Best Computer Network Support Specialist programs in Illinois, ranked by enrollment
Analyze, test, troubleshoot, and evaluate existing network systems, such as local area networks (LAN), wide area networks (WAN), cloud networks, servers, and other data communications networks.
88 schools in Illinois run programs that feed this job, graduating 9,916 people a year. The job pays a median of $68,530 in Illinois across about 6,960 jobs (BLS OEWS May 2025).
Fields of study in Illinois that lead to this job
Grouped at the 4-digit CIP level. Numbers are graduates per year in this state.
9 programs in Illinois that lead to this job
Ranked by graduates per year in Illinois (IPEDS completions). Graduate earnings and debt are national College Scorecard figures reported at the 4-digit CIP level, so specializations within one field share a figure. Each program also links to its own Illinois page.
| # | Program | Graduates / yr | Share of pipeline | Schools | Grad earnings (1 yr) | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | CIP 11.0701In Illinois → | 5,709 | 57.6% | 42 | $70,374 | $23,250 |
| 2 | CIP 11.0901In Illinois → | 1,379 | 13.9% | 37 | $43,901 | $22,822 |
| 3 | CIP 11.1003In Illinois → | 1,212 | 12.2% | 45 | $48,185 | $25,250 |
| 4 | CIP 11.0201In Illinois → | 556 | 5.6% | 25 | $46,719 | $20,729 |
| 5 | CIP 11.0501In Illinois → | 543 | 5.5% | 6 | $51,805 | $46,000 |
| 6 | CIP 11.1002In Illinois → | 226 | 2.3% | 6 | $48,185 | $25,250 |
| 7 | CIP 11.1006In Illinois → | 171 | 1.7% | 10 | $48,185 | $25,250 |
| 8 | CIP 11.1001In Illinois → | 96 | 1.0% | 13 | $48,185 | $25,250 |
| 9 | CIP 11.0902In Illinois → | 24 | 0.2% | 1 | $43,901 | $22,822 |
Top 25 schools in Illinois
Ranked by graduates per year into this job. Graduate earnings are reported for 25 of the 88 schools in this state.
| # | School | Graduates / yr | Top feeder program | Grad earnings (1 yr) | Grad rate | Net price | Acceptance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of Illinois Urbana - Champaign Champaign, IL Public · 1 feeder programs | 1,684 | Computer Science | $124,530 | 85% | — | 42% |
| 2 | DeVry University - Illinois Lisle, IL Private for-profit · 2 feeder programs | 874 | Computer Systems Networking and Telecommunications | $44,735 | 37% | $32,381 | 98% |
| 3 | Illinois Institute of Technology Chicago, IL Private not-for-profit · 3 feeder programs | 865 | Computer Science | $86,005 | 75% | $19,899 | 55% |
| 4 | University of Illinois Chicago Chicago, IL Public · 2 feeder programs | 649 | Computer Science | $78,040 | 62% | — | 77% |
| 5 | University of Illinois Springfield Springfield, IL Public · 3 feeder programs | 564 | Computer Science | $72,657 | 53% | — | 86% |
| 6 | DePaul University Chicago, IL Private not-for-profit · 4 feeder programs | 534 | Computer Programming/Programmer, General | $72,234 | 68% | $28,141 | 76% |
| 7 | University of Chicago Chicago, IL Private not-for-profit · 2 feeder programs | 461 | Computer Science | $117,578 | 96% | $13,333 | 4% |
| 8 | Lewis University Romeoville, IL Private not-for-profit · 2 feeder programs | 400 | Computer Science | $60,726 | 67% | $17,632 | 71% |
| 9 | Northwestern University Evanston, IL Private not-for-profit · 1 feeder programs | 336 | Computer Science | $99,981 | 95% | $14,799 | 8% |
| 10 | Joliet Junior College Joliet, IL Public · 3 feeder programs | 333 | Computer Systems Networking and Telecommunications | — | 21% | — | — |
| 11 | Moraine Valley Community College Palos Hills, IL Public · 5 feeder programs | 274 | System, Networking, and LAN/WAN Management/Manager | — | 40% | — | — |
| 12 | Governors State University University Park, IL Public · 2 feeder programs | 223 | Computer Science | $52,115 | 22% | — | 48% |
| 13 | Northern Illinois University Dekalb, IL Public · 1 feeder programs | 214 | Computer Science | $77,257 | 49% | — | 70% |
| 14 | College of DuPage Glen Ellyn, IL Public · 3 feeder programs | 149 | Computer Systems Networking and Telecommunications | — | 25% | — | — |
| 15 | Illinois State University Normal, IL Public · 4 feeder programs | 135 | Computer Science | $81,363 | 65% | — | 88% |
| 16 | Elmhurst University Elmhurst, IL Private not-for-profit · 3 feeder programs | 133 | Computer Systems Networking and Telecommunications | — | 70% | $20,794 | 74% |
| 17 | Roosevelt University Chicago, IL Private not-for-profit · 2 feeder programs | 131 | Computer Science | $41,976 | 35% | $21,085 | 97% |
| 18 | Northeastern Illinois University Chicago, IL Public · 2 feeder programs | 121 | Computer Science | $62,831 | 22% | — | 75% |
| 19 | William Rainey Harper College Palatine, IL Public · 3 feeder programs | 109 | System, Networking, and LAN/WAN Management/Manager | — | 48% | — | — |
| 20 | Southern Illinois University - Carbondale Carbondale, IL Public · 2 feeder programs | 94 | Computer Science | $70,053 | 62% | — | 87% |
| 21 | City Colleges of Chicago - Wilbur Wright College Chicago, IL Public · 3 feeder programs | 93 | Computer and Information Systems Security/Auditing/Information Assurance | — | 31% | — | — |
| 22 | Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Edwardsville, IL Public · 1 feeder programs | 89 | Computer Science | $76,106 | 57% | — | 97% |
| 23 | Southwestern Illinois College Belleville, IL Public · 4 feeder programs | 82 | Computer Systems Networking and Telecommunications | — | 36% | — | — |
| 24 | Elgin Community College Elgin, IL Public · 3 feeder programs | 79 | Computer Support Specialist | — | 41% | — | — |
| 25 | Chicago State University Chicago, IL Public · 1 feeder programs | 75 | Computer Science | — | 15% | — | 43% |
All 88 schools in Illinois
Every school in Illinois with a program that feeds this job, ordered by graduates per year. Earnings are shown for the ranked schools above; open a school profile for the rest.
| School | City | Control | Graduates / yr | Feeder programs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| University of Illinois Urbana - Champaign | Champaign | Public | 1,684 | 1 |
| DeVry University - Illinois | Lisle | Private for-profit | 874 | 2 |
| Illinois Institute of Technology | Chicago | Private not-for-profit | 865 | 3 |
| University of Illinois Chicago | Chicago | Public | 649 | 2 |
| University of Illinois Springfield | Springfield | Public | 564 | 3 |
| DePaul University | Chicago | Private not-for-profit | 534 | 4 |
| University of Chicago | Chicago | Private not-for-profit | 461 | 2 |
| Lewis University | Romeoville | Private not-for-profit | 400 | 2 |
| Northwestern University | Evanston | Private not-for-profit | 336 | 1 |
| Joliet Junior College | Joliet | Public | 333 | 3 |
| Moraine Valley Community College | Palos Hills | Public | 274 | 5 |
| Governors State University | University Park | Public | 223 | 2 |
| Northern Illinois University | Dekalb | Public | 214 | 1 |
| College of DuPage | Glen Ellyn | Public | 149 | 3 |
| Illinois State University | Normal | Public | 135 | 4 |
What computer network support specialists earn in Illinois
What people already working in this job earn (BLS OEWS May 2025). Not graduate earnings.
U.S. median $76,220. Illinois pays below the national figure.
Concentrated here: Illinois employs more of this job per worker than the U.S. average.
Metro areas in Illinois
Job outlook
Bureau of Labor Statistics Employment Projections, 2024 to 2034.
Growth and openings are national. The Bureau of Labor Statistics does not publish employment projections at state level, so these figures describe the occupation across the whole U.S., not this state alone.
How to get in
The full skills, tools, and day-to-day breakdown lives on the national Computer Network Support Specialists page.
How to become a Computer Network Support Specialist
Job zone 4 of 5 · SVP 7.0 to < 8.0- Typical entry education
- Associate's degree
- On-the-job training
- Moderate-term on-the-job training
Most of these occupations require a four-year bachelor's degree, but some do not.
