Computer Systems Networking and Telecommunications: Program Overview, Universities, Careers & Salaries
Program Overview
Computer Systems Networking and Telecommunications is a specialized field dedicated to the architecture, deployment, and ongoing administration of interconnected computing environments. This program equips learners with the technical expertise to design, secure, and optimize complex network infrastructures that support modern digital operations across industries.
- Operating Systems and Applications: In-depth study of system-level software that manages hardware resources and enables application execution across diverse computing platforms.
- Systems Design and Analysis: Development of methodologies for evaluating, modeling, and constructing scalable, reliable, and high-performance computing systems.
- Networking Theory and Solutions: Exploration of foundational principles governing data transmission, protocols, and the engineering of effective network architectures.
- Types of Networks: Examination of various network topologies and configurations, including local area networks (LANs), wide area networks (WANs), wireless networks, and cloud-based infrastructures.
- Network Management and Control: Techniques for monitoring, maintaining, and governing network performance, availability, and service delivery across distributed environments.
- Network and Flow Optimization: Strategies for enhancing data throughput, minimizing latency, and ensuring efficient utilization of network resources under varying loads.
- Security Protocols and Practices: Comprehensive training in safeguarding network systems from threats, implementing encryption, access controls, and incident response mechanisms.
- Configuration and Troubleshooting: Hands-on experience in setting up network devices, applying settings across hardware and software layers, and diagnosing complex connectivity and performance issues.
Computer Systems Networking and Telecommunications Graduate Trends (2010-2024)
Computer Systems Networking and Telecommunications Career Pathways & Salary Outlook
The following table presents salary data for occupations typically aligned with Computer Systems Networking and Telecommunications degrees, including Computer and Information Systems Managers, Computer Network Architects and Information Security Analysts. These career paths represent common employment outcomes but are not guaranteed for all graduates. Salary ranges vary by location, employer, experience level, and specific role requirements. Nationally, these occupations employ approximately 1,682,900 professionals.
National Average Salaries
| Occupation | Median Salary | Salary Range | Total Employment | Hourly Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Computer and Information Systems Managers 11-3021 | $171,200 | $104,450 - $239,200 | 645,970 | $82.31 |
| Computer Network Architects 15-1241 | $130,390 | $79,520 - $198,030 | 177,010 | $62.69 |
| Information Security Analysts 15-1212 | $124,910 | $69,660 - $186,420 | 179,430 | $60.05 |
| Computer Systems Analysts 15-1211 | $103,790 | $63,160 - $166,030 | 497,800 | $49.90 |
| Computer Science Teachers, Postsecondary 25-1021 | $96,690 | $48,910 - $172,380 | 36,240 | N/A |
| Computer Network Support Specialists 15-1231 | $73,340 | $46,010 - $124,470 | 146,450 | $35.26 |
Computer Systems Networking and Telecommunications Salary Map by State
Geographic location significantly impacts earning potential for these careers. Average salaries range from $82,560 in Mississippi to $139,163 in California—a 69% difference. The highest-paying states include California, Washington, and Virginia. Nationwide, these occupations employ over 1,682,900 professionals across all states. Explore the interactive map below to compare regional compensation and identify optimal markets for your career goals.
Average Salary Range:
Top Universities for Computer Systems Networking and Telecommunications by Graduate Enrollment
Below are the top 100 institutions offering Computer Systems Networking and Telecommunications programs for the 2023-2024 academic year (the most recent data reported as of 2025), ranked by the number of graduates. The highest graduate enrollment in Computer Systems Networking and Telecommunications is found at MyComputerCareer, Raleigh (1,606 graduates), MyComputerCareer, at Indianapolis (942 graduates), Northshore Technical Community College (NTCC) (482 graduates), Austin Community College District (ACC) (457 graduates), and DeVry University, Illinois (415 graduates). Combined, these colleges produced 10,334 graduates across all degree levels. Program availability varies by award level, including Associate, Bachelor's, Master's, and Doctoral degrees at participating universities and schools.
| College Name | Award Levels | Graduates | Location | Control | Website |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MyComputerCareer |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
1,606 | Raleigh, North Carolina | Private | mycomputercareer.edu |
| MyComputerCareer |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
942 | Indianapolis, Indiana | Private | mycomputercareer.edu |
| Northshore Technical Community College (NTCC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Residency
|
482 | Lacombe, Louisiana | Public | northshorecollege.edu |
| Austin Community College District (ACC) |
Associate's
Other Award
|
457 | Austin, Texas | Public | austincc.edu |
| DeVry University |
Associate's
Bachelor's
Postbac Cert.
