South Carolina·Computer and Mathematical Occupations·SOC 15-1241

Best Computer Network Architect programs in South Carolina, ranked by enrollment

Design and implement computer and information networks, such as local area networks (LAN), wide area networks (WAN), intranets, extranets, and other data communications networks.

36 schools in South Carolina run programs that feed this job, graduating 1,590 people a year. The job pays a median of $134,990 in South Carolina across about 1,950 jobs (BLS OEWS May 2025).

Also calledEngineerNetwork AnalystSystems EngineerSolutions ArchitectCommunications EngineerInfrastructure EngineerComputer Network TechnologistTelecommunications Consultant (Telecom Consultant)
Graduates / yr
1,590
in South Carolina
Median pay · South Carolina
$134,990
BLS OEWS May 2025
Jobs in state
1,950
people employed
Schools
36
with a feeder program
Avg graduation rate
42%
across those schools
Median net price
$21,006
per year, IPEDS

Fields of study in South Carolina that lead to this job

Grouped at the 4-digit CIP level. Numbers are graduates per year in this state.

6 programs in South Carolina that lead to this job

Ranked by graduates per year in South Carolina (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 South Carolina page.

Degree programs that lead to this occupation, ranked by graduates per year
#ProgramGraduates / yrShare of pipelineSchoolsGrad earnings (1 yr)Median debt
1838
52.7%
16$57,986$24,286
2407
25.6%
20$48,185$25,250
3221
13.9%
7$57,986$24,286
4119
7.5%
5$78,333$24,098
53
0.2%
1$43,901$22,822
62
0.1%
1$43,901$22,822

Top 25 schools in South Carolina

Ranked by graduates per year into this job. Graduate earnings are reported for 9 of the 36 schools in this state.

Schools ranked by graduates per year into this occupation
#SchoolGraduates / yrTop feeder programGrad earnings (1 yr)Grad rateNet priceAcceptance
1Clemson University
Clemson, SC Public · 2 feeder programs
466Computer and Information Sciences, General$73,37487%38%
2University of South Carolina - Columbia
Columbia, SC Public · 4 feeder programs
400Computer and Information Sciences, General$68,59779%60%
3Trident Technical College
Charleston, SC Public · 2 feeder programs
115Computer and Information Systems Security/Auditing/Information Assurance30%
4Horry - Georgetown Technical College
Conway, SC Public · 1 feeder programs
60Computer and Information Systems Security/Auditing/Information Assurance38%
5Strayer University - South Carolina
Greenville, SC Private for-profit · 2 feeder programs
60Information Technology$67,31517%$22,134
6University of South Carolina - Upstate
Spartanburg, SC Public · 3 feeder programs
59Computer and Information Sciences, General$49,99943%67%
7College of Charleston
Charleston, SC Public · 1 feeder programs
58Computer and Information Sciences, General$67,43866%60%
8Citadel Military College of South Carolina
Charleston, SC Public · 3 feeder programs
31Computer and Information Systems Security/Auditing/Information Assurance75%23%
9Anderson University
Anderson, SC Private not-for-profit · 1 feeder programs
30Computer and Information Systems Security/Auditing/Information Assurance66%$24,81255%
10Coastal Carolina University
Conway, SC Public · 2 feeder programs
29Information Technology$38,60248%75%
11Technical College of the Lowcountry
Beaufort, SC Public · 1 feeder programs
27Computer and Information Systems Security/Auditing/Information Assurance18%
12Lander University
Greenwood, SC Public · 2 feeder programs
24Computer and Information Sciences, General$59,23250%81%
13Piedmont Technical College
Greenwood, SC Public · 1 feeder programs
23Computer and Information Systems Security/Auditing/Information Assurance33%
14Greenville Technical College
Greenville, SC Public · 1 feeder programs
21Computer and Information Systems Security/Auditing/Information Assurance21%
15Denmark Technical College
Denmark, SC Public · 1 feeder programs
20Computer and Information Systems Security/Auditing/Information Assurance13%
16North Greenville University
Tigerville, SC Private not-for-profit · 1 feeder programs
18Computer and Information Systems Security/Auditing/Information Assurance55%$20,32767%
17Winthrop University
Rock Hill, SC Public · 2 feeder programs
18Computer and Information Sciences, General$64,30257%79%
18Midlands Technical College
West Columbia, SC Public · 1 feeder programs
17Computer and Information Systems Security/Auditing/Information Assurance18%
19Charleston Southern University
Charleston, SC Private not-for-profit · 2 feeder programs
16Computer and Information Systems Security/Auditing/Information Assurance47%$21,84896%
20Columbia College
Columbia, SC Private not-for-profit · 1 feeder programs
11Computer and Information Sciences, General37%$23,98694%
21Francis Marion University
Florence, SC Public · 1 feeder programs
11Computer and Information Sciences, General43%86%
22South Carolina State University
Orangeburg, SC Public · 1 feeder programs
10Computer and Information Sciences, General$30,08237%83%
23University of South Carolina Beaufort
Bluffton, SC Public · 1 feeder programs
9Information Technology34%73%
24Aiken Technical College
Graniteville, SC Public · 1 feeder programs
8Computer and Information Systems Security/Auditing/Information Assurance34%
25Bob Jones University
Greenville, SC Private not-for-profit · 1 feeder programs
8Information Technology65%$18,053

All 36 schools in South Carolina

Every school in South Carolina 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.