A considerable amount of work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is needed for these occupations. For example, an accountant must complete four years of college and work for several years in accounting to be considered qualified.
Employees in these occupations usually need several years of work-related experience, on-the-job training, and/or vocational training.
Top skills
The same job in other states
Where else this occupation employs the most people, and what it pays there.
Related careers in Illinois
Every major mapped to this job
The official federal mapping behind the rankings above.
All 9 majors mapped to Computer Network Support Specialists9 of them graduated someone in the latest IPEDS year. NCES CIP 2020 → SOC 2018 crosswalk.+
- 11.0201Computer Programming/Programmer, General
- 11.0501Computer Systems Analysis/Analyst
- 11.0701Computer Science
- 11.0901Computer Systems Networking and Telecommunications
- 11.0902Cloud Computing
- 11.1001Network and System Administration/Administrator
- 11.1002System, Networking, and LAN/WAN Management/Manager
- 11.1003Computer and Information Systems Security/Auditing/Information Assurance
- 11.1006Computer Support Specialist
Common questions
Answers for people weighing computer network support specialists programs in Illinois.
What degree do you need to become a Computer Network Support Specialist?+
Associate's degree is the typical entry-level education BLS reports for this occupation. The most common program people actually graduate from is Computer Science, which awarded 5,709 degrees in Illinois in 2024-25, 57.6% of everyone graduating from a program that feeds this career.
Which college majors lead to becoming a Computer Network Support Specialist?+
The NCES CIP-to-SOC crosswalk maps 9 programs to this occupation. The largest are Computer Science, Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management, Computer Systems Networking and Telecommunications, Computer Programming, plus 1 more. Together they graduate about 9,916 people a year in Illinois.
How much do computer network support specialists earn in Illinois?+
The median is $68,530 a year (BLS OEWS May 2025). That is 10.1% below the U.S. median of $76,220. This is pay for people already working in the occupation, not the same thing as graduate earnings one year after finishing a degree.
Is demand for computer network support specialists growing?+
BLS projects a +1.8% change in employment between 2024 and 2034, little or no change, with roughly 9,600 openings a year nationally once retirements and job changes are counted.
How many schools offer programs for this career in Illinois?+
88 institutions in Illinois reported graduates from at least one of the 9 programs that feed this occupation in IPEDS 2024-25. Rankings on this page use graduates per year, because the federal data publishes no enrollment count by program.
What other job titles do computer network support specialists work under?+
Employers advertise this work under many names. O*NET records Network Specialist, Network Technician, Systems Specialist, Network Technical Analyst among the most commonly reported, all mapping to SOC 15-1231.
About the data on this page
Rankings use IPEDS completions 2024–25, degrees awarded per year. That is the closest federal measure of how many people a program puts into a career, because no federal dataset publishes enrollment by program. Wages and employment come from BLS OEWS May 2025, growth and openings from BLS Employment Projections 2024-34, and which majors lead to which jobs from the NCES CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk. Occupation descriptions, tasks, skills and tools are O*NET 30.3 (CC BY 4.0, U.S. Department of Labor/ETA).
BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics
May 2025Wages, employment counts, location quotients and metro breakdowns.
BLS Employment Projections
2024–34Projected growth, annual openings and typical entry-level education.
IPEDS Completions
2024-25 (provisional)Graduates per year by program and institution — the ranking metric.
College Scorecard, Field of Study
2020-21 cohortsMedian graduate earnings one year after completion, and median debt.
Census Post-Secondary Employment Outcomes
latest availableGraduate earnings 1/5/10 years out, where the state participates.
NCES CIP 2020 and the CIP-to-SOC 2018 crosswalk
CIP 2020 / SOC 2018Which college programs officially lead to this occupation.
O*NET Database 30.3
30.3Tasks, skills, knowledge, tools, job zone and alternate job titles.
Official source →CC BY 4.0, U.S. Department of Labor / ETA
Explore every U.S. college in one conversation
Clema turns plain-language questions into sourced answers across every U.S. institution — earnings, aid, acceptance, graduation, safety, and athletics from IPEDS, College Scorecard, and 10+ federal datasets, built in.
Free for teams up to 3 · No credit card