Master's
|
415 | Lisle, Illinois | Private | devry.edu |
| MyComputerCareer |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
382 | Columbus, Ohio | Private | mycomputercareer.edu |
| College of Southern Nevada (CSN) |
Residency
Other Award
|
319 | Las Vegas, Nevada | Public | csn.edu |
| South Louisiana Community College (SLCC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
Other Award
|
205 | Lafayette, Louisiana | Public | solacc.edu |
| City College of San Francisco (CCSF) |
Associate's
Other Award
|
192 | San Francisco, California | Public | ccsf.edu |
| Joliet Junior College (JJC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
Other Award
|
181 | Joliet, Illinois | Public | jjc.edu |
| Houston Community College (HCC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
Other Award
|
159 | Houston, Texas | Public | hccs.edu |
| Cypress College |
Associate's
Other Award
|
151 | Cypress, California | Public | cypresscollege.edu |
| Dallas College |
Associate's
Other Award
|
149 | Dallas, Texas | Public | dallascollege.edu |
| University of North Carolina at Greensboro (UNCG) |
Bachelor's
Postbac Cert.
Master's
|
147 | Greensboro, North Carolina | Public | uncg.edu |
| Northwest Vista College (NVC) |
Associate's
Other Award
|
124 | San Antonio, Texas | Public | alamo.edu |
| CyberTex Institute of Technology |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
124 | Austin, Texas | Private | cybertex.edu |
| Bismarck State College (BSC) |
Associate's
Other Award
|
112 | Bismarck, North Dakota | Public | bismarckstate.edu |
| Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College (MGCCC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
|
110 | Perkinston, Mississippi | Public | mgccc.edu |
| Sinclair Community College |
Associate's
Other Award
|
108 | Dayton, Ohio | Public | sinclair.edu |
| P C Age |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
106 | Jersey City, New Jersey | Private | pcage.edu |
| Mesa Community College (MCC) |
Associate's
Residency
Other Award
|
105 | Mesa, Arizona | Public | mesacc.edu |
| College of DuPage (COD) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
Other Award
|
102 | Glen Ellyn, Illinois | Public | cod.edu |
| Western Governors University (WGU) |
Bachelor's
|
96 | Salt Lake City, Utah | Private | wgu.edu |
| Front Range Community College (FRCC) |
Associate's
Other Award
|
94 | Westminster, Colorado | Public | frontrange.edu |
| Johns Hopkins University (JHU) |
Master's
|
93 | Baltimore, Maryland | Private | jhu.edu |
| Intellitec College |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
|
92 | Colorado Springs, Colorado | Private | intellitec.edu |
| Indian Capital Technology Center (ICTC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
81 | Muskogee, Oklahoma | Public | ictech.edu |
| Tulsa Technology Center (Tulsa Tech) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Other Award
|
78 | Tulsa, Oklahoma | Public | tulsatech.edu |
| Delgado Community College |
Associate's
Other Award
|
75 | New Orleans, Louisiana | Public | dcc.edu |
| Saint Louis Community College (STLCC) |
Associate's
Residency
Other Award
|
73 | Bridgeton, Missouri | Public | stlcc.edu |
| Carnegie Mellon University (CMU) |
Master's
|
73 | Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania | Private | cmu.edu |
| Weber State University (WSU) |
Associate's
Bachelor's
Other Award
|
73 | Ogden, Utah | Public | weber.edu |
| Utah Valley University (UVU) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Other Award
|
72 | Orem, Utah | Public | uvu.edu |
| Johnson County Community College (JCCC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
|
71 | Overland Park, Kansas | Public | jccc.edu |
| Collin County Community College District (CCCCD) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
Other Award
|
70 | McKinney, Texas | Public | collin.edu |
| Stark State College |
Associate's
Other Award
|
69 | North Canton, Ohio | Public | starkstate.edu |
| Northeast Wisconsin Technical College (NWTC) |
Associate's
Other Award
|
69 | Green Bay, Wisconsin | Public | nwtc.edu |
| Arapahoe Community College (ACC) |
Associate's
Other Award
|
68 | Littleton, Colorado | Public | arapahoe.edu |
| DSDT |
Residency
|
66 | Detroit, Michigan | Private | dsdt.edu |
| Mission College |
Associate's
Other Award
|
65 | Santa Clara, California | Public | missioncollege.edu |
| Hinds Community College |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
|
65 | Raymond, Mississippi | Public | hindscc.edu |
