By: The Capella University Editorial Team with Bradly E. Roh, PhD, DBA and Interim Dean and Vice President for the School of Business, Technology and Health Care Administration
Reading Time: 10 minutes
Job growth projections and salary figures are drawn from Lightcast data and reflect national trends. Actual outcomes vary based on factors such as experience, industry, location, skills and economic conditions, and are not representative of Capella University graduate results.
A cloud computing degree may be helpful for building the systems knowledge and technical depth needed to pursue cloud architecture and infrastructure roles. For information technology (IT) professionals already working in tech, it also provides a formal credential that validates their capabilities, alongside any certifications they hold.
For professionals exploring this path, the degree vs. certification question comes up often. The right answer depends on your background and experience.
Discover what cloud computing programs teach and how degree options at different levels compare to certification paths, so you can make the right call for your career stage.
Cloud computing is a specialization offered under many IT or computer science degrees. These degrees cover IT fundamentals and then teach the technical skills to work with cloud platforms and systems, including cloud architecture, infrastructure automation, virtualization and security.
Cloud computing itself is the infrastructure behind how businesses store data, scale their operations and deliver services without relying on physical servers on-site.
As more organizations shift their operations to the cloud, demand for professionals who can manage and secure that infrastructure is likely to grow.
This degree tends to suit tech enthusiasts who enjoy understanding how systems work behind the scenes. The same goes for professionals drawn to infrastructure and systems work rather than software development, and problem solvers who like troubleshooting and building efficient solutions.
It’s a good option for IT professionals looking to pivot into cloud-focused roles, since many technical skills carry over directly.
While courses vary by institution, most cloud computing degree programs build both a technical foundation and practical cloud skills.
Cloud architecture coursework introduces the foundational concepts that make cloud computing possible, such as on-demand self-service, broad network access, resource pooling, elasticity and measured service.
You’ll learn to distinguish between public, private and hybrid cloud deployment models, and understand when each makes sense for a given organization. These building blocks prepare you to find the best approach to transition from on-premises infrastructure to cloud infrastructure.
Some programs focus on areas that are relevant in the industry today. For example, Capella’s online Bachelor of Science (BS) in IT, Network and Cloud Computing program teaches you how to design reliable cloud solutions that also meet current compliance requirements, like Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS).
Cloud professionals spend much of their time managing infrastructure, so most degree programs introduce the leading cloud providers, including Microsoft Azure, Amazon Web Services (AWS) and Google Cloud.
You’ll learn core concepts that transfer across platforms.
Neither Strategic Education, Inc., Capella University, nor any of their affiliates promotes, endorses or has any business relationship with Microsoft Azure, AWS or Google Cloud.
Artificial intelligence (AI) is changing how cloud infrastructure is managed. Instead of manually configuring every setting, cloud professionals increasingly oversee automated systems and troubleshoot when something goes off script or suggest improvements.
This is why Capella’s online IT degrees actively incorporate AI into the coursework. For instance, the BS in IT, Network and Cloud Computing degree can teach how to manage special cloud workloads that include AI and machine learning.
Virtualization is the technology that lets a single physical machine run multiple independent environments, and it’s foundational to how cloud computing works at scale.
Understanding virtualization helps you see how organizations quickly scale applications and recover from hardware failures without relying on dedicated physical servers for every workload.
In many programs, you’ll learn core virtualization concepts and how virtual machines function, then move into a high-level overview of containers and orchestration. Together, virtualization and container technologies provide the flexibility and efficiency organizations need to support business applications and workloads on the cloud.
Security coursework usually covers how organizations protect cloud systems through identity and access management, which ensures that only users with the right permissions can access applications, systems and data.
You learn about data protection strategies, including encryption and disaster recovery planning, as well as information security best practices to reduce vulnerabilities in cloud environments.
Networking is another critical area of study. You’ll learn how cloud networks are designed, how traffic moves between cloud resources and how technologies such as VPNs (virtual private networks), firewalls and network segmentation help secure cloud environments.
These technical and security skills help prepare you to help organizations build cloud systems that are resilient and protected.
The exact topics covered depend on the type of degree you choose, with each degree suited to a different career stage and set of goals.
