Computer Systems Analysis

Types of Degrees Computer Systems Analysis Majors Are Getting

The following table lists how many computer systems analysis graduations there were in 2018-2019 for each degree level.

Education Level	Number of Grads
Bachelor’s Degree	1,140
Master’s Degree	613
Basic Certificate	383
Graduate Certificate	155
Undergraduate Certificate	109
Associate’s Degree	68
Doctor’s Degree	4

What Computer Systems Analysis Majors Need to Know

O*NET surveyed people in occupations related to computer systems and asked them what knowledge areas, skills, and abilities were important for their jobs. The responses were rated on a scale of 1 to 5 with 5 being most important.

Knowledge Areas for Computer Systems Majors

This major prepares you for careers in which these knowledge areas are important:

• Computers and Electronics - Knowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.
• English Language - Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
• Customer and Personal Service - Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.
• Telecommunications - Knowledge of transmission, broadcasting, switching, control, and operation of telecommunications systems.
• Engineering and Technology - Knowledge of the practical application of engineering science and technology. This includes applying principles, techniques, procedures, and equipment to the design and production of various goods and services.

Skills for Computer Systems Majors

When studying computer systems, you’ll learn many skills that will help you be successful in a wide range of jobs - even those that do not require a degree in the field. The following is a list of some of the most common skills needed for careers associated with this major:

• Critical Thinking - Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
• Active Listening - Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
• Reading Comprehension - Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
• Speaking - Talking to others to convey information effectively.
• Judgment and Decision Making - Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.

Abilities for Computer Systems Majors

As a computer systems major, you will find yourself needing the following abilities:

• Oral Comprehension - The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
• Deductive Reasoning - The ability to apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense.
• Written Comprehension - The ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing.
• Oral Expression - The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.
• Inductive Reasoning - The ability to combine pieces of information to form general rules or conclusions (includes finding a relationship among seemingly unrelated events).

What Can You Do With a Computer Systems Analysis Major?

Below is a list of occupations associated with computer systems:

Job Title	Job Growth Rate	Median Salary
Computer Network Architects	6.5%	$109,020
Computer Network Support Specialists	8.2%	$62,770
Computer Science Professors	8.1%	$82,220
Computer Systems Analysts	9.1%	$88,740

Who Is Getting a Bachelor’s Degree in Computer Systems Analysis?

This is one of the most frequently chosen computer science majors. It is the 8th most popular in the country with 1,139 students graduating with a bachelor’s in computer systems in 2019. This major tends to be male dominated. About 77% of recent graduates are men.

Racial-Ethnic Diversity

At the countrywide level, the racial-ethnic distribution of computer systems majors is as follows:

Race/Ethnicity	Number of Grads
Asian	130
Black or African American	86
Hispanic or Latino	167
White	579
International Students	92
Other Races/Ethnicities	86

Geographic Diversity

Computer Systems appeals to people across the globe. About 8.1% of those with this major are international students. The most popular countries for students from outside the country are:

• India
• China
• Saudi Arabia
• Vietnam
• South Korea

How Much Do Computer Systems Analysis Majors Make?

Bachelor’s Degree Starting Salary

The U.S. Department of Education found that students who graduated in 2015-2017 with a bachelor’s degree in computer systems analysis made a median starting salary of $56,600 per year. During this timeframe, most salaries fell between $49,600 (25th percentile) and $56,600 (75th percentile).

We don’t know for sure if all of these people took jobs related to computer systems so take that into consideration.

Salaries According to BLS

Average salaries range from $68,050 to $96,200 (25th to 75th percentile) for careers related to computer systems. This range includes all degree levels, so the salary for a person with just a bachelor’s degree may be a little less and the one for a person with an advanced degree may be a little more.

To put that into context, according to BLS data from the first quarter of 2020, the typical high school graduate makes between $30,000 and $57,900 a year (25th through 75th percentile). The average person with a bachelor’s degree (any field) makes between $45,600 and $99,000. Advanced degree holders make the most with salaries between $55,600 and $125,400.

Amount of Education Required for Careers Related to Computer Systems Analysis

Some degrees associated with computer systems may require an advanced degree, while others may not even require a bachelor’s in the field. In general, the more advanced your degree the more career options will open up to you. However, there is significant time and money that needs to be invested into your education so weigh the pros and cons.

How much schooling do you really need to compete in today’s job market? People currently working in careers related to computer systems have obtained the following education levels.

Education Level	Percentage of Workers
High School Diploma - or the equivalent (for example, GED)	2.0%
Post-Secondary Certificate - awarded for training completed after high school (for example, in agriculture or natural resources, computer services, personal or culinary services, engineering technologies, healthcare, construction trades, mechanic and repair technologies, or precision production)	4.8%
Some College Courses	6.1%
Associate’s Degree (or other 2-year degree)	15.9%
Bachelor’s Degree	32.3%
Post-Baccalaureate Certificate - awarded for completion of an organized program of study; designed for people who have completed a Baccalaureate degree but do not meet the requirements of academic degrees carrying the title of Master.	6.3%
Master’s Degree	21.3%
Post-Master’s Certificate - awarded for completion of an organized program of study; designed for people who have completed a Master’s degree but do not meet the requirements of academic degrees at the doctoral level.	2.1%
Doctoral Degree	9.4%

Online Computer Systems Analysis Programs

In 2018-2019, 130 schools offered a computer systems program of some type. The following table lists the number of programs by degree level, along with how many schools offered online courses in the field.

Degree Level	Colleges Offering Programs	Colleges Offering Online Classes
Certificate (Less Than 1 Year)	32	5
Certificate (1-2 years)	15	1
Certificate (2-4 Years)	0	0
Associate’s Degree	28	0
Bachelor’s Degree	8	3
Post-Baccalaureate	32	5
Master’s Degree	14	7
Post-Master’s	2	0
Doctor’s Degree (Research)	2	0
Doctor’s Degree (Professional Practice)	0	0
Doctor’s Degree (Other)	0	0

Is a Degree in Computer Systems Analysis Worth It?

The median salary for a computer systems grad is $93,610 per year. This is based on the weighted average of the most common careers associated with the major.

This is 135% more than the average salary for an individual holding a high school degree. This adds up to a gain of about $1,074,200 after 20 years!

Majors Related to Computer Systems Analysis

You may also be interested in one of the following majors related to computer systems.

Major	Number of Grads
Computer Information Systems	76,482
Computer Science	47,906
Information Technology	33,399
Information Science	17,779
Computer Systems Networking	14,055
Computer Software & Applications	12,793
Computer Programming	10,688
Data Processing	2,138
Data Entry	1,382
Other Computer & Information Sciences	1,243

References

• College Factual
• College Scorecard
• National Center for Education Statistics
• O*NET Online
• U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
• Usual Weekly Earnings of Wage and Salary Workers First Quarter 2020
• Image Credit: By Louv under License

More about our data sources and methodologies.