Here are some tips for selecting schools, based on an analysis comparing each school to all others across dozens of factors:
Schools Concentrating On Computer Support Specialists
- Focus: For schools with a focus on this career area, look at Kennesaw State, Georgia Highlands, South Georgia College, and Macon State.
Fastest Response From Schools
- Request Info: For the fastest information for prospective students, look at the Spotlight schools on this page.
Student Body
- Part-Time: For schools emphasizing part-time studies, consider Armstrong Atlantic State, Clayton State, Georgia Highlands, and South Georgia College.
- Female: For schools particularly welcoming to female students, consider Spelman College and Wesleyan College.
- Diverse: For a diverse student body, consider Morehouse College, Fort Valley State, Paine College, and Albany State.
- Adult Learners: For lots of adult learners, consider Darton, Wesleyan College, Mercer University, and Columbus State.
School Setting
- Out of State: For geographic diversity, take note of Emory, Clark Atlanta University, Spelman College, and Morehouse College.
- Dorms: For a residential campus environment, take note of Wesleyan College, Berry, Covenant, and Fort Valley State.
Excellence
- SAT: For students with high SAT scores, look at Emory, Georgia Tech, University of Georgia, and Mercer University.
- % Accepted: For selective institutions, look at Reinhardt College, Emory, Albany State, and Spelman College.
- Class Size: For small class sizes, look at Wesleyan College, Berry, Emory, and Paine College.
Student/Alumnus Reviews of Schools for This Career and State
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U.S. Army SATCOM School • Ft. Gordon (Augusta), GA
Studying Satellite Communications System Operator/Maintainer (completion in 1998)
• 8/31/2011
"My schooling enabled me to get decent jobs once I left the Army. I learned a lot about IT and electronics, including computers, of course."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | maybe | If a friend wanted to join the military, I would recommend the SATCOM school. If a friend is geeky and computer savvy, I would also definitely recommend it. |
| Program Reputation | 5 | The Army has changed the 31s designator, but from what I hear it's still a good course. My former Army buddies say good things about it. |
| Program Quality | 5 | My initial training at Ft. Gordon was in AIT school, which involved drill sergeants and marching to class. Some of the teachers were bland and boring. |
| Instruction | 8 | It was free training! The electronics I learned definitely helped helped my career once I left the Army. |
| How Difficult | 7 | 31S Satellite communications system operator/maintainer is one of the most difficult careers to get in the Army. The course was almost a year long and was very challenging. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | We got lots of hands-on experience in almost everything we worked on. Only sometimes did we do strictly book work. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 1 | It was very strict. I was in the Army, so if I didn't wake up in time, they would wake me up! |
| Academic Facilities | 8 | There was a nearby library. The user manuals in school were huge but thorough. |
| Social Life | 4 | Students (service members) were often worn out. We did not have social events that were fun! |
| Placement Services | 5 | There was minimal support when I was leaving the Army. However, it was easy to find a job with my security clearance. |
| Alumni Network | 7 | The Army has the V.A. to look out for former soldiers. There's also the USO which has free coffee and doughnuts at airports. |
University Of Georgia • Athens, GA
Studying Computer Science (completion in 2013)
• 9/24/2011
"Overall a good experience. I feel like I am learning a great deal and having fun."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | I have recommended others to come here before. I would make that recommendation again. |
| Program Reputation | 8 | UGA is well known all throughout the country. It is one of the more prestigious schools in the area. |
| Program Quality | 8 | I like the major and the classes. Sometimes the material can be irrelevant. |
| Instruction | 8 | Teachers are experienced in the field. Career services are helpful. |
| How Difficult | 9 | The tests can be very hard. Sometimes homework takes a long time. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | There is a mix of hands-on and book learning. I wish there were more hands-on because books can become outdated quickly. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 5 | Average because sometimes it is hard to find classes that are at times that will allow me to also work. Sometimes there does not seem to be a good selection of classes. |
| Academic Facilities | 7 | The Library is my favorite resource. It is a very popular place for students to work and study. |
| Social Life | 6 | It has been harder for me to make friends here. At smaller schools I have had better social experiences. |
| Placement Services | 8 | The career service center is very helpful. They helped me make a great resume. They also list relevant jobs on their website. |
| Alumni Network | 6 | I am not very familiar with it because I am an undergraduate. The alumni network does seem to hold events quite often. |
Wiregrass College • Valdosta, GA
Studying CIS (completion in 2002)
• 10/10/2011
"Made a lot of good friends and had fun. Most of all I received a basic foundation of skills and knowledge to make it to where I am today."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | I have recommended the school on several occasions. You can also transfer to other schools as I did. I had a great experience at all technical schools I attended. |
