Major decision guide
Computer Science vs Information Technology
Computer science is about building software and understanding why it works — algorithms, data structures, and the mathematics underneath. Information technology is about running the systems an organization depends on: networks, servers, identity, and support. CS asks "how would you design this?"; IT asks "how do you keep this running and secure?"
How each major is officially classified
Both definitions below are the official U.S. Department of Education (NCES) CIP 2020 descriptions — not CampusPin summaries.
CIP 11.0701
Computer Science
Official title: Computer Science · Family: computer and information sciences and support services
A program that focuses on computer theory, computing problems and solutions, and the design of computer systems and user interfaces from a scientific perspective. Includes instruction in the principles of computational science, computer development and programming, and applications to a variety of end-use situations.
CIP 11.0103
Information Technology
Official title: Information Technology · Family: computer and information sciences and support services
A program that focuses on the design of technological information systems, including computing systems, as solutions to business and research data and communications support needs. Includes instruction in the principles of computer hardware and software components, algorithms, databases, telecommunications, user tactics, application testing, and human interface design.
What you actually study
Computer Science
- Programming foundations in languages like Python, Java, C/C++, and JavaScript
- Algorithm design and analysis (Big-O, dynamic programming, graph algorithms)
- Data structures (arrays, trees, hash tables, heaps, graphs)
- Operating systems, networks, and computer architecture
- Databases and distributed systems
- Discrete mathematics, linear algebra, probability, and statistics
- Software engineering practices: version control, testing, code review, agile workflows
Information Technology
- Network architecture and administration (LAN/WAN, routing, switching)
- Systems administration on Windows, Linux, and macOS
- Cloud platforms (AWS, Azure, Google Cloud)
- Database administration and SQL
- IT project management and ITIL fundamentals
- Business systems analysis and requirements
- Information assurance and basic security operations
Where each major leads
The federal CIP–SOC crosswalk maps each academic program to the occupations it is designed to feed. Comparing the two lists shows where Computer Science and Information Technology converge and where they part. Every wage below is the BLS 2024 national median for that occupation — not an outcome for the major, and not a starting salary.
Mapped to both (7)
Occupations the federal crosswalk associates with both programs.
Computer and Information Systems Managers
$171,200 annual median (2024)
Typically enters with: Bachelor's degree. Employment is projected to grow 15.2% 2024–2034.
$124,910 annual median (2024)
Typically enters with: Bachelor's degree. Employment is projected to grow 28.5% 2024–2034.
Computer and Information Research Scientists
$140,910 annual median (2024)
Typically enters with: Master's degree. Employment is projected to grow 19.7% 2024–2034.
$135,980 annual median (2024)
Typically enters with: Bachelor's degree. Employment is projected to grow 8.7% 2024–2034.
$133,080 annual median (2024)
Typically enters with: Bachelor's degree. Employment is projected to grow 15.8% 2024–2034.
Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers
$102,610 annual median (2024)
Typically enters with: Bachelor's degree. Employment is projected to grow 10.0% 2024–2034.
$112,590 annual median (2024)
Typically enters with: Bachelor's degree. Employment is projected to grow 33.5% 2024–2034.
Mapped to Computer Science only (6)
The crosswalk associates these with Computer Science but not with Information Technology. Graduates of either major are still hired into many of them.
Computer Network Support Specialists
$73,340 annual median (2024)
Typically enters with: Associate's degree. Employment is projected to grow 1.8% 2024–2034.
$98,670 annual median (2024)
Typically enters with: Bachelor's degree. Employment is projected to decline 6.0% 2024–2034.
$90,930 annual median (2024)
Typically enters with: Bachelor's degree. Employment is projected to grow 7.5% 2024–2034.
Web and Digital Interface Designers
$98,090 annual median (2024)
Typically enters with: Bachelor's degree. Employment is projected to grow 7.0% 2024–2034.
Computer Occupations, All Other
$108,970 annual median (2024)
Typically enters with: Bachelor's degree. Employment is projected to grow 8.2% 2024–2034.
Computer Science Teachers, Postsecondary
$96,690 annual median (2024)
Typically enters with: Doctoral or professional degree. Employment is projected to grow 5.3% 2024–2034.
Mapped to Information Technology only (2)
The crosswalk associates these with Information Technology but not with Computer Science. Graduates of either major are still hired into many of them.
$103,790 annual median (2024)
Typically enters with: Bachelor's degree. Employment is projected to grow 8.7% 2024–2034.
$130,390 annual median (2024)
Typically enters with: Bachelor's degree. Employment is projected to grow 11.9% 2024–2034.
