If you are planning on earning your master’s degree in network administration, it may open the door for you to develop and design new ways of using computing technology. You will be responsible for finding new uses for existing technology and you can be a leader in discovering new pathways to innovation in network administration and computer systems administration. Even if you’re not interested in creating new technologies, you will likely need a master’s if you want to enter the field in a managerial position, such as network administrator or computer systems administrators jobs. With this degree, you can step right into management without taking years to earn the otherwise necessary experience required for network administrators. Luckily, those who are busy at work can choose to earn this degree through part-time online courses, a hybrid program with some courses you attend online and some courses you attend in-person, or even fully online network adminstration degrees that are more intense and allow you to complete the degree in 2 years, which is the usual timeframe for master's degrees.
Core courses in a Master of Science degree in network administration might include a variety of subjects, including:
- General Computer Science and Information Technology
- Data Communications
- Local Area Networks (LAN) - Wide Area Networks (WAN) - Intranets
- Network Security
- Operating Systems and Computer Systems
- Data Management and Database Management Systems
- Network Design and Networking Techniques
- Cloud Computing
- Computer Networking
- Network Hardware
- Communications and Network Management
- Networking Administration
- Online Network Security
- Computer Engineering and Network Engineering
Top 10 Best Online Masters in Network Administration Programs
North Carolina State University at Raleigh
Score: 87.78
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $8,895
- Out-of-State:$31,767
- Net Price: $14,852
- Acceptance Rate: 47%
- Retention Rate: 94%
- Graduation Rate: 85%
- Total Enrollment: 36,700
- Undergrad Students: 26,254
- Graduate Students: 10,446
- Grads Salary: $82,000
- Student-to-faculty: 16:1
University of Southern California
Score: 86.38
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $68,237
- Out-of-State:$68,237
- Net Price: $36,808
- Acceptance Rate: 12%
- Retention Rate: 97%
- Graduation Rate: 92%
- Total Enrollment: 48,945
- Undergrad Students: 20,699
- Graduate Students: 28,246
- Grads Salary: $92,000
- Student-to-faculty: 9:1
Virginia Tech
Score: 85.29
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $15,478
- Out-of-State:$36,694
- Net Price: $19,301
- Acceptance Rate: 57%
- Retention Rate: 91%
- Graduation Rate: 86%
- Total Enrollment: 38,170
- Undergrad Students: 30,434
- Graduate Students: 7,736
- Grads Salary: $83,000
- Student-to-faculty: 17:1
North Carolina A&T State University
Score: 78.72
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $6,748
- Out-of-State:$20,408
- Net Price: $9,189
- Acceptance Rate: 56%
- Retention Rate: 74%
- Graduation Rate: 57%
- Total Enrollment: 13,487
- Undergrad Students: 11,833
- Graduate Students: 1,654
- Grads Salary: $79,000
- Student-to-faculty: 19:1
East Carolina University
Score: 73.53
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $7,361
- Out-of-State:$23,638
- Net Price: $14,410
- Acceptance Rate: 92%
- Retention Rate: 80%
- Graduation Rate: 65%
- Total Enrollment: 27,151
- Undergrad Students: 21,688
- Graduate Students: 5,463
- Grads Salary: $71,000
- Student-to-faculty: 18:1
Rochester Institute of Technology
Score: 71.66
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $57,016
- Out-of-State:$57,016
- Net Price: $39,600
- Acceptance Rate: 67%
- Retention Rate: 85%
- Graduation Rate: 72%
- Total Enrollment: 16,615
- Undergrad Students: 13,940
- Graduate Students: 2,675
- Grads Salary: $85,000
- Student-to-faculty: 13:1
Marist College
Score: 69.83
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $46,140
- Out-of-State:$46,140
- Net Price: $39,364
- Acceptance Rate: 63%
- Retention Rate: 86%
- Graduation Rate: 81%
- Total Enrollment: 6,464
- Undergrad Students: 5,475
- Graduate Students: 989
- Grads Salary: $75,000
- Student-to-faculty: 16:1
DeVry University-Illinois
Score: 57.61
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $17,488
- Out-of-State:$17,488
- Net Price: $30,112
- Acceptance Rate: 43%
- Retention Rate: 65%
- Graduation Rate: 43%
- Total Enrollment: 26,384
- Undergrad Students: 23,357
- Graduate Students: 3,027
- Grads Salary: $72,000
- Student-to-faculty: 49:1
Colorado Technical University
Score: 55.75
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $12,760
- Out-of-State:$12,760
- Net Price: $16,106
- Acceptance Rate: 100%
- Retention Rate: 46%
- Graduation Rate: 20%
- Total Enrollment: 24,808
- Undergrad Students: 22,393
- Graduate Students: 2,415
- Grads Salary: $73,000
- Student-to-faculty: 31:1
Strayer University-Global
Score: 51.6
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $13,920
- Out-of-State:$13,920
- Net Price: $19,727
- Acceptance Rate: 100%
- Retention Rate: 33%
- Graduation Rate: 32%
- Total Enrollment: 11,017
- Undergrad Students: 8,368
- Graduate Students: 2,649
- Grads Salary: $66,000
- Student-to-faculty: 41:1
