Computer Systems Analysis Degree

23 schools compared · Average earnings $57,492/yr

Students study how to evaluate organizational needs, design technology solutions, and optimize computer systems for efficiency and scalability. Graduates typically pursue careers as systems analysts, IT consultants, business technology strategists, and solutions architects at consulting firms and large enterprises. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects strong growth and above-average salaries for systems analysts.

What Computer Systems Analysis Graduates Do

You’ll act as a translator between business needs and technical reality. As a systems analyst, you'll spend your days interviewing managers about their frustrations, then diagramming solutions for developers to build. In a quality assurance (QA) role, your job is to break software, meticulously hunting for bugs before a product ships. As a network architect, you’ll design the entire digital nervous system for an organization, planning how data flows securely and efficiently.

Early on, you might execute test plans or support existing networks. With experience, you’ll be the one designing those plans and architectures. While roles like network architecture are growing quickly, others like network support are slowing. More importantly, AI is fundamentally reshaping this field. With high exposure across key jobs, routine tasks like writing test scripts and organizing data are being automated. This means fewer entry-level positions. Your career value will shift from doing repetitive work to architecting complex systems, validating AI outputs, and making the critical judgment calls that machines can’t.

Schools Offering
23
Avg Grad Earnings
$57,492/yr
Avg DegreeOutlook Score
63/100
AI Automation Risk
Very High
58% task exposure

Common Career Paths

Where Computer Systems Analysis graduates typically work, ranked by salary. Salary ranges show 25th–75th percentile spread. This field has roughly 76,500 combined openings per year.

Career Path Salary Range Openings/yr Growth AI Risk
Database architects
$135,980
$108K$169K
4,000 +8.7% 94%
Computer network architects
$130,390
$102K$164K
11,200 +11.9% 61%
Computer systems analysts
$103,790
$81K$132K
34,200 +8.7% 48%
Software quality assurance analysts and testers
$102,610
$80K$132K
14,000 +10.0% 88%
Computer science teachers, postsecondary
$96,690
$65K$132K
3,500 +5.3% 51%
Computer network support specialists
$73,340
$57K$96K
9,600 +1.8% 63%
Database architects
$135,980
$108K $169K
4,000 openings/yr +8.7% growth 94% AI risk
Computer network architects
$130,390
$102K $164K
11,200 openings/yr +11.9% growth 61% AI risk
Computer systems analysts
$103,790
$81K $132K
34,200 openings/yr +8.7% growth 48% AI risk
Software quality assurance analysts and testers
$102,610
$80K $132K
14,000 openings/yr +10.0% growth 88% AI risk
Computer science teachers, postsecondary
$96,690
$65K $132K
3,500 openings/yr +5.3% growth 51% AI risk
Computer network support specialists
$73,340
$57K $96K
9,600 openings/yr +1.8% growth 63% AI risk

Source: BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics, May 2024. Salary range shows 25th–median–75th percentile (national).

Best Schools for Computer Systems Analysis

Top 20 of 23 schools ranked by DegreeOutlook Score. Click any row for full AI scenario analysis and earnings projections.

# School DW Score Earnings ROI
1 University of Minnesota-Twin Cities
Minneapolis, MN
74
69–76
$73,013/yr 15.7x
2 University of Houston
Houston, TX
71
66–73
$55,565/yr 21.5x
3 University of Wisconsin-River Falls
River Falls, WI
71
65–72
$52,507/yr 23.8x
4 Howard University
Washington, DC
70
64–72
$92,324/yr 7.9x
5 Kent State University at Kent
Kent, OH
69
63–70
$55,790/yr 15.5x
6 Saginaw Valley State University
University Center, MI
69
63–70
$54,219/yr 16.4x
7 Pittsburg State University
Pittsburg, KS
66
60–67
$54,783/yr 18.4x
8 Austin Peay State University
Clarksville, TN
62
57–63
$65,084/yr 17.8x
9 California State University-San Marcos
San Marcos, CA
61
56–63
$61,054/yr 18.7x
10 DeVry College of New York
New York, NY
61
55–62
$51,805/yr 9.7x
11 DeVry University-Arizona
Phoenix, AZ
61
55–62
$51,805/yr 9.7x
12 DeVry University-California
Ontario, CA
61
55–62
$51,805/yr 9.7x
13 DeVry University-Florida
Orlando, FL
61
55–62
$51,805/yr 9.7x
14 DeVry University-Georgia
Decatur, GA
61
55–62
$51,805/yr 9.7x
15 DeVry University-Illinois
Lisle, IL
61
55–62
$51,805/yr 9.7x
16 DeVry University-Nevada
Henderson, NV
61
55–62
$51,805/yr 9.7x
17 DeVry University-New Jersey
Iselin, NJ
61
55–62
$51,805/yr 9.7x
18 DeVry University-Ohio
Columbus, OH
61
55–62
$51,805/yr 9.7x
19 DeVry University-Texas
Irving, TX
61
55–62
$51,805/yr 9.7x
20 DeVry University-Virginia
Arlington, VA
61
55–62
$51,805/yr 9.7x

Highest Earning Computer Systems Analysis Programs

Schools where Computer Systems Analysis graduates earn the most in their first year after graduation.

Best ROI for Computer Systems Analysis

Schools with the highest earnings-to-tuition ratio for Computer Systems Analysis.

School ROI Multiple Earnings DW Score
University of Wisconsin-River Falls 23.8x $52,507/yr 71
University of Houston 21.5x $55,565/yr 71
California State University-San Marcos 18.7x $61,054/yr 61
Pittsburg State University 18.4x $54,783/yr 66
Austin Peay State University 17.8x $65,084/yr 62
Saginaw Valley State University 16.4x $54,219/yr 69
University of Minnesota-Twin Cities 15.7x $73,013/yr 74
Kent State University at Kent 15.5x $55,790/yr 69
University of North Dakota 11.3x $53,865/yr 55
Northern Arizona University 11.0x $60,524/yr 56
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Frequently Asked Questions

How much do Computer Systems Analysis graduates earn?
Across 23 schools, Computer Systems Analysis graduates earn an average of $57,492 per year in their first year after graduation. Earnings range from $51,805 to $92,324 depending on the school.
What is the AI automation risk for Computer Systems Analysis?
Computer Systems Analysis is rated "Very High" for AI automation risk, with an average of 58% of job tasks exposed to large language models and AI tools. This means most career tasks in this field could be augmented or replaced by AI over the next decade.
Which school has the best Computer Systems Analysis program?
Based on our DegreeOutlook Score (combining earnings, AI resilience, job market size, and ROI), University of Minnesota-Twin Cities ranks #1 for Computer Systems Analysis with a score of 74/100 and graduate earnings of $73,013/yr.
What's the outlook for a Computer Systems Analysis degree?
On average, Computer Systems Analysis graduates earn 12.5x their in-state tuition over 10 years. This is a strong return on investment.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →