Washington·Management Occupations·SOC 11-3021

Best Computer programs in Washington, ranked by enrollment

Plan, direct, or coordinate activities in such fields as electronic data processing, information systems, systems analysis, and computer.

54 schools in Washington run programs that feed this job, graduating 5,453 people a year. The job pays a median of $209,370 in Washington across about 16,960 jobs (BLS OEWS May 2025).

Also calledInformation Systems Manager (IS Manager)Information Systems Director (IS Director)Information Technology Manager (IT Manager)Information Technology Director (IT Director)Network ManagerNetwork DirectorKnowledge ManagerTechnical Director
Graduates / yr
5,453
in Washington
Median pay · Washington
$209,370
BLS OEWS May 2025
Jobs in state
16,960
people employed
Schools
54
with a feeder program
Avg graduation rate
47%
across those schools
Median net price
$24,653
per year, IPEDS

Fields of study in Washington that lead to this job

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

Computer And Information Sciences And Support Services
CIP 11.07
Computer Science
2,044graduates / yr
34 schools · 1 specialization · 37.5% of pipeline
Grad earnings $70,374
Computer And Information Sciences And Support Services
CIP 11.01
Computer and Information Sciences
1,215graduates / yr
10 schools · 2 specializations · 22.3% of pipeline
Grad earnings $57,986
Computer And Information Sciences And Support Services
CIP 11.10
Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management
987graduates / yr
18 schools · 3 specializations · 18.0% of pipeline
Grad earnings $48,185
Computer And Information Sciences And Support Services
CIP 11.04
Information Science/Studies
379graduates / yr
1 schools · 1 specialization · 7.0% of pipeline
Grad earnings $57,313
Computer And Information Sciences And Support Services
CIP 11.09
Computer Systems Networking and Telecommunications
364graduates / yr
20 schools · 1 specialization · 6.7% of pipeline
Grad earnings $43,901
Business, Management, Marketing, And Related Support Services
CIP 52.02
Business Administration
204graduates / yr
5 schools · 1 specialization · 3.7% of pipeline
Grad earnings $43,506
Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies
CIP 30.31
Human Computer Interaction
100graduates / yr
3 schools · 1 specialization · 1.8% of pipeline
Grad earnings $57,986
Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies
CIP 30.70
Data Science
64graduates / yr
4 schools · 1 specialization · 1.2% of pipeline
Grad earnings
Computer And Information Sciences And Support Services
CIP 11.08
Computer Software and Media Applications
53graduates / yr
4 schools · 1 specialization · 1.0% of pipeline
Grad earnings $33,504
Business, Management, Marketing, And Related Support Services
CIP 52.12
Management Information Systems and Services
24graduates / yr
2 schools · 1 specialization · 0.4% of pipeline
Grad earnings $59,352
Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies
CIP 30.08
Mathematics and Computer Science
19graduates / yr
2 schools · 1 specialization · 0.3% of pipeline
Grad earnings $89,651

14 programs in Washington that lead to this job

Ranked by graduates per year in Washington (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 Washington page.

Degree programs that lead to this occupation, ranked by graduates per year
#ProgramGraduates / yrShare of pipelineSchoolsGrad earnings (1 yr)Median debt
12,044
37.5%
34$70,374$23,250
2670
12.3%
8$57,986$24,286
3662
12.1%
18$48,185$25,250
4545
10.0%
10$57,986$24,286
5379
7.0%
1$57,313$25,833
6364
6.7%
20$43,901$22,822
7204
3.7%
5$43,506$25,000
8171
3.1%
9$48,185$25,250
9154
2.8%
7$48,185$25,250
10100
1.8%
3$57,986$25,812
1164
1.2%
4
1253
1.0%
4$33,504$27,000
1324
0.4%
2$59,352$24,618
1419
0.3%
2$89,651$23,175

Top 25 schools in Washington

Ranked by graduates per year into this job. Graduate earnings are reported for 18 of the 54 schools in this state.