An associate degree in cloud computing covers the basics: cloud fundamentals, basic networking, operating systems and introductory security concepts. You can potentially complete an associate’s degree faster than a bachelor’s, but it usually offers less depth in the curriculum.
You learn the basic technical skills but also have fewer opportunities to build valuable soft skills like communication and problem-solving. A bachelor’s degree covers both.
A bachelor’s degree offers a comprehensive foundation, combining core cloud topics with broader IT knowledge in networking, database management, security and systems administration.
Capella’s online BS in Information Technology, Network and Cloud Computing degree is designed to prepare students you to design and manage both local networks and complex cloud infrastructures, with hands-on experience using Microsoft Azure.
The program is available in the GuidedPath learning format, so working professionals can develop career-focused IT skills online through structured deadlines and without pausing work. It also includes a capstone project and is eligible for experiential learning, so you can put your cloud skills to use on a real-world project from your workplace.
A master’s degree is best suited for IT professionals who already have some experience and want to deepen their expertise or prepare for specialized or senior roles.
Master’s degree programs focus on advanced topics such as cloud solution design, enterprise architecture, cloud security, infrastructure strategy and emerging technologies.
In Capella’s online Master of Science (MS) in IT, Enterprise Networks and Cloud Computing program, you learn how to design and troubleshoot complex networks, with hands-on work in platforms like AWS, Azure and VMware. To add to this, you can also develop your leadership and strategic thinking skills through an applied IT project and industry insights from expert faculty.
Eligible Capella students can also access certification exam vouchers from CompTIA®, Cisco® and SAS® at no additional cost, helping you build credentials alongside your degree.
Neither Strategic Education, Inc., Capella University, nor any of their affiliates promotes, endorses or has any business relationship with Microsoft Azure, AWS or VMware.
Certifications validate specific, current platform skills and complement what you’ve learned through your degree.
If you’re just starting out, certifications like the AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner and CompTIA Cloud+ are a good way to validate essential cloud knowledge without requiring years of experience first.
As you gain experience, advanced certifications like the AWS Certified Solutions Architect credential, Microsoft Azure certifications and various cloud security certifications may show deeper platform expertise.
Many degree programs build certification prep directly into coursework. For example, students in the BS in IT program at Capella can earn the Google IT Support Professional Certificate at no additional cost as part of their program. However, Capella cannot guarantee that completion of this program will result in obtaining or passing any professional certification or licensure exam. You’ll need to conduct your own research to understand the requirements for any certification you wish to pursue.
A cloud computing degree can open the door to a range of roles. Graduates may start in support and administrative roles, where they gain hands-on experience with real systems before pursuing engineer and analyst roles.
Example roles in cloud computing include:
Keep in mind that senior roles such as cloud architect generally require several years of professional experience beyond your degree, so it’s worth thinking of these roles as a longer-term goal rather than a starting point.
These example job titles give you a general overview of careers in cloud computing. The exact role you can pursue depends on every employer’s specific hiring requirements related to education, certifications, experience and more. Capella cannot guarantee that a graduate will secure any specific job title, a promotion, salary increase or other career outcome.
For the right person, a cloud computing degree can be a smart investment for a few key reasons.
A cloud computing degree is generally a good fit for:
“There is little doubt that the dominant force in computing is now and will remain AI for the foreseeable future,” says Capella’s James W. Barker, PhD, School of Business, Technology and Health Care Administration. “However, one should not lose sight of the fact that all significant AI resources are hosted on cloud platforms. AI as we know it today could not exist without cloud platforms. As AI progresses, so too will the need for advancements in the supporting cloud infrastructure.”
Ultimately, whether a cloud computing degree is right for you depends on how well it aligns with your long-term career goals. Choosing a program that combines a strong technical curriculum with practical experience can help you plan for cloud-focused roles.
Take the next step toward a career in cloud computing
A cloud computing degree may give you the technical skills to pursue a career in this growing field. Certifications and hands-on experience help you sharpen those skills further.
And the “worth it” question isn’t really about the degree in isolation. It’s about whether it moves you closer to the work you want to do.
If you’re ready to find out for yourself, Capella offers an online BS in IT degree, with a focus on cloud computing. These programs are led by IT experts and include practical projects so you can develop career-focused skills in the real world.
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