Online ITPrograms
2027 Rankings
Best Online IT Degrees with Certifications in 2027
Online IT degrees with certifications build exam preparation into the coursework. An online IT degree with certifications gives you a CompTIA, Cisco or similar credential on top of the diploma, but programs mean two different things by that. Some include the certification, meaning the school pays for the voucher or exam. Others only prepare you for it, with coursework aligned to the exam. We ranked 43 programs and mark which is which.
- 43programs ranked
- $426median online rate per credit
- 24states
Key Points
- Webster University's MS in Information Technology Management ranks first, scoring 75.1 of 100 on graduation rate, earnings after graduation, total tuition and accreditation.
- Total published tuition runs from $14,260 to $87,320, with a median of $48,376 across the 20 programs that publish both an online rate and a credit total.
- 8 of 43 are self-paced, with no scheduled class meetings, which suits students working full time.
- 4 hold ABET accreditation, and 18 are at schools the NSA designates as Centers of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense.
- All 43 can be completed fully online. 14 are at public schools, and the list spans 24 states.
Want to narrow this list? Filter these programs by cost, format and accreditation in the Program Finder
How We Ranked Each Online IT Degree with Certifications
Only programs the school says can be completed fully online are included, and the order comes from each program's score.
Each program's score out of 100 adds up four measures. The school's graduation rate counts for 40%. Median earnings one year after completion count for 25%. Total published online tuition counts for 25%, and lower is better. Accreditation counts for 10%: ABET accreditation earns all 10 points, and a school designated a Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense by the NSA and DHS earns 5.
On graduation rate, earnings and tuition, a program earns credit for how many programs on this list it beats. When a school doesn't publish one of these figures, that measure counts at the middle of the list, so the gap neither helps nor hurts.
A 100 would take first place on all four at once, so real scores sit well below it. That is why a score in the 50s or 60s is still a strong result here: a program scoring 50 places ahead of 25 of the 43 programs on this list (58%), and one scoring 60 places ahead of 33 (77%).
Scores compare programs on this page only, so a score here can't be set against one on another ranking page.
The 25 Best Online IT Degrees with Certifications for 2027
Scores compare each program with the other 42 on this list on graduation rate, early earnings, tuition and accreditation. A 100 would mean the best result on every measure at once, and no program gets there: the top program here scores 75.1 and the median program 47.5.
- No.1 75.1score of 100
Webster University
MS in Information Technology Management
One named credential is tied to this degree: the Project Management Professional exam. Specific courses plus a set number of credit hours earn the credits that qualify students to sit for it. That eligibility is aligned with the coursework, not a certificate handed out with the diploma.
Students learn to manage emerging and converging technologies, from the planning stage through ongoing maintenance. A dual MBA/MS option exists as well. Study happens online or in person at the campuses in St. Louis and San Antonio, with five entry points each year. Eight-week terms set the pace: a single class each term takes 30 months, while a pair of classes each term can shorten that to 14 months at the quickest. The cohort includes working IT staff who want to manage, along with nurses, engineers and others learning IT.
- Online tuition
- $800 per credit
- Graduation rate
- 64%school-wide
- Median earnings
- $92,9441 year after
- Graduates in this field
- 5302023-24, all formats
- Accreditation
- HLC, CAE-CD schoolHigher Learning Commission
- Format
- Courses from 8 weeks
- Prepares for
- Project Management Professional (PMP) eligibility
- No.2 67.5score of 100
Merrimack College
Master of Science in Information Technology
The coursework prepares you for industry certifications such as Network+ and Security+ from CompTIA. The degree also contains a smaller credential: a 12-credit cybersecurity certificate sits inside the cybersecurity concentration and counts toward the master's if you continue.
The courses behind that preparation include Computer Networks and Cybersecurity in the core, plus Ethical Hacking & Penetration Testing and Advanced Cybersecurity Concepts further in. Students may take the 32 credits fully online, at a full-time or part-time pace. One course at a time brings completion within 16 to 18 months at the fastest. New terms open six times a year, tuition is set per credit, and the school is a private nonprofit with NECHE accreditation. Transfer of up to 50 percent of required credits from accredited institutions is possible.
- Online tuition
- $750 per credit$24,000 total for 32 credits
- Credits
- 32
- Graduation rate
- 70%school-wide
- Graduates in this field
- 272023-24, all formats
- Accreditation
- NECHENew England Commission of Higher Education
- Format
- Courses from 8 weeks
- Starts
- January, March, October
- Prepares for
- CompTIA Network+, CompTIA Security+
- No.3 65.3score of 100
University of Mary
Cybersecurity, BS
ISC2 Cybersecurity, CYSA+, PCNSA and Network+ are the exams this degree prepares you to sit, and four stackable certificates are built to count toward it: Systems Administration, Secure Network Administration, Cybersecurity Foundations and Cybersecurity Analyst. You can earn them one at a time and then apply them to the bachelor's in cybersecurity, so credentials arrive before the degree does.
The online program starts in Fall, Spring and Summer and may be finished in as few as 2.5 years, depending on how many credits you transfer. Transfer applicants need a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0. Credit for prior learning comes through testing or a portfolio review, and military experience counts. The training is career-oriented and aimed at people new to cybersecurity, plus IT professionals ready to advance.
- Online tuition
- $510 per credit
- Graduation rate
- 67%school-wide
- Graduates in this field
- 22023-24, all formats
- Accreditation
- HLC, CAE-CD schoolHigher Learning Commission
- Starts
- Fall, Spring, Summer
- Prepares for
- ISC2 Cybersecurity, CYSA+, PCNSA, Network+ (stackable Cybersecurity Credential Program)
- No.4 64.9score of 100
American Public University System
Associate of Science in Computer Technology
Certifications sit next to this degree rather than inside it. The 60 credits pair a degree with industry credentials such as CompTIA Security+ and A+, and graduates can move on toward CIW and Microsoft Office Specialist Excel certifications. The degree does not award professional certifications by itself, so the exams remain a separate step.
The curriculum covers programming essentials, productivity applications, web development fundamentals and basic computing, in a less math- and theory-intensive approach. You build a basic computer system from appropriate hardware and software. The program is online, with courses starting monthly and running 8 to 16 weeks, and up to 45 credits can transfer in. It points toward computer and network support work, along with technical support and database or system administration.
- Online tuition
- $360 per credit$21,600 total for 60 credits
- Credits
- 60
- Graduation rate
- 57%school-wide
- Graduates in this field
- 1952023-24, all formats
- Accreditation
- HLC, CAE-CD schoolHigher Learning Commission
- Format
- Courses from 8 weeks
- Transfer credits
- Up to 45
- Starts
- Monthly
- Prepares for
- Microsoft Office Specialist Excel, CIW
- No.5 63.9score of 100
Cambridge College of Healthcare & Technology
Bachelor of Science in Computer Networking
Exam preparation drives this degree. The degree gives you the skills and knowledge for CompTIA A+, Network+, Cloud+ and Project+ exams, plus healthcare-related certification exams. Cloud Deployment and Operations, Managing Cloud Security, Cloud Platform Solutions and Architecture and Implementing and Administering Network Solutions are among the courses behind them.
Study is 100% online, with video and chat in a remote learning environment, and the whole sequence takes 75 weeks. Scripting and Programming Foundations and the Information Technology Capstone sit at the programming and project end. A quarter of a program's credits, at minimum, must come from coursework at Cambridge.
- Graduation rate
- 76%school-wide
- Graduates in this field
- 12023-24, all formats
- Accreditation
- ABHESAccrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools
- Prepares for
- CompTIA A+, CompTIA Network+, CompTIA Cloud+, CompTIA Project+
- No.6 63.4score of 100
Western Michigan University
Bachelor of Science in Cybersecurity
Network+ and Security+ are the certification exams this 122-credit-hour cybersecurity degree prepares you for. The core runs through ethics, programming, cryptology concepts and techniques, foundations of cybersecurity and secure web applications and technologies, plus Windows System Administration, data analytics for cybersecurity and secure systems programming concepts, so the exam topics sit inside a broad technical foundation.
Each cybersecurity course is available both online and in person. Projects are done in teams, and the program closes with a Senior Engineering Design project, where a team works on a project for industry. All cybersecurity students agree to the university's White Hat Code of Conduct. The Haworth College of Business and the College of Engineering and Applied Sciences both contribute.
- Credits
- 122
- Graduation rate
- 58%school-wide
- Graduates in this field
- 52023-24, all formats
- Accreditation
- HLC, ABETHigher Learning Commission
- Prepares for
- CompTIA Network+ and Security+
- No.7 63.3score of 100
Western Governors University
Cybersecurity and Information Assurance, BS
Up to 16 industry-recognized certifications come with this Cybersecurity and Information Assurance degree, which is the first thing worth knowing about it. They are woven into a path that begins with basic IT, networking, programming and security ideas, moves into advanced security topics, then ends with a capstone project.