All schools in South Carolina that feed this occupation
SchoolCityControlGraduates / yrFeeder programs
Clemson UniversityClemsonPublic4662
University of South Carolina - ColumbiaColumbiaPublic4004
Trident Technical CollegeCharlestonPublic1152
Horry - Georgetown Technical CollegeConwayPublic601
Strayer University - South CarolinaGreenvillePrivate for-profit602
University of South Carolina - UpstateSpartanburgPublic593
College of CharlestonCharlestonPublic581
Citadel Military College of South CarolinaCharlestonPublic313
Anderson UniversityAndersonPrivate not-for-profit301
Coastal Carolina UniversityConwayPublic292
Technical College of the LowcountryBeaufortPublic271
Lander UniversityGreenwoodPublic242
Piedmont Technical CollegeGreenwoodPublic231
Greenville Technical CollegeGreenvillePublic211
Denmark Technical CollegeDenmarkPublic201

What computer network architects earn in South Carolina

What people already working in this job earn (BLS OEWS May 2025). Not graduate earnings.

Median annual in South Carolina
$134,990
Mean annual
$136,370
Jobs in state
1,950
What the range looks like
10th pct$82,060Median$134,99090th pct$185,160
Versus the national median
+0.7%

U.S. median $134,050. South Carolina pays above the national figure.

Job concentration
0.73×

1.00× means the state has its expected share of these jobs.

Metro areas in South Carolina

Greenville-Anderson-Greer, SC
$161,170median
390 jobs
Charleston-North Charleston, SC
$137,930median
480 jobs
Spartanburg, SC
$126,310median
60 jobs
Columbia, SC
$125,510median
270 jobs
Myrtle Beach-Conway-North Myrtle Beach, SC
$101,520median
50 jobs
Hilton Head Island-Bluffton-Port Royal, SC
$82,300median
60 jobs

Job outlook

Bureau of Labor Statistics Employment Projections, 2024 to 2034.

Projected growth 2024–34
+11.9%
Much faster than average
Openings per year
11,200
new jobs plus replacements
Employment change
21,400
179,200 → 200,600
Typical entry education
Bachelor's degree

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 Architects page.

How to become a Computer Network Architect

Job zone 4 of 5 · SVP 7.0 to < 8.0
Typical entry education
Bachelor's degree
Work experience needed
5 years or more

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

Critical ThinkingReading ComprehensionActive ListeningWritingSpeakingActive Learning

The same job in other states

Where else this occupation employs the most people, and what it pays there.

Related careers in South Carolina

Every major mapped to this job

The official federal mapping behind the rankings above.

All 9 majors mapped to Computer Network Architects9 of them graduated someone in the latest IPEDS year. NCES CIP 2020 → SOC 2018 crosswalk.+
  • 11.0101Computer and Information Sciences, General
  • 11.0103Information Technology
  • 11.0501Computer Systems Analysis/Analyst
  • 11.0901Computer Systems Networking and Telecommunications
  • 11.0902Cloud Computing
  • 11.1001Network and System Administration/Administrator
  • 11.1003Computer and Information Systems Security/Auditing/Information Assurance
  • 14.0901Computer Engineering, General
  • 14.0999Computer Engineering, Other

Common questions

Answers for people weighing computer network architects programs in South Carolina.

What degree do you need to become a Computer Network Architect?+

Bachelor's degree is the typical entry-level education BLS reports for this occupation. The most common program people actually graduate from is Computer and Information Sciences, General, which awarded 838 degrees in South Carolina in 2024-25, 52.7% of everyone graduating from a program that feeds this career.

Which college majors lead to becoming a Computer Network Architect?+

The NCES CIP-to-SOC crosswalk maps 6 programs to this occupation. The largest are Computer and Information Sciences, Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management, Computer Engineering, Computer Systems Networking and Telecommunications. Together they graduate about 1,590 people a year in South Carolina.

How much do computer network architects earn in South Carolina?+

The median is $134,990 a year (BLS OEWS May 2025). That is 0.7% above the U.S. median of $134,050. 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 architects growing?+

BLS projects a +11.9% change in employment between 2024 and 2034, much faster than average, with roughly 11,200 openings a year nationally once retirements and job changes are counted.

How many schools offer programs for this career in South Carolina?+

36 institutions in South Carolina reported graduates from at least one of the 6 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 architects work under?+

Employers advertise this work under many names. O*NET records Engineer, Network Analyst, Systems Engineer, Solutions Architect, Communications Engineer, Infrastructure Engineer among the most commonly reported, all mapping to SOC 15-1241.

Computer Network Architects in other statesTexasFloridaCaliforniaGeorgiaUtahVirginiaNorth CarolinaIllinois

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 2025

    Wages, employment counts, location quotients and metro breakdowns.

  • BLS Employment Projections

    2024–34

    Projected 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 cohorts

    Median graduate earnings one year after completion, and median debt.

  • Census Post-Secondary Employment Outcomes

    latest available

    Graduate earnings 1/5/10 years out, where the state participates.

  • NCES CIP 2020 and the CIP-to-SOC 2018 crosswalk

    CIP 2020 / SOC 2018

    Which college programs officially lead to this occupation.

  • O*NET Database 30.3

    30.3

    Tasks, skills, knowledge, tools, job zone and alternate job titles.

    Official source →CC BY 4.0, U.S. Department of Labor / ETA

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