Software/IT

The information technology and software development sector encompasses developing digital programs and services. In recent years, the rise of mobile computing and IoT devices has helped sustain the industry’s impressive growth trajectory. Looking ahead, the continued digitization of the American economy is likely to fuel additional software/IT sector growth. Continued innovation in areas such as transportation and healthcare, for example, are likely to depend on software/IT applications.

“We’re here in the NKY region because it is a great place to live, work, play, learn, and raise a family. The assistance, support, and responsiveness we received from BE NKY during our expansion efforts was outstanding!”

Brian Ruschman, President, C-Forward

Historically, information technology talent has been in short supply nationally, and regions like ours with educational institutions that can deliver a sustained pipeline of new workers with advanced skills have an advantage.

The Northern Kentucky University (NKU) College of Informatics (COI) is one of just a few such colleges nationally. Enrollment in COI has grown steadily and also boasts a top-ranked Cyber Defense Team. The college has added several new degrees, including an applied software engineering degree focused on software security and user experience design and a BS and MS in cybersecurity. COI also partners with some of the region’s largest and most important companies, including Macy’s and Kroger.

Gateway Community & Technical College offers training to build IT talent, enabling students to earn associate’s degrees across various information technology fields, from cloud computing and information security to network administration and programming. The college also offers transfer pathways to NKU.

Throughout the Cincinnati region, Xavier University, Miami University, and the University of Cincinnati all add information technology talent to the pipeline. In a 2021 report from San Francisco-based CodeSignal, Miami was ranked No. 2 among U.S. colleges for coding assessments, ahead of Carnegie Mellon and Columbia University.