WGU runs the degree on a competency-based model, so you advance by showing what you know and passing the assessment. It consists of 37 courses, some of which transfer credit may satisfy, and you take the rest one at a time with a Program Mentor. Each six-month term lets you finish as many courses as you are able, and new terms start on the 1st of every month. Prior cybersecurity experience, transfer credits and extra study time can speed things up compared with a traditional bachelor's.
- Online tuition
- $4,425 per 6-month term
- Graduation rate
- 46%school-wide
- Median earnings
- $92,4161 year after
- Graduates in this field
- 2,2182023-24, all formats
- Accreditation
- NWCCU, ABET, CAE-CD schoolNorthwest Commission on Colleges and Universities
- Format
- Self-paced
- Starts
- Monthly
- Certifications included
- up to 16 industry-recognized certifications (e.g. CompTIA, ISC2)
- No.8 61.8score of 100
MyComputerCareer at Indianapolis
IT Network Administration and Security, AAS
The certification list is the headline of this MyComputerCareer program: CEH (Certified Ethical Hacker), Cisco CCENT, Microsoft MCP, and the CompTIA A+, Network+ and Security+ exams. Coursework is built to support those exams, with 12 courses and 5 general education classes spanning operating systems and server administration, IP routing and networking devices, cyber security, coding and data analysis. You also practice configuring LANs and WANs, managing Cisco routers and switches, and running a penetration test with an ethical hacking methodology.
You can take it online or on-campus. It suits students who want a vocational path into IT without four years in college, along with certifications that give them an edge entering the job market.
- Program cost
- $50,087full program
- Graduation rate
- 69%school-wide
- Graduates in this field
- 372023-24, all formats
- Accreditation
- ACCETAccrediting Council for Continuing Education and Training
- Format
- Live classes
- Prepares for
- CompTIA A+, Network+, Security+, Server+ and others (CEH, CCNA, CySA+, Linux Essentials listed)
- No.9 61.7score of 100
Abilene Christian University
Information Technology, MS
ACU's online MSIT lines up with five professional certifications: CompTIA CySA+, PMP, CISSP, CISM and ITIL. The coursework runs parallel to those credentials and prepares you for widely recognized certification exams. Cybersecurity is the central pillar, with five courses devoted to it, and finishing also earns you a graduate-level Certificate in Cybersecurity along the way.
The 36-hour curriculum includes System Certification & Accreditation, Enterprise Architectures and Systems, and Strategic IT Leadership. It is built for working IT professionals who hold a related undergraduate degree, and non-IT applicants complete prerequisites in programming, databases, networking and statistics first. The minimum length is 24 months.
- Online tuition
- $650 per credit$23,400 total for 36 credits
- Credits
- 36
- Graduation rate
- 59%school-wide
- Graduates in this field
- 82023-24, all formats
- Accreditation
- SACSCOCSouthern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges
- Starts
- January, October
- Prepares for
- CompTIA CySA+, PMP, CISSP, CISM, ITIL
- No.10 60.3score of 100
Washington University of Science and Technology
Bachelor of Science in Information Technology
The degree has 24 professional core courses, including IT 201 Hardware, Software and Network Systems, IT 205 Introduction to Database Concepts and IT 348 Computer Security Fundamentals, plus IT 470 Systems Analysis and Design and IT 476 Advanced Programming. You choose one of three concentrations of four courses each: Cybersecurity, Enterprise Information Management or Software Engineering.
The program totals 40 courses and 180 quarter credit hours, on a calendar of four quarters a year with each quarter 10 weeks long. It can be completed fully online, with weekly assignments submitted in Canvas. Transfer credit can cover at most 70% of the program. Washington University of Science and Technology is accredited by ACCSC.
- Credits
- 180quarter credits
- Graduation rate
- 67%school-wide
- Graduates in this field
- 102023-24, all formats
- Accreditation
- ACCSCAccrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges
- Format
- Courses from 10 weeks
- Prepares for
- CompTIA Network+, CompTIA A+, CompTIA Security+
- No.11 59.9score of 100
Isothermal Community College
Information Technology, AAS
This program builds in the competencies of industry-recognized certification exams, so your coursework and your exam preparation overlap. The security thread is easy to see in sample courses such as SEC-210 Intrusion Detection, SEC-110 Security Concepts and SEC-160 Security Administration I, alongside NOS-120 Linux Single User. Your focus area decides the mix, and you work in information security, network systems, interactive media, information support, or programming and software development.
The college also offers specialty paths in cybersecurity, business support, web administration and design, and computer programming and development, plus certificates covering networking technology, artificial intelligence, and game and simulation. Graduates should expect to qualify for entry-level jobs with businesses, educational systems and government agencies, in roles from programmer or developer to system administrator, support technician, tester or designer.
- Online tuition
- $268 per credit$76 in state · $17,420 total for 65 credits
- Credits
- 65
- Graduation rate
- 55%school-wide
- Graduates in this field
- 142023-24, all formats
- Accreditation
- SACSCOCSouthern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges
- Prepares for
- industry-recognized certification exams (none named)
- No.12 56.1score of 100
Ball State University
Computer and Information Technology, BS
Ball State University's Bachelor of Science in Computer and Information Technology lines up its coursework with AWS and VMware certifications. The skills, including cloud computing and datacenter virtualization, are the ones those credentials draw on, and students also work in Linux, technology automation and cybersecurity.
The degree covers administering, implementing and designing secured systems and networks. The major is 62 credits, and students can earn either a BA or a BS. Delivery is 100% online. Example job titles include Scrum Master, IT project manager, database specialist, network and systems engineer and network and systems administrator. The program is STEM-designated.
- Online tuition
- $578 per credit$346 in state
- Graduation rate
- 62%school-wide
- Graduates in this field
- 222023-24, all formats
- Accreditation
- HLCHigher Learning Commission
- Prepares for
- AWS, VMware
- No.13 54.1score of 100
MTI College
Information Technology, AS
Six exams are built into this associate degree: CompTIA A+ Core 1, CompTIA A+ Core 2, CompTIA Network+, AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner, AWS Certified Solutions Architect and LPI Linux Essentials. Courses made for them include CTIA.160 CompTIA A+ Core 1 and Technical Support, CTIA.170 CompTIA A+ Core 2 and Certification Practice, AWS.225 AWS Cloud Foundations & Architecture, AWS.245 AWS Cloud: Well-Architected Frameworks, plus SWD.150 Linux & Command Line Foundations.
You attend live online sessions twice weekly, and you complete at least 96 credit hours across 11-week quarters. Tuition is flat per quarter for a load of 7 to 12 credits, and the program price includes books and supplies. Students may be admitted without standardized test scores, after a short application and an online interview.
- Online tuition
- $2,440 per quarter (7+ credits)
- Credits
- 96
- Graduation rate
- 77%school-wide
- Median earnings
- $39,9701 year after
- Graduates in this field
- 102023-24, all formats
- Accreditation
- ACCJCAccrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges
- Format
- Live classes, courses from 11 weeks
- Certifications included
- CompTIA A+ Core 1, CompTIA A+ Core 2, CompTIA Network+, AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner, AWS Certified Solutions Architect, LPI Linux Essentials
- No.14 52.2score of 100
Eastern Iowa Community College District
Information Technology: Cybersecurity, AAS
Industry certifications are the selling point of this associate degree pathway, and the training covers Linux+, AWS, Cyber Forensics Associate and Ethical Hacking Associate, among others. The earlier stages build the base with Python, Linux, networking and Cisco Packet Tracer, and the degree courses then add Computer Forensics, Network Attacks and Ethical Hacking.
The pathway is staged. A certificate gets you into the IT workforce fast, and the associate degree is where you build more skills and go deeper. Classes can be taken 100% online, in person or mixed, depending on what suits you. For next steps, contact an admissions representative at your intended college. The program is a match for anyone moving from general IT into security.
- Online tuition
- $230 per credit$14,260 total for 62 credits
- Credits
- 62
- Graduation rate
- 45%school-wide
- Graduates in this field
- 62023-24, all formats
- Accreditation
- HLCHigher Learning Commission
- Prepares for
- EC-Council Certified Ethical Hacker, CompTIA Linux+
- No.15 51.3score of 100
Atlantis University
Master of Information Technology
The curriculum is designed to align with content covered by industry certifications such as CompTIA Network+ and Microsoft Azure Data Fundamentals. Topics include network administration and support, SQL and NoSQL database systems, Python programming, web frameworks (Django and Flask), project management using the Project Management Body of Knowledge, information security, and artificial intelligence. Faculty guide practical exercises, labs, and projects.