| Program Reputation | 6 | I really don't know. I've been away from that area for quite a while. |
| Program Quality | 7 | Very good, caring instructors. The school has made many expansions since I was there. |
| Instruction | 7 | Nothing can really prepare for a career like experience. Being instructed by people from the industry is very beneficial. |
| How Difficult | 6 | I would be much more studious if I could go back again. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | Being CIS there has to be hands-on time. But we had quite a bit of time for lectures and notes as well. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 6 | About the same as most I presume. You can only miss a certain percentage of classes. |
| Academic Facilities | 6 | I stayed late some days to help other people or get advice from fellow students. Had all the equipment to create a real-world environment. |
| Social Life | 6 | I went to work directly out of school. I did however have several good friends. Mostly short-term. |
| Placement Services | 7 | Very good and resourceful. I changed my area of focus twice while in the CIS program. Good instructors and advisors kept me on track. |
| Alumni Network | 4 | I know of no alumni network. I didn't even attend my graduation, preferring that they mailed the diploma. |
AIU • Buckhead, GA
Studying Computer Systems/Business (completion in 2009)
• 11/23/2011
"It was about as good as you could expect it to be. I enjoyed my time there and will probably go back."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | Definitely. When you do not have much time to devote to it, this is an awesome choice. |
| Program Reputation | 7 | It was a distance learning course, so it does not receive high credibility. However, amongst the schools offering this type of program, it is highly respected. |
| Program Quality | 9 | I felt like the classes were well organized and covered all major points of study. Could have used more direct face-to-face time. |
| Instruction | 7 | Some instructors were very helpful. Sometimes, you felt like the bare minimum was all that was necessary to pass. |
| How Difficult | 6 | It was incredibly challenging some days, then others, the material was like second nature. The workload, while trying to maintain full-time employment, got overwhelming. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | There was tons of reading, but live interaction twice a week was a bonus. You could also get assistance pretty much any time of day. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 10 | Work at your own pace. Sometimes I would do work at 3 am, sometimes 2 in the afternoon. |
| Academic Facilities | 10 | There was a vast amount of material available for study. There were some resources you never even realized were there. |
| Social Life | 9 | I enjoyed my experience overall. In the end, it was entirely too overwhelming with other responsibilities to continue further, but would in the future. |
| Placement Services | It was available, but I did not use this service. I was already employed before graduation. | |
| Alumni Network | 5 | I don't use any of their alumni support, so I am not very familiar with it. They do go out of their way to keep in touch after graduation. |
University Of Georgia • Athens, GA
Studying Management Information Systems (completion in 2002)
• 11/28/2011
"I am verify satisfied with my experience at UGA. It was worth the time and financial investment."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | Attending UGA was an amazing opportunity. I would recommend this to anyone who has the opportunity to attend. |
| Program Reputation | 8 | The undergrad program remains in the top 40 US ranking. The MBA program at UGA is also in the top 40. |
| Program Quality | 8 | UGA has an excellent business school. MIS has allowed me to work in multiple areas of business and technology. |
| Instruction | 8 | UGA provided excellent coursework in my area of focus. I was given broad knowledge of many areas of business including Accounting, Finance, Risk Management, Economics, etc. |
| How Difficult | 6 | The difficulty level is reasonable for anyone willing to put in the time. Being technical in nature is imperative for the MIS track. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | Most of the learning was book learning. However, where needed and applicable, labs would be associated with large lecture classes to facilitate hands-on learning. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 6 | You can typically find the classes you need when you need them. However, some classes are only offered on certain semesters. I am sure this has improved as more online classes are now being offered. |
| Academic Facilities | 10 | We have excellent resources and top-notch facilities. Study groups, tutors, etc. are all available if you simply look for them. |
| Social Life | 10 | UGA has an amazing mix of academics and student life. The best 4 years of my life. |
| Placement Services | 8 | The resources are available if you take advantage of them. There are frequent recruiting events as well as career fairs. |
| Alumni Network | 9 | Very strong alumni in both the business school and the university as a whole. There are mailings, newsletters, and email groups as well as LinkedIn groups to join. |
Coosa Valley Tech • Rome, GA
Studying Computer Information Services (completion in 2004)
• 11/30/2011
