Modern organizations run on tech, and someone has to build it, secure it and keep it running. This demand has made IT one of the most dependable and lucrative fields. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects about 280,000 openings per year in computer and IT jobs through 2035, with a median wage of $109,470, more than double the salary for all U.S. occupations.
An online IT bachelor’s degree can be a great way to break into the field. But information technology degrees vary in scope and quality; one program might train you to run cloud infrastructure, while others target cybersecurity, business software or managing a tech team.
To identify the best programs, we reviewed 60 accredited online IT bachelor’s degrees at respected public and private universities. We compared required courses, electives, hands-on projects, certification prep, cost and overall value, then highlighted the top programs for each IT career path.
Quick Take: The best online IT degree depends on your goals. ASU’s ABET-accredited BS in Information Technology is our top pick for a well-rounded IT education. If you already know your path, we highlight the best IT programs for cloud computing, app development, cybersecurity, networking, enterprise IT and technology management. WGU ($31,400) and Kent State (about $34,000) are the most affordable IT degrees in our 2027 ranking.
| The Best Online Bachelor’s in Information Technology | |||
| School | Program | Best Degree For | Tuition Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arizona State University | BS in Information Technology | Well-Rounded IT Education | $69,600 |
| Western Governors University | BS in Cloud and Network Engineering (AWS Specialization) | Cloud Computing | $31,400 |
| Kent State University | BS in Information Technology (Cybersecurity and Forensics) | Cybersecurity | $33,400 - $34,600 |
| Northern Kentucky University | BS in IT (Network and System Administration) | Network & Systems Administration | $49,080 - $61,680 |
| Lindenwood University | BS in Information Technology (Applications Development) | Application Development | $63,000 |
| Penn State World Campus | BS in Enterprise Technology Integration | Enterprise Systems Integration | $65,152 |
| Eastern Oregon University | BS in Information Technology Management | IT Management | $60,840 |
What makes our rankings valuable?
Most degree rankings online rely primarily on the National Center for Education Statistics, measuring school-wide rates for graduation, retention, class size, etc. The NCES has good data, and we use it too; however, we go beyond institutional stats to analyze the current and future relevance of the skills and certifications you’ll gain. We also list programs' actual tuition fees and delve deeper into value and flexibility to consider accelerated learning and certificate options.
The Best Online IT Bachelor’s
We selected the top online degrees in information technology based on curriculum, hands-on learning, certification prep, accreditation, reputation, flexibility, cost and value. IT is a broad field, so instead of a numerical ranking, we matched each degree to the career path it fits best.
Here are our picks for the best online IT bachelor’s degrees in 2027:
Arizona State University
Best program for a well-rounded IT education.
ASU's Bachelor of Science in Information Technology is a good fit if you know you want to work in IT but haven't picked a specialty yet. The curriculum covers most major IT domains without pushing you into one of them early.
It’s also the only ABET-accredited program in our 2027 ranking. ABET accreditation means the program passed an independent peer review of its curriculum, faculty and student outcomes, based on computing professionals’ standards. Some employers and grad schools look for it, but it’s not mandatory for a strong IT degree.
Required courses include programming, networking, information security, data management and advanced systems configuration. You’ll learn how to build, secure and manage the infrastructure that AI systems run on. You'll also write software, administer computing environments and use technology to solve practical business problems.
In the two-semester capstone, students apply their newfound skills to build a technology solution designed to help their community. That's a lot more hands-on work than you’ll get in an IT degree built around individual course assignments.
BSIT coursework aligns with several globally recognized IT certifications, including Cisco CCNA, AWS, CompTIA Security+ and Red Hat Linux. If you decide to specialize, ASU also offers separate online bachelor’s degrees in IT-Cybersecurity and IT-Networking.
The degree comes from ASU's acclaimed Ira A. Fulton Schools of Engineering. Its 40 classes are taken in 7.5-week sessions with six start dates a year. Online bachelor’s graduates get the same diploma as on-campus students.
- Format: Online
- Tuition Cost: $69,600 (120 credits at $580 per credit)
- Accreditation: Higher Learning Commission (HLC); program accredited by the ABET Computing Accreditation Commission
Western Governors University
Best IT bachelor’s for cloud computing.
Cloud skills are in high demand, and WGU’s Bachelor of Science in Cloud and Network Engineering (AWS) goes much deeper into cloud infrastructure than a general IT degree. It’s a strong choice for cloud computing hopefuls seeking extensive practice with Amazon Web Services, the largest cloud platform.