The program is 30 total credits, runs about 1.2 years, and is delivered on the school's online campus. A dual degree option pairs the Master's in Information Technology with a Master's in Cybersecurity in an accelerated 20-month program. It is aimed at education and business professionals who want a mix of technology leadership and IT security expertise and who want to earn industry-recognized certifications along the way.
- Credits
- 30
- Graduation rate
- 57%school-wide
- Graduates in this field
- 502023-24, all formats
- Accreditation
- ACCSCAccrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges
- Prepares for
- CompTIA Network+
- No.16 50.4score of 100
Ivy Tech Community College
Cloud Technologies, AAS
CompTIA A+, Network+ and Security+ lead the list of certifications that graduates of this Cloud Technologies AAS can earn, and the coursework extends into AWS credentials, including Cloud Practitioner and Solutions Architect Associate. Few associate degrees line up that many vendor exams. The 60 credit hours also include a capstone and a student success course.
You can complete the whole degree online. It is a program for all levels, so you do not need to arrive with prior cloud experience. Graduates can move straight into the workforce or continue into a bachelor's degree at partner schools. Applying costs nothing: you submit the online general application, and once you are accepted the college sends details on setting up your student account.
- Online tuition
- $348.97 per credit$178.38 in state · $20,938 total for 60 credits
- Credits
- 60
- Graduation rate
- 40%school-wide
- Graduates in this field
- 242023-24, all formats
- Accreditation
- HLC, CAE-CD schoolHigher Learning Commission
- Format
- Courses from 8 weeks
- Prepares for
- CompTIA A+, CompTIA Network+, CompTIA Security+, AWS Cloud Practitioner, AWS Solutions Architect - Associate
- No.17 50.1score of 100
Colorado State University Global
Bachelor of Science in Information Technology
Certification prep is spread through Colorado State University Global's Bachelor of Science in Information Technology. It prepares students for exams from CompTIA, the EC-Council Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH) and AWS Cloud Practitioner. An introductory systems course covers the Essentials portion of CompTIA A+, and an introductory networks course prepares students for CompTIA Network+ and Testout Network Pro.
Those courses sit in a core of fourteen 3-credit classes that also includes MTH350 Discrete Mathematics. Students can specialize in virtualization and cloud computing, cybersecurity or web application development. The 120-credit degree is delivered in 8-week courses, 100% online and asynchronous, with a start every month. Students who already hold IT credentials or certifications can use them to earn credit toward the degree.
- Online tuition
- $385 per credit$46,200 total for 120 credits
- Credits
- 120
- Median earnings
- $68,0101 year after
- Graduates in this field
- 4392023-24, all formats
- Accreditation
- HLCHigher Learning Commission
- Format
- Self-paced, courses from 8 weeks
- Transfer credits
- Up to 90
- Starts
- Monthly
- Prepares for
- CompTIA, EC-Council CEH, AWS Cloud Practitioner (named exam prep)
- No.18 50.0score of 100
Bismarck State College
Cybersecurity and Computer Networks, AAS
Several industry exams are tied to this associate degree: CompTIA A+, Network+ and Security+, along with Linux+, Server+ and CySA+, and CCNA and CEH are among the credentials the program aligns with. You may also be able to earn college credit for a cooperative education experience or internship.
Cybersecurity and system and network administration are combined in one degree. The core classes teach computer hardware, networking, security, programming and both Windows and Linux operating systems. Every class can be taken online or on campus, so you can mix formats around your schedule, with entry in Fall and Summer. Enrolled students are expected to be logical and detail oriented, a fit for people who like working through technical problems step by step.
- Graduation rate
- 47%school-wide
- Graduates in this field
- 422023-24, all formats
- Accreditation
- HLC, CAE-CD schoolHigher Learning Commission
- Starts
- Fall, Summer
- Prepares for
- CompTIA A+, Network+, Security+, CCNA, CEH
- No.19 49.5score of 100
Saint Mary's University of Minnesota
Information Technology, BS
Two CompTIA exams anchor the Bachelor of Science in Information Technology at Saint Mary's University of Minnesota. The cybersecurity specialization prepares students to pursue Security+, and the network administration specialization prepares them for Network+. A business intelligence specialization is also available.
Students earn digital badges in their specialization, and online training gives them proof of completion in Business Intelligence Using Excel, Google Cloud, Network Security and Cybersecurity Fundamentals. The 90-credit degree is fully online, takes about 3 years and starts in August, October, January, March, May or June. Up to 66 credits can transfer, and approved graduate-level courses can be taken during the bachelor's program. Coursework covers operating systems, enterprise technology and cloud computing.
- Online tuition
- $440 per credit$39,600 total for 90 credits
- Credits
- 90
- Graduation rate
- 66%school-wide
- Median earnings
- $25,5341 year after
- Graduates in this field
- 112023-24, all formats
- Accreditation
- HLCHigher Learning Commission
- Format
- Courses from 8 weeks
- Transfer credits
- Up to 66
- Prepares for
- CompTIA Security+, CompTIA Network+
- No.20 48.7score of 100
North Greenville University
Bachelor's in Cybersecurity
Up to 13 certification exams are within reach, and NGU students receive exclusive discounted pricing on them through CompTIA and EC-Council partnerships. The coursework behind them includes Network Fundamentals, Scripting Fundamentals, Linux Fundamentals and Cybercrime, with Research and Communication for the Cyberprofessional in year two.
You can complete the whole degree online. A normal term has 2 courses, and students with a 3.0 GPA and advisor approval can take 3. Terms are numbered, such as Fall Terms 1 and 2. North Greenville allows up to 90 transfer credits, and the Information Systems Security or Management Information Systems concentration is yours to pick.
- Online tuition
- $425 per credit
- Graduation rate
- 55%school-wide
- Graduates in this field
- 42023-24, all formats
- Accreditation
- SACSCOCSouthern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges
- Format
- Live and self-paced
- Transfer credits
- Up to 90
- Prepares for
- CompTIA Security+, CompTIA CySA+, EC-Council Certified Ethical Hacker, ISACA CISM
- No.21 48.2score of 100
California Baptist University
Computer Information Technology, BS
The degree covers internet applications, databases and networking applications, programming, project management, and computer security. Coursework includes an introduction to cloud computing on Microsoft Azure and AWS, whose content corresponds to the CompTIA Cloud+ exam, and Legal and Ethical Practices in Information Technology. CBU is a CompTIA academic partner, with CompTIA certificate pathways built into the curriculum, reduced pricing on exam resources, and a remote testing option for online students. Faith integration is a stated learning outcome.
Courses are accelerated, asynchronous, and 100% online, with classes starting every 8 weeks. Three semesters run year round, and most online programs can start at six entry points per calendar year. The program is transfer friendly, letting students consolidate earlier undergraduate credits and finish a degree. It is built for students who want to combine business and computer skills for technology operations roles.
- Online tuition
- $541 per credit
- Graduation rate
- 62%school-wide
- Median earnings
- $55,0011 year after
- Graduates in this field
- 142023-24, all formats
- Accreditation
- WSCUCWASC Senior College and University Commission
- Format
- Self-paced, courses from 8 weeks
- Starts
- Every 8 weeks
- Prepares for
- CompTIA certificates (incl. Cloud+ aligned course)
- No.22 47.5score of 100
Capella University
IT: Information Assurance and Cybersecurity, BS
Google IT Support, CompTIA A+ and AWS are the industry-recognized certifications you can earn while studying Capella's BS in Information Technology with the Information Assurance and Cybersecurity specialization. The certificates are not credit-bearing, so they add to the degree rather than shorten it. The specialization covers Computer Forensics, Cyber Defense and Countermeasures, and Cyber Attacks and Ethical Hacking.
The program is online with a FlexPath option, a format that lets you move at your own pace. The fastest 25 percent of FlexPath students earn a bachelor's in IT in 19 months, though your time depends on transfer credits and pace. Labs and mission-based simulations give practice, and assignments can center on a project at your workplace or a Capella partner organization.
- Credits
- 180quarter credits
- Graduation rate
- 20%school-wide
- Median earnings
- $86,0851 year after
- Graduates in this field
- 812023-24, all formats
- Accreditation
- HLC, ABET, CAE-CD schoolHigher Learning Commission
- Format
- Courses from 10 weeks
- Transfer credits
- Up to 135
- Starts
- January, April, July, October
- Certifications included
- Google IT Support, CompTIA A+, AWS
- No.23 47.4score of 100
Richmond Community College
Information Technology, AAS
Three exams are named for this program: CompTIA A+, Network+ and Security+. Richmond Community College says the Information Technology program prepares students to pass those industry certification exams, and the courses behind them include CTI-110 IT Foundations, CTI-120 Network and Security Foundations, NET-125 Introduction to Networks and NOS-120 Linux Single User.