"I'm not satisfied with my education. My hope is that the criteria has changed since I was there."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | maybe | If they were only looking for a certificate I would recommend this school. If they are looking for a full degree I would suggest looking elsewhere. |
| Program Reputation | 3 | Even in the area it is not a respected school. I am considering recertification. |
| Program Quality | 3 | The courses were not focused on anything that could be used in most fields. The education was irrelevant. |
| Instruction | 1 | Focused on basic computer usage. No preparation for working in a business environment. |
| How Difficult | 4 | The first two computer classes were based on the external components of a computer (KB, Mouse, Monitor, etc.). There was no vital information. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | Most of the hands on activity was dictated by the book. There was no real hardware activity at first. There was too much time spent on useless knowledge that should have existed prior to acquiring a college education. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 5 | Weekend and online classes are available. The teachers are willing to work with the students. |
| Academic Facilities | 3 | The library and bookstore were small, There was no available computer lab. |
| Social Life | 3 | It was a local small school. People went to class and nothing else. |
| Placement Services | 1 | There was no job placement at the time I left this school. I had to get a job on my own. |
| Alumni Network | 1 | It is a local technical school. There is no alumni network. |
National Cryptological School • Augusta, GA
Studying Technical Support NSA Certification (completion in 2011)
• 1/2/2012
"It was alright, but my biggest hang-up was my lack of motivation or effort as I did not want to be there. It was a lack of challenge that is the most frustrating."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | maybe | I didn't like my school, but that is also because I have a much better job than most of the people that I work with now. If someone doesn't mind repetitive, menial work then this could be perfect. |
| Program Reputation | Those who are given this certification can qualify for other government jobs, but the certification itself is not enough for other private companies or enterprises. | |
| Program Quality | 5 | My school got the certification, but that was the extent of the course. As all computer support technicians are kept in-house, the certification is only applicable within our organization. |
| Instruction | 5 | My instructors taught the certification, but that was the extent of the course. As all computer support technicians are kept in-house, the certification is only applicable within our organization. |
| How Difficult | 2 | The course was only eight hours a day for two weeks. It was incredibly easy compared the previous job that I had as a Digital Network Intelligence Analyst. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | The course was almost all hands-on as we were immersed in a real environment with other technicians. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 9 | The course is taught four times a year at many different locations. It is easy to enter the course if given the time off or forced into it. |
| Academic Facilities | 10 | The facilities that we are instructed in are amazing. Brand new computers, networks, and equipment. Real environments help breed better workers. |
| Social Life | Again, no organized events, no alumni, no school spirit, no athletics. The school is an extension of a government agency. | |
| Placement Services | 1 | The school is part of the job, so any placement opportunity is moot. The school is a facet of the National Security Agency, so anything taught there normally stays in-house and is not applicable outside of the government. |
| Alumni Network | The school is a self-reliant National Cryptology school. It covers any number of courses taught by the National Security Agency and there is no Alumni program as every person within the agency can be both a student and a teacher depending on experience and skills. |
Georgia State • Atlanta, GA
Studying CIS (completion in 2013)
• 2/6/2012
"I am very satisfied with Georgia State. I wish I attended a more prestigious school, but Georgia State was very nice."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | Georgia State has one of the leading competitors in CIS. They are ranked very highly and CIS is a growing career field. |
| Program Reputation | 10 | CIS at Georgia State is ranked highly throughout the US. It is pretty impressive. |
| Program Quality | 10 | Georgia State's CIS professors are excellent in teaching and providing me the necessary tools I need to succeed. |
| Instruction | 7 | The curriculum is not detail-oriented enough for me the education process could progress faster. |
| How Difficult | 6 | I don't think that this career is too complicated. I do feel like my major isn't very hard. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | The school is really geared towards learning the book. CIS, on the other hand, was more hands on and group work. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 10 | The schedule is very flexible. They have classes ranging from early morning all the way to late night classes. |
| Academic Facilities | 10 | They offer very excellent resources. They just renovated the library, spending millions. There are printers everywhere. |
| Social Life | 10 | There are many social events that are created at Georgia State. Social events are a core part of being a student. |
