Computer Support Specialist: Program Overview, Universities, Careers & Salaries
Program Overview
Prepared for the dynamic demands of modern technology environments, this program equips learners with the expertise to deliver effective technical support across diverse computing platforms. Graduates gain the ability to diagnose, resolve, and prevent hardware and software issues while maintaining optimal system performance and user satisfaction.
- Computer Concepts and Systems Architecture: Foundational knowledge of how computers process data, manage memory, and interact with peripheral devices, establishing a strong base for troubleshooting and system optimization.
- Operating Systems and Software Applications: In-depth study of major operating systems (Windows, macOS, Linux) and common productivity software, enabling efficient installation, configuration, and support across user environments.
- Networking and Internet Technologies: Understanding of network topologies, protocols, security practices, and internet connectivity to diagnose and resolve communication and access issues.
- Computer Hardware and Maintenance: Skills in identifying, installing, upgrading, and repairing internal and external hardware components to ensure system reliability and longevity.
- Help Desk Operations and Problem-Solving Methodologies: Training in structured diagnostic frameworks, ticketing systems, escalation procedures, and efficient resolution strategies for real-world technical incidents.
- Information Systems and Security Fundamentals: Exposure to data management principles, system integrity, and basic cybersecurity practices essential for protecting user data and organizational assets.
- Customer Service and Communication Excellence: Development of interpersonal skills, active listening, and clear communication techniques tailored to technical support scenarios, ensuring positive user experiences.
Computer Support Specialist Graduate Trends (2010-2024)
Computer Support Specialist Career Pathways & Salary Outlook
The following table presents salary data for occupations typically aligned with Computer Support Specialist degrees, including Computer Network Support Specialists and Computer User Support Specialists. 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 843,660 professionals.
National Average Salaries
| Occupation | Median Salary | Salary Range | Total Employment | Hourly Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Computer Network Support Specialists 15-1231 | $73,340 | $46,010 - $124,470 | 146,450 | $35.26 |
| Computer User Support Specialists 15-1232 | $60,340 | $38,780 - $98,010 | 697,210 | $29.01 |
Computer Support Specialist Salary Map by State
Geographic location significantly impacts earning potential for these careers. Average salaries range from $48,645 in Mississippi to $81,805 in District of Columbia—a 68% difference. The highest-paying states include District of Columbia, Washington, and Maryland. Nationwide, these occupations employ over 843,660 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 Support Specialist by Graduate Enrollment
Below are the top 100 institutions offering Computer Support Specialist 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 Support Specialist is found at Purdue University Global (403 graduates), American Public University System (APUS) (228 graduates), Glendale Community College (GCC) (180 graduates), Ensign College (157 graduates), and Seattle Central College (138 graduates). Combined, these colleges produced 4,230 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Purdue University Global |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
|
403 | West Lafayette, Indiana | Public | purdueglobal.edu |
| American Public University System (APUS) |
Associate's
Bachelor's
|
228 | Charles Town, West Virginia | Private | apus.edu |
| Glendale Community College (GCC) |
Other Award
|
180 | Glendale, Arizona | Public | gccaz.edu |
| Ensign College |
Other Award
|
157 | Salt Lake City, Utah | Private | ensign.edu |
| Seattle Central College |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
|
138 | Seattle, Washington | Public | seattlecentral.edu |
| NUC University (NUC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
