2027 Information Technology Management Degree Underemployment Report: Which Graduates Are Most Likely to Work Below Their Education Level

How likely is it for Information Technology Management graduates to become underemployed?

Information Technology Management graduates face a moderate underemployment risk: lower than many broad, nontechnical majors when they can prove job-ready technical ability, but higher than highly specialized computing graduates when their coursework is mostly general management.

Underemployment, in this context, means a graduate is working in a role that does not normally require a bachelor's degree or does not use the degree-level skills developed in college.

The most useful benchmark is the broader college labor market. The Federal Reserve Bank of New York's 2024 data showed that 40.1% of recent college graduates were underemployed. That number does not mean an ITM graduate has that exact risk, but it does show that simply finishing a bachelor's degree is not enough to avoid educational mismatch.

The table below summarizes how risk usually differs within Information Technology Management programs. It is most helpful for students comparing course choices, internships, and job targets before graduation:

The practical takeaway is that the degree is not the only variable. Employers usually evaluate whether the graduate can translate business needs into technical requirements, work with systems data, document workflows, communicate with stakeholders, and learn production tools quickly.

Is the college curricula for Information Technology Management keeping up with employer expectations?

Many Information Technology Management programs are moving in the right direction, but curriculum quality varies sharply. The strongest programs combine business process analysis, database work, cybersecurity, systems administration, cloud platforms, analytics, project management, and real client or internship experience.

Weaker programs overemphasize broad management theory and leave graduates without proof that they can operate in a modern IT environment.

This matters because entry-level IT hiring has become more evidence-based. Employers increasingly expect candidates to show tools, projects, tickets, dashboards, workflow maps, GitHub repositories, cloud labs, or internship results rather than only listing coursework.

AI-assisted automation also raises the bar: basic reporting, documentation, and first-level troubleshooting are easier to automate, so graduates need stronger judgment, systems thinking, and cross-functional communication.

The table below shows common curriculum gaps that contribute to underemployment and what employers often expect instead:

Students should not assume that a program name alone protects them from overqualification. If a curriculum feels too broad, compare it with job descriptions for systems analyst, business analyst, IT project coordinator, cybersecurity analyst, cloud support associate, and data analyst roles.

Some graduates later consider management-focused programs such as the cheapest AACSB online MBA, but that path usually works best after gaining technical or operational experience, not as a substitute for entry-level IT skills.

How does underemployment for Information Technology Management graduates compare with other majors?

Information Technology Management sits between computer science and general business in the underemployment risk spectrum. It can lead to strong degree-level roles, but only when the graduate has enough technical depth to compete for business-technology positions.

Compared with majors that are heavily portfolio-based or nontechnical, ITM usually offers clearer alignment to growing technology roles, but it also faces competition from computer science, information systems, cybersecurity, data analytics, and engineering graduates.

The comparison below is useful because students often choose between ITM, business administration, computer science, and creative or communication-oriented majors. The best choice depends on the student's tolerance for technical work and willingness to build applied experience before graduation:

The comparison also explains why degree selection should match the type of work a student actually wants. For example, a student exploring a cheapest online photography degree is preparing for a portfolio-driven creative market, while an ITM student is usually preparing for structured corporate technology roles where systems, security, data, and project evidence matter more.

BLS projections published in 2024 show strong demand for computer and information systems managers, with 17% projected growth from 2023 to 2033. That does not mean new graduates enter management immediately, but it does show that the long-term ladder is favorable for ITM graduates who build credible technical and leadership experience early.

What is the salary gap between underemployed Information Technology Management graduates and those in degree-level jobs?

The salary gap can be substantial because degree-level IT roles usually sit in higher-paying occupational groups than low-credential support or administrative jobs. BLS data published in 2024 listed median pay of $103,800 for computer systems analysts and $60,810 for computer support specialists. That gap of $42,990 per year is especially important for graduates managing rent, relocation costs, certification expenses, and student loan repayment.

The table below compares representative US roles that an Information Technology Management graduate might target or fall back into. These are occupational medians, not guaranteed starting salaries, and actual offers vary by region, employer, industry, experience, and technical skill level:

The financial risk is not only the first salary. Lower early earnings can delay savings, relocation, certification investment, and loan repayment progress. Graduates on a standard federal student loan repayment schedule may find that a low-credential role leaves less room for aggressive repayment or career-building expenses, especially in high-cost metro areas.

That does not mean every graduate should reject a lower-paying role. It may make sense when the job offers internal mobility, technical mentorship, tuition or certification support, exposure to enterprise systems, or a clear timeline into analyst or administrator work. It is much riskier when the job pays less and does not build evidence for the next step.

What barriers force Information Technology Management graduates into low-credential roles?

Information Technology Management graduates usually become underemployed because of a mismatch between what their resume proves and what employers need in entry-level technology roles. The degree may be relevant, but the candidate may not have enough proof of applied skill, workplace experience, or specialization.

The most common barriers are practical rather than intellectual. They can often be fixed before graduation if students identify them early:

• No internship or co-op experience: Employers often prefer candidates who have already worked with tickets, stakeholders, systems, data, or project teams.
• Too much general coursework: A transcript heavy in broad management courses may not prove readiness for cloud, security, analytics, or systems roles.
• Weak technical portfolio: Students who cannot show projects, dashboards, SQL work, process maps, or cloud labs may lose to candidates with visible proof.
• Unfocused job search: Applying to every "IT" job can produce poor matches; ITM graduates need targeted roles such as business analyst, systems analyst, IT project coordinator, cloud support associate, or security operations analyst.
• Limited geographic strategy: Some local markets have fewer degree-level IT openings, so graduates may need to target remote-friendly employers, regional hubs, healthcare systems, financial services firms, universities, logistics companies, or government contractors.
• ATS mismatch: Resumes that omit keywords from job descriptions may be filtered out before a recruiter sees the candidate.
• Late career preparation: Waiting until after graduation to build a portfolio, network, or certification plan often pushes graduates toward immediate fallback work.