| Placement Services | 10 | The school's career services are excellent. They are always around and willing to help. |
| Alumni Network | 2 | I do not hear much about alumni. There are no meetings or reunions. |
Georgia Piedmont Technical College • Clarkston, GA
Studying CIS (completion in 2008)
• 2/5/2012
"It was convenient, affordable and nearby my home."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | It is affordable and can be paid for by the state via scholarships. It offers a variety of schedule options that cater to everyone. |
| Program Reputation | I honestly am not sure. I haven't heard anyone speak ill of the school. | |
| Program Quality | 8 | It's a smaller and more personal school. They use full semesters instead of quarters which provides more time to learn. |
| Instruction | 8 | Teachers were personable. Also many were actively working in the field. |
| How Difficult | 6 | They made it easier for students who may work or have a family to raise. Also plenty of support. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | We do an even amount of both. Many of the teachers show us current industry standards. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 10 | They offer several combinations of day and evening classes, along with online or hybrid classes. |
| Academic Facilities | 7 | The computers could use a upgrade. There are plenty of study groups and a Facebook support group. |
| Social Life | It's a community college; we have socials and clubs based on respective fields. | |
| Placement Services | 6 | The school does job preparation and its success rate is around 43%. |
| Alumni Network | 7 | They are known nationwide and have special programs, group studies and support. |
DeKalb Technical College • Clarkston, GA
Studying Computer Information Systems (completion in 2010)
• 2/19/2012
"It would be better if they helped you get a job."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | I would definitely recommend this school to others. I would, however, give them these warnings: Most of the main core classes are in Clarkston. The only classes they have in the other locations are the basic classes, like math and literature. Also, they can help you with resumes, but they don't help you with getting a job. |
| Program Reputation | 10 | It's a good program. The teachers know what they are talking about. |
| Program Quality | 6 | Good program. They just don't help you find a job afterwards. I have yet to find a job since I graduated. |
| Instruction | 10 | Great teachers! |
| How Difficult | 4 | I already had tons of instruction and hands-on experience before college. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | Very hands on. These people try to get you ready for getting a job. They just don't help you with that bit. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 10 | Class schedules are extremely flexible, with options such as weekends, weekdays, once a week, and twice a week. |
| Academic Facilities | 9 | It's sufficient. I rated it a 9, because it's using all outdated equipment. They try to do what they can with the amount of money they've been given. |
| Social Life | 5 | They have a few parties. This school likes bar events. |
| Placement Services | 1 | They don't have job placement assistance. |
| Alumni Network | 1 | I was hoping to network with some of these people, but instead, I continue to get links that offer to assist with job stuff but always redirect, even when I put my email address in; I have to put in my email address multiple times, because it says the email address is incorrect, even though it is correct, and then I get an ad for a bar, which is extremely annoying. |
Albany Ststae University • Albany, GA
Studying Computer Science (completion in 2005)
• 3/3/2012
"I had great professors who were helpful, understanding and very qualified in their respective fields. I just wished that my college offered certifications, and more hands-on training."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | maybe | I had great professors who were helpful, understanding and very qualified in their respective fields. I just wished that my college offered certifications, and more hands-on training. |
| Program Reputation | 7 | The computer science/math department have made major improvements and additions to the program. They offer new programs and joint degrees with other univeristies. They have joined with top ranked engineering and tech schools and are getting their name out there. |
| Program Quality | 7 | I had great professors who were helpful, understanding and very qualified in their respective fields. I just wished that my college offered certifications and more hands-on training. |
| Instruction | 6 | I had great professors who were helpful, understanding and very qualified in their respective fields. I just wished that my college offered certifications and more hands-on training. |
| How Difficult | 7 | The academic work load at ASU was very challenging at times. The professors expected perfection with no excuses. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | We solely used books for sources of learning. We did some real-world, on-the-job examples. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 8 | My school offered weekend, evening options and summer offerings, but not online classes. They offer online classes now. When it came to summer courses they only offered summer courses if there was a big demand for a certain course. Sometimes students would get together and sign a petition to have a class offered during the summer. |