Which track you follow is up to you: Cyber Security, IT Support or Software and Web Development. Pathway degrees need 64 to 65 credit hours, with courses offered fall, spring and summer, and the Online Students page includes Information Technology among the completely online programs. Tuition is charged by the credit hour, with one rate for in-state students and a higher one for out-of-state students, and transfer students who move on to Western Governors University get a 5% tuition discount.
- Online tuition
- $268 per credit$76 in state
- Graduation rate
- 46%school-wide
- Graduates in this field
- 92023-24, all formats
- Accreditation
- SACSCOC, CAE-CD schoolSouthern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges
- Prepares for
- CompTIA A+, CompTIA Network+, CompTIA Security+
- No.24 47.4score of 100
Western Governors University
Bachelor of Science in Cloud and Network Engineering
The degree prepares you for hybrid infrastructure where cloud systems, on-premise networks, and AI-driven automation work together. You pick one of four tracks: General (broad cloud and traditional networking skills), AWS, Azure, or Cisco. Each track is 34 courses and bundles third-party certifications. All include ITIL, and the General track adds CompTIA Secure Infrastructure Specialist and Secure Cloud Professional. The Azure track covers IT Operations Specialist (A+ and Net+) and Secure Infrastructure Specialist (A+, Net+, and Sec+), and the Cisco track adds Cisco Certified Cybersecurity Associate (CyberOps).
The program is online and structured around the track you choose, with courses designed around skills employers are hiring for. The General track suits students who want flexibility across IT support, network administration, and cloud operations roles, while the AWS, Azure, and Cisco tracks suit those aiming at a single platform.
- Online tuition
- $3,925 per 6-month term
- Graduation rate
- 46%school-wide
- Graduates in this field
- 3562023-24, all formats
- Accreditation
- NWCCU, CAE-CD schoolNorthwest Commission on Colleges and Universities
- Format
- Self-paced
- Starts
- Monthly
- Certifications included
- CompTIA A+, Network+, Security+, Cloud+ and others; AWS tracks
- No.25 47.4score of 100
Western Governors University
Master of Science in Information Technology Management
WGU's Master of Science in Information Technology is aimed at experienced professionals moving into IT leadership and executive-level strategy. It emphasizes aligning technology with business outcomes, leading Agile teams, and guiding digital transformation, with expertise in DevOps, AI data, cloud, and cybersecurity strategy, governance, risk, and compliance, Agile leadership, solutions development, and project management. The program is 11 courses, and a Product Management version is a separate degree. Opportunities to earn the PMI Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM) and Scrum Alliance Certified Agile Leader 1 credentials are included at no extra cost.
Courses are completed one at a time with a Program Mentor, who helps build a personal Degree Plan each term. You pass the assessment, finish the course, and move on, so you can complete as many courses as you can manage in a term. The degree is built for experienced IT professionals ready to lead.
- Online tuition
- $4,425 per 6-month term
- Graduation rate
- 46%school-wide
- Graduates in this field
- 5672023-24, all formats
- Accreditation
- NWCCU, CAE-CD schoolNorthwest Commission on Colleges and Universities
- Format
- Self-paced
- Starts
- Monthly
- Certifications included
- Scrum Alliance CAL 1 (CAPM optional)
Online IT Degree with Certifications Programs Ranked 26 to 43
- No.26 45.7score of 100
Abilene Christian University-Undergraduate Online
Information Technology Administration, BS
The coursework lines up with five industry exams: CompTIA A+, CompTIA Network+, CompTIA Security+, EC-Council Certified Ethical Hacker and Cisco CCNA. These are aligned rather than included, meaning the classes prepare students to sit for them. The fit is clearest in the networking, information security and operating systems topics that make up part of the 39-hour core, and in the cybersecurity practices taught in the General concentration.
The Information Assurance concentration adds work on developing cybersecurity policies, conducting risk assessments and forming incident response plans, which sits close to the security exams on that list. The degree is 120 hours in total, with 64 in the major and 56 in university requirements that include Bible study. Delivery is online. Application Development takes a different turn, with client and server systems and iOS and Android apps.
- Online tuition
- $395 per credit$47,400 total for 120 credits
- Credits
- 120
- Graduates in this field
- 22023-24, all formats
- Accreditation
- SACSCOCSouthern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges
- Starts
- January, October
- Prepares for
- CompTIA A+, CompTIA Network+, CompTIA Security+, EC-Council Certified Ethical Hacker, Cisco CCNA
- No.27 44.1score of 100
Excelsior University
Bachelor of Science in Cybersecurity
Seven certification exams are named as targets for this online cybersecurity bachelor's: Security+, CEH, CISP, Network+, CHFI, SSCP and ESCP. The coursework prepares students to sit for them. The 120-credit degree is also aligned with requirements from the National Security Agency and the Department of Homeland Security, and the school holds a CAE-CD designation.
Cyber Operations teaches students to address advanced cyber threats, cybercrime and terrorism, and its content spans mobile and cloud environments, computer forensics and business continuity. Delivery is asynchronous online with courses starting every 8 weeks. A hybrid format also exists, and hybrid courses meet in person for three hours every other week, in evenings or on weekends at the school's St. Petersburg, Florida site. Up to 113 credits can transfer in.
- Online tuition
- $510 per credit$61,200 total for 120 credits
- Credits
- 120
- Graduates in this field
- 302023-24, all formats
- Accreditation
- MSCHE, CAE-CD schoolMiddle States Commission on Higher Education
- Format
- Self-paced, courses from 8 weeks
- Prepares for
- CISP, CEH, Security+, Network+, CHFI, SSCP, ESCP
- No.28 42.2score of 100
Purdue University Global
Bachelor of Science in Cloud Computing and Solutions
Three certifications stand behind this Purdue Global cloud degree. This cloud degree provides a foundation for the AWS Certified Solutions Architect Associate, Microsoft MCSA: Linux on Azure, and Microsoft MCSE: Cloud Platform and Infrastructure. It is also aligned with CompTIA Cloud+, so the coursework prepares students for that exam as well.
Application Development and Scripting in the Cloud, Cloud Services Management, and Advanced Cloud Security are among the courses that build the knowledge, and virtual IT labs add practice. The degree totals 180 quarter credits over 34 courses, divided between the core, the major, and electives. It is offered 100% online with multiple start dates, and prospective students can try classes for 3 weeks at no cost. A high school diploma or GED is needed to apply.
- Online tuition
- $371 per credit$66,780 total for 180 credits
- Credits
- 180quarter credits
- Graduation rate
- 50%school-wide
- Graduates in this field
- 342023-24, all formats
- Accreditation
- HLC, CAE-CD schoolHigher Learning Commission
- Prepares for
- CompTIA Cloud+, AWS Certified Solutions Architect - Associate
- No.29 40.1score of 100
Monroe University
Computer Networks and Cybersecurity, BS
Six certifications are in view in this online Computer Networks and Cybersecurity bachelor's. CompTIA supplies Cloud+, Network+, Security+ and A+, while Cisco supplies CyberOps Associate and the CCNA, short for Certified Network Associate. The coursework lines up with all of them, and the Cisco systems study includes CyberOps.
Around the exams, IT project management and wireless technology sit beside ethical hacking, penetration testing, network and computer forensics and Windows networking. The degree totals 120 credits, with major-related courses accounting for 57 and general education and related courses for 63, and it can be completed in eight semesters, less than three years of consecutive full-time study. Online students follow the on-campus curriculum with the same instructors, and an abridged 7.5-week term of two classes eases students into online learning.
- Online tuition
- $700 per credit$84,000 total for 120 credits
- Credits
- 120
- Graduation rate
- 57%school-wide
- Graduates in this field
- 262023-24, all formats
- Accreditation
- MSCHEMiddle States Commission on Higher Education
- Format
- Courses from 15 weeks
- Prepares for
- Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA), CyberOps Associate, CompTIA A+, CompTIA Security+, CompTIA Network+, CompTIA Cloud+
- No.30 39.7score of 100
Lindenwood University
Information Technology, BS
This online Information Technology degree aligns its coursework with two CompTIA certifications, Network+ and Security+. Cybersecurity fundamentals coursework adds skills in identifying vulnerabilities, implementing safeguards and protecting organizational data. The courses run asynchronously, and the degree totals 120 credits.
