by our College Data Analytics TeamStudying Network & System Administration/Administrator explores Network And System Administration/administrator. A Program That Prepares Individuals To Manage The Computer Operations And Control The System Configurations Emanating From A Specific Site Or Network Hub. Includes Instruction In Computer Hardware And Software And Applications; Local Area (Lan) And Wide Area (Wan) Networking; Principles Of Information Systems Security; Disk Space And Traffic Load Monitoring; Data Backup; Resource Allocation; And Setup And Takedown Procedures. Examples: [Network Administration]. Read on to learn the key facts every network & system administration/administrator student should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering network & system administration/administrator programs.
Nationwide, network & system administration/administrator is a widely-pursued major, with 4,755 degrees awarded annually.
Our 2026 Best Network & System Administration/Administrator Schools ranking analyzes these 206 schools to determine the best overall colleges for network & system administration/administrator students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of network & system administration/administrator programs later in this article.
Coursework for Network & System Administration/Administrator build a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations network & system administration/administrator graduates commonly enter.
Skills emphasized by a network & system administration/administrator program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
According to O*NET, a network & system administration/administrator major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
There are several network & system administration/administrator degree levels. The table below shows the typical length of the most common levels, and how many graduates earn each one.
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate | Varies | 871 |
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 1,480 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 196 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 2,013 |
People currently working in careers related to network & system administration/administrator tend to have obtained the following education levels.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Bachelor’s degree | 45.7% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 14.7% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 13.3% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 11.5% |
| Some college courses | 7.3% |
| Master’s degree | 4.4% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 1.4% |
| First professional degree | 0.9% |
| Less than a high school diploma | 0.6% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 0.2% |
See the chart below to get an idea of what level of education most of those in network & system administration/administrator careers hold.
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
Studying network & system administration/administrator prepares you for numerous career paths. Below are some of the most common occupations related to network & system administration/administrator.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to network & system administration/administrator.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Information Security Analysts | 583,513 | 12.3% |
| Telecommunications Engineering Specialists | 242,585 | 5.7% |
| Computer Network Architects | 144,537 | -0.0% |
| Computer Network Support Specialists | 128,152 | -3.8% |
| Network and Computer Systems Administrators | 127,373 | -4.0% |
| Computer and Information Systems Managers | 58,841 | 10.2% |
The U.S. Department of Education tracks median earnings of network & system administration/administrator graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. Wages typically rise as graduates gain experience.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $64,248 |
| 4 years | $56,780 |
| 5 years | $64,307 |
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study earnings tracker.
Salaries for network & system administration/administrator graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers network & system administration/administrator grads often go into.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Computer and Information Systems Managers | $175,079 |
| Telecommunications Engineering Specialists | $117,478 |
| Information Security Analysts | $111,930 |
| Computer Network Support Specialists | $107,799 |
| Network and Computer Systems Administrators | $99,018 |
| Computer Network Architects | $63,411 |
With 206 different network & system administration/administrator programs to choose from, finding the best fit can be a challenge. We have analyzed these schools to produce unbiased network & system administration/administrator school rankings to help you.
Students interested in network & system administration/administrator, you may also want to explore other closely related fields of study within the same broad area.
More about our data sources and methodologies.