| West Los Angeles College (WLAC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
Other Award
|
61 | Culver City, California | Public | wlac.edu |
| Sheridan Technical College (STC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
61 | Hollywood, Florida | Public | sheridantechnicalcollege.edu |
| Oxnard College |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
|
59 | Oxnard, California | Public | oxnardcollege.edu |
| Illinois Central College (ICC) |
Associate's
Other Award
|
56 | East Peoria, Illinois | Public | icc.edu |
| Elmhurst University |
Master's
|
55 | Elmhurst, Illinois | Private | elmhurst.edu |
| Kean University |
Bachelor's
|
55 | Union, New Jersey | Public | kean.edu |
| Oklahoma City Community College (OCCC) |
Other Award
|
54 | Oklahoma City, Oklahoma | Public | occc.edu |
| Bellingham Technical College (BTC) |
Associate's
Residency
Other Award
|
53 | Bellingham, Washington | Public | btc.edu |
| Santa Ana College (SAC) |
Other Award
|
48 | Santa Ana, California | Public | sac.edu |
| Anne Arundel Community College (AACC) |
Associate's
Other Award
|
47 | Arnold, Maryland | Public | aacc.edu |
| Uintah Basin Technical College (UBTech) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Other Award
|
47 | Roosevelt, Utah | Public | ubtech.edu |
| PC AGE |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
46 | Iselin, New Jersey | Private | pcage.edu |
| Hawkeye Community College |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
|
45 | Waterloo, Iowa | Public | hawkeyecollege.edu |
| Moorpark College |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
Other Award
|
44 | Moorpark, California | Public | moorparkcollege.edu |
| University of Minnesota (UMN) |
Bachelor's
|
44 | Minneapolis, Minnesota | Public | twin-cities.umn.edu |
| Lake Washington Institute of Technology (LWTech) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
|
44 | Kirkland, Washington | Public | lwtech.edu |
| Ogden-Weber Technical College |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Other Award
|
43 | Ogden, Utah | Public | otech.edu |
| Southwestern Illinois College (SWIC) |
Other Award
|
42 | Belleville, Illinois | Public | swic.edu |
| Lansing Community College (LCC) |
Associate's
Other Award
|
42 | Lansing, Michigan | Public | lcc.edu |
| San Juan College (SJC) |
Other Award
|
41 | Farmington, New Mexico | Public | sanjuancollege.edu |
| Glendale Community College (GCC) |
Other Award
|
40 | Glendale, Arizona | Public | gccaz.edu |
| NUC University (NUC) |
Bachelor's
|
40 | Bayamon, Puerto Rico | Private | nuc.edu |
| Long Beach City College (LBCC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
Other Award
|
39 | Long Beach, California | Public | lbcc.edu |
| Intellitec College |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
|
39 | Grand Junction, Colorado | Private | intellitec.edu |
| Cerro Coso Community College |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
|
36 | Ridgecrest, California | Public | cerrocoso.edu |
| Coastline Community College (CC) |
Other Award
|
36 | Fountain Valley, California | Public | coastline.edu |
| College of the Redwoods (CR) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
Other Award
|
36 | Eureka, California | Public | redwoods.edu |
| College of the Sequoias (COS) |
Associate's
Other Award
|
36 | Visalia, California | Public | cos.edu |
| Florida State College (FSCJ) |
Bachelor's
|
36 | Jacksonville, Florida | Public | fscj.edu |
| Ivy Tech Community College (Ivy Tech) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
|
36 | Indianapolis, Indiana | Public | ivytech.edu |
| De Anza College |
Associate's
Other Award
|
35 | Cupertino, California | Public | deanza.edu |
| College of the Desert (COD) |
Associate's
|
34 | Palm Desert, California | Public | collegeofthedesert.edu |
| Irvine Valley College (IVC) |
Associate's
Other Award
|
34 | Irvine, California | Public | ivc.edu |
| Porter & Chester Institute (PCI) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
34 | Bridgeport, Connecticut | Private | porterchester.edu |
| DePaul University |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
33 | Chicago, Illinois | Private | depaul.edu |
| Bridgerland Technical College (BTECH) |
Other Award
|
32 | Logan, Utah | Public | btech.edu |
| Pierpont Community and Technical College (PCTC) |
Associate's
|
32 | Fairmont, West Virginia | Public | pierpont.edu |
| State Technical College of Missouri (State Tech) |
Associate's
|
31 | Linn, Missouri | Public | statetechmo.edu |
| East Carolina University (ECU) |
Postbac Cert.
