Keep your paycheck and plan on roughly 15–18 study hours each week for the online information technology bachelor’s degree workload at Purdue Global. ASU Online estimates that a compressed 3-credit course takes about 18 hours weekly, so course pace, not just the delivery format, determines whether this degree fits beside work.
Key Takeaways
- Short courses can compress a full term of reading, labs, projects, and tests into fewer weeks, leaving less time to recover when one assignment takes longer than expected.
- Self-paced classes remove set login times, but assignment deadlines still control your week. Flexible access does not mean flexible workload.
- A lower total price may not save money if an overloaded schedule leads to withdrawals or repeated courses. The cheaper option only helps if its pace is workable.
The key comparison is how each school distributes the work. A compressed class may suit a predictable schedule, while a self-paced course may fit changing work hours better; neither removes the reading, technical practice, projects, or tests. Course length and the number of classes taken at once can change the pressure even when the degree requirements look similar.
Start with the hours you can protect every week, not the fastest graduation date a school advertises. Compare course length, classes taken at once, lab and project demands, term breaks, and rules for changing pace. Confirm how a slower term affects later courses before enrolling. A workable plan leaves room for a hard technical course without turning every free hour into school time.
What an Online Information Technology Bachelor’s Degree Workload Looks Like
Weekly time depends less on whether a program is online than on how the school divides the degree. A traditional term may spread several courses across a longer calendar, giving you more time to absorb difficult material before the next deadline. A compressed term often asks you to take fewer courses at once, but each class moves quickly. The total work does not disappear because the calendar is shorter; it is concentrated into a tighter sequence. Missing one week in a short course can mean falling behind on several assignments, and catching up may be difficult once new material is already due.
ASU Online uses 7.5-week undergraduate sessions. According to the university, its Bachelor of Science in Information Technology requires 120 credit hours across 40 classes. That structure can suit adults who prefer to focus on fewer subjects, but it leaves little room to postpone a lab or project. A work disruption that would be manageable in a longer term may consume a much larger share of a compressed course. Compare it with programs in the online information technology bachelor’s directory before deciding whether the pace, sequencing, and assignment load fit your schedule.
A sample week for one demanding compressed course might divide the work this way:
- Monday: 3 hours for reading, notes, and a recorded lesson
- Tuesday: 3 hours for practice exercises or a lab
- Thursday: 4 hours for project work and discussion posts
- Saturday: 5 hours for a major assignment or test review
- Sunday: 3 hours to finish work and prepare for the next module
This schedule also shows why a course can be difficult even when it has no scheduled campus meetings. The work is distributed across the week, and the longer project block may not be movable if it depends on earlier practice or a discussion post. A job with changing shifts, family responsibilities, or unreliable internet access can make that pattern harder to maintain than the course description suggests.
Do not build a plan that uses every available hour. Technical work can run long when software fails, code needs repair, or a project requires another draft. Leave room for those delays, and check whether the program publishes assignment deadlines early enough for you to identify weeks that will require more availability.
GetEducated's Picks
- Fisher College Bachelor of Science in Information Technology
- King University Bachelor of Science in Cybersecurity & Cloud Computing
- Methodist University Bachelor of Science in Computer Information Technology
Compare Pace Before You Compare Finish Dates
Purdue Global gives a useful benchmark for a longer plan. The school lists 34 courses and a 4-year average completion time for its online Bachelor of Science in Information Technology. That published pace is not a promise for every student, but it shows why course count, term design, and transfer credit matter more than a broad claim that a program is flexible. A program with shorter terms may let you take courses more often, while a program with a heavier course load may require more consistent study time. Those are different kinds of speed, and the faster-looking option is not automatically easier to finish.
| Program Example | Published Structure | Scheduling Question |
|---|---|---|
| ASU Online, Bachelor of Science in Information Technology | 120 credit hours, 40 classes, 7.5-week classes; about 18 weekly study hours for one 3-credit course | Can you protect study time every week of a compressed session? |
| Purdue Global, Bachelor of Science in Information Technology | 34 courses, 4-year average completion time, estimated 15–18 weekly study hours | Does the estimate assume the same course load you plan to take? |
ASU Online also states that online and campus bachelor’s programs require the same number of credit hours. The format changes where you work, not how much degree credit you must earn. Completion time changes with course pace and program requirements. Transfer credit can change the amount of coursework you have left, but only if the school applies it to the degree requirements rather than counting it only as general elective credit. That distinction can affect both your schedule and the number of terms you pay for.