Schools ranked by graduates per year into this occupation
#SchoolGraduates / yrTop feeder programGrad earnings (1 yr)Grad rateNet priceAcceptance
1University of Washington - Seattle Campus
Seattle, WA Public · 5 feeder programs
1,388Computer Science$128,88785%39%
2Washington State University
Pullman, WA Public · 4 feeder programs
425Computer Science$79,51960%87%
3University of Washington - Tacoma Campus
Tacoma, WA Public · 4 feeder programs
423Computer and Information Sciences, General$73,38563%83%
4University of Washington - Bothell Campus
Bothell, WA Public · 3 feeder programs
355Computer Science$128,88765%91%
5Seattle University
Seattle, WA Private not-for-profit · 2 feeder programs
279Computer Science$85,28576%$31,90077%
6Central Washington University
Ellensburg, WA Public · 3 feeder programs
275Information Technology$56,04954%91%
7Bellevue College
Bellevue, WA Public · 5 feeder programs
235Computer Science$73,21436%
8Green River College
Auburn, WA Public · 4 feeder programs
221System, Networking, and LAN/WAN Management/Manager39%
9Western Washington University
Bellingham, WA Public · 6 feeder programs
211Computer and Information Sciences, General$68,21965%93%
10Edmonds College
Lynnwood, WA Public · 4 feeder programs
125Computer and Information Systems Security/Auditing/Information Assurance29%
11Clover Park Technical College
Lakewood, WA Public · 2 feeder programs
123Computer and Information Systems Security/Auditing/Information Assurance$41,75243%
12Columbia Basin College
Pasco, WA Public · 5 feeder programs
103Computer and Information Systems Security/Auditing/Information Assurance$59,55933%
13Clark College
Vancouver, WA Public · 2 feeder programs
89Computer and Information Systems Security/Auditing/Information Assurance39%
14Tacoma Community College
Tacoma, WA Public · 3 feeder programs
89Computer Science32%
15Bellingham Technical College
Bellingham, WA Public · 2 feeder programs
84Computer Systems Networking and Telecommunications42%
16Renton Technical College
Renton, WA Public · 5 feeder programs
67Computer Science46%
17Whatcom Community College
Bellingham, WA Public · 3 feeder programs
65Network and System Administration/Administrator36%
18Eastern Washington University
Cheney, WA Public · 1 feeder programs
60Computer and Information Sciences, General$67,00443%91%
19City University of Seattle
Seattle, WA Private not-for-profit · 4 feeder programs
59Computer Science$35,049
20North Seattle College
Seattle, WA Public · 2 feeder programs
59Computer Science33%
21Gonzaga University
Spokane, WA Private not-for-profit · 1 feeder programs
58Computer Science$76,63686%$30,00682%
22Saint Martin's University
Lacey, WA Private not-for-profit · 3 feeder programs
56Computer and Information Systems Security/Auditing/Information Assurance52%$22,13190%
23Highline College
Des Moines, WA Public · 5 feeder programs
47Computer and Information Systems Security/Auditing/Information Assurance35%
24South Puget Sound Community College
Olympia, WA Public · 2 feeder programs
42Computer Systems Networking and Telecommunications$43,38044%
25Lake Washington Institute of Technology
Kirkland, WA Public · 2 feeder programs
41Computer Systems Networking and Telecommunications37%

All 54 schools in Washington

Every school in Washington 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 Washington that feed this occupation
SchoolCityControlGraduates / yrFeeder programs
University of Washington - Seattle CampusSeattlePublic1,3885
Washington State UniversityPullmanPublic4254
University of Washington - Tacoma CampusTacomaPublic4234
University of Washington - Bothell CampusBothellPublic3553
Seattle UniversitySeattlePrivate not-for-profit2792
Central Washington UniversityEllensburgPublic2753
Bellevue CollegeBellevuePublic2355
Green River CollegeAuburnPublic2214
Western Washington UniversityBellinghamPublic2116
Edmonds CollegeLynnwoodPublic1254
Clover Park Technical CollegeLakewoodPublic1232
Columbia Basin CollegePascoPublic1035
Clark CollegeVancouverPublic892
Tacoma Community CollegeTacomaPublic893
Bellingham Technical CollegeBellinghamPublic842

What computer and information systems managers earn in Washington

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

Median annual in Washington
$209,370
Mean annual
$222,510
Jobs in state
16,960
What the range looks like
10th pct$130,010Median$209,37090th pct$327,300
Versus the national median
+19.5%

U.S. median $175,140. Washington pays above the national figure.

