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 Ivy Tech Central Indiana, Purdue, Indiana Wesleyan, and IUPUI.
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 Purdue Calumet, IU Northwest, Purdue North Central, and IU South Bend.
- Female: For schools particularly welcoming to female students, consider Saint Mary's College and Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College.
- Diverse: For a diverse student body, consider Calumet College, Vincennes University, IU Northwest, and Ivy Tech Northwest.
- Adult Learners: For lots of adult learners, consider Indiana Wesleyan, Ivy Tech Whitewater, Ivy Tech Kokomo, and Ivy Tech Northcentral.
School Setting
- Out of State: For geographic diversity, take note of Notre Dame, Earlham, Saint Mary's College, and Taylor University.
- Dorms: For a residential campus environment, take note of Hanover, Earlham, Goshen, and Manchester.
Excellence
- SAT: For students with high SAT scores, look at Notre Dame, Rose-Hullman, Earlham, and DePauw.
- % Accepted: For selective institutions, look at Notre Dame and Marian.
- Class Size: For small class sizes, look at Hanover, Earlham, Notre Dame, and DePauw.
Spotlight Schools Search
Spotlight Indiana Schools Related to This Career
- Locations: Indianapolis, Merrillville
- Programs: 2 relevant programs; click the school name for details.
- Degrees: Bachelor
- Locations: Indianapolis
- Programs: 5 relevant programs; click the school name for details.
- Degrees: Associate, Bachelor, Master
- Locations: Indianapolis, Plainfield
- Programs: 4 relevant programs; click the school name for details.
- Degrees: Bachelor, Master
- Locations: Fort Wayne, Indianapolis, Newburgh, South Bend
- Programs: 4 relevant programs; click the school name for details.
- Degrees: Associate
DeVry University's Keller Graduate School of Management
- Locations: Indianapolis, Merrillville
- Programs: One relevant program; click the school name for details.
- Degrees: Master, Post- Bachelor's Certificate
- Locations: South Bend
- Programs: 3 relevant programs; click the school name for details.
- Degrees: Associate, Certificate, Diploma
- Locations: Indianapolis
- Programs: One relevant program; click the school name for details.
- Degrees: Diploma
- Locations: Indianapolis
- Programs: 3 relevant programs; click the school name for details.
- Degrees: Associate, Bachelor, Certificate, Master
- Locations: Anderson, Indianapolis
- Programs: 2 relevant programs; click the school name for details.
- Degrees: Associate, Bachelor
See these schools on a map
Study from Anywhere at Online Schools Related to This Career
- Programs: 5 relevant programs; click the school name for details.
- Degrees: Associate, Bachelor, Master
- Programs: 3 relevant programs; click the school name for details.
- Degrees: Bachelor
- Programs: 17 relevant programs; click the school name for details.
- Degrees: Bachelor, Doctorate, Master
- Programs: 5 relevant programs; click the school name for details.
- Degrees: Associate, Bachelor, Master
- Programs: One relevant program; click the school name for details.
- Degrees: Bachelor
Keiser University eCampus Online
- Programs: 3 relevant programs; click the school name for details.
- Degrees: Associate, Bachelor
Student/Alumnus Reviews of Schools for This Career and State
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Indiana University • Bloomington, IN
Studying Informatics (completion in 2004)
• 8/11/2011
"Overall, it was a great education and a fantastic experience. My only real complaint was the lack of job placement after graduation."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | I think as the program matures it will become easier for students to get jobs out of school. I found that many recruiters asked me what Informatics was. I think that will change in the next 5-10 years. |
| Program Reputation | 7 | Indiana University was one of the first colleges to have an Informatics program in the US. I felt lucky to be able to attend the program while it was still in the development stages. |
| Program Quality | 7 | My program did a good job of introducing me to the various aspects of computer science, including hardware, programming, networking, etc. My only complaint is that they did not have a good recruiting office and it was a struggle to find a job after school. |
| Instruction | 8 | I felt that I was very well prepared for the workforce. As I mentioned, the hardest part was just getting into the workforce. |
| How Difficult | 7 | I felt the workload was fair. It was not overly challenging, but I have always had a natural affinity towards technology, so the work didn't seem like work. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | It was definitely a mix, but I would say it was slightly more towards being a hands on education. Each class had an associated lab with it, so you got a lot of experience working with the technology instead of just learning about it. That included classes like hardware support, programming, and networking type topics. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 6 | The scheduling was well done. You were able to sign up for classes based on your class rank, so by senior year I was able to have all afternoon classes and Friday's off. |
| Academic Facilities | 8 | Our school had cutting edge equipment and technology in the facilities. We were the first building on campus to support 802.11n as well as setup the campus's first virtual classroom. The building was completely wired with fibre so the labs had great connectivity. |
| Social Life | 8 | IU was a great school. We were ranked nationally as one of the top 10 party schools. |
| Placement Services | 2 | We only had a handful of career fairs. I was very disappointed with the career services office on campus. |
| Alumni Network | 3 | Less than average. The alumni network is too large. They have not supported recent graduates very well. |
Trine University • Angola, IN
Studying Computer Science (completion in 2008)
• 9/30/2011
"I enjoyed the environment of being in a small town. The size of the university caused me to go an extra year to finish the degree. (Some of the required classed were not offered every year.)"
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | no | Go to a bigger school. IT is a broad field. In IT support, you need experience in different areas to make sure you can provide the best support. |
| Program Reputation | 5 | There is no longer a computer science major since they changed it to informatics. I do not know about the informatics program. |
| Program Quality | 5 | My school has the advantage of small class size because it is a small regional college. Being small is also a disadvantage since some of the required classes are not offered every semester. |
| Instruction | 7 | The curriculum is designed very well and will suit any IT position. However, there is a lack of career service support. |
| How Difficult | 6 | Most programming class are really hard. Management and hardware class are very easy. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | I almost never purchased books for computer classes. Professors generally gave good hands-on experiences. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 1 | Half of the courses were not available every semester. Some of them were only offered once every two years. |
| Academic Facilities | 5 | The library was ok, but the computer lab was excellent. |
| Social Life | 5 | The school didn't do well in sports. There were not very many social groups on campus. |
| Placement Services | 1 | Career service was a joke. No career help at all. |
| Alumni Network | 2 | Very little to almost no activity. I've never talked to any alumni since I left school. |
Purdue University Fort Wayne • Fort Wayne, IN
Studying Computer Science (completion in 2004)
• 10/5/2011
"College was a very exciting and educational time in my life. I enjoy the campus, classes, students and environment of IPFW. It provided me with the tools to have a great career and wonderful life."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | IPFW is a great place to get a degree in Computer Science. They have the tools to educate you properly and the staff has the knowledge for you to hit the ground running when you enter the workforce. |
| Program Reputation | 8 | Purdue is one of the very best universities in Indiana and their technical degrees are certainly well regarded. My degree has definitely made a difference in my career opportunities. |
| Program Quality | 5 | When I was attending this school they did not offer a program for Network Administrator or IT. I was forced to take Computer Science as it was the only computer-related program at the time. |
| Instruction | 8 | The instructors were very good for the program, we had a large number of instructors who worked for the university part-time and had other jobs in their field. This gave us a large amount of real life experience instruction that would have otherwise been absent. |
| How Difficult | 5 | I don't have anything to really base this rating on as this is the only degree I took. I spent roughly the same amount of time out of class working on assignments as I spent in class. I understand that this is about average. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | Because of our instructors' real world experience, we were provided with a lot of hands-on experience and projects that involved us actually working on computers. We developed and presented software based on real world situations. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 9 | I took many of my classes online and several weekend courses as well. They offer a full curriculum of summer classes, although I opted to not take classes in the summer. |
| Academic Facilities | 8 | Campus had many computer labs and other areas for us to work including some locations specific for our degree program. They also offered many online tools to use off campus as well as discounted or free software development tools. |
| Social Life | 5 | When I attended IPFW there were no dorms and I had to commute and work full time so I was not involved in many extra-curricular activities. About every sport is represented at the college and there is a full gym for all students. |
| Placement Services | 5 | I have not had to use job placement services. I have never had issues finding job opportunities with my degree. I have transitioned to several positions after receiving my degree without any issues. |
| Alumni Network | 3 | I occasionally get mailings from the university but they most often pertain to donating. I have not really invested any time or effort into contacting them nor have I received anything other than mailings. |
Grace College • Winona Lake, IN
Studying Art History (completion in 2009)
• 10/10/2011
"I think I would've enjoyed a larger school/campus vs. the relatively small campus of Grace."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | no | The school has a decent program for art history but they aren't well known enough to have any type of influence. Everyone you interview with concerning an opening asks where I attended college, failing to recognize Grace. This can be annoying. |
| Program Reputation | 4 | I haven't been directly involved in anything since I graduated, but I've heard that it hasn't changed much since I was there. |
| Program Quality | 9 | It was a very informative course and we had a lot of freedom for our final projects. Papers were never too long or demanding. |
| Instruction | 5 | Our professors for the most part were very intelligent and did an amazing job at teaching us information we needed to know. That said, the curriculum was outdated and the school expensive. |
| How Difficult | 4 | Amongst my fellow classmates, the majority of us thought the program was a bit too easy. I personally was never actually challenged. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | Even though our books were known to be severely outdated, we used a lot of books that were suggested by our professors collectively rather than the books the school told them to use. This seemed a little unorthodox but I believe it was the right course of action. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 5 | We had a lot of options as far as in-person classes or online. Also I took quite a few summer courses. |
| Academic Facilities | 2 | The library is quite small and everything on campus was outdated. Although in years past they've updated quite a bit. |
| Social Life | 5 | They always tried to push themed days during spirit week but never really took enough time to publicize about these days in advance. Overall the school did a fairly decent job of organizing events and weeks to show appreciation for students/staff. |
| Placement Services | 1 | We really didn't have anyone to help us find jobs after graduation. It was more a task for yourself vs. anyone else. |
| Alumni Network | 2 | It was poorly constructed and very difficult to gather support for anything you are undertaking or having difficulties with. |
Rose-Hulman Institute Of Technology • Terre Haute, IN
Studying Mechanical Engineering (completion in 1985)
• 10/19/2011
"I think it helped me hone my problem solving skills. It gave me a strong background in mechanical engineering."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | My school is demanding and high quality. If you graduate you have an excellent chance at a job. |
| Program Reputation | 9 | They keep winning US World and News Reports on colleges for best under grad engineering degrees. Grads are sought by companies all over. |
| Program Quality | 8 | They gave me a great education in broad areas of knowledge and the ability to apply it to new situations. The professors were knowledgeable and thorough. |
| Instruction | 9 | All the professors had worked in the "real world" and could transmit that knowledge. They gave us a chance to perform hands-on work in many ways. |
| How Difficult | 9 | Rose Hulman is a very tough school to get into and the academic expectations are high. They are nationally known for the quality of their program. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | Lots of study time but many labs. We had a lot of actual hands on work for labs and in many of the classes. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 3 | Didn't have much if any summer school. Night classes were few and far between. |
| Academic Facilities | 8 | They had excellent facilities for work. The library had good research material. |
| Social Life | 7 | I met many friends and joined a fraternity. There was much socialization even though it was an all male school at the time I went. Sports were popular and widespread. |
| Placement Services | 5 | I didn't use them as I went directly into the Air Force upon graduation. They seemed to be able to place most people however. |
| Alumni Network | 5 | I get notices but I really don't pay much attention to it. They keep me in the loop but it doesn't excite me. |
Indiana University • South Bend, IN
Studying Computer Science (completion in 2012)
• 11/11/2011
"I am satisfied with the facilities and curriculum overall. I've had issues scheduling the classes I need and I don't feel like the advisors understand my academic and career goals very well sometimes."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | Where I live, this is the best opportunity to get a CS degree at a reasonable cost. The program is very good for what it costs. I would recommend it because I feel like the material is actually relevant to a career in IT. |
| Program Reputation | 6 | The main IU school has a good reputation for their CS program. Sometimes it seems like going to a commuter campus is less credible, even though I am completing nearly the same program. |
| Program Quality | 8 | I am almost finished with a Bachelor's in Computer Science. My school is a local extension of IU and shares the same basic curriculum. I am happier with the small class sizes. It gives me the opportunity to get to know other students and my professors more personally. |
| Instruction | 8 | While the quality of instruction is outstanding, there are many non-traditional students at my school. I don't feel as though career preparation is tailored toward older students and those who already have career experience. |
| How Difficult | 5 | I already have a lot of experience with my field of study and do not find it too challenging. I sometimes feel I am just going to school for a piece of paper, since I have many years of experience working with technology. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | Most of the programming courses I've taken have been hands-on, but contain a large amount of supplementary reading. Most other general courses I've taken are primarily book-oriented. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 5 | There are evening classes available but it's hard to get the ones you need. Summer classes are only general education and intro classes. As a result, it has taken me nearly 6 years to complete my degree. |
| Academic Facilities | 8 | I am consistently surprised at the resources available to students since this is not a main campus. The library is quick to order through ILL and there is an abundance of computer labs. Professors are very good about locating additional resources students may need. |
| Social Life | I am 32 years old and have a family and a 60+ hr/week job. I do not have time to participate in student life. If I did, I would not really want to because I'm older than many students. | |
| Placement Services | 2 | These services are geared more toward traditional students without a lot of job experience. I have not found the career office useful, but I know they offer resume help and interview seminars that would be helpful for younger students. |
| Alumni Network | 2 | I don't understand what services my school offers for alumni. I'm not sure if there are any networking opportunities. There is an alumni association, but it really doesn't do anything that I know of. |
Indiana University/Purdue University • Indianapolis, IN
Studying Library And Information Science (completion in 2008)
• 11/16/2011
"I felt very prepared to enter the workforce with my training. I also feel confident in my current position as a technology specialist not just because I learned how to do it, but I also learned how to be a lifelong learner and continue my education on my own. This is essential in the fast-changing technology field."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | It prepares you for many different fields in various industries. I don't know how many fields of study offer that kind of versatility. |
| Program Reputation | 10 | It creates an environment that allows students to attend from off campus, but still feel supported. It also prepares students to be ready for work after graduation. |
| Program Quality | 10 | I had lots of real-world assignments that helped prepare me for real situations I would face. I also felt that the books, class requirements and professors were well-chosen for the field of study. |
| Instruction | 10 | I was always provided feedback and support when needed. Instructions and assignments were very clear and easy to understand. It helps to focus on the content of what I need to learn rather than get hung up on the details of how to do the assignment. |
| How Difficult | 9 | It's obvious from assignments and readings that the professors were experts in the field. They expected no less than to provide us with practical exposure to problems that we might face in the field. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | I had professors who assigned excellent reading materials online and in print. The assignments we did relied on us working in a very independent, self-disciplined manner, so having materials that offer easy instructions, as well as practical experience was essential. An example of this was a group assignment where we created wikis for actual companies that the professor contacted. She provided each group with an industry they were most interested in, mine was the University of Notre Dame Hesberg Library, which was tied to my interest in the education/library field. The assignment relied on the materials we were provided, with assistance from the professor, as needed. This allowed for real-world experience, while working independently through the books and other resources we were provided. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 8 | Taking classes online and through video from my city's campus made attendance easy. One class was only available on campus and that meant a weekly commute, which was inconvenient, as it was three hours away. |
| Academic Facilities | 9 | The library has so many resources that it is still a site I refer back to. They have a very easy to use and navigate website, and that is primarily where I turn when I need help, as opposed to in-person assistance. |
| Social Life | 9 | I did go to the recreational facilities during my undergraduate years down at Indiana University, and found them exceptional and convenient. During graduate school I was not able to participate much. I was a single mother and working full-time at the time. |
| Placement Services | 8 | I have taken advantage of the online resources, and still refer back to those. They offer up to date resources and sites for finding jobs within the specific field. |
| Alumni Network | I receive newsletters and invitations to events. I do not take advantage of those services so much. |
TT Technical Institute • Indianapolis, IN
Studying Information Systems Security (completion in 2007)
• 11/20/2011
"I'm not satisfied at all. I wasted a lot of money for nothing. It was the biggest mistake in my entire life."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | no | I would emphatically discourage others from attending this school. |
| Program Reputation | 1 | I have been passed over for jobs because of my education at ITT Tech. I've never come across anyone who has anything positive to say about them. |
| Program Quality | 1 | I was ripped off by ITT Tech. They are a joke of a school and their degrees are worthless. |
| Instruction | 1 | The quality of instruction was terrible. Most of the instructors were useless and provided the worst educational experience of my life. |
| How Difficult | 1 | The program consisted of book work and open book exams. I wonder how they even got an accreditation for the school. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | The program consisted of nothing but busy work out of books. Teachers didn't even have a lecture - we were told only to read a given section and do all the exercises at the end of each chapter. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 10 | The program was 100% online and had weekly deadlines for the assignments. Classes were offered year-round. |
| Academic Facilities | 1 | The school had no online resources or libraries, as they claimed. Students were required to purchase their own access to outside libraries. |
| Social Life | 1 | The program was 100% online. I never had to interact with any of the other students. |
| Placement Services | 1 | The school didn't have a job placement service. And the only career services they had was trying to get the students to continue paying for a Master's degree. |
| Alumni Network | 1 | There is no real alumni network. The only happy alumni are the ones in the recruiting videos. |
Ivy Tech • Fort Wayne, IN
Studying Networking (completion in 2011)
• 1/11/2012
"I had a bad experience with ITT when I was younger and didn't want to make a big mistake again. By comparison, I'd rank ITT with a zero."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | I would recommend it on the basis of top notch teaching and facilities. Also the hands on experience is the most valuable asset you will have when you graduate. |
| Program Reputation | 9 | They have great teachers and guidance and are looked upon highly here in Fort Wayne. |
| Program Quality | 8 | My instructors were top notch and help anytime you needed it. The labs and equipment were all new and in great condition. |
| Instruction | 10 | Teachers help whenever you need it. Classes are very thorough and there are plenty of PowerPoint presentations to go along with it. |
| How Difficult | 8 | I think it was very challenging for me being that I have been out of school for 20 years. They were very keen on keeping you current and testing your knowledge. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | It was about 60% hands-on and 40% book work. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 10 | Teachers were understanding if things happened, Most of us had families which can complicate schedules further. |
| Academic Facilities | 10 | All equipment was top notch and most of the buildings are new also. Student : staff ratio is a decent, I never have any problem getting help if I need it. |
| Social Life | 5 | I pretty much keep to myself and my family. I enjoy group assignments where we got to mingle with others. |
| Placement Services | I did not use their placement services, I had a foot in the door somewhere already. | |
| Alumni Network | I really haven't dealt with alumni network and support. |
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