As technology becomes an integral part of the business practices of many companies, increasingly more students are choosing to pursue information technology (IT) degrees at campus-based and online colleges.

A recent survey from the Computing Research Association found that the number of students who enrolled in a computer science-related bachelors degree program increased by 5.5 percent last year, BusinessWeek reports.

Industry analysts attribute this growth to increased job prospects in the field and the recession, which deterred many students from pursuing a finance-related degree. In addition, many companies are now conducting a great deal of their important IT work in the U.S., which has eliminated fears for offshoring.

Although enrollments in these programs have increased greatly, many companies still report a shortage of qualified workers to fill these positions.

Jeff Holingsworth, a computer science professor, told the news source that "employers cannot find enough people who are graduating to hire."

Consequently, individuals who are studying through college programs online may have increased career prospects.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that the demand for computer and information systems managers is expected to grow by 17 percent over the next eight years.