Job concentration
1.11×

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

Metro areas in Washington

Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA
$214,680median
13,170 jobs
Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard, WA
$177,960median
170 jobs
Mount Vernon-Anacortes, WA
$172,460median
90 jobs
Kennewick-Richland, WA
$175,970median
150 jobs
Yakima, WA
$159,120median
80 jobs
Longview-Kelso, WA
$171,190median
70 jobs
Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA
$172,900median
560 jobs
Bellingham, WA
$169,640median
190 jobs

Job outlook

Bureau of Labor Statistics Employment Projections, 2024 to 2034.

Projected growth 2024–34
+15.2%
Much faster than average
Openings per year
55,600
new jobs plus replacements
Employment change
101,600
667,100 → 768,700
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 and Information Systems Managers page.

How to become a Computer

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 ThinkingActive ListeningReading ComprehensionMonitoringSpeakingWriting

The same job in other states

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

Related careers in Washington

Every major mapped to this job

The official federal mapping behind the rankings above.

All 21 majors mapped to Computer and Information Systems Managers21 of them graduated someone in the latest IPEDS year. NCES CIP 2020 → SOC 2018 crosswalk.+
  • 11.0101Computer and Information Sciences, General
  • 11.0103Information Technology
  • 11.0401Information Science/Studies
  • 11.0701Computer Science
  • 11.0802Data Modeling/Warehousing and Database Administration
  • 11.0901Computer Systems Networking and Telecommunications
  • 11.1001Network and System Administration/Administrator
  • 11.1002System, Networking, and LAN/WAN Management/Manager
  • 11.1003Computer and Information Systems Security/Auditing/Information Assurance
  • 11.1005Information Technology Project Management
  • 30.0801Mathematics and Computer Science
  • 30.1601Accounting and Computer Science
  • 30.3101Human Computer Interaction
  • 30.3901Economics and Computer Science
  • 30.7001Data Science, General
  • 52.0205Operations Management and Supervision
  • 52.1201Management Information Systems, General
  • 52.1206Information Resources Management
  • 52.1207Knowledge Management
  • 52.1299Management Information Systems and Services, Other
  • 52.2101Telecommunications Management

Common questions

Answers for people weighing computer and information systems managers programs in Washington.

What degree do you need to become a Computer?+

Bachelor'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 2,044 degrees in Washington in 2024-25, 37.5% of everyone graduating from a program that feeds this career.

Which college majors lead to becoming a Computer?+

The NCES CIP-to-SOC crosswalk maps 14 programs to this occupation. The largest are Computer Science, Computer and Information Sciences, Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management, Information Science/Studies, plus 7 more. Together they graduate about 5,453 people a year in Washington.

How much do computer and information systems managers earn in Washington?+

The median is $209,370 a year (BLS OEWS May 2025). That is 19.5% above the U.S. median of $175,140. 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 and information systems managers growing?+

BLS projects a +15.2% change in employment between 2024 and 2034, much faster than average, with roughly 55,600 openings a year nationally once retirements and job changes are counted.

How many schools offer programs for this career in Washington?+

54 institutions in Washington reported graduates from at least one of the 14 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 and information systems managers work under?+

Employers advertise this work under many names. O*NET records Information Systems Manager (IS Manager), Information Systems Director (IS Director), Information Technology Manager (IT Manager), Information Technology Director (IT Director) among the most commonly reported, all mapping to SOC 11-3021.

Computer and Information Systems Managers in other statesCaliforniaTexasFloridaNew YorkIllinoisUtahGeorgiaMaryland

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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