computer & IS Security graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. Earnings tend to climb steadily as graduates gain experience and move into mid-career roles.

Years Out	Median Earnings
1 year	$64,248
4 years	$56,780
5 years	$64,307

By year 5 out, median earnings rise to $64,307 — roughly 0% above the 1-year mark.

^{Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study earnings tracker.}

Online Computer & IS Security Programs

Distance learning is tracked by IPEDS for Computer & IS Security. The table below shows how many graduates earned at least some of their coursework online (Distance-Ed Available) versus completing the entire program online (Distance-Ed Only).

Award Level	Distance-Ed Available	Distance-Ed Only
Associate’s	81	45
Bachelor’s	78	43
Master’s	112	43
Doctoral (Research)	4	3

^{Distance-Ed Only = degrees completed entirely online; Distance-Ed Available = degrees including at least some online coursework. Source: IPEDS Completions by Distance Education status.}

Is a Degree in Computer & IS Security Worth It?

Strictly by the federal earnings tracker, Computer & IS Security graduates earn a median of $56,780 four years after completion — roughly 49% above the national median for workers with only a high school diploma (~$38,000).

^{ROI estimate compares the program’s 4-yr median earnings against the 2023 BLS CPS median earnings for high-school-only workers. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard + BLS Current Population Survey.}

Related Programs

You may also be interested in these closely related fields of study:

Program	CIP Code
Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management	11.10
Computer Support Specialist	11.1006
Computer/Information Technology Services Administration and Management, Other	11.1099
Information Technology Project Management	11.1005
Network and System Administration/Administrator	11.1001
System, Networking, and LAN/WAN Management/Manager	11.1002
Web/Multimedia Management and Webmaster	11.1004
Computer and Information Sciences, General	11.0101
Computer Science	11.0701
Computer Systems Networking and Telecommunications	11.0901
Information Technology	11.0103
Cloud Computing	11.0902

References

The racial-ethnic minorities count is calculated by taking the total number of students and subtracting white students and international students. This number is then divided by the total number of students to obtain the racial-ethnic minorities percentage.

• College Factual
• National Center for Education Statistics (IPEDS)
• O*NET Online
• U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
• U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard

More about our data sources and methodologies.