IT Associate Degree Online AS in Information Technology

Flexible

With no set class meeting times, you can learn on your schedule and access online course materials 24/7.

Affordable

As part of our mission to make higher education more accessible, we’re committed to keeping our tuition rates low. In fact, we offer some of the lowest online tuition rates in the nation.

Prior coursework could also help you save time and money. SNHU’s transfer policy allows you to transfer up to 90 credits toward your bachelor's degree and 45 credits for an associate degree from your previous institutions—that means you could save up to 75% off the cost of tuition. You could also save time and money by getting college credit for previous work experience, or by taking advantage of military discounts and employer tuition assistance if available to you.

Respected

Founded in 1932, Southern New Hampshire University is a private, nonprofit institution with over 160,000 graduates across the country. SNHU is accredited by the New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE), a regional accreditor, which advocates for institutional improvement and public assurance of quality. 

Recently, SNHU has been nationally recognized for leading the way toward more innovative, affordable and achievable education:

• U.S. News & World Report named SNHU the 2021 Most Innovative University in the North and one of the nation's "Best Regional Universities"
• Awarded the 21st Century Distance Learning Award for Excellence in Online Technology by The United States Distance Learning Association (USDLA)
• A $1 million grant from Google.org to explore soft skills assessments for high-need youth

Network

At Southern New Hampshire University, you'll have access to a powerful network of more than 300,000 students, alumni and staff that can help support you long after graduation. Our instructors offer relevant, real-world expertise to help you understand and navigate the field. Plus, with our growing, nationwide alumni network, you'll have the potential to tap into a number of internship and career opportunities.

93.6% of online students would recommend SNHU (according to a 2022 survey with 17,000+ respondents). Discover why SNHU may be right for you.

Expanding access to quality higher education means removing the barriers that may stand between you and your degree. That’s why you can apply at any time and get a decision within days of submitting all required materials:

• Completed free undergraduate application
• Prior transcripts, which we can retrieve at no cost to you
• Test scores are not required as part of your application

Acceptance decisions are made on a rolling basis throughout the year for our 6 (8-week) undergraduate terms.

If you’re ready to apply, follow these simple steps to get the process going:

• Complete a free undergraduate application
• Submit any additional documents required
• Work with an admission counselor to explore financial options and walk through the application process

If you have questions or need help filling out your application, call 1.888.387.0861 or email enroll@snhu.edu.

Notes: 

• Laptop or desktop?  Whichever you choose depends on your personal preference and work style, though laptops tend to offer more flexibility. 

• Note:  Chromebooks (Chrome OS) and iPads (iOS) do not meet the minimum requirements for coursework at SNHU. These offer limited functionality and do not work with some course technologies. They are not acceptable as the only device you use for coursework. While these devices are convenient and may be used for some course functions, they cannot be your primary device. SNHU does, however, have an affordable laptop option that it recommends: Dell Latitude 3301 with Windows 10. 

• Office 365 Pro Plus is available free of charge to all SNHU students and faculty. The Office suite will remain free while you are a student at SNHU. Upon graduation you may convert to a paid subscription if you wish. Terms subject to change at Microsoft's discretion. Review system requirements for Microsoft 365 plans for business, education and government. 

• Antivirus software: Check with your ISP as they may offer antivirus software free of charge to subscribers. 

Most definitely. An associate degree in information technology lays the foundation you need in technical knowledge and critical-thinking skills.

Southern New Hampshire University’s online associate degree in IT aligns with the course requirements for two programs. Both the BA in IT and the BS in Information Technologies online degree allow you to carry over all 60 credits of your associate degree into a bachelor’s.

Earning an IT associate degree sets you up for success as a bachelor’s degree candidate. It can also help you hone in on a specific area of specialization, such as cyber security or data analytics. Southern New Hampshire University offers 5 BS in IT degree concentrations:

• Business management
• Cyber security
• Data analytics
• Project management
• Software development

It’s smart to think about your academic career path from the outset, since many employers look for or even require a bachelor's degree.

“A bachelor's degree can provide a greater depth of knowledge in a field, alongside general education courses that teach students transferable skills,” said SNHU career advisor Grace Donahue. “Certain careers and employers place an emphasis on a bachelor's degree rather than an associate because it can offer greater long-term flexibility for students and show that they have the ability to learn new skills over time.”

It’s true that some IT positions require a bachelor's degree or higher. But there are still many IT associate degree jobs available.

"In addition to knowing how business works, employers often want employees who understand the technology infrastructure that keeps their company functional," said Dr. Curtis George, associate dean of information technology at Southern New Hampshire University. "This goal can be achieved with an associate degree in information technology."

