Best IT Classes in Minneapolis

With a rising demand in the IT field, Minneapolis offers a variety of courses and career paths for those interested in network administration, cybersecurity, software development, and more. Pursue a career in IT and join thriving industries such as advanced manufacturing, clean tech, and financial services, all of which heavily rely on IT professionals.

Key Insights

The IT industry continues to grow, offering various roles including Network and Systems Administrator, IT Support Specialist, and Cybersecurity Professional. Taking IT courses could lead to a high-paying, flexible, and dynamic career.
Inver Hills Community College, Century College, University of Minnesota, and Certstaffix offer various IT courses and certificate programs that provide competencies in hardware and software systems analysis, IT support, cybersecurity, and CompTIA CASP+.
Minneapolis is home to over 8,500 advanced manufacturing companies, several clean tech companies, and 18 Fortune 500 companies, all of which require IT professionals for roles such as Computer Support Specialist, IT Analyst, Web Developer, and Information Security Specialist.
Minnesota contributes significantly to the country's economy through its advanced manufacturing, clean tech, and financial services industries, providing ample opportunities for IT professionals.
IT jobs in Minneapolis offers a wide salary range, with IT Architects earning as high as $180,000, Network Administrators earning an average of $78,000, and Developers earning between $113,000 to $163,000 depending on their specialty.
Entry-level roles like Product Managers and IT Support Specialists are available for those new to the IT industry, making it an accessible field for beginners.

Information technology (IT)—a term that came into existence in the 1950s—involves the computer systems, hardware, software, and networks necessary for the processing and distribution of data.

Typically, those who work in IT use specialized techniques for effective computer processing, apply statistical and mathematical methods to decision-making, and simulate higher-order thinking through computer programs.

IT professionals design, install, manage, and troubleshoot computers and networking components. The field of IT is constantly growing and evolving. So are the various roles such as cybersecurity professional, Network and Systems Administrator, and IT Support Specialist. Taking an IT course can lead to a challenging career that offers flexibility, a higher salary, and the chance to learn something new every day.

Best IT Classes & Schools in Minneapolis

Inver Hills Community College offers several certificate programs in information technology. One of these is IT Helpdesk and Cybersecurity Operations, an 18-credit certificate program that provides the knowledge and skills for employment in entry-level positions in the information technology field. Students will learn the essential components and functions of hardware and software systems, as well as analysis techniques used in security operations centers. The courses that make up this certificate help prepare students for the CompTIA IT Fundamentals, CompTIA A+, LPI Linux Essentials, Cisco CyberOps Associate, and Microsoft Windows 10 industry certifications.

A certificate in Computer Technology Support Specialist from Century College will prepare students for a career as a Computer Support Specialist or hardware and software configuration specialist in an enterprise computing environment. They will learn all about upgrading old computers plus preparing, deploying, managing, and troubleshooting computers on a local area network.

The University of Minnesota offers Cybersecurity Bootcamp, a 24-week part-time online program that requires no previous IT experience. Taking a multidisciplinary approach, this intensive course teaches students the methods, techniques, and best practices for accurately assessing the severity of security risks for an organization or business. Students get hands-on training in networking, systems, web technologies, databases, and defensive and offensive cybersecurity. By the time students complete this program, they will be able to conduct vulnerability assessments, configure machines on a virtual network, identify suspicious patterns of user behavior, and write Bash scripts to automate security.

Certstaffix also offers an online training called CompTIA CASP+ Prep Course. This five-day live training prepares students to take the exam CAS-004. Through practical examples and real-world insights, they study security architecture, security operations, security engineering, cryptography, governance, risk, and compliance. They also learn about operations and architecture concepts, techniques and requirements, risk analysis, mobile and small-form-factor device security, secure cloud integration, and cryptography. After this course, students can take (and confidently pass) the certification exam through a third party with an additional fee.

Minneapolis Industries That Use IT

There are over 8,500 advanced manufacturing companies in the state of Minnesota that contributed $58.7 billion to the state's economy in 2022. Industry giants like Land O’Lakes and General Mills call Minneapolis home, creating plenty of local job opportunities. An IT professional could find work in the advanced manufacturing industry through roles like Computer Support Specialist, Information Technology analyst, Web Developer, or Information security specialist.

Minnesota ranks 1st in the West-North-Central Region and 5th in the nation in sustainability. Several clean tech companies are headquartered in Minneapolis, like Eaton, GHD, and Excel Energy. These types of businesses rely on large teams of information technology experts to maintain and protect their networks and systems.

Home to 18 Fortune 500 companies and 24 Fortune,000 companies, Minnesota boasts a thriving financial services industry with several big-hitting companies—Ameriprise Financial and U.S. Bancorp, to name a few—based in Minneapolis or the Twin Cities Region. Cybersecurity is of the utmost importance to these businesses, allowing them to protect valuable data while instilling trust in their customers and clients.

There are even more thriving industries in Minneapolis than those listed above. All of them will rely on IT experts to build and maintain their networks, update and manage their systems, and protect their data and privacy. Regardless of what industry a student chooses, becoming knowledgeable in information technology can lead to a fulfilling and profitable career.

IT Jobs & Salaries in Minneapolis

There are a variety of jobs one could pursue as an IT professional, each with its own responsibilities and salary range. One option is to become an IT Systems Architect, Enterprise Architect, or Cloud Infrastructure Architect. Workers in these fields determine how IT services, solutions, and infrastructure should be built. The average pay for an IT Architect in Minneapolis sits well over six figures at $168,000. It can even be as high as $180,000 for certain roles.

One could also pursue a role in network and systems administration and land a title like Computer Systems Manager or Network Administrator. Someone with one of these titles can expect an average salary of $78,000, with the potential to earn over six figures after becoming established in their career.

IT roles within software development include Front-end Developer, Back-end Developer, or Cloud Developer. Salaries for these roles can vary from $113,000 to $138,000 as a Front-end Developer, around $117,000 as a Back-end Developer, and $110,000-$163,000 as a Cloud Developer.

Those looking for an entry-level role that’s designed for those new to the IT industry can take a look at Product Managers and IT Support Specialists. They can make anywhere from $61,000 to $77,000. These roles can get one started in the industry while also making at or above the national average salary.

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