Another barrier is the changing shape of entry-level IT work. AI tools can help with documentation, basic troubleshooting, code suggestions, reporting, and ticket routing. That makes human judgment, security awareness, stakeholder communication, and systems integration more valuable. Graduates who can only perform routine tasks are more vulnerable to underemployment than graduates who can interpret needs, improve workflows, and manage risk.

How can Information Technology Management graduates position their resumes for degree-level positions?

An Information Technology Management resume should not read like a generic business resume with a few technology courses added. It should show that the graduate can connect business problems to technical solutions. The strongest resumes make tools, projects, outcomes, and role alignment visible within a few seconds.

Graduates should build a resume around the job family they want. A systems analyst resume should emphasize requirements, process mapping, databases, testing, and stakeholder communication.

A cybersecurity analyst resume should emphasize risk, access control, incident response labs, security tools, and compliance awareness. A cloud support resume should emphasize cloud labs, networking fundamentals, identity management, scripting basics, and troubleshooting.

Use the following sequence to turn an ITM resume into a degree-level application document:

1. Choose one primary job target, such as IT business analyst, systems analyst, cybersecurity analyst, cloud support associate, data analyst, or IT project coordinator.
2. Collect 10 to 15 job descriptions for that role and identify repeated tools, tasks, and keywords.
3. Rewrite the resume summary to match the role, avoiding vague phrases such as "hardworking graduate" or "passionate about technology."
4. Create a technical skills section that separates tools by category, such as databases, analytics, cloud, security, project management, and documentation.
5. Convert class projects into achievement bullets that describe the business problem, tools used, process followed, and result produced.
6. Add a portfolio link if it includes dashboards, SQL queries, process diagrams, cloud labs, security writeups, or project documentation.
7. Quantify outcomes when accurate, but do not invent metrics; if a project did not produce measurable business results, describe scope and deliverables clearly.
8. Tailor the top third of the resume for each application so ATS systems and recruiters see direct alignment quickly.

Common resume mistakes include listing every course taken, using the same resume for support and analyst roles, hiding technical projects under an education section, and describing internships as duties rather than outcomes. A better approach is to show evidence that the graduate can analyze a process, use systems data, communicate with users, and support implementation.

Are there certifications that Information Technology Management graduates can secure to qualify for degree-level roles?

Certifications can help Information Technology Management graduates reduce underemployment risk when they are chosen strategically. They work best as proof of specific job readiness, not as decorations. A certification should match the graduate's target role and fill a visible gap in the resume.

The table below summarizes certifications that commonly support degree-level ITM pathways. Requirements, exam formats, and employer preferences can change, so students should verify current details before paying for an exam:

The best certification depends on the target role. Students aiming for cybersecurity should not spend months on unrelated project credentials before building security labs. Students targeting IT project coordination may gain more from Agile, CAPM, or business analysis preparation than from advanced networking credentials.

For graduates who want leadership roles later, management education may become useful after they have technical experience. Programs such as the cheapest executive MBA online can support experienced professionals moving into strategy or leadership, but early-career ITM graduates usually get faster returns from role-specific certifications, internships, and portfolio proof.

What steps can Information Technology Management students take to improve their chances of securing degree-level roles?

The best underemployment prevention plan starts before senior year. Information Technology Management students should treat college as a four-part career launch: choose a role target, build technical evidence, gain workplace experience, and apply early with a tailored strategy.

Use this practical sequence to improve the odds of landing a degree-level role instead of drifting into a low-credential job:

1. Pick a job family by sophomore or junior year: Choose a primary track such as business analysis, systems analysis, cybersecurity, cloud operations, data analytics, IT project coordination, or enterprise systems.
2. Audit the curriculum against job postings: Compare course outcomes with real entry-level postings and identify missing tools, such as SQL, Power BI, Azure, AWS, Jira, ServiceNow, Python basics, or security concepts.
3. Build two to four portfolio projects: Create projects that solve business problems, such as a ticket trend dashboard, access-control audit, cloud cost comparison, workflow redesign, CRM implementation plan, or SQL reporting project.
4. Get an internship, co-op, or campus IT role before graduation: Practical experience usually carries more hiring weight than class projects alone because it proves workplace behavior and user communication.
5. Earn one aligned certification: Select the credential that closes the biggest gap for the target role rather than collecting unrelated certificates.
6. Network before applications open: Contact alumni, attend employer sessions, join technology clubs, ask professors about employer partners, and request informational interviews with analysts or IT managers.
7. Apply in waves: Start before the final semester, track applications, customize resumes, and follow up with referrals when possible.
8. Evaluate fallback jobs carefully: Accept a bridge role only if it builds technical experience, offers internal mobility, or gives enough schedule flexibility to keep applying and upskilling.
9. Review ROI before adding more education: A master's degree can help in specialized fields, but it should solve a specific career problem rather than postpone the job search.

Students should also compare program formats and costs carefully. Online, hybrid, and campus ITM programs can all work if they provide career support, applied projects, employer connections, and internship access. Cost matters because underemployment is more financially stressful when debt is high and the first job does not use the degree.

The smartest strategy is not to avoid all entry-level work; it is to avoid entry-level work that has no upward pathway. A strong first role may still have routine tasks, but it should move the graduate closer to systems ownership, analysis, implementation, security, data, or IT leadership.