| Academic Facilities | 10 | My school's academic facilities and resources for the Computer Science department were great. Computer labs were always open, with techs to help, qualified tutors, up to date software/hardware and very late lab hours. |
| Social Life | 10 | I was very active in school and my school stood behind every organization's achievement and took time out to celebrate them. |
| Placement Services | 5 | I used the career service center twice, they were not that helpful. I knew many students who agreed that they were not that helpful. They would give you a list of jobs and websites and send you on your way. |
| Alumni Network | 8 | ASU has a strong alumni network. They have huge alumni chapters in every state surrounding GA. |
Gwinnett Technical College • Lawrenceville, GA
Studying Computer Information Systems (completion in 2009)
• 3/14/2012
"Overall, GTC is very well-rounded. They provide excellent education and you get the impression they really do care about how you do after you graduate."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | My experiences were extremely positive. I'd recommend them to anyone with similar interests and skills to mine. |
| Program Reputation | 8 | It is fully accredited. Also, it will be paid for by the VA in the case of veterans like me under the Post-9/11 GI Bill. |
| Program Quality | 8 | The professors are incredibly thorough in their explanation of the subject matter. One took time out of his schedule to personally explain to me how quad-pumped front-side buses operated on the blackboard, even though this was not covered in the curriculum. |
| Instruction | 8 | Extremely thorough! The provided material covers from the extreme basics of how to operate a computer, up to the highest-level details of how they work internally. |
| How Difficult | 9 | Depending on your own personal skills, it may be difficult or easy. I found it to be a decent challenge. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | Labs go hand in hand with the bookwork. Finals also require hands-on work. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 8 | Most classes are available at least 3 different time slots. Online and in-person classes are also available. |
| Academic Facilities | 8 | Excellent labs with decent offices but not quite enough staff to handle all the people enrolling/seeking information/etc. |
| Social Life | 6 | There is not much 'community'. The school is mostly no-nonsense. |
| Placement Services | 8 | Career fairs are very frequent. Also, many resources are made available at a dedicated office. |
| Alumni Network | 6 | A lot of professors are bad about getting back to you with information. However, most of the staff is responsive. |
Georgia Institute Of Technology • Atlanta, GA
Studying HCI (Human-Computer Interaction) (completion in 2011)
• 3/16/2012
"Tech rocks. But tech support doesn't. Georgia Tech is really that good because (a) it's substantive, challenging work, and (b) the career prospects are way better than law school. Plus, if you work tech support, you can get a terminal degree for almost free (negates living expenses)."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | Yes, if my career is defined as HCI and user-interaction because it's a remarkably interesting and challenging program. If you go to Georgia Tech for tech support training, run away from computer science. |
| Program Reputation | 10 | My HCI work was awesome - it's a great program. But, in the context of paying for it as a tech support minstrel, I try not to mix the two. |
| Program Quality | 5 | Tech's curriculum covers all the basics, but the types of support we provide is almost exclusively the result of an ignorant user. The fact that there isn't a course on how to fix Outlook for fools weighs in Tech's favor significantly. |
| Instruction | 5 | Support tickets are so basic that you don't really need instruction. This is the lowest of the low college jobs, except for being a custodian. It doesn't depend on my background in HCI very much either. |
| How Difficult | 1 | Outlook is easy, until people act silly and mess it up. For them, a program of tech support would be herculean. Good for them. For my program of study, not so much. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | Very hands-on indeed, since you'll spend all day with a phone in your ear or typing on someone's greasy keyboard. It's the hands-on that mechanics and poultry processors are used to. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 3 | My official program of study wasn't very flexible, but that's because of labs and workshops and the fact that professors aren't desperate for students. As for the world of tech support, it's not flexible at all. When the call comes in, you dance. No bat cave. No phone booth. No parachute. |
| Academic Facilities | In tech support land, you sit on chairs tinted 15 degrees to the right. I do give credit where credit is due - the phones work. I have a boss, not a mentor or adviser, for my tech support job. | |
| Social Life | In the context of tech support jobs, you survive by reading the sign: "Abandon all hope ye who enter here." It's great advice. Acknowledging that you have friends makes tech support much more boring. | |
| Placement Services | Hackers don't need career services. This is especially the case when you're looking for a tech support position - they'll accept anyone who can fog a mirror. | |
| Alumni Network | 2 | The phones work in tech support. Sometimes I wish they didn't. A professional network in tech support sounds like the most depressing thing ever. |
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