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Computer & IS Security Major

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Computer & IS Security

6,392 Bachelor's Degrees Annually
5,574 Master's Degrees Annually
#5 in Popularity
$92,030 Median Salary

Types of Degrees Computer & IS Security Majors Are Getting

The following table lists how many computer and IS security graduations there were in 2020-2021 for each degree level.

Education Level Number of Grads
Bachelor’s Degree 6,403
Master’s Degree 5,574
Basic Certificate 4,441
Associate Degree 3,655
Undergraduate Certificate 1,413
Graduate Certificate 1,228
Doctor’s Degree 115

What Computer & IS Security Majors Need to Know

People with careers related to computer and information systems security / auditing / information assurance were asked what knowledge areas, skills, and abilities were important for their jobs. They weighted these areas on a scale of 1 to 5 with 5 being the highest.

Knowledge Areas for Computer and Information Systems Security/Auditing/Information Assurance Majors

Computer and Information Systems Security / Auditing / Information Assurance majors often go into careers in which the following knowledge areas are important:

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  • 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.
  • 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.
  • 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.

Skills for Computer and Information Systems Security/Auditing/Information Assurance Majors

When studying computer and information systems security / auditing / information assurance, 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:

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  • 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.
  • Complex Problem Solving - Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.
  • Judgment and Decision Making - Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.

Abilities for Computer and Information Systems Security/Auditing/Information Assurance Majors

As you progress with your computer and information systems security / auditing / information assurance degree, there are several abilities you should pick up that will help you in whatever related career you choose. These abilities include:

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  • Problem Sensitivity - The ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing there is a problem.
  • 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.
  • 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 & IS Security Major?

Below is a list of occupations associated with computer and information systems security / auditing / information assurance:

Job Title Job Growth Rate Median Salary
Computer and Information Systems Managers 12.0% $142,530
Computer Network Architects 6.5% $109,020
Computer Network Support Specialists 8.2% $62,770
Database Administrators 11.5% $90,070
Information Security Analysts 28.5% $98,350
Network and Computer Systems Administrators 6.1% $82,050
Telecommunications Engineering Specialists 6.5% $109,020

Who Is Getting a Bachelor’s Degree in Computer & IS Security?

6,403 Bachelor's Degrees Annually
17% Percent Women
35% Percent Racial-Ethnic Minorities*
This major attracts more men than women. About 83% of the graduates in this field are male.

Racial-Ethnic Diversity

At the countrywide level, the racial-ethnic distribution of computer and information systems security / auditing / information assurance majors is as follows:

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Race/Ethnicity Number of Grads
Asian 402
Black or African American 684
Hispanic or Latino 816
White 3,555
International Students 229
Other Races/Ethnicities 717

Geographic Diversity

Americans aren’t the only ones with an interest in Computer and Information Systems Security/Auditing/Information Assurance. About 3.6% of those with this major are international students.

How Much Do Computer & IS Security Majors Make?

Salaries According to BLS

Average salaries range from $87,070 to $111,130 (25th to 75th percentile) for careers related to computer and information systems security / auditing / information assurance. 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.

Median Salary for a Computer & IS Security Major  ( 87070 to 111130 )
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250K
Median Salary for a High School Graduate  ( 30000 to 57900 )
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250K
Median Salary for a Bachelor's Degree Holder  ( 45600 to 99000 )
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Median Salary for an Advanced Degree Holder  ( 55600 to 125400 )
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250K

Some careers associated with computer and information systems security / auditing / information assurance require an advanced degree while some may not even require a bachelor’s. Whatever the case may be, pursuing more education usually means that more career options will be available to you.

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

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Education Level Percentage of Workers
High School Diploma - or the equivalent (for example, GED) 1.5%
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) 8.5%
Some College Courses 9.7%
Associate’s Degree (or other 2-year degree) 13.9%
Bachelor’s Degree 49.7%
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. 5.4%
Master’s Degree 9.6%
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. 1.4%
First Professional Degree - awarded for completion of a program that: requires at least 2 years of college work before entrance into the program, includes a total of at least 6 academic years of work to complete, and provides all remaining academic requirements to begin practice in a profession. 1.0%

Online Computer & IS Security Programs

In 2020-2021, 813 schools offered a computer and information systems security / auditing / information assurance 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) 0 0
Certificate (1-2 years) 153 27
Certificate (2-4 Years) 3 0
Associate’s Degree 311 58
Bachelor’s Degree 118 43
Post-Baccalaureate 0 0
Master’s Degree 190 84
Post-Master’s 14 0
Doctor’s Degree (Research) 11 5
Doctor’s Degree (Professional Practice) 0 0
Doctor’s Degree (Other) 0 0

Is a Degree in Computer & IS Security Worth It?

The median salary for a computer and information systems security / auditing / information assurance grad is $92,030 per year. This is based on the weighted average of the most common careers associated with the major.

This is 131% more than the average salary for an individual holding a high school degree. This adds up to a gain of about $1,042,600 after 20 years!

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You may also be interested in one of the following majors related to computer and information systems security / auditing / information assurance.

Major Number of Grads
Network & System Administration/Administrator 5,501
Information Technology Management 4,009
Computer Support Specialist 3,176
System, Networking, & LAN/WAN Management/Manager 2,077
Information Technology Project Management 2,076
Web/Multimedia Management & Webmaster 887

References

*The racial-ethnic minorities count is calculated by taking the total number of students and subtracting white students, international students, and students whose race/ethnicity was unknown. This number is then divided by the total number of students at the school to obtain the racial-ethnic minorities percentage.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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