Program titles alone do not reveal the calendar. Fisher College offers the Bachelor of Science in Information Technology, while George Mason University offers the Bachelor of Science in Information Technology. Methodist University lists the Bachelor of Science in Computer Information Technology, King University lists the Bachelor of Science in Cybersecurity & Cloud Computing, and American Public University System lists the Bachelor of Science in Computer Technology / Networking. Similar titles do not establish similar workloads, term lengths, or sequencing. Ask each school for its current academic calendar, normal course load, withdrawal rules, and any required live meetings. You can also review the broader online computer and IT bachelor’s options to see how program labels differ.
Before comparing finish dates, put each program on the same checklist: total courses, required credits, courses offered each term, and any prerequisite sequence that can delay the next class. Then compare the published average with the pace you can sustain. A plan that works only if every term goes perfectly is not a realistic completion plan for most students; a slightly longer schedule may be the more dependable option if it leaves room for work, family obligations, or a course that takes more time than expected.
Build a Term Around the Hardest Course
Not all IT courses create the same kind of work. Reading-heavy classes may allow you to study in short blocks, while programming, networking, database, and security courses often require longer sessions because setup, testing, and repair take time. A group project can add meetings that an otherwise self-paced syllabus did not appear to require. The course with the most demanding work should shape the rest of your schedule, rather than being treated as just another item in the term.
ASU Online reports that its courses are mostly self-paced, meaning students usually do not have to log in at a set time. Students still follow assignment deadlines in the syllabus. In practice, self-paced describes when you log in, not whether the workload can be postponed. A lab may take longer than its listed assignment suggests because the work includes configuring software, finding an error, and testing the fix. Before enrolling, ask whether tests use fixed windows, whether group meetings are required, and whether technical support is available during the hours when you study.
That distinction also affects how you combine courses. Pairing a project-heavy class with another technical course can leave both competing for the same uninterrupted study time, while a reading and writing course may fit more easily around lab work. The lighter pairing is not automatically easier, but it gives you more control when a programming assignment or network configuration takes longer than expected. Check the syllabus for the actual project sequence, not just the course title, before building your term.
- Pair a lab or programming course with a class built around reading and writing.
- Avoid stacking two project-heavy courses during a busy work period.
- Check software and hardware requirements before the term starts.
- Place major due dates on one calendar before the add or drop deadline.
Find Your Online Computer Science & IT Degree
Narrow 102 accredited online Computer Science & IT degree programs to find the perfect fit.
Methodist University
Bachelor of Science in Computer Information Technology / Cybersecurity & Information Assurance
American Public University System
Bachelor of Science in Information Technology / Programming Full Stack/Python® Visualization
Columbia Southern University
Bachelor of Science in Business Administration / Information Technology
Liberty University
Bachelor of Science in Information Technology - Application & Database Development
University of Massachusetts Global
Bachelor of Science in Computing Technology / Information Technology
If you are still deciding between technical fields, the comparison of computer information systems and computer science can help you judge whether the likely course mix fits your skills. The key workload question is not whether a subject sounds useful. It is whether you can complete its labs and projects within the school’s calendar, with enough time for testing, revisions, and required group work. A course may fit your interests and still be a poor term choice if its deadlines collide with the rest of your schedule.
Make Pace Part of the Price Check
Western Governors University’s Bachelor of Science in Information Technology is listed at $28,160. Southern New Hampshire University’s Bachelor of Arts in Information Technologies has listed total program cost figures of $38,550 and $27,150. Those figures are a starting point, not a complete cost comparison, because the pace each program permits can determine whether the published total remains realistic for your situation.