Students choose the Applications Development emphasis, 36 credit hours that cover agile methods and secure software development, then mobile applications programming, C# and database application implementation, ending in an Information Technology Capstone. Lindenwood accepts up to 90 transfer credits, which can leave 30 credit hours at the minimum to complete there, and multiple start dates are offered throughout the year. The program also asks students to use AI tools with an emphasis on ethical and responsible practice.
- Online tuition
- $525 per credit$63,000 total for 120 credits
- Credits
- 120
- Graduation rate
- 49%school-wide
- Median earnings
- $66,9651 year after
- Graduates in this field
- 42023-24, all formats
- Accreditation
- HLCHigher Learning Commission
- Format
- Self-paced
- Transfer credits
- Up to 90
- Prepares for
- CompTIA Network+, CompTIA Security+
- No.31 39.5score of 100
St Petersburg College
Computer Information Technology A.S.
This associate degree has four exams students can sit for after the related courses. Two are CompTIA A+ and CompTIA Network+, and the others are MOS Excel and MOS Access. The Help Desk Support Specialist Certificate is earned on the way, and a technology support internship adds practice before graduation. The aim is an entry-level support role in a business setting.
Technical skills span web tools, IT security and networking, along with spreadsheet and database programming, plus hardware configuration, troubleshooting and data analysis. The Computer Information Technology A.S. is offered fully online at St Petersburg College. Graduates can move on to the college's bachelor's degree in Technology Development and Management, and one career named for completers is computer network support specialist.
- Online tuition
- $425.79 per credit$122.70 in state
- Graduation rate
- 38%school-wide
- Graduates in this field
- 202023-24, all formats
- Accreditation
- SACSCOC, CAE-CD schoolSouthern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges
- Prepares for
- CompTIA A+, CompTIA Network+
- No.32 38.0score of 100
University of Maryland Global Campus
Bachelor's in Cybersecurity Technology
A student who passes one of the listed certification exams during the matching course may be able to count that result in place of the course's final exam. Courses in this Cybersecurity Technology bachelor's are aligned to exams including CompTIA A+ and Security+, AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner and Cisco CCNA, so exam preparation and degree credit move together.
Behind the exams sits a 120-credit degree: the major takes 42 required credits, general education 41 and electives 37. Major courses include Python programming, Linux, network security, ethical hacking, cloud technologies, AI security and Microsoft 365 endpoint administration, plus a capstone. Up to 90 credits can transfer, every course can be taken online with some hybrid sections available, and full-time cybersecurity professionals teach them.
- Online tuition
- $499 per credit$337 in state · $59,880 total for 120 credits
- Credits
- 120
- Graduation rate
- 33%school-wide
- Median earnings
- $73,7971 year after
- Graduates in this field
- 8632023-24, all formats
- Accreditation
- MSCHE, CAE-CD schoolMiddle States Commission on Higher Education
- Transfer credits
- Up to 90
- Prepares for
- CompTIA A+ / Security+ (courses aligned to exams)
- No.33 37.6score of 100
South College
Associate of Science in Information Technology
South College builds this associate degree toward multiple IT certifications, with CompTIA A+ named among the skill areas. Windows Server, data structures, the Amazon Web Services platform and systems administration round out the technical list. The goal is to meet business and user needs with IT solutions students plan, build, roll out and manage.
Course topics run from database applications and computer architecture to networking, operating systems, applications development and scripting. Hands-on assignments, individual work and group projects are the teaching methods. The Associate of Science in Information Technology can be taken online or in a hybrid format, and finishing fully online takes as little as 18 months. A next step is the school's own Bachelor of Science in Information Technology.
- Online tuition
- $4,175 per quarter (10-20 credit hours)
- Graduation rate
- 42%school-wide
- Graduates in this field
- 62023-24, all formats
- Accreditation
- SACSCOCSouthern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges
- Prepares for
- CompTIA A+
- No.34 36.4score of 100
North Carolina Central University
Information Technology, BS
Six certifications are named for this degree: CAPM and PMP on the project management side, and CompTIA A+, Network+ and Security+ plus the CCNA on the technical side. The coursework is aligned to prepare students for them rather than including the exams. Project management courses teach students to plan, execute and oversee tech projects, which fits the CAPM and PMP track, while the Cybersecurity concentration lines up with Security+.
The Bachelor of Science in Information Technology is a Flight Path Program for returning adult learners, delivered fully online in condensed courses. It runs 120 credit hours, including a minimum of 24 transferred in, and students also build skills in business programming, database management and systems analysis. The three concentrations are Cybersecurity, Data Analytics and ICT, with business core hours varying by choice.
- Online tuition
- $727.67 per credit$185 in state · $87,320 total for 120 credits
- Credits
- 120
- Graduation rate
- 42%school-wide
- Median earnings
- $74,5971 year after
- Graduates in this field
- 202023-24, all formats
- Accreditation
- SACSCOC, CAE-CD schoolSouthern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges
- Prepares for
- CAPM, PMP, CompTIA Security+, A+, Network+, CCNA
- No.35 36.1score of 100
Rasmussen University-Florida
Information Technology Management Bachelor of Science
This Information Technology Management degree points toward three named credentials: CAPM, ITIL and Six Sigma White Belt. Coursework is aligned with them, so students pursue those certifications while completing leadership, project management and team management training. Sample classes include IT Operations Management and a second project management course, and a client-centered IT proposal project ties the material to a realistic assignment.
The bachelor's is 23 courses and 90 credit hours, and it can be completed in as few as 18 months. Students move faster or slower as needed, and assessments let them demonstrate existing skills so they can skip a course. Admission requires a conferred associate degree from an accredited institution, or 60 quarter or 40 semester credits at a C- or higher. No background check is required.
- Online tuition
- $376 per credit
- Graduation rate
- 42%school-wide
- Median earnings
- $64,3291 year after
- Graduates in this field
- 122023-24, all formats
- Format
- Live and self-paced
- Starts
- January, November
- Prepares for
- CAPM, ITIL, Six Sigma White Belt
- No.36 35.6score of 100
National American University-Rapid City
Information Technology, BS
Certification support here comes through course materials: select information technology courses incorporate CompTIA and TestOut learning resources, and the coursework is aligned with CompTIA A+, Network+, Security+, Linux+ and Cloud+ through CertMaster Learn. Focus areas determine how far into each subject a student goes, from cybersecurity to network administration, cloud computing and AI and machine learning.
The FOCUSED bachelor's is 30 courses and 135 quarter credits, compared with the usual 180. Fewer open electives leave room for coursework concentrated around the major. Cloud and AI tracks use AWS in course titles, while network administration includes two Windows Hybrid Server courses. A Generalist option lets eligible students build across several areas. Everything is online and designed for students balancing school, work and family.
- Credits
- 135quarter credits
- Median earnings
- $52,1291 year after
- Graduates in this field
- 72023-24, all formats
- Accreditation
- HLCHigher Learning Commission
- Prepares for
- CompTIA A+, Network+, Security+, Linux+, Cloud+ (CertMaster Learn)
- No.37 34.1score of 100
Community College of Vermont
Information Technology, AS
The Community College of Vermont associate degree in information technology has a required core of CIS 1100 Introduction to Computer Science, CIS 1350 Operating Systems, CIS 2120 Networking Foundations, CIS 2230 System Administration and ENG 2135 Technical Writing & Research. Students take either CIS 2210 Python Programming or CIS 1145 Programming I. At least 12 program credits come from focus areas: cloud computing, programming and web development; cybersecurity and networking; data analytics and artificial intelligence; IT support and service operations; or project management and field experience.
The degree can be completed fully online and requires at least 60 credits, general education included. Graduates choose from 36 pathways into bachelor's degrees, including the Vermont Transfer Guarantee. Tuition is set per credit, with one rate for Vermont residents and a higher one out of state. Optional zero-credit workshops prepare students for CompTIA exams.
- Online tuition
- $399 per credit$290 in state · $23,940 total for 60 credits
- Credits
- 60
- Graduation rate
- 20%school-wide
- Graduates in this field
- 252023-24, all formats
- Accreditation
- NECHENew England Commission of Higher Education
- Prepares for
- CompTIA Network+, CompTIA Security+, CompTIA A+
- No.38 33.6score of 100
Ashford University
Bachelor of Science in Information Technology
Coursework in this Information Technology degree is aligned with CompTIA IT Fundamentals, the certification the program names. The rest of the curriculum is organized around information assurance and security first, then project management, data management, networking and mobile and web applications, and ABET's Computing Accreditation Commission accredits the program.
