by our College Data Analytics TeamIn 2020-2021, network and system administration/administrator was the 275th most popular major nationwide with 5,501 degrees awarded. This is approximately the same as the 5,477 graduates the prior year.
Our 2023 Best Network & System Administration/Administrator Schools ranking analyzes 60 of these schools to determine the best overall colleges for network and system administration/administrator students. Explore this or one of our many other custom network administration rankings further below.
Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems is a required skill for network administration majors. Required skills include understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents and giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
network and system administration/administrator degree applicants generally need have finished high school or their GED. Many schools may also have GPA and SAT/ACT score minimums that must be met. Specific network administration careers may require a certain level of degree attainment or additional certifications beyond that.
Network Administration degree levels vary. You can spend many years getting as high as a in network and system administration/administrator to something that takes less time like a . The time it takes to complete a network administration degree varies depending on the program.
| Degree | Credit Requirements | Typical Program Length |
|---|---|---|
| Associate Degree | 60-70 credits | 2 years |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 120 credits | 4 years |
| Master’s Degree | 50-70 credits | 1-3 years |
| Doctorate | Program required coursework including thesis or dissertation | At least 4 years |
A bachelor's degree is the most common level of education achieved by those in careers related to network administration, with approximately 46.3% of workers getting one. See the the most common levels of education for network administration workers below.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Bachelor’s Degree | 47.6% |
| Associate’s Degree (or other 2-year degree) | 14.1% |
| Some College Courses | 11.5% |
| Master’s Degree | 10.9% |
| Post-Baccalaureate Certificate | 6.8% |
About 69.3% of workers in careers related to network administration obtain at least bachelor's degrees. The chart below shows what degree level those who work in network and system administration/administrator have obtained.
This of course varies depending on which network administration career you choose.
Want a job when you graduate with your network administration degree? Network & System Administration/Administrator careers are expected to grow 10.1% between 2016 and 2026.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to network and system administration/administrator.
| Occupation Name | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Network and Computer Systems Administrators | 415,300 | 6.1% |
| Computer and Information Systems Managers | 411,800 | 12.0% |
| Computer Network Support Specialists | 215,200 | 8.2% |
| Computer Network Architects | 173,200 | 6.5% |
| Information Security Analysts | 128,500 | 28.5% |
As you might expect, salaries for network administration graduates vary depending on the level of education that was acquired.
Salaries for network and system administration/administrator graduates can vary widely by the occupation you choose as well. The following table shows the top highest paying careers network administration grads often go into.
| Occupation Name | Median Average Salary |
|---|---|
| Computer and Information Systems Managers | $152,860 |
| Computer Network Architects | $111,130 |
| Information Security Analysts | $102,470 |
| Network and Computer Systems Administrators | $87,070 |
| Computer Network Support Specialists | $68,050 |
With over 479 different network administration degree programs to choose from, finding the best fit for you can be a challenge. Fortunately you have come to the right place. We have analyzed all of these schools to come up with hundreds of unbiased network administration school rankings to help you with this.
Network & System Administration/Administrator is one of 6 different types of Information Technology programs to choose from.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Computer & IS Security | 22,829 |
| Information Technology Management | 4,009 |
| Computer Support Specialist | 3,176 |
| System, Networking, & LAN/WAN Management/Manager | 2,077 |
| Information Technology Project Management | 2,076 |
Image Credit: By Craig Dennis under License More about our data sources and methodologies.