Opportunities with the greatest potential for an associate degree in information technology include job titles like:

• Computer support specialist
• End-user test technician
• Software quality assurance tester
• Technical support specialist

"Just a few years ago, a bachelor's degree was a mandatory requirement for most IT positions," George said. Now more jobs are filled by qualified candidates with an associate degree in IT and some experience.

Smaller organizations are also more likely to focus on a candidate's experience and less on whether they have an associate versus a bachelor's degree.

Earning an IT associate degree can give you the foundation you need to start working in the field. And once you get your foot in the door, you’ll gain the real-world experience you need to move ahead.

“Just like many fields, in IT you need the academics but you also need hands-on experience for resumes,” said Samantha Couture, an academic advisor at SNHU. “It's highly beneficial and makes you more marketable and more competitive when applying for upper-level jobs if you have more of that experience.”

Ben Steinbach, a career outreach specialist at SNHU, believes that working at a help desk is an excellent entry-level job for IT professionals looking to break into the industry. “It’s typically in areas like that someone will take you under their wing or you’ll be learning new stuff and developing skills as you grow,” he said.

Completing an internship during your education is another great way to build both your resume and a strong professional network in the IT field. And as SNHU academic advisor Donna Dukeshire noted, it can help set you apart when applying to IT jobs.

Whether you're looking to gain skills to enter the field or trying to show your boss you have the credentials to move on up, earning your associate degree is a great first step in advancing your career.

In the second quarter of 2022, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that workers with their associate degrees made median weekly earnings that were $123 higher than those of people with a high school diploma alone.¹

Many entry-level IT jobs include employee and client support – often in help desk technician roles. In 2020, the BLS reported that computer user support specialists earned an annual median wage of $49,770 while computer network support specialists earned an annual median wage of $62,760.¹

Certifications demonstrate your skills to potential employers, and they help you stand out from the crows.

A significant part of what Southern New Hampshire University is doing is promoting industry certifications, said Dr. Curtis George, SNHU's associate dean for information technology.

You might consider certification for specific IT skills such as IT support, network administration or IT security. Popular certifications include CompTIA A+, Network+, Security+ and AWS Certified Solutions Architect Associate.

At SNHU, you can even get credit for IT certifications and credentials you've earned.

If you're already working in the IT field, earning an associate degree in information technology could help solidify your capabilities and advance your career. If you're looking to break into the world of IT, earning your associate degree could be a great start.

"Yes, my AS in IT degree was worth it," said Rick McQueen '19. "I gained a mass amount of knowledge over the entire IT field. I learned how many distinct aspects there are in the IT industry."

Learning online at SNHU gave McQueen the added benefit of progressing through the program faster. "I chose SNHU because my current state college was not going to be able to give me the classes that I needed in a timely manner," he said. But with SNHU's 8-week undergraduate terms, and 6 term starts per year, he could take his information technology classes "at a much faster rate."

These highlights are just scratching the surface of potential benefits for earning your AS in IT. In fact, for the average U.S. worker, there's a clear benefit to getting a 2-year associate degree. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, in the second quarter of 2022, workers with an associate degree had median weekly earnings of $961, compared with $838 for people with a high school diploma alone¹. This marks a 14.7% increase in weekly pay.

Employment in IT can also be fulfilling. According to a survey from PayScale, 67% of alumni with IT associate degrees believed their work makes the world a better place.²

But there are many ways to gauge the value of a degree. A few other factors to consider include:

1. Cost per credit. The price can vary dramatically, so it pays to compare tuition rates. At $320 per credit hour, tuition for SNHU’s 60-credit online AS in Information Technology is among the lowest in the nation.
2. Online vs. on campus. Generally speaking, online programs are more affordable.
3. In-state vs. out-of-state tuition rates. Most schools charge more for out-of-state tuition. Online programs typically don’t differentiate.
4. Transfer policy. SNHU accepts up to 45 transfer credits toward an associate degree and 90 transfer credits toward a bachelor's.

¹Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, on the internet, at:

• https://www.bls.gov/ooh/computer-and-information-technology/home.htm (viewed Nov. 4, 2022).
• https://www.bls.gov/ooh/computer-and-information-technology/computer-support-specialists.htm (viewed Nov. 4, 2022).
• https://www.bls.gov/charts/usual-weekly-earnings/usual-weekly-earnings-over-time-by-education.htm (viewed Nov. 4, 2022).

Cited projections may not reflect local and/or short-term economic or job conditions and do not guarantee actual job growth.

² Payscale, 2020 College Salary Report, on the internet, at: https://www.payscale.com/college-salary-report/majors-that-pay-you-back/associate?orderBy=percentHighMeaning&ascending=false&search=information%20technology (viewed July 8, 2021).