Students move through 120 credits in accelerated five-week courses, taking one course at a time. Technical stops along the way include Database Systems and Management, Human Computer Interaction and Scrum Basics, and a capstone in information technology finishes the degree. Credits earned at community colleges, in other college coursework or through life experience may be approved for transfer, while 30 of the credits have to come from courses taken at the university itself. An emphasis of 9 to 12 credits is optional.
- Online tuition
- $460 per credit$55,200 total for 120 credits
- Credits
- 120
- Graduation rate
- 11%school-wide
- Graduates in this field
- 952023-24, all formats
- Accreditation
- WSCUC, ABETWASC Senior College and University Commission
- Format
- Courses from 5 weeks
- Prepares for
- CompTIA IT Fundamentals
- No.39 33.1score of 100
Capella University
Bachelor of Science in Information Technology
A voucher for the Google IT Support Professional Certificate comes with Capella's BS in Information Technology, which puts a recognized entry credential next to the degree itself. The degree totals 180 program credits in the GuidedPath format, or 90 program points in the self-paced FlexPath format.
The coursework behind it covers project management, systems analysis and design, networking, databases, and web development. Responsible use of AI is encouraged along the way. The degree closes with two capstone courses after 10 core courses and a specialization of 5 to 10 courses. The transfer limit is 135 credits, and no-cost general education courses are available through Sophia Learning, an affiliate of the school. Students who already work in IT can do a project for their employer in place of a courseroom assignment.
- Online tuition
- $350 per quarter credit$63,000 total for 180 credits
- Credits
- 180quarter credits
- Graduation rate
- 20%school-wide
- Median earnings
- $74,6741 year after
- Graduates in this field
- 22023-24, all formats
- Accreditation
- HLC, CAE-CD schoolHigher Learning Commission
- Format
- Courses from 10 weeks
- Transfer credits
- Up to 135
- Certifications included
- Google IT Support Professional Certificate
- No.40 31.3score of 100
Miami University-Hamilton
Information Technology, Bachelor's
Miami University's online Bachelor of Science in Information Technology starts with CIT 163 Introduction to Computer Programming, CIT 181 Network Fundamentals, CIT 214 Database Design and Development, CIT 258 Introduction to Global Cybersecurity and CIT 375 Human-Centered Full-Stack Development. CIT 205 Agile Launchpad I (ICAgile), CIT 225 Fundamentals of DevOps and CIT 175 Artificial Intelligence Basics are required too. You then pick a 15-hour focus area: Software Development, Agile, or a self-designed group that needs a petition. The senior capstone is CIT 457 and CIT 458, which cover IT project lifecycle requirements, design, implementation and deployment.
The major runs at least 80 semester hours. Courses prepare students for certifications in networking, cloud, cybersecurity and Agile project management, though some certifications require extra fees or experience. Tuition is set per credit hour. Miami University Polytechnic, in Hamilton, runs the program.
- 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+
- No.41 29.9score of 100
Bellevue University
Information Technology, Bachelor's
Four CompTIA exams anchor this online Information Technology bachelor's: course topics line up with A+ Essentials, Network+, Security+ and Server+. Cisco routing courses add CCNA preparation, and the program also touches Microsoft and Linux certifications. Students who want to go further can take an elective that builds a plan of study around certification, coordinated with a faculty sponsor.
The program runs 127 credit hours and is taught online through weekly modules. Every major begins with networking essentials, and the path ends with a project, study, certification or internship approved by faculty. Graduates are prepared to work across networks, servers and cloud systems, and transfer credits are accepted from regionally accredited colleges and universities.
- Online tuition
- $459 per credit$58,293 total for 127 credits
- Credits
- 127
- Graduation rate
- 33%school-wide
- Median earnings
- $60,1881 year after
- Graduates in this field
- 762023-24, all formats
- Accreditation
- HLC, CAE-CD schoolHigher Learning Commission
- Format
- Self-paced
- Prepares for
- CompTIA Security+, Cisco CCNA, Microsoft, Linux
- No.42 26.7score of 100
Franklin University
Bachelor of Science in Information Technology
PMBOK Guide and (ISC)2 CISSP are the professional standards faculty teach with in this online IT bachelor's, and the coursework is aligned with both. Network+ and CCNA matter too, since Franklin accepts many industry certifications in place of select coursework for transfer credit, including those two for networking.
Underneath is a 124-credit degree delivered 100% online, covering systems administration, security, databases and project management, and meant to add depth to existing IT knowledge and experience. A community college transcript can contribute as many as 94 semester hours, and credits from a Franklin associate degree apply directly. Students also work with Windows Server, Linux, firewalls and Cisco equipment, and are introduced to Perl, Shell and PowerShell.
- Online tuition
- $398 per credit$49,352 total for 124 credits
- Credits
- 124
- Graduation rate
- 11%school-wide
- Median earnings
- $63,3101 year after
- Graduates in this field
- 352023-24, all formats
- Accreditation
- HLC, CAE-CD schoolHigher Learning Commission
- Format
- Courses from 6 weeks
- Transfer credits
- Up to 94
- Starts
- January, February, March, November
- Prepares for
- PMBOK Guide; (ISC)2 CISSP
- No.43 24.0score of 100
University of Phoenix-Arizona
Bachelor of Science in Information Technology
Two exams are built into the preparation for this University of Phoenix degree. One is the CompTIA IT Fundamentals (ITF+) exam and the other is the EC-Council Secure Computer User (CSCU) exam. Electives can also be used toward an Information Assurance and Security certificate. Foundations of Security opens the cybersecurity thread, and simulated labs and test environments give practice before an exam.
The Bachelor of Science in Information Technology requires 120 credits and covers operating systems, programming, cloud technologies and databases. Every course lasts five to six weeks, and the online and on-campus versions use the same courses. Credit can come from eligible transfers, IT industry certifications and work experience, and a pathway from a participating community college accepts up to 87 credits of general requirements.
- Online tuition
- $426 per credit
- Credits
- 120
- Graduation rate
- 21%school-wide
- Median earnings
- $59,2911 year after
- Graduates in this field
- 8192023-24, all formats
- Accreditation
- HLCHigher Learning Commission
- Format
- Courses from 5 weeks
- Starts
- January, February, July, August, September, October, November, December
- Prepares for
- CompTIA IT Fundamentals (ITF+), EC-Council Secure Computer User (CSCU)
An online IT degree with certifications comes in two forms, and the difference decides what you pay. In an included program, the school covers the voucher or exam cost, and you walk out with the credential and the diploma. In a prepares-for program, the coursework is aligned to the exam, and you pay the vendor yourself. This page ranks 43 programs that offer one or the other. The ranking starts with Webster University, then Merrimack College and University of Mary.
Included Certifications vs. Exam Prep in an Online IT Degree with Certifications
Read the wording on the program page, because two schools can use the same words for different things. Two labels do the work on this page, and they stay apart.
Programs That Pay for the Exam
Included means the school pays. The tuition or a course fee covers the voucher or the exam, and the program page says so. You still study, sit the test and pass or fail it on your own. But the exam fee isn’t coming out of your pocket, which for a certification like CompTIA Security+ or Cisco’s CCNA is real money.
Western Governors University is the plainest example. Its cybersecurity and information assurance bachelor’s says you earn up to sixteen industry certifications, and a footnote on the page explains that the school offers vouchers for the exams, so the cost is included in the tuition price. The same page warns that you may still pay membership fees some certifications require. Its cloud and network engineering degree adds AWS, Azure and Cisco tracks and lists CompTIA credentials, and the master’s in IT management offers the PMI Certified Associate in Project Management and the Scrum Alliance Certified Agile Leader credential.
MTI College does it at the associate level. Its online associate degree lists both A+ exams, Network+, two AWS exams and Linux Essentials, and the page adds that campus vouchers pay for what the exams cost. Capella University says students can earn certifications such as Google IT Support, CompTIA A+ or AWS at no additional cost, through a Coursera partnership. Capella adds a caveat worth reading: the certificates are not Capella credit-bearing, and if the Coursera partnership ends, students are responsible for the cost of finishing any certificate program they enrolled in but did not complete.
Programs That Only Prepare You
Prepares for means the coursework is aligned. A course follows the exam objectives, and the page says the program prepares you to sit for the certification. That’s a real benefit, since the material is the same. But the school doesn’t pay. You register with the vendor and pay the fee, and a failed attempt costs you a retake.
Most programs on this page sit in this group, and the program cards mark each one. Western Michigan University’s cybersecurity bachelor’s says the program readies you to take the Network+ and Security+ certification exams. Excelsior University’s cybersecurity degree says students are prepared for exams including Security+, Network+, CEH, CISP, CHFI, SSCP and ESCP. Both are useful, and the passages quoted here describe preparation, not payment.
