Information Systems
The degree that unlocks your tech career.
100% online, fully asynchronous, built for working professionals. The same Northeastern University College of Engineering credential. No commute, no prior tech background required.
Online MS in Information Systems
from Northeastern University
The professionals who change industries aren't always the ones who started there. They're the ones who learned to speak both languages: technical and strategic. The Online Master of Science in Information Systems (MSIS) from Northeastern University's College of Engineering was built for exactly that kind of professional: someone with a full career already in motion, ready to lead at a higher level.
The curriculum runs on Northeastern's commitment to experiential learning. Every course built around real industry problems, taught by faculty who bring active professional practice into the classroom. Not theory about what you'll eventually apply. Skills you can use at work on Wednesday that you learned on Tuesday. No prior tech background required. All academic majors welcome.
The Fast App pathway gets you from application to enrolled in 8 hours. Because the obstacle to a graduate degree shouldn't be paperwork.
When you graduate, your diploma reads: Northeastern University, College of Engineering, Master of Science in Information Systems. It won't say "online." You'll cross the same stage in Boston, earn the same credential, and carry the same institutional recognition as every Northeastern engineer before you.
Compare Online vs. On-Ground MSIS →Charged per course at enrollment. Take a term off without penalty. Full details and scholarship information at Tuition & payment details →.
Federal financial aid is available for Standard App students from day one, and for Fast App students after completing their two pathway courses. If federal aid is a priority from the start, the Standard App is the right path.
The pay-as-you-go structure makes it easy to align with most employer reimbursement cycles. Employer reimbursement toolkit →
Online learning at Northeastern isn't solitary. You'll join an active cohort of working professionals from across industries and time zones. People who bring real-world problems into every discussion and make the learning sharper as a result.
Every Northeastern Online student has access to the same career resources as on-campus students: the Northeastern Career Center, employer connections, job boards, and recruiting events. The Northeastern name opens the same doors, regardless of how you earned it.
Beyond career services, you have access to any Northeastern campus for studying, meetings, or events. Across the US. From Boston to Oakland, Miami to Silicon Valley. And a dedicated online success team is with you for the full length of your program, making sure you always know your next step.
Charged per course at enrollment. Take a term off without penalty. Full details and scholarship information at Tuition & payment details →.
Your diploma reads: Northeastern University, College of Engineering, Master of Science in Information Systems. No reference to online.
Where MSIS graduates go next.
Information technology is no longer a department. It's the operating layer of every serious organization. The professionals who understand it at both the technical and the strategic level are the ones companies are competing for. MSIS graduates move into roles at that intersection: Information Security Analyst, QA Engineer, Systems Analyst, and Software Developer on the technical side; IT Manager, DevOps Manager, Engineering Lead, and CISO on the leadership side. The employers hiring these roles range from Google, Microsoft, Deloitte, Oracle, and IBM to financial institutions, healthcare systems, and federal agencies building out the infrastructure their industries now require.
Salary figures represent national median wages across all experience levels. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2024. Figures do not reflect expected starting salaries.
The Career Path Explorer maps the MSIS curriculum to 12+ real roles — see the exact courses that build each skill set.
Skills Employers Are Hiring For
Right Now.
Google, Microsoft, Deloitte, Oracle, and IBM hire Information Systems graduates for exactly the skills this program builds. From cybersecurity and systems design to product management and enterprise architecture.
Agile Project Management
Plan, run, and ship software projects using Agile and Scrum. The standard at virtually every tech employer.
SQL & Database Design
Design relational databases, write complex SQL queries, and model data for enterprise applications.
UX Research & Testing
Uncover user needs, run usability tests, and design interfaces that meet real-world product requirements.
Enterprise Systems Integration
Map and optimize the workflows that keep large organizations running. A core skill in consulting and ops roles.
Application Development
Build full business applications using OOP principles, visual design, and real-world engineering practices.
IT Strategic Planning
Align IS investments to business goals using portfolio analysis, cost-benefit modeling, and structured planning.
Four MSIS Tracks.
One Northeastern Degree.
Choose a track to go deeper. Or keep it broad on the General IS track. Every student earns the same credential.
General Information Systems
The broadest path to IS leadership. Build expertise across data systems, business analysis, enterprise architecture, and IT strategy. Ideal for professionals who want the depth to lead across functions.
The most flexible track for those entering from non-technical backgrounds who want to survey the full landscape before committing to a domain.
Median wage across all experience levels. BLS, May 2024. Not a starting salary guarantee.
Cyber & Information Security
The fastest-growing field in tech. Master the technical and strategic dimensions of cybersecurity. From threat analysis and risk management to security architecture and policy.
For professionals who want to move into or advance within cybersecurity. Technical depth plus the strategic leadership perspective employers are hiring for.
Median wage across all experience levels. BLS, May 2024. Not a starting salary guarantee.