The AWS track teaches you to deploy, secure and maintain cloud environments, from compute, storage and networking to identity and access management and automation. Courses in Python for IT automation, software-defined networking and hybrid cloud orchestration build on core training in networking and systems administration.
IT certifications are built into the curriculum. Students can earn nine in-demand industry credentials, including AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner, AWS Certified Solutions Architect and AWS Certified CloudOps Engineer Associate, plus CompTIA A+, Network+ and Security+. Certification exam vouchers are included in the tuition.
The capstone is graded on working systems. You complete workplace-style tasks in a live AWS environment, and an evaluator logs in to confirm your configurations and deployments actually function.
WGU is competency-based, so you progress as you pass assessments. Tuition is charged per six-month term, so finishing faster means a cheaper IT degree. WGU reports 61% of graduates in similar programs finish within 36 months, though we priced the program at four years to keep comparisons fair. New terms start on the first of every month.
- Format: Online
- Tuition Cost: $31,400 over four years (8 six-month terms at $3,925 per term)
- Accreditation: Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU)
Kent State University
Best IT bachelor’s degree for cybersecurity.
Kent State’s Bachelor of Science in Information Technology with the Cybersecurity and Forensics concentration covers both sides of security work: preventing and investigating cyberattacks.
The concentration is eight courses: Ethical Hacking, Computer Forensics, Digital and Network Forensics, Network Security Fundamentals, Network Security and Firewalls, Cybersecurity, Cyber Warfare, and AI in Information Technology and Cybersecurity.
Security shows up in the IT core too, with courses in Applied Security Essentials, Social Media Security, and Generative AI and Ethics in Information Technology. You’ll also study networking, systems administration and databases. That matters, because it’s hard to spot vulnerabilities in systems you don’t understand.
The BSIT degree ends with a capstone, and students build a professional portfolio of their IT work. If you want more range, Kent State lets you declare a second concentration, such as Networking, Health IT, or Cloud and Virtualization Technologies.
Kent State is also one of this year’s most affordable online IT degrees, and nonresidents pay only slightly more than Ohioans.
- Format: Online
- Tuition Cost:
- Ohio residents: $33,400
- Nonresidents: $34,600
- Accreditation: Higher Learning Commission (HLC)
Northern Kentucky University
Best for network and systems administration.
NKU’s Bachelor of Science in IT - Network and System Administration teaches you how to keep organizations’ networks and servers running securely. Courses move from networking fundamentals into Windows administration, Unix, scripting and cloud computing. Upper-level classes cover switch and router configuration, VLANs, routing protocols, IPv4 and IPv6, firewalls, intrusion detection and VPNs. The program also prepares you for Cisco’s CCNA certification.
In Advanced Network and System Administration, students work in teams to design and implement networked systems, including directory services, automation, backup and recovery, and web services. Then they document and present the finished solution, much like they would on the job.
The program is based in NKU’s College of Informatics. Classes run seven weeks with six start dates per year. Out-of-state students pay the same tuition as Kentuckians, and you can transfer up to 90 credits to further reduce the time and cost of the online bachelor’s in IT.
New online students automatically qualify for NKU’s Path to Success Scholarship, lowering their tuition from $514 to $409 per credit. The discount can’t be combined with other NKU offers, and students who leave the program for more than a year lose it.
- Format: Online
- Tuition Cost:
- Standard: $61,680 (120 credits at $514 per credit)
- With Path to Success Scholarship: $49,080 (120 credits at $409 per credit)
- Accreditation: Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC)
Lindenwood University
Best IT degree for application development.
Lindenwood’s BS in IT with the Applications Development Emphasis focuses on building modern software while still covering the rest of the IT space.
In the 12-course emphasis, you’ll study C# programming, mobile applications, secure software development, Agile methods, UI design, systems analysis and design, and object-oriented and multi-tiered web programming. Beyond the code, you’ll learn how applications are designed, tested and maintained.
The IT core covers networking, operating systems, databases and cybersecurity, including the topics on CompTIA’s Network+ and Security+ exams. This core IT background helps when your apps need to run securely inside larger enterprise systems.
The degree features numerous applied projects, and the capstone is a mentored portfolio project. Compared with a computer science degree, which spends more time on algorithms, theory and math, Lindenwood’s program is aimed at business applications and software that connects with enterprise systems.
The BSIT courses are fully asynchronous, and Lindenwood accepts up to 90 transfer credits.