128 | Bayamon, Puerto Rico | Private | nuc.edu |
| Ivy Tech Community College (Ivy Tech) |
Other Award
|
125 | Indianapolis, Indiana | Public | ivytech.edu |
| Wichita State University (WSU Tech) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
Other Award
|
96 | Wichita, Kansas | Public | wsutech.edu |
| Strayer University (SU) |
Associate's
|
94 | Washington, District of Columbia | Private | strayer.edu |
| GateWay Community College (GWCC) |
Other Award
|
93 | Phoenix, Arizona | Public | gatewaycc.edu |
| Tacoma Community College (TCC ) |
Residency
Other Award
|
93 | Tacoma, Washington | Public | tacomacc.edu |
| ICOHS College |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
86 | San Diego, California | Private | icohs.edu |
| Milwaukee Area Technical College (MATC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
Other Award
|
80 | Milwaukee, Wisconsin | Public | matc.edu |
| Bossier Parish Community College (BPCC) |
Other Award
|
62 | Bossier City, Louisiana | Public | bpcc.edu |
| Northwest Career College (NCC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
60 | Las Vegas, Nevada | Private | northwestcareercollege.edu |
| Brigham Young University (BYU–I) |
Other Award
|
59 | Rexburg, Idaho | Private | byui.edu |
| Career Technical Institute (CTI) |
Other Award
|
58 | Washington, District of Columbia | Private | careertechnical.edu |
| Lincoln Technical Institute |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
57 | Iselin, New Jersey | Private | lincolntech.edu |
| Phoenix College (PC) |
Other Award
|
54 | Phoenix, Arizona | Public | phoenixcollege.edu |
| Pima Community College (PCC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
52 | Tucson, Arizona | Public | pima.edu |
| Kent State University |
Associate's
Bachelor's
|
47 | Warren, Ohio | Public | kent.edu |
| Community College of Allegheny County (CCAC) |
Associate's
Other Award
|
46 | Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania | Public | ccac.edu |
| Lincoln Technical Institute |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
45 | Paramus, New Jersey | Private | lincolntech.edu |
| Mesa Community College (MCC) |
Other Award
|
44 | Mesa, Arizona | Public | mesacc.edu |
| Asher College |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
|
44 | Sacramento, California | Private | asher.edu |
| Lincoln Technical Institute |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
43 | Moorestown, New Jersey | Private | lincolntech.edu |
| Northeast Wisconsin Technical College (NWTC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
|
42 | Green Bay, Wisconsin | Public | nwtc.edu |
| Southern Careers Institute |
Other Award
|
42 | San Antonio, Texas | Private | scitexas.edu |
| Grand Rapids Community College (GRCC) |
Associate's
Other Award
|
40 | Grand Rapids, Michigan | Public | grcc.edu |
| Southern Careers Institute (SCI) |
Other Award
|
38 | Austin, Texas | Private | scitexas.edu |
| Madison Area Technical College |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Residency
|
38 | Madison, Wisconsin | Public | madisoncollege.edu |
| Henry Ford College (HFC) |
Other Award
|
37 | Dearborn, Michigan | Public | hfcc.edu |
| Miller-Motte College |
Associate's
|
36 | Chattanooga, Tennessee | Private | miller-motte.edu |
| Strayer University (SU) |
Associate's
|
36 | Chamblee, Georgia | Private | strayer.edu |
| Lincoln Technical Institute |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
34 | Allentown, Pennsylvania | Private | lincolntech.edu |
| Harrisburg Area Community College (HACC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
|
33 | Harrisburg, Pennsylvania | Public | hacc.edu |
| Gateway Technical College |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
|
32 | Kenosha, Wisconsin | Public | gtc.edu |
| Moraine Park Technical College (MPTC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
|
32 | Fond du Lac, Wisconsin | Public | morainepark.edu |
| Elgin Community College (ECC) |
Other Award
|
31 | Elgin, Illinois | Public | elgin.edu |
| Anoka Technical College |
Other Award
|
31 | Anoka, Minnesota | Public | anokatech.edu |
| Tennessee College of Applied Technology Northwest (TCAT) |
Certificate (≥2 yrs)
Other Award
|
31 | Newbern, Tennessee | Public | tcatnorthwest.edu |