A major does not restrict you to these occupations, and plenty of graduates work outside them. The mapping describes what each program is built to prepare you for.
Which one tends to suit which student
This part is CampusPin’s judgement, not a measurement. Neither major is better; they suit different temperaments.
Computer Science may fit if…
You enjoy the puzzle more than the product — proving why one approach is faster, writing the thing from scratch, and sitting with abstract mathematics for several semesters before you see where it applies.
Information Technology may fit if…
You would rather be the person who makes the whole environment work. You like troubleshooting under time pressure, you are comfortable talking to non-technical colleagues, and you want to be employable in an operations role without a heavy theory sequence.
Commonly misunderstood
IT is often described as "CS without the math", which undersells it. The federal crosswalk maps information technology to systems-analysis and network-architecture occupations that computer science does not — these are distinct professional tracks, not a ranking.
What to ask each department
Curricula vary far more between institutions than between these two majors. These questions surface the differences that actually matter for this choice.
- 1How many semesters of calculus, discrete mathematics, and linear algebra does each program require? This is usually the largest practical difference between the two.
- 2Does the IT program lead to industry certifications (networking, cloud, security), and are those built into coursework or left to the student?
- 3Can I switch between the two after the first year, and which courses transfer if I do?
- 4Does the CS program require a systems or theory sequence I would need to catch up on if I transfer in later?
How this comparison was built
The occupation lists come from the official NCES CIP 2020 → SOC 2018 crosswalk, which maps each academic program to the occupations it prepares students for. CampusPin intersects the two programs’ lists to show the shared and distinct destinations; the grouping is arithmetic on a federal dataset, not an editorial ranking.
Wages, projected employment change, and typical entry-level education come from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and are attached to the occupation, not to the major. A median is the midpoint for everyone in that occupation nationally, including people with decades of experience, so it is not a starting salary and not a promise.
The “which one tends to suit which student” and “what to ask” sections are editorial judgement, labelled as such. CampusPin does not rank majors and takes no position on which is worth more.
Frequently asked questions
- What is the difference between a Computer Science and a Information Technology major?
- Computer science is about building software and understanding why it works — algorithms, data structures, and the mathematics underneath. Information technology is about running the systems an organization depends on: networks, servers, identity, and support. CS asks "how would you design this?"; IT asks "how do you keep this running and secure?"
- Do Computer Science and Information Technology lead to the same jobs?
- Partly. The federal CIP–SOC crosswalk maps both programs to 7 of the same occupations — including Computer and Information Systems Managers, Information Security Analysts, Computer and Information Research Scientists. It also maps 6 occupations to Computer Science that it does not map to Information Technology, and 2 to Information Technology that it does not map to Computer Science. A degree is not a restriction — graduates work outside these lists routinely — but the mapping shows where each program is designed to lead.
- Which pays more, Computer Science or Information Technology?
- CampusPin does not publish a "higher-paying major" answer, because the data does not support one. BLS reports median wages by OCCUPATION, not by college major, and both of these majors lead to a range of occupations that overlap. The per-occupation medians on this page are the honest version of that question: compare the specific roles you are actually interested in, and remember that pay varies widely by employer, region, and experience.
- Is there anything commonly misunderstood about choosing between Computer Science and Information Technology?
- IT is often described as "CS without the math", which undersells it. The federal crosswalk maps information technology to systems-analysis and network-architecture occupations that computer science does not — these are distinct professional tracks, not a ranking.
Read the full major guides
Keep going on CampusPin
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Data sources & methodology
Academic classifications, occupation mappings, and wage figures for Computer Science and Information Technology come from federal datasets committed to this site.
Sources used across this page
Not every source informs every figure. Each data point draws on the source appropriate to it see the relevant section and the data dictionary for field-level provenance.
NCES Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020)
Official academic program taxonomy: the code, title, and definition shown for each major.
NCES CIP 2020 → SOC 2018 Crosswalk
The federal mapping from academic programs to occupations. Determines which occupations each major is shown as leading to.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook
Median annual wage, projected employment change, and typical entry-level education for every occupation named.
IPEDS / NCES College Navigator
Federal enrollment, admissions, tuition, retention, and program data. Released annually with a 1–2 year lag.
Where a value is unavailable it is shown as unavailable, never as 0, free, or a negative judgment. Always confirm final details with the institution before applying.
Suggested citation
CampusPin. Computer Science vs Information Technology: How to Choose a Major. Retrieved from https://campuspin.com/compare-majors/computer-science-vs-information-technology