Information Technology Bachelor's Degree

Information technology (IT) is the use of computer systems or devices to access, store, manage, and protect information. IT drives much of what we do in our personal and professional lives. It is a broad-ranging field of expertise that includes many subfields and specializations, from network administration and software development to data analysis, cybersecurity, and physical devices. IT specialists oversee computer networks and ensure that systems can handle networking tasks and meet security requirements. Their duties include tracking network traffic and activity, installing and configuring software updates, and performing database backups to restore and protect user information.

Combine your passion for computing and problem-solving with a bachelor's degree in information technology from Michigan Tech. Learn from expert faculty in a hands-on setting where you directly apply what you learn in the classroom to real-world scenarios. Develop robust skills in teamwork, communication, critical thinking, and problem-solving that are essential in the field of computer and network systems administration.

What Will I Study?

The IT major emphasizes learning by doing. Lab sessions are part of most courses, so that you can apply
theoretical knowledge in a simulated enterprise network. With more than 1,000 virtual machines available, our virtual cluster provides abundant resources for students to enhance their practical
skills each semester through lab assignments and activities.

Coursework includes classes like these:

  • Cyber Ethics
  • Critical and Creative Thinking
  • Digital Electronics
  • Storage Area Networking
  • Data Center Operations
  • Digital Forensics
  • #3
    best 19 bachelor’s in network administration
  • #10
    best colleges with network, database, and system administration degrees

Top Salaries and 100% Job Placement

The mean entry-level salary is $56,451 (Payscale) with a mean annual wage of $101,190 (BLS) and the top 10 percent making $150,320 (BLS).  100% of Michigan Tech information technology graduates are employed within six months of graduation.

See additional computing salary information.

Outstanding Careers

Careers for IT professionals take many paths—with excellent job opportunities in nearly every industry you're interested in. Employment in computer and information technology is projected to grow much faster than the average for all occupations from 2023 to 2033, according to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics. Tech graduates have secured many well-paid and fulfilling positions, including these: 

  • Network Engineer
  • Systems Engineer
  • Chief Security Officer (CSO)
  • Security Specialist
  • Database Administrator
  • Voice Over IP (VoIP) Engineer
  • E-Commerce Developer
  • Application Developer
  • Senior Interface Developer
  • Network Administrator

Great Employers

Information technology graduates from Michigan Tech are sought after by well-known employers like these:

  • 3M
  • Google
  • Tesla
  • Albert Kahn Associates
  • Harley-Davidson
  • Ford Motor Company
  • Los Alamos National Laboratory
  • NASA
  • Federal Bureau of Investigation
  • National Security Agency
  • IBM

Co-ops and Internships

IT students have direct access to highly competitive co-op and internship opportunities—earning average salaries of $30 per hour. Your access to these work experiences gives you foundational industry experience in many technical and nontechnical areas in the field. When you graduate, you'll be well-prepared with a portfolio of on-the-job skills that today's employers want. Some employers who have hired MTU information technology students for co-ops or internships include:

  • Federal Bureau of Investigation
  • National Security Agency
  • Los Alamos National Laboratory
  • Tesla
  • Target Corporation
  • Ford Motor Company
  • General Motors

Enterprise, Only at Michigan Tech

In their final year, Bachelor of Science majors complete either a Senior Design Project or an Enterprise project. Michigan Tech Enterprises are student-run business teams providing end-to-end original product development through real-world experiences in engineering design, team building, and project management. Senior Design and Enterprise teams work closely with a faculty advisor. Students in majors across campus participate in Enterprise program teams. College of Computing-affiliated Enterprise programs include Husky Game Development, HIDE, and IT Oxygen.

  • Students in the Husky Game Development Enterprise design and develop games for business, education, and fun. Earn credit, gain experience, and build your resume, all while creating quality software that will attract and satisfy industry sponsors. Who says you can’t work and play?
  • Humane Interface Design Enterprise (HIDE) students design, develop, and evaluate human-centered computer interfaces to make daily work more efficient and easier to manage. 
  • IT Oxygen Enterprise students—from numerous majors—provide Information Technology help to both student organizations and businesses, working on real projects for real companies that foster skills in development, problem-solving, and business.

I really like how invested the professors are in the classes. You end up developing great relationships with them.

Adam Fulton, CNSA
Adam Fulton '24
BS Computer Networking and System Administration (renamed Information Technology)

Ready to take the next step?

Learn more about studying information technology at Michigan's flagship technological university.

This is Tech

Up here, we’re all in it together.

Your connections become bonds that last a lifetime—and your Michigan Tech experience becomes a part of who you are.

MTU engineering

Tomorrow won’t wait. Neither will we.

Computing is for everyone, everywhere. Artificial intelligence, robotics, data science, and other forms of digital connectivity are ingrained in nearly every aspect of life. Cybersecurity has never been more important. These transformational technologies require intrepid problem solvers, bold leaders, and fearless visionaries. You can be one of them.

Founded in 2019, we’re one of the first colleges in the nation and one of the few institutions of its kind to focus solely on computing. Digital transformation has morphed every discipline into a computing discipline, reinventing industries like manufacturing, criminal justice, marketing, and health care. The College of Computing is making sure that employers have the computing talent they need to thrive—and that our students are equipped for fulfilling careers now and for tomorrows to come.

The world needs Computing[MTU]. The world needs you.

Undergraduate Majors—Applied Computing

Not sure which major is the right fit? Explore Michigan Tech majors and minors.

Supercharge your future.

Study, do research, and build a future-forward career at a flagship R1 public research university powered by STEM. Get the theoretical knowledge and practical experience you need to succeed in a high-tech world.

Our students work alongside faculty on meaningful research, like helping to detect Alzheimer’s disease earlier and making machine learning more user-friendly. They connect at the intersection of engineering and computing in our mechatronics playground. They teach middle school kids coding and cybersecurity basics, assist older generations with digital literacy essentials, and help each other persist through academic and life challenges through SAM, our unique peer mentoring program. Computing Huskies also partner with national entities like the Defense Counterintelligence and Security Agency as well as local businesses to analyze security and safeguard sensitive data. And, from robotics to Red Teaming, Huskies train, run, and win national competitions.

Whether competing in Esports, joining an Enterprise team, or working with a group of Huskies to build a robot in three days is your jam, you’ll find opportunities to connect with what clicks. And when it’s time to blow off steam, the Keweenaw Peninsula’s trails, forests, and Lake Superior beaches await, along with Michigan Tech’s Mont Ripley Ski Hill.

When it comes to preparing for life after graduation, our Career Fair offers more than a one-day event—it’s a series of workshops and meetups that leads to coops, internships, and full-time, well-paying positions. If you want to be ready for what tomorrow needs, your future starts now, in the Michigan Tech College of Computing.

My favorite thing about the program is how almost every class has hands-on lab time with real-world equipment.

Zach Heimer, CNSA
Zach Heimer
Information Technology Major