How to Tell the Difference on a Program Page
Look for a verb. “Includes,” “voucher” and “at no additional cost” point to the school paying. “Prepares you,” “aligned” and “eligible to sit” point to coursework only. A list of certification names with no verb is a prepares-for program until the school says otherwise. Neither label is a promise that you’ll pass, and neither makes the certification part of the degree, because the vendor issues it, not the university. Where the language is vague, assume prepares-for until the school says otherwise.
What an Online IT Degree with Certifications Costs
Certifications change the cost picture, so compare programs on the whole bill. Per-credit online rates for the programs here that publish one run from $230 to $800, with a median of $426. Where a total can be worked out, published tuition runs from $14,260 to $87,320, and the median is $48,376.
What Each Type of School Charges Per Credit
Every figure is per semester credit, so quarter-system schools such as Capella and Purdue Global are not directly comparable credit for credit.
| School control | Floor | Midpoint | Ceiling |
|---|---|---|---|
| Public, in-state | $76 | $230 | $385 |
| Public, any student | $230 | $385 | $728 |
| Private nonprofit | $395 | $510 | $800 |
| Private for-profit | $360 | $418 | $700 |
Flat-Rate Pricing and the Exam Bill
Per-credit pricing is the norm, but 5 programs here charge a flat price per term instead, and 1 charges per course. That matters for certifications. WGU’s cybersecurity bachelor’s costs $4,425 per 6-month term, and the cloud and network engineering degree costs $3,925 per 6-month term. Because the vouchers sit inside that price and WGU allows as many courses per six-month term as you can handle, moving faster spreads the same flat price over more of the degree. MTI College charges $2,440 per quarter (7+ credits) across a 96 credits associate degree.
Those totals are tuition only. In a prepares-for program, add the exam fees for every certification you plan to take, plus retakes. Vendors publish prices on their own sites and change them with each exam version. Network+ is listed at $369 and the CCNA at $300, and A+ takes two exams. Check the current figure on the CompTIA or Cisco site before you budget.
Fees Beyond Tuition and Military Benefits
22 programs publish fees beyond tuition. Webster University lists these: $100 per credit hour for Success Studies (GSS 5000); $150 matriculation fee; $50 application fee. Western Governors University lists $200 E-Books and Resources Fee per term. Rasmussen University goes the other way and says it reimburses your exam application fee, on the first attempt at an exam, for the CAPM, ITIL and Six Sigma White Belt certifications its IT management bachelor’s prepares you for. If you are a veteran, the VA can reimburse test costs of up to $2,000 per test, which the VA licensing and certification page describes. When you compare a program that includes exams with one that doesn’t, add the exam fees to the second one. For a cost-only view, see the cheapest online IT degrees ranking.
Which Certifications Online IT Degrees Prepare You For
Most programs cluster around the CompTIA ladder. CompTIA A+ is the usual entry point for help desk work, and it spans hardware, operating systems and troubleshooting. CompTIA lists two exams for it, and the official page recommends 12 months of hands-on experience in an IT support specialist job role. Network+ covers networking and leads toward network support and administration. Security+ is the security entry credential, and the cybersecurity degrees ranking covers programs built around it.
Programs by Certification Family
Bismarck State College’s cybersecurity and computer networks associate degree names A+, Network+, Security+, CCNA and CEH. Ivy Tech Community College’s cloud technologies program pairs the CompTIA trio with AWS Cloud Practitioner and Solutions Architect. Monroe University’s computer networks and cybersecurity bachelor’s leans on Cisco, with CCNA and CyberOps Associate beside CompTIA’s A+, Network+, Security+ and Cloud+.
Project Management, Cloud and Ethical Hacking
Not every list is about networks. Webster University’s IT management master’s offers credits to qualify for the Project Management Professional exam, Rasmussen University’s IT management bachelor’s names CAPM, ITIL and a Six Sigma belt, and Abilene Christian University’s IT master’s says its courses run parallel to professional certifications and equip students to sit for widely recognized exams. Ethical hacking shows up at North Greenville University, Eastern Iowa Community College District and Abilene Christian’s undergraduate degree.
How the Exam Fits Into the Course Sequence
Where the exam sits in the degree matters as much as the name on it. Colorado State University Global’s IT bachelor’s says one course prepares you for the Essentials portion of the CompTIA A+ exam and another prepares you for Network+ and the Testout Network Pro exam. Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota says its courses prepare you to pursue Security+ or Network+, and it adds digital badges for completing a specialization. Western Michigan University says its cybersecurity graduates are prepared for the Network+ and Security+ exams. Because the A+ is two exams, check whether the course covers both.
CompTIA has announced the A+ exam codes will retire in 2028. Ask which exam version the course targets, and whether the school updates its materials when the exam changes.
Match the Certification to the Job
The right certification depends on the job. If you want help desk work, A+ matters first. For network roles, look at Network+ and CCNA, which three years cycles keep current. The help desk technician career page and the network administrator career page show which certifications each job posting asks for, and the CCNA page covers the Cisco path in detail.
Turning Certifications Into Credit Toward an Online IT Degree with Certifications
The flow can also run backward. If you already hold certifications, some schools turn them into course credit, which shortens the degree and cuts the tuition bill. 5 programs on this page say so on their own pages: Colorado State University Global, Saint Mary's University of Minnesota, Abilene Christian University-Undergraduate Online, Excelsior University and Franklin University.
How Schools Describe It
Franklin University says it accepts many industry certifications in lieu of select coursework for transfer credit, and names Network+ and CCNA for networking, PMI credentials for project management and CISSP among them. Its IT bachelor’s takes as many as 94 semester hours of previously earned community college credit.
Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota says CompTIA and Cisco certifications can become bachelor’s credit, as described on its online IT bachelor’s page, and the degree accepts up to 66 transfer credits. Colorado State University Global says that if you have existing IT credentials or certifications, you can use them to earn credit toward the degree, and it takes up to 90 transfer credits in all. Abilene Christian University gives credit hours for project-management, Cisco or CompTIA certifications, as stated on its IT administration bachelor’s.
What the Numbers Mean for You
Across the 7 programs here that publish a transfer ceiling, the cap ranges between 45 and 94 semester credits, and the middle value is 90. The school decides which exams count and how many credits each earns. Excelsior University links its program page to a credit-for-business-and-professional-certifications section, which is the kind of published policy worth looking for.
Get the Evaluation Before You Enroll
Send admissions a list of your current certifications with dates, ask which courses they replace, and ask for the answer in writing. A certification you earned years ago may have retired, and an expired exam rarely earns credit. Ask two follow-ups. Does certification credit count toward the residency requirement, the number of credits you must take at the school itself? And does it count against the transfer ceiling, or on top of it? The answers change how much of the degree you still pay for.
The tuition effect is easy to work out. At Franklin University’s per-credit rate of $398, every course a certification replaces saves its credits at that rate, and the school lists a published total of $49,352 for the full degree. Franklin names Network+ and CCNA for networking coursework, which is the reverse of the exam-voucher trade at WGU, where you earn the certification inside the degree instead of before it.
Do You Still Need the Degree If You Have the Certification
This is the question behind most searches, and the honest answer is that it depends on the job. A certification is an entry credential for help desk and support work. A degree matters for roles where BLS lists a bachelor’s as the typical entry education, which it does for network and systems administrators and for information security analysts.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that computer user support specialists, the group that covers help desk, have a median wage of $61,860 a year, and that network and computer systems administrators have a median of $99,130, from the May 2025 OEWS survey. BLS uses one occupation code for network administrators and for systems administrators, so the wage figure is shared by the two job titles. BLS lists a typical entry education of bachelor's degree for network and systems administrators and some college, no degree for user support specialists.
What the Projections Say
Read the growth figures with care. BLS projects 2025-35 employment for user support specialists to change by -3.5% and for network and systems administrators by -4.1%, which means both groups shrink on paper while openings stay large, at 39,700 a year for support and 13,400 for administrators, largely from workers who move to other occupations or leave the labor force. The openings come from replacement demand, not from growth.
Where Certifications Carry the Most Weight
Security is the exception to the shrinking picture. Information security analysts have a median of $129,180 and projected growth of 21%, and Security+ appears in the lists at Western Michigan University, North Greenville University, Richmond Community College and Excelsior University. If you want that path, pair it with the degree and read the information security analyst career page.
Network architecture is the other step up. BLS has no network engineer code, and network architects are the closest match, with a median of $134,050 and growth of 7.7%. The spread for that group runs from $79,900 at the bottom tenth to $202,680 at the top tenth.
Why Programs Bundle Both
A degree that includes certifications lets you stack both at once. You can graduate with the diploma and, at a school that pays for the exams, with the credentials. If you’re weighing that against a cheaper route, the is an IT degree worth it guide lays out the tradeoffs, and the IT vs. computer science guide explains where the degrees differ.
How to Find an Online IT Degree with Certifications That Fits
Start with the certification you need for the job you want, then find the programs that cover it. Open the program page and look for the wording. Does it say vouchers are included, or does it say the program prepares you to sit for the exam? If the page doesn’t say, ask admissions before you apply, and get the answer in writing.
A Short Checklist
Check six things, in this order.
- Included or aligned. The first filter. WGU’s flat-rate degrees and MTI College are the clearest included examples.
- Delivery. Of the 43 programs here, 8 are fully asynchronous, which suits a work schedule, and 2 meet live. At MTI College, live meetings with professors happen twice a week.
- Pace. 11 of the 16 programs that publish a course length have terms of eight weeks or less, and Franklin University’s online courses include 6-week terms.
- Accreditation. 42 schools hold institutional accreditation, and 4 programs hold ABET accreditation. Excelsior University’s cybersecurity degree is aligned with NSA and DHS academic requirements, and 18 programs sit at CAE-CD schools. The CAE-CD ranking has the full list.
- Start dates. 5 of the 15 that publish start dates begin every month, as Colorado State University Global and WGU do.
- Residency pricing. 8 of the programs here set rates by residency, and where they differ, the cost comparison here uses what a nonresident pays.
Verify the Accreditation Yourself
Institutional accreditation affects whether credits transfer and whether federal aid applies. 19 programs here belong to schools whose accreditor is the Higher Learning Commission; 8 answer to the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges and 3 to the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities. Confirm any school in the CHEA directory. For ABET programs, search the ABET accredited program list, and for the NSA and DHS designation, use the CAE community map. WGU’s cybersecurity bachelor’s states that it is ABET accredited. The ABET-accredited ranking lists the rest.
Ask About Timing
A certification only helps if you sit for it while the material is fresh, and some programs put the relevant course in the final year. Ask when in the sequence the aligned course appears and whether the voucher expires. Ask about the study format as well. Capella University offers a self-paced FlexPath option beside a guided path, and at WGU a competency-based model means you progress by showing what you already know. Programs with fixed terms, such as Colorado State University Global’s courses of 8 weeks, give you a steadier rhythm if you prefer a deadline.
Online IT Degrees with Certifications by State
The programs on this page span 24 states, and a few states hold several. Florida and Indiana lead with 4 programs each, followed by California, Minnesota and North Carolina with 3 each.
Where Public Options Exist
Public schools usually charge residents less, and the gap is large. North Carolina has 3 public programs, with in-state online rates starting at $76 per credit, and Indiana has 3, starting at $178. Florida has 1 public program, from $123. California and Minnesota have none here, so their options are private.
Examples in the Leading States
Indiana’s list mixes public and private schools. Ivy Tech Community College’s cloud technologies program says you can prepare for CompTIA A+, Network+, Security+ and Cloud+ plus AWS and Microsoft Azure exams, Ball State University offers a computer and information technology bachelor’s, and MyComputerCareer’s Indianapolis campus runs a network administration and security associate degree that prepares you for CEH, CompTIA and Cisco exams. Florida’s four include Cambridge College of Healthcare & Technology’s computer networking bachelor’s, which ranks third overall, and Rasmussen University’s IT management bachelor’s.
Minnesota adds Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota and Capella University, and California pairs MTI College’s voucher-backed associate degree with California Baptist University’s computer information technology bachelor’s, which starts a new class every eight weeks. North Carolina has the strongest public showing: Isothermal Community College, Richmond Community College and North Carolina Central University all appear. Isothermal’s IT associate degree says its program incorporates the competencies of industry-recognized certification exams and can be completed fully online.
Community colleges are often the lowest-cost entry, and their credits can transfer toward a bachelor’s later. That makes a public associate degree with exam preparation a sensible first step, followed by a transfer into a school that accepts certifications for credit.
Weighing Resident Rates Against Out-of-State Rates
Living in a state with a public program does not mean you must enroll there, and out-of-state online students at public schools pay a higher rate. Across public programs here the rate any student pays runs from $230 to $728 per credit, while residents pay as little as $76. 8 public programs charge residents and non-residents differently, and 4 charge everyone the same. If you are a resident of a state with a cheap public option, check it first, then compare against the flat-rate private options that include vouchers. Add exam fees to the public program’s price before you compare.
State Pages
Open the page for your state to see every program there, including those with different residency pricing: Florida, Indiana, California, Minnesota and North Carolina. The state directory lists the rest.
What to Do If Your School Prepares You but Doesn’t Include the Exam
You can still get the credential at a fair price. Take the aligned course, then schedule the exam soon after, while the material is fresh. Check whether the vendor sells a bundle that includes a retake. Ask your employer whether it reimburses certification fees, and ask your school whether any financial aid covers exam costs.
Price the Whole Path
If you’re comparing a prepares-for program with a cheaper one that has no certification content, price the whole path. Tuition plus exam fees plus retakes is the real comparison. Take Network+ at $369 and the CCNA at $300, add a retake of each, and the exam bill becomes a real line beside tuition. Veterans can offset that with the VA test reimbursement, up to $2,000 per test.
Use Employer and Program Help
Employer tuition assistance may or may not cover certification fees, so ask HR how it is paid, whether it reimburses after you pass and whether you must stay for a set period afterward. Rasmussen University reimburses the exam application fee for the certifications its IT management bachelor’s prepares you for, and WGU, Capella University and MTI College build the cost into the program. When two prepares-for programs look the same, the one that offers study sessions, practice exams or a reimbursement policy is worth more than its sticker price suggests.
Do not skip the second half of the exam plan either. Book the test date as soon as the aligned course starts, because a date on the calendar is the best study tool there is. If the first attempt fails, read the score report, go back to the weak domains and retake it on a schedule the vendor allows.
Keep the Credential Current
Certifications expire, and renewal costs money. CompTIA A+ renews on a three years cycle and asks for 20 continuing education units and a $75 fee, while Network+ asks for 30 units and a $150 fee. Plan your renewals the way you plan your first exam, and note that CompTIA has announced the A+ exam codes retire in 2028.
The certifications hub lists the exams you’ll most likely need, and the rankings hub has every other list if you’d like to compare on a different measure.
Online IT Degree with Certifications FAQ
What does it mean when an IT degree includes a certification?
It means the school pays for the exam, as with the vouchers Western Governors University builds into its tuition, so you sit for the certification without paying CompTIA, Cisco or another vendor yourself. It does not mean you pass automatically. You still have to study and pass the exam, and the program page should say what the school covers.
Can you get an IT job with just certifications?
Sometimes, at the entry level. A CompTIA A+ is an entry credential for help desk and support work, and for computer user support specialists BLS gives some college, no degree as the usual starting education. Administrator and analyst roles are different: BLS lists a bachelor's degree as typical entry education for network and systems administrators. Some programs bundle the two, so you earn the certification and the degree together.
How much does an IT certification cost?
Exam prices are set by the vendor and change with each exam version. CompTIA Network+ costs $369 and the Cisco CCNA costs $300 at the time of writing, before study materials. A+ takes two exams, so budget for both. Programs that include vouchers remove that bill, and a retake is your cost unless the school says otherwise.
Does CompTIA A+ expire?
Yes. CompTIA A+ stays valid for three years, and you renew it by earning 20 continuing education units or by retaking the exam. Network+ and the CCNA also run on three years cycles. A voucher covers the exam, not the renewals that follow after you graduate, so plan and budget for them before the three years run out.
Which IT certifications are the most recognized?
For entry-level work, CompTIA A+, Network+ and Security+ are the names most degree programs build around, and Cisco's CCNA appears in the networking programs, such as Bismarck State College, Monroe University and Franklin University. Cloud credentials from AWS and Microsoft show up in cloud-focused programs such as the ones at Ivy Tech and Purdue Global. Match the certification to the job you want, then look for the degree that covers it.
Keep researching
Related Rankings and Guides
Sources
- Each school's own program and tuition pages 43 program pages: tuition, credits, format, transfer credit, start dates and certifications. Each card links to its page.
- NCES IPEDS Graduation rate (school-wide), institution directory, and the distance education flags used to find fully online programs.
- College Scorecard Median earnings one year after completion for the school's graduates in the field, and institutional accreditation.
- ABET accredited program search Program accreditation by the Computing Accreditation Commission.
- NSA/DHS National Centers of Academic Excellence map CAE-CD school designations.
How these combine into the order above is set out in our methodology.