Cost and pace belong in the same decision. A program may have an appealing total price but still be a poor fit if its terms are too fast, required meetings conflict with work, or aid rules push you toward a heavier load. Compare the full degree price with the number of courses you can reasonably finish each term, then consider what happens if your available study time changes. A plan that works only when every term goes perfectly leaves little room for a demanding work period, a family obligation, or a course that takes longer than expected.
Ask how dropping a course affects aid, employer tuition help, access to the next course, and the expected graduation date. Also ask whether required courses run every term. A missed prerequisite can delay more than one class if the next course is offered on a fixed schedule, turning a temporary scheduling problem into a longer enrollment period. Confirm the school’s withdrawal and course-sequencing rules before treating the lower listed total as the cheaper option.
The potential return can justify a careful plan, but it does not excuse an unworkable one. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that workers with a computer and information technology degree had a median wage of $100,000 in 2023. It also projects 29% growth for information security analysts from 2024–2034. Those figures cover workers and occupations, not guaranteed results for graduates. Use them as career context while comparing the time and cost you can carry, including the consequences of a slower term or a delayed prerequisite. The computer and information systems manager career profile adds detail on one experienced role.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I earn an online IT bachelor’s degree while working full time?
You can if the weekly work, deadlines, and course pace fit your job. Start with one demanding course if you are unsure how quickly you can work, then use the actual reading, assignments, and test schedule to judge whether a larger load is realistic.
How many hours a week does an online IT degree take?
Published estimates differ by school and course format. Use the program examples above as benchmarks, then ask whether the estimate covers one class or a normal full load. That distinction matters: a figure based on a single course can make the workload look manageable while understating the time required for a full schedule.
Are online IT classes self-paced?
Some are, but many offer flexible study rather than completely open-ended pacing. You may study at any hour while still meeting fixed weekly deadlines. That gives you control over when you work, not permission to postpone the work indefinitely, so a program with weekly submissions may fit better than one requiring attendance at set times.
Are shorter online classes harder?
They are not always harder in content, but they move faster. A missed deadline or difficult lab can be harder to recover from in a compressed session because less time remains before the next assignment. Review the course calendar before enrolling, especially if a lab or project depends on work completed earlier in the term.
Should I take one or two IT courses at a time?
Base the decision on course type, term length, and your protected study time. Two reading-based courses may be easier to combine than two courses with labs and major projects. The course count alone does not show the workload; assignments that require software, testing, or sustained project work can consume time differently from weekly reading and discussion posts.
Do online IT courses require live meetings?
Some programs avoid required login times, while others schedule presentations, tests, or group work. Read the syllabus and ask the school before registration. A program can be called online and still require you to be available at a particular time, which changes whether the schedule works around a job or conflicts with it.
How do transfer credits affect an IT degree workload?
Accepted credits can reduce the courses left to complete. They may not remove prerequisites or change how often remaining required courses are offered. Request a formal prerequisite evaluation and confirm transfer treatment with the registrar before planning your schedule; otherwise, credits that shorten the overall program may not shorten the part that controls when you can take the next required course.
What happens if I need to slow down?
A lighter load may change aid, employer benefits, prerequisite timing, and graduation plans. Get the school’s withdrawal and pace rules in writing. Also check whether reducing your load changes the timing of a required course or benefit eligibility, since saving time in one term can create a later gap in the sequence.
Is an information technology degree worth it while working full time?
It may be if the program supports your job goal and you can finish without taking on unmanageable cost or hours. A schedule you can sustain matters more than the fastest advertised timeline. Compare the required pace with the time you can protect each week, and include labs, projects, and fixed meetings rather than counting only the hours spent watching lectures.
Sources
- Purdue Global: Online Bachelor of Science in Information Technology
- ASU Online: Bachelor of Science in Information Technology
- ASU Online: Weekly Study Hours for Online Courses
- ASU Online: Online Course Format
- ASU Online: Bachelor’s Degree Pace and Credit Requirements
- Bureau of Labor Statistics: Computer and Information Technology Field of Degree