- Format: Online
- Tuition Cost: $63,000 (120 credits at $525 per credit)
- Accreditation: Higher Learning Commission (HLC)
Penn State World Campus
Best program for enterprise systems integration.
Most organizations run a mix of databases, cloud services and business applications from different vendors. Penn State’s Bachelor of Science in Enterprise Technology Integration teaches you how to make them all work together.
A two-course sequence, Fundamentals of Systems and Enterprise Integration and Advanced Enterprise Integration, covers how integration projects are planned, built and rolled out. Cloud Design and Database Management and Administration round out the technical side. You’ll also take accounting and supply chain management to better understand the business processes you’re connecting.
The online bachelor’s curriculum includes an enterprise AI sequence where students design AI-powered solutions for organizations, with an upper-level option to build and present them in teams. A 12-credit application focus lets you go deep into app development or cybersecurity.
Every student completes a 300-hour internship or earns the credit through a portfolio. Grads are well prepared for roles in systems integration, enterprise architecture and IT consulting.
Penn State has already published its 2027-28 rates for this program. At those rates, the full degree would cost $66,456.
- Format: Online
- Tuition Cost: $65,152 (eight full-time semesters at 2026-27 rates)
- Accreditation: Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE)
Eastern Oregon University
Best online bachelor’s for IT management.
EOU’s Online Bachelor’s in Information Technology Management pairs a solid technical foundation with the business training to effectively lead IT teams and operations.
The technical side goes deeper than you might expect from a management degree. After prerequisite courses in computer science fundamentals and data structures, you’ll take C/C++ programming, computer architecture and assembly language, database management, networking and network administration, and information security.
Business courses cover information management, principles of management, business communications and business ethics, plus an upper-level elective in project management, operations management or organizational behavior. Being up to speed on both sides helps future managers make better decisions about technology investments and technical teams.
The IT management bachelor’s includes a required 12-quarter-credit practicum, where you apply what you’ve learned in a professional or pre-professional setting before you graduate.
EOU accepts up to 135 quarter credits (equivalent to 90 semester credits), allowing eligible transfer students to complete as few as 45 additional quarter credits toward their bachelor's degree in IT management.
You can earn a BA, BS or BAS, and the BAS path is designed for students who already have an Associate of Applied Science.
- Format: Online
- Tuition Cost: $60,840 (180 quarter credits at $338 per credit)
- Accreditation: Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU)
What's the cheapest online IT degree?
With an estimated tuition cost of $31,400 over four years, Western Governors University's BS in Cloud and Network Engineering is the most affordable IT bachelor’s degree in our 2027 ranking. Because WGU is competency-based, students who finish in less than four years pay even less.
Following close behind WGU is Kent State's online BS in IT with an estimated total tuition of $33,400 for Ohio residents or $34,600 for nonresidents. After these two programs, tuition costs rise significantly.
If you're open to computer science, see our ranking of the cheapest online CS degrees.
Is an online information technology degree worth it?
Yes, an online IT degree can be worthwhile if the curriculum matches the job you want. Before enrolling, ensure the courses, specializations, electives, hands-on projects, certification prep and internship opportunities align with your career goals. Cost matters too; the more "prestigious" program isn't always the better deal if another accredited school offers similar training for much less.
To see which tech majors lead to the biggest paychecks, check out our guide to the highest-paying IT degrees.
What's the difference between an IT and CS degree?
IT degrees focus on applying technology inside organizations: running and securing networks, managing systems and databases, supporting users and building business applications. Computer science degrees go deeper into computing theory, with more coursework in algorithms, data structures, math and programming. If computer science sounds more like you, compare our top online CS bachelor's degrees.
Are online IT bachelor's degrees accredited?
All of the universities on our list are institutionally accredited. Some online IT degrees are also accredited by ABET, which reviews individual programs. Arizona State's BS in Information Technology is the only program to make our ranking that's accredited by ABET’s Computing Accreditation Commission. ABET accreditation is one sign of program quality, but many strong tech degrees don't have it. Always confirm institutional and program accreditation with the university or accrediting body.
Can you get an IT job with an online degree?
Yes, you can get a job in IT with an online degree. A respected online bachelor's program can qualify you for many IT careers. Beyond the diploma, employers evaluate technical skills, professional certifications, projects, internships and work experience. If you're new to the field, earning an IT certification or two and building some hands-on projects while you're in school will make you a stronger candidate upon graduation.
