by our College Data Analytics TeamStudying Computer Support Specialist involves the study of Computer Support Specialist. A Program That Prepares Individuals To Provide Technical Assistance, Support, And Advice To Computer Users To Help Troubleshoot Software And Hardware Problems. Includes Instruction In Computer Concepts, Information Systems, Networking, Operating Systems, Computer Hardware, The Internet, Software Applications, Help Desk Concepts And Problem Solving, And Principles Of Customer Service. Examples: [Technical Support Specialist], [Help Desk Specialist], [It Support Specialist]. Read on to learn the important information every computer support specialist major should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering computer support specialist programs.
In the U.S., computer support specialist is a widely-pursued major, with 4,922 degrees awarded annually.
Our 2026 Best Computer Support Specialist Schools ranking analyzes these 247 schools to determine the best overall colleges for computer support specialist students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of computer support specialist programs later in this article.
Studies in Computer Support Specialist emphasize a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations computer support specialist graduates commonly enter.
Skills emphasized by a computer support specialist program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
According to O*NET, a computer support specialist major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
There are several computer support specialist degree levels. The table below shows the typical length of the most common levels, and how many graduates earn each one.
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate | Varies | 1,164 |
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 1,558 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 132 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 1,939 |
People currently working in careers related to computer support specialist tend to have obtained the following education levels.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Bachelor’s degree | 47.2% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 26.6% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 15.8% |
| Some college courses | 4.9% |
| First professional degree | 3.0% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 1.3% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 0.5% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 0.4% |
| Master’s degree | 0.2% |
See the chart below to get an idea of what level of education most of those in computer support specialist careers hold.
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
Studying computer support specialist prepares you for a variety of career paths. Below are some of the most common occupations related to computer support specialist.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to computer support specialist.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Computer User Support Specialists | 428,265 | 11.0% |
| Computer Network Support Specialists | 128,152 | -3.8% |
The U.S. Department of Education tracks median earnings of computer support specialist graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. These numbers tend to grow as graduates gain experience.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $64,248 |
| 4 years | $56,780 |
| 5 years | $64,307 |
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study earnings tracker.
Salaries for computer support specialist graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers computer support specialist grads often go into.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Computer Network Support Specialists | $107,799 |
| Computer User Support Specialists | $71,530 |
With 247 different computer support specialist programs to choose from, finding the best fit can be a challenge. We have analyzed these schools to produce unbiased computer support specialist school rankings to help you.
Those considering computer support specialist, you may also want to explore other closely related fields of study within the same broad area.
More about our data sources and methodologies.