| Tennessee College of Applied Technology (TCAT) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Certificate (≥2 yrs)
Other Award
|
31 | Jackson, Tennessee | Public | tcatjackson.edu |
| Rio Salado College |
Associate's
Other Award
|
28 | Tempe, Arizona | Public | rio.maricopa.edu |
| Chandler-Gilbert Community College (CGCC) |
Other Award
|
28 | Chandler, Arizona | Public | cgc.maricopa.edu |
| Southern California Institute of Technology (SCIT) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
27 | Anaheim, California | Private | scitech.edu |
| Southern Careers Institute (SCI) |
Other Award
|
27 | Pharr, Texas | Private | scitexas.edu |
| Martinsburg College (MC) |
Other Award
|
27 | Martinsburg, West Virginia | Private | martinsburgcollege.edu |
| Laurus College |
Associate's
Bachelor's
|
26 | San Luis Obispo, California | Private | lauruscollege.edu |
| University of Arkansas (UAFS) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
Other Award
|
25 | Fort Smith, Arkansas | Public | uafs.edu |
| MTI College (MTI) |
Other Award
|
25 | Sacramento, California | Private | campus.edu |
| Heartland Community College (HCC ) |
Other Award
|
25 | Normal, Illinois | Public | heartland.edu |
| Hennepin Technical College (HTC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
|
24 | Brooklyn Park, Minnesota | Public | hennepintech.edu |
| Northcentral Technical College (NTC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
Other Award
|
24 | Wausau, Wisconsin | Public | ntc.edu |
| Sinclair Community College |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
Other Award
|
23 | Dayton, Ohio | Public | sinclair.edu |
| Johnson County Community College (JCCC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
Other Award
|
22 | Overland Park, Kansas | Public | jccc.edu |
| Tennessee College of Applied Technology (TCAT) |
Certificate (≥2 yrs)
Other Award
|
22 | Hartsville, Tennessee | Public | tcathartsville.edu |
| Spokane Falls Community College (SFCC) |
Associate's
|
22 | Spokane, Washington | Public | sfcc.spokane.edu |
| Valley College |
Associate's
|
22 | Martinsburg, West Virginia | Private | valley.edu |
| Estrella Mountain Community College (EMCC) |
Other Award
|
22 | Avondale, Arizona | Public | estrellamountain.edu |
| Polytech Adult Education |
Residency
|
22 | Woodside, Delaware | Public | polytechworks.com |
| Prairie State College (PSC) |
Residency
|
21 | Chicago Heights, Illinois | Public | prairiestate.edu |
| Strayer University |
Associate's
|
21 | Arlington, Virginia | Private | strayer.edu |
| Fox Valley Technical College (FVTC) |
Associate's
Other Award
|
21 | Appleton, Wisconsin | Public | fvtc.edu |
| Strayer University |
Associate's
|
21 | Suitland, Maryland | Private | strayer.edu |
| Pasadena City College (PCC) |
Associate's
Other Award
|
20 | Pasadena, California | Public | pasadena.edu |
| Miller-Motte College |
Associate's
|
20 | Wyomissing, Pennsylvania | Private | berks.edu |
| Lewis and Clark Community College (L&C) |
Other Award
|
19 | Godfrey, Illinois | Public | lc.edu |
| Kirkwood Community College |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
Other Award
|
19 | Cedar Rapids, Iowa | Public | kirkwood.edu |
| Kent State University |
Associate's
Bachelor's
|
19 | Burton, Ohio | Public | kent.edu |
| Tennessee College of Applied Technology Nashville (TCAT) |
Certificate (≥2 yrs)
Other Award
|
19 | Nashville, Tennessee | Public | tcatnashville.edu |
| Southern Careers Institute (SCI) |
Other Award
|
19 | Brownsville, Texas | Private | scitexas.edu |
| Tennessee College of Applied Technology (TCAT) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Certificate (≥2 yrs)
|
18 | Morristown, Tennessee | Public | tcatmorristown.edu |
| Bellingham Technical College (BTC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
|
18 | Bellingham, Washington | Public | btc.edu |
| Lincoln Technical Institute |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
18 | Lincoln, Rhode Island | Private | lincolntech.edu |
| Scottsdale Community College (SCC) |
Other Award
|
17 | Scottsdale, Arizona | Public | scottsdalecc.edu |
| William Rainey Harper College |
Other Award
|
17 | Palatine, Illinois | Public | harpercollege.edu |
| Central Ohio Technical College (COTC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
