Find programs
A stone-towered blue suspension bridge crossing a river toward a downtown skyline

2027 City Guide

Best Online IT Programs in Cincinnati (2027)

Online IT programs in Cincinnati start with five degrees at three local schools: three bachelor's degrees, one master's degree and one associate degree. In Cincinnati, database administrators earn $102,360, well above Ohio's $97,190.

Founder & Editor · B.S. in Computer Science, Temple UniversityUpdated

  • 5local programs
  • $101,530network and computer systems administrator median
  • 32,340computer jobs

Key Points

  • Information Technology, BS at University of Cincinnati-Main Campus leads the Cincinnati list (#2 of 57 nationally).
  • Cincinnati runs heavy in network and systems administrators (1.33x) and computer systems analysts (1.15x the U.S. share).
  • Cincinnati is lightest on web developers (0.57x) and database administrators (0.81x the U.S. share).
  • Cincinnati's widest pay spread: IT managers, $104,560 to $281,130.
  • A full Cincinnati degree starts at $22,380 (University of Cincinnati-Main Campus, resident rate).

The Best Online IT Programs in Cincinnati

Ordered by national standing, Cincinnati’s five programs sit in Cincinnati, Florence and Hamilton.

Each card’s badge is its place in our national ranking. How we rank.

  1. No.1 #2of 57 in IT bachelor’s

    University of Cincinnati-Main Campus

    Information Technology, BS

    • Cincinnati, OH
    • Public
    • Fully online
    • Bachelor’s

    Network and systems administrators earn $101,530 in Cincinnati. Graduates report $69,548 after a year.

    Credits
    120
    Graduation rate
    75%school-wide
    Median earnings
    $69,5481 year after
    Graduates in this field
    652023-24, all formats
    Accreditation
    HLC, ABETHigher Learning Commission
    Visit Cincinnati’s BS in Information Technology Compare
  2. No.2 #1of 26 in cybersecurity

    University of Cincinnati-Main Campus

    Cybersecurity, BS

    • Cincinnati, OH
    • Public
    • Fully online
    • Cybersecurity bachelor’s

    Information security analysts run 0.98 times the national share in Cincinnati. 75% graduation rate.

    Credits
    120
    Graduation rate
    75%school-wide
    Graduates in this field
    1032023-24, all formats
    Accreditation
    HLC, ABETHigher Learning Commission
    Visit Cincinnati’s BS in Cybersecurity Compare
  3. No.3 #5of 31 in IT associate

    Gateway Community and Technical College

    Computer and Information Technologies, AAS

    • Florence, KY
    • Public
    • Fully online
    • Associate

    Cincinnati's network support specialists earn $42,520 to $122,390. Graduates report $49,753 after a year.

    Online tuition
    $198 per credit
    Graduation rate
    59%school-wide
    Median earnings
    $49,7531 year after
    Graduates in this field
    442023-24, all formats
    Accreditation
    SACSCOCSouthern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges
    Visit Gateway CTC’s AAS in Computer and IT Compare
  4. No.4 #9of 37 in IT master’s

    University of Cincinnati-Main Campus

    Information Technology, MS

    • Cincinnati, OH
    • Public
    • Fully online
    • Master’s

    Cincinnati residents pay $22,380 here, not $22,830. Computer systems analysts run 1.15 times the national share in Cincinnati. 75% graduation rate.

    Online tuition
    $761 per credit$746 in state · $22,830 total for 30 credits
    Credits
    30
    Graduation rate
    75%school-wide
    Median earnings
    $90,7041 year after
    Graduates in this field
    7732023-24, all formats
    Accreditation
    HLCHigher Learning Commission
    Starts
    Fall, Spring, Summer
    Visit Cincinnati’s MS in Information Technology Compare
  5. No.5 #51of 57 in IT bachelor’s

    Miami University-Hamilton

    Information Technology, Bachelor's

    • Hamilton, OH
    • 2 campuses
    • Public
    • Fully online
    • Bachelor’s

    Network and systems administrators run 1.33 times the national share in Cincinnati. Prepares for ICAgile Certification.

    Online tuition
    $356.22 per credit
    Graduation rate
    25%school-wide
    Median earnings
    $66,0301 year after
    Graduates in this field
    302023-24, all formats
    Accreditation
    HLCHigher Learning Commission
    Prepares for
    ICAgile Certification, CompTIA Security+
    Visit Miami Hamilton’s Bachelor’s in Information Technology Compare

Cincinnati has four of Ohio’s six ranked programs.

See every online IT program in Ohio, plus the state’s job projections, led by security analysts at 25.1% through 2034.

Cincinnati Programs in Our National Rankings

In the Bachelor's in IT ranking, Information Technology, BS at University of Cincinnati-Main Campus places 2nd of 57, Cincinnati’s best national result.

ProgramNational rankingPlace
Information Technology, BS, University of Cincinnati-Main CampusBachelor's in IT2nd of 57
Cybersecurity, BS, University of Cincinnati-Main CampusCybersecurity1st of 26
Cybersecurity, BS, University of Cincinnati-Main CampusABET-Accredited1st of 12
Computer and Information Technologies, AAS, Gateway Community and Technical CollegeAssociate in IT5th of 31
Information Technology, BS, University of Cincinnati-Main CampusABET-Accredited2nd of 12
Information Technology, MS, University of Cincinnati-Main CampusMaster's in IT9th of 37
Information Technology, MS, University of Cincinnati-Main CampusAffordable Master's7th of 22
Information Technology, Bachelor's, Miami University-HamiltonBachelor's in IT51st of 57
Information Technology, Bachelor's, Miami University-HamiltonWith Certifications40th of 43

What an Online IT Degree Costs Cincinnati Students

The one Cincinnati total on record is $22,380, for University of Cincinnati-Main Campus. At University of Cincinnati-Main Campus, residents pay $22,380 against $22,830, a $450 difference for Cincinnati students from other states.