Software Testing & QA
Move from tester to architect. Build the systems thinking, test automation, and quality engineering skills that turn QA professionals into technical leaders.
For QA professionals, SDETs, and engineers ready to step into architecture and leadership roles. And career changers entering the technical side of software delivery.
Median wage across all experience levels. BLS, May 2024. Not a starting salary guarantee.
Product Management & DevOps
Move from builder to leader. Combine product strategy, DevOps practices, and cross-functional leadership to own the full lifecycle of digital products. From roadmap to release.
For engineers stepping into product, technical PMs who want leadership tools, and operations professionals who want to own the whole picture.
Median wage across all experience levels. BLS, May 2024. Not a starting salary guarantee.
Faculty Who Work in the
Industry They Teach.
"I've seen incredible career transformations. Someone with a journalism degree became an amazing software engineer at the Boston Federal Reserve, people who never coded before, and even a lawyer who's now doing software engineering work at Harvard."
The Online MSIS is taught by Northeastern University College of Engineering faculty — the same researchers and practitioners who teach the on-ground program. Your instructors aren't observing their fields. They're working in them.
Online MSIS Curriculum:
11 Courses, You Take Eight.
The MSIS draws from a pool of 11 courses. Which 8 you take depends on your track. If you're enrolling through the Fast App, you'll start with INFO 5100 and then choose from the available courses in your track. All credits count from day one.
Learn from actual
Online MSIS course content.
Learn a new skill while you preview the program. These are real lesson excerpts from two MSIS courses. The kind of applied, practitioner-led learning you'll experience every week. Every course in the MSIS is taught this way: faculty with active industry practices, content that connects directly to the work you're already doing.
What Online MSIS Students
Are Saying.
Why Northeastern Online MSIS?
Here's What Makes It Different.
Apply to the Online MSIS:
Two Paths In.
Both paths lead to the same Northeastern University degree. Choose based on your background and what matters most to you.
Getting enrolled shouldn't be.
Full admission before you begin.
This specialization was built specifically for people interested in the MSIS to develop the foundational skills needed to succeed in the pathway courses. It requires a Coursera subscription. A low-cost way to build the technical foundation before you begin.
Online MSIS Frequently Asked
Questions. Answered.
A bachelor's degree in any field from an accredited university. That's it. The Online MSIS was designed for learners from any academic or professional background. No STEM prerequisites, no prior tech experience required. See transcript requirements →
Yes. Your diploma will read "Northeastern University, College of Engineering, Master of Science in Information Systems." It will not reference "online." Same faculty, same 32 credits, same Boston graduation ceremony, same employer recognition.
The Online MSIS is taught by the same College of Engineering faculty who teach the on-ground program — researchers and practitioners with active industry relationships. The classroom moved online. The standard came with it.
Approximately 10–15 hours per week per course. Most students take one course per term. Full-time students can complete in as little as 16 months; part-time typically 24–32 months.
Summer 2026: $24,000 total ($3,000/course × 8). 2026–27 Academic Year: From $23,267 with scholarship applied (list price $24,600). Full details at Tuition & payment details →.
Federal financial aid available for Standard App students from day one, and for Fast App students after completing pathway courses.
Yes. Pay-as-you-go tuition means you only pay when enrolled. Take a term off without penalty. Ideal for working professionals navigating busy seasons or life changes.
You're in the right place. The Online MSIS was designed for professionals from any academic background. No STEM prerequisites, no prior tech experience required. If you'd like to build a foundation before your first pathway course, Northeastern offers an Information Systems Foundations specialization on Coursera. Built specifically for people interested in the MSIS to develop the skills you'll need to succeed from day one. It requires a Coursera subscription, making it a low-cost way to build your foundation before the program begins.
There are two paths into the program. Both are legitimate. They serve different needs:
The Fast App is a streamlined path for professionals ready to demonstrate ability through coursework. Submit a short form, enroll in two pathway courses (both count toward your degree), earn a B or better in both, and submit your official transcripts. No essays, no GRE, no fee. Typically enrolled in 8 hours. Note: federal financial aid is not available during pathway courses.
The Standard Application is the right choice if you need federal financial aid from day one, want credentials evaluated upfront, or are an international applicant.
Submit a short form. Enroll in two pathway courses. Earn a B or better in both and submit your official undergraduate transcripts. That's your admission. No essays, no GRE, no application fee. The two pathway courses count toward your degree from day one. From form submission to enrolled typically takes 8 hours. Transcript requirements →
Yes. Completely. The two Fast App pathway courses are actual MSIS program courses. They count toward your degree from day one. When you complete both with a B or better, you're fully admitted and those credits are already done.
No. The Online MSIS does not accept transfer credits from other institutions or programs.
Ready to learn more —
or ready to enroll?
Fill out the form and we'll send you the free MSIS Career Outlook Guide instantly. Salary data, top employers, and track breakdowns.