Other Award
|
17 | Newark, Ohio | Public | cotc.edu |
| Waukesha County Technical College (WCTC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
|
17 | Pewaukee, Wisconsin | Public | wctc.edu |
| Miller-Motte College |
Associate's
|
17 | Augusta, Georgia | Private | miller-motte.edu |
| Sullivan University |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
Other Award
|
16 | Louisville, Kentucky | Private | sullivan.edu |
| Pennsylvania College of Technology |
Associate's
|
16 | Williamsport, Pennsylvania | Public | pct.edu |
| Black River Technical College (BRTC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Residency
Other Award
|
15 | Pocahontas, Arkansas | Public | blackrivertech.edu |
| Cuesta College |
Other Award
|
15 | San Luis Obispo, California | Public | cuesta.edu |
| Cypress College |
Associate's
Other Award
|
15 | Cypress, California | Public | cypresscollege.edu |
| Spoon River College (SRC) |
Other Award
|
15 | Canton, Illinois | Public | src.edu |
| South Central College (SCC) |
Other Award
|
15 | North Mankato, Minnesota | Public | southcentral.edu |
| Tennessee College of Applied Technology (TCAT) |
Certificate (≥2 yrs)
Other Award
|
15 | Crossville, Tennessee | Public | tcatcrossville.edu |
| Strayer University (SU) |
Associate's
|
15 | Farmers Branch, Texas | Private | strayer.edu |
| Chaffey College |
Other Award
|
14 | Rancho Cucamonga, California | Public | chaffey.edu |
| Kent State University |
Bachelor's
|
14 | North Canton, Ohio | Public | kent.edu |
| YTI Career Institute (YTI) |
Associate's
|
14 | York, Pennsylvania | Private | yti.edu |
| Tennessee College of Applied Technology (TCAT) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Certificate (≥2 yrs)
|
14 | Jacksboro, Tennessee | Public | tcatjacksboro.edu |
| Tennessee College of Applied Technology (TCAT) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Certificate (≥2 yrs)
|
14 | McMinnville, Tennessee | Public | tcatmcminnville.edu |
| College of Western Idaho (CWI) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
|
14 | Nampa, Idaho | Public | cwi.edu |
| Santa Rosa Junior College (SRJC) |
Other Award
|
13 | Santa Rosa, California | Public | santarosa.edu |
| Western Technical College |
Other Award
|
13 | El Paso, Texas | Private | westerntech.edu |
| Cabrillo College |
Associate's
Other Award
|
12 | Aptos, California | Public | cabrillo.edu |
| Long Beach City College (LBCC) |
Associate's
Other Award
|
12 | Long Beach, California | Public | lbcc.edu |
| Modesto Junior College (MJC) |
Other Award
|
12 | Modesto, California | Public | mjc.edu |
| Kishwaukee College (Kish) |
Residency
|
12 | Malta, Illinois | Public | kish.edu |
Frequently Asked Questions
Find answers to the most common questions about Computer Support Specialist programs
How much can I earn with a Computer Support Specialist degree?
Salaries for Computer Support Specialist graduates vary by role and location. Computer Network Support Specialists earn a median of $73,340 annually, while Computer User Support Specialists earn around $60,340. Geographic location significantly impacts earnings—professionals in District of Columbia average $81,805 compared to $48,645 in Mississippi. Approximately 843,660 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 Support Specialist programs?
Currently 247 accredited institutions offer Computer Support Specialist degrees across the U.S. Programs with the highest enrollment include Purdue University Global (403 graduates), American Public University System (APUS) (228 graduates), and Glendale Community College (GCC) (180 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 Support Specialist growing or declining?
Graduate numbers have increased over the past decade, rising from 489 in 2010 to 4,922 in 2023-24. This represents a 907% increase overall from 2010.
The field remains specialized with steady interest, 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 Support Specialist degree?
This degree prepares you for roles such as Computer Network Support Specialists, Computer User Support Specialists, . Related occupations employ approximately 843,660 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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