Master's
|
31 | Greenville, North Carolina | Public | ecu.edu |
| Erwin Technical College (ETC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
31 | Tampa, Florida | Public | hillsboroughschools.org |
| Kiamichi Technology Center (KTC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
31 | McAlester, Oklahoma | Public | ktc.edu |
| Cape Coral Technical College (CCTC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
31 | Cape Coral, Florida | Public | capecoraltech.edu |
| University of Minnesota (UMD) |
Bachelor's
|
30 | Duluth, Minnesota | Public | d.umn.edu |
| Ozarks Technical Community College (OTC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
|
30 | Springfield, Missouri | Public | otc.edu |
| Blinn College District |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
Other Award
|
30 | Brenham, Texas | Public | blinn.edu |
| University of Wisconsin-Stout |
Bachelor's
|
29 | Menomonie, Wisconsin | Public | uwstout.edu |
| North Carolina State University (NC State) |
Master's
|
28 | Raleigh, North Carolina | Public | ncsu.edu |
| Los Medanos College (LMC) |
Associate's
Other Award
|
27 | Pittsburg, California | Public | losmedanos.edu |
| Shasta College |
Other Award
|
27 | Redding, California | Public | shastacollege.edu |
| Honolulu Community College (HCC) |
Associate's
Other Award
|
27 | Honolulu, Hawaii | Public | honolulu.hawaii.edu |
| Henry Ford College (HFC) |
Associate's
Other Award
|
27 | Dearborn, Michigan | Public | hfcc.edu |
| Century College |
Associate's
|
27 | White Bear Lake, Minnesota | Public | century.edu |
| Milwaukee Area Technical College (MATC) |
Associate's
|
27 | Milwaukee, Wisconsin | Public | matc.edu |
| Colorado Mesa University (CMU) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
Other Award
|
26 | Grand Junction, Colorado | Public | coloradomesa.edu |
| College of Eastern Idaho (CEI) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
|
26 | Idaho Falls, Idaho | Public | cei.edu |
| Chippewa Valley Technical College (CVTC) |
Associate's
|
26 | Eau Claire, Wisconsin | Public | cvtc.edu |
| Canadian Valley Technology Center (CV Tech) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
26 | El Reno, Oklahoma | Public | cvtech.edu |
| Yavapai College |
Associate's
Other Award
|
25 | Prescott, Arizona | Public | yc.edu |
| Tom P. Haney Technical College (Haney Tech) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
25 | Panama City, Florida | Public | haney.edu |
Frequently Asked Questions
Find answers to the most common questions about Computer Systems Networking and Telecommunications programs
How much can I earn with a Computer Systems Networking and Telecommunications degree?
Salaries for Computer Systems Networking and Telecommunications graduates vary by role and location. Computer and Information Systems Managers earn a median of $171,200 annually, while Computer Network Architects earn around $130,390. Geographic location significantly impacts earnings—professionals in California average $139,163 compared to $82,560 in Mississippi. Approximately 1,682,900 professionals work in related occupations nationwide.
Salary data from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS program, May 2024. Earnings vary by experience, employer, and market conditions.
Which universities have the largest Computer Systems Networking and Telecommunications programs?
Currently 475 accredited institutions offer Computer Systems Networking and Telecommunications degrees across the U.S. Programs with the highest enrollment include MyComputerCareer, Raleigh (1,606 graduates), MyComputerCareer, at Indianapolis (942 graduates), and Northshore Technical Community College (NTCC) (482 graduates).
Program size doesn't necessarily indicate quality—consider factors like faculty expertise, production opportunities, location, and available degree levels when choosing a school.
Data based on IPEDS program completions for 2023-2024 academic year. Numbers reflect programs where students graduated.
Is enrollment in Computer Systems Networking and Telecommunications growing or declining?
Graduate numbers have decreased over the past decade, rising from 16,753 in 2010 to a peak of 14,771 in 2020, before declining slightly to 13,753 in 2023-24. This represents a 18% decrease overall from 2010.
The field remains specialized with consistent demand, though opportunities are most concentrated in major metropolitan areas with active arts scenes like New York, California, and Illinois.
Graduate enrollment data from IPEDS, 2010-2024 academic years. Trends reflect reported completions at participating institutions.
What career paths are available with a Computer Systems Networking and Telecommunications degree?
This degree prepares you for roles such as Computer and Information Systems Managers, Computer Network Architects, and Information Security Analysts. Related occupations employ approximately 1,682,900 professionals nationwide.
Skills in project management, creative leadership, and collaboration also transfer to event planning, arts administration, marketing, and corporate training roles. Many professionals work freelance or on a project basis across theatre, film, and live events.
Career pathways mapped using CIP-SOC crosswalk from the National Center for Education Statistics. Employment data from BLS OEWS May 2024.
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