Computer Systems Analysis/Analyst.
Data details: Graduation rate, gender, ethnicity, and summary are for this specific degree (6-digit CIP) from IPEDS. Salary, debt, and related financial outcomes are based on the degree category (4-digit CIP) from the College Scorecard API. ← Back to search
All data shown below (except Graduation rate, gender, ethnicity) is based on the category, not just this specific degree.
Please use your own discretion when interpreting these results. For certain degrees, a limited number of institutions report to the government's College Scorecard API, which may cause the data to be skewed or less representative of national trends. Consider these figures as informative but not definitive, and consult additional sources or advisors for important decisions.
Debt to Income Ratio
Debt-to-income analysis for Computer Systems Analysis/Analyst.: The DTI for this program is 64.7%, which is within the generally accepted range for higher education. While not as low as some top-performing degrees, this ratio suggests that most graduates can manage their student loan payments, especially if they secure employment in related fields. If you are considering Computer Systems Analysis/Analyst., compare your expected starting salary (currently $57449) to the average debt ($37155) to ensure it fits your financial goals in .
Degrees with a DTI between 0.5 and 0.8 are common, but it's wise to plan your budget and consider loan repayment options.
Important financial note for Computer Systems Analysis/Analyst.: The debt-to-income ratio for this program is 64.7%, which is above the recommended maximum of 80%. This means that, on average, graduates may need to dedicate a significant portion of their first-year earnings to student loan payments. If you are considering Computer Systems Analysis/Analyst., be sure to weigh the average starting salary ($57449) against the typical student debt ($37155), and explore scholarships, grants, or alternative funding sources to reduce your financial burden in and beyond.
Key Insights
Wondering if Computer Systems Analysis/Analyst. is right for you? This degree is designed for students who want both knowledge and practical experience. Most graduates see starting salaries near $57449, and the average student debt is $37155, with a debt-to-income ratio of 0.65—which is typical for many fields.
With an annual graduating class of 2864 students, you’ll be part of a dynamic student body. Many students go on to become Computer Systems Analysts, a role with a projected 9.0% growth rate. Whether you’re looking for upward mobility, a chance to innovate, or a degree that’s respected in the job market, Computer Systems Analysis/Analyst. delivers. Take advantage of every resource your school offers to maximize your success!
Degree Overview
Computer Systems Analysis (CIP 11.0501) is the study of how to combine business requirements with IT solutions. While a computer scientist builds software from scratch, a Systems Analyst looks at an entire organization to determine how to make its hardware, software, and networks work together more effectively. They are the "architects" of an organization's digital workflow.
This degree is ideal for students who are analytical problem-solvers who enjoy technology but also have a strong interest in business operations and people. It is a path for those who want to analyze "the big picture" to ensure that every piece of technology serves a specific, productive purpose.
What Is a Computer Systems Analysis Degree?
A Computer Systems Analysis degree focuses on the methodologies used to design, implement, and maintain complex information systems. It teaches students how to listen to what a business needs—such as "we need a faster way to process orders"—and translate that into a technical blueprint that developers can build.
Schools offer this degree to:
- Teach the Systems Development Life Cycle (SDLC) from start to finish
- Bridge the gap between technical departments and non-technical stakeholders
- Provide training in cost-benefit analysis and project management for IT
- Develop skills in data modeling and systems architecture
What Will You Learn?
Students learn to look at a company like a machine, identifying "bottlenecks" and designing digital solutions to fix them.
Core Skills You’ll Build
Most students learn to:
- Conduct "Requirement Gathering" to understand what users actually need from a system
- Create technical diagrams like Flowcharts and Unified Modeling Language (UML) maps
- Perform "Gap Analysis" to compare current system performance against desired goals
- Manage IT projects using Agile, Waterfall, or Scrum methodologies
- Write technical specifications that guide programmers and engineers
- Design user interfaces that are intuitive and efficient
Topics You May Explore
Coursework is usually a blend of tech and management:
- Systems Design and Architecture: Learning how different components of a system fit together.
- Database Management Systems (DBMS): Understanding how information is stored and accessed.
- Business Process Modeling: Mapping out how work gets done in an office.
- Software Quality Assurance: Learning how to test systems to ensure they don't break.
- IT Project Management: Budgeting, scheduling, and leading technical teams.
What Jobs Can You Get With This Degree?
Computer Systems Analysis is a high-growth field because almost every company is currently undergoing "digital transformation."
Common job roles include:
- Systems Analyst: The core role of designing and improving IT systems.
- Business Systems Analyst: Focusing specifically on the financial and operational side of tech.
- IT Consultant: Traveling to different companies to advise them on tech upgrades.
- Quality Assurance (QA) Analyst: Ensuring new systems meet all requirements before launch.
- Product Manager: Overseeing the development of a specific piece of software or tool.
Where Can You Work?
Systems analysts are needed in any organization with a complex digital footprint:
- Consulting Firms: Working for companies like Deloitte or Accenture to help other clients.
- Finance and Insurance: Managing the massive databases and security systems used in banking.
- Healthcare: Streamlining how doctors, nurses, and patients share sensitive data.
- Government & Defense: Modernizing public records and ensuring system reliability.
- Manufacturing: Automating supply chains and inventory tracking.
How Much Can You Earn?
This career path offers high stability and competitive salaries, often rewarding the ability to "talk both tech and business."
- Computer Systems Analysts: Median annual salary of approximately $102,000–$105,000.
- Business Analysts (IT): Salaries typically range from $85,000 to $115,000.
- IT Managers: With experience, salaries often exceed $160,000.
Is This Degree Hard?
The difficulty is less about "complex math" and more about complex logic. You must be comfortable with "if-then" scenarios and be able to keep track of a thousand moving parts at once. It can be socially challenging as well, as you often have to explain to managers why their ideas might not work technically, or tell developers why their code isn't meeting the business's needs.
Who Should Consider This Degree?
This degree may be a good fit if you:
- Like technology but don't want to spend 8 hours a day just writing code
- Are a "natural organizer" who likes to make things more efficient
- Enjoy talking to people and figuring out what they need
- Are good at explaining technical things to non-tech people
- Like to draw diagrams and visualize how things work
How to Prepare in High School
- Take classes in Business, Economics, and Computer Science
- Focus on Speech or Debate to build communication skills
- Practice using Excel or Google Sheets to organize data
- Look into "No-Code" tools or logic puzzles to practice systems thinking
- Volunteer for leadership roles in clubs where you have to coordinate different groups
The ability to see the "big picture" and translate it into actionable technical steps is the hallmark of a great systems analyst.
Personality Fit (RIASEC Profile)
Official assessment tool by the U.S. Department of Labor