ProgramRate per creditCreditsTotal for residents
Computer and Information Technologies, AAS, Gateway Community and Technical College$198
Information Technology, MS, University of Cincinnati-Main Campus$74630$22,380
Information Technology, Bachelor's, Miami University-Hamilton$356

Totals are the published rate times the published credits, before fees and transfer credit. Our cheapest online IT degrees ranking compares programs that charge everyone one rate.

Tuition Discounts for Cincinnati Residents

At University of Cincinnati-Main Campus, Ohio residents pay $22,380 for the MS in Information Technology, against $22,830 from out of state.

Cincinnati residents can also ask about MSEP.

How exchanges work in Ohio.

IT Jobs and Salaries in Cincinnati

Cincinnati’s best-paid IT role: IT managers, at $169,530; Cincinnati’s lowest is $59,350, for help desk technicians. Cincinnati’s largest IT group: 4,810 help desk technicians.

RoleMedian payvs OhioTypical rangeJobsEntry educationSalary guide
IT Manager$169,530+4%$104,560 to $281,1303,920Bachelor's degreeSalary guide
Network Engineer$133,000+1%$83,500 to $183,6101,170Bachelor's degreeSalary guide
Information Security Analyst$114,300+3%$71,390 to $169,8801,320Bachelor's degreeSalary guide
Computer Systems Analyst$103,450+1%$66,720 to $172,9304,240Bachelor's degreeSalary guide
Database Administrator$102,360+5%$57,790 to $156,770400Bachelor's degreeSalary guide
Network and Computer Systems Administrator$101,530+4%$63,610 to $147,8902,960Bachelor's degreeSalary guide
Web Developer$80,910$56,430 to $129,850280Bachelor's degreeSalary guide
Network Support Specialist$71,920+3%$42,520 to $122,3901,420Associate's degreeSalary guide
Help Desk Technician$59,350−1%$38,430 to $82,8604,810Some college, no degreeSalary guide

Median and percentile pay and local employment: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN metro area (Sources; BLS OEWS). Typical entry education: BLS Employment Projections. The range runs from the 10th to the 90th percentile.

Against Ohio medians, the biggest Cincinnati premium: database administrators at $102,360 (+5%). Weakest in Cincinnati: help desk technicians, at $59,350 (−1%). 7 of 8 Cincinnati roles out-earn the Ohio median.

Next in Cincinnati: computer systems analysts (4,240 jobs, $103,450) and IT managers (3,920 jobs, $169,530). In Cincinnati, bachelor’s-level roles are 70% of IT jobs; Cincinnati students can compare online IT bachelor’s degrees. Below a bachelor’s in Cincinnati: help desk technicians (4,810 jobs, $59,350) and network support specialists (1,420 jobs, $71,920). For those Cincinnati roles, see online IT associate degrees.

Price level: BEA, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area (MARPP), all items, 2024; 100 is the U.S. average.

IT Job Concentration in Cincinnati

Cincinnati ranks 34th among U.S. metros for computer jobs, with 32,340. Cincinnati's signature IT job: 1,420 network support specialists, 1.37 times the U.S. share. Cincinnati holds 21% of Ohio's computer jobs.

Cybersecurity Jobs in Cincinnati

Compare online cybersecurity degrees or read the security analyst salary guide.

Tech Jobs in Cincinnati: The Industries Behind Them

Cincinnati computer systems design firms employ 10,645 people at 743 locations, averaging $116,795.

Industry employment, establishments and payroll: U.S. Census Bureau, County Business Patterns 2023, by metropolitan area. Average pay is annual payroll divided by employment.

How to Choose an Online IT Program in Cincinnati

Cincinnati’s largest IT group is help desk staff.

Our guide to choosing by city covers cost, residency, authorization and accreditation.

Online IT Programs in Other Cities

Online IT Programs in Cincinnati FAQ

How many online IT programs are in Cincinnati?

Five programs at three schools in the Cincinnati metro area, in Cincinnati, Florence and Hamilton: three bachelor's degrees, one master's degree and one associate degree. Five are at public schools.

What is the cheapest online IT program in Cincinnati?

Among Cincinnati programs that publish a rate and a credit total, the lowest is $22,380 for the Information Technology, MS at University of Cincinnati-Main Campus, at the rate Ohio residents pay.

Can Cincinnati students pay less as residents?

Yes, at University of Cincinnati-Main Campus: Ohio residents pay $22,380 in total, $450 less than others.

How much more do IT managers make in Cincinnati?

In Cincinnati, help desk to IT manager means $59,350 to $169,530, or 2.9 times the pay.

What does an entry-level IT job pay in Cincinnati?

Cincinnati help desk jobs pay a $59,350 median, and 4,810 people hold them.

Keep researching

Sources

  1. BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, state and metropolitan area estimates
  2. NCES IPEDS institutional directory (HD2024), metro area of each school’s main campus
  3. BEA, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area (MARPP), all items, 2024
  4. U.S. Census Bureau, County Business Patterns 2023, by metropolitan area
  5. Projections Central, long-term occupational projections by state (base year 2024, projected to 2034), produced by state labor market information offices
  6. Program pages for each program listed above, linked from its card