Top 3 Database Administration Bachelor's Programs
Western Governors University
200 Database Administration graduates annually, N/A% graduation rate
Bellevue College
116 Database Administration graduates annually, 96% graduation rate
Northeastern University
63 Database Administration graduates annually, N/A% graduation rate
- 1.Database administrators earn a median salary of $101,000 annually (Bureau of Labor Statistics)
- 2.Top programs combine database theory with hands-on experience using Oracle, SQL Server, and NoSQL systems
- 3.Public universities offer the best value, with in-state tuition averaging $13,200 compared to $48,000 at private institutions
- 4.find employment within 6 months, with starting salaries ranging from $52,000 to $68,000
- 5.Cloud database skills increase earning potential by 25-35% according to industry salary surveys
Complete Database Administration Bachelor's Programs Rankings
| Location | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Western Governors University | Salt Lake City, UT | $7,710 | — | — | 77 |
| 2 | Bellevue College | Bellevue, WA | $4,074 | 96% | — | 74.5 |
| 3 | Northeastern University | Boston, MA | $62,000 | — | — | 68.6 |
| 4 | University of Nevada-Las Vegas | Las Vegas, NV | $8,354 | 90% | — | 57.6 |
| 5 | Utah State University | Logan, UT | $7,387 | 100% | — | 55.7 |
| 6 | Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus | University Park, PA | $19,672 | 87% | — | 55.5 |
| 7 | University of San Francisco | San Francisco, CA | $57,670 | — | — | 51.9 |
| 8 | University of St Thomas | Saint Paul, MN | $50,788 | 89% | — | 51.3 |
| 9 | DePaul University | Chicago, IL | $43,379 | 86% | — | 50.1 |
| 10 | University of Minnesota-Duluth | Duluth, MN | $12,766 | — | — | 43.6 |
| 11 | University of Southern Mississippi | Hattiesburg, MS | $9,508 | — | — | 41.2 |
| 12 | University of Northwestern-St Paul | Saint Paul, MN | $35,970 | — | — | 36.2 |
| 13 | Capella University | Minneapolis, MN | $14,436 | 13% | — | 36 |
Compare Top 5 Unknown Programs
| School | Location | Type | Tuition | Grad Rate | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 Western Governors University | Salt Lake City, UT | Private | $7,710 | N/A | 77.0 |
| #2 Bellevue College | Bellevue, WA | Public | $4,074 | 96% | 74.5 |
| #3 Northeastern University | Boston, MA | Private | $62,000 | N/A | 68.6 |
| #4 University of Nevada-Las Vegas | Las Vegas, NV | Public | $8,354 | 90% | 57.6 |
| #5 Utah State University | Logan, UT | Public | $7,387 | 100% | 55.7 |
Western Governors University
Salt Lake City, UT • Private
Program Highlights
- • Annual Tuition: $7,710 (in-state)
- • Graduation Rate: N/A% (IPEDS 2023)
- • Database Administration Graduates: 200 annually
- • Acceptance Rate: N/A%
- • Ranking Score: 77.0 / 100
Program Strengths
- N/A% graduation rate
- 200 database administration graduates annually
- Located in UT with median salary of $115,500
- Private institution
- Overall score: 77.0 / 100
Why Ranked #1
Ranked #1 for Database Administration based on graduation rate (N/A%), program size (200 graduates), state salary outcomes, and selectivity (N/A% acceptance rate). Data from IPEDS 2023 and BLS OES 2024.
Bellevue College
Bellevue, WA • Public
Program Highlights
- • Annual Tuition: $4,074 (in-state)
- • Graduation Rate: 96% (IPEDS 2023)
- • Database Administration Graduates: 116 annually
- • Acceptance Rate: N/A%
- • Ranking Score: 74.5 / 100
Program Strengths
- 96% graduation rate
- 116 database administration graduates annually
- Located in WA with median salary of $145,230
- Public institution
- Overall score: 74.5 / 100
Why Ranked #2
Ranked #2 for Database Administration based on graduation rate (96%), program size (116 graduates), state salary outcomes, and selectivity (N/A% acceptance rate). Data from IPEDS 2023 and BLS OES 2024.
Northeastern University
Boston, MA • Private
Program Highlights
- • Annual Tuition: $62,000 (in-state)
- • Graduation Rate: N/A% (IPEDS 2023)
- • Database Administration Graduates: 63 annually
- • Acceptance Rate: 6%
- • Ranking Score: 68.6 / 100
Program Strengths
- N/A% graduation rate
- 63 database administration graduates annually
- Located in MA with median salary of $128,640
- Private institution with 6% acceptance rate
- Overall score: 68.6 / 100
Why Ranked #3
Ranked #3 for Database Administration based on graduation rate (N/A%), program size (63 graduates), state salary outcomes, and selectivity (6% acceptance rate). Data from IPEDS 2023 and BLS OES 2024.
University of Nevada-Las Vegas
Las Vegas, NV • Public
Program Highlights
- • Annual Tuition: $8,354 (in-state)
- • Graduation Rate: 90% (IPEDS 2023)
- • Database Administration Graduates: 55 annually
- • Acceptance Rate: 96%
- • Ranking Score: 57.6 / 100
Program Strengths
- 90% graduation rate
- 55 database administration graduates annually
- Located in NV with median salary of $115,500
- Public institution with 96% acceptance rate
- Overall score: 57.6 / 100
Why Ranked #4
Ranked #4 for Database Administration based on graduation rate (90%), program size (55 graduates), state salary outcomes, and selectivity (96% acceptance rate). Data from IPEDS 2023 and BLS OES 2024.
Utah State University
Logan, UT • Public
Program Highlights
- • Annual Tuition: $7,387 (in-state)
- • Graduation Rate: 100% (IPEDS 2023)
- • Database Administration Graduates: 31 annually
- • Acceptance Rate: 94%
- • Ranking Score: 55.7 / 100
Program Strengths
- 100% graduation rate
- 31 database administration graduates annually
- Located in UT with median salary of $115,500
- Public institution with 94% acceptance rate
- Overall score: 55.7 / 100
Why Ranked #5
Ranked #5 for Database Administration based on graduation rate (100%), program size (31 graduates), state salary outcomes, and selectivity (94% acceptance rate). Data from IPEDS 2023 and BLS OES 2024.
Career Paths
Database Administrator
SOC 15-1141Design, implement, and maintain database systems for organizations. Ensure data security, backup procedures, and optimal performance.
Data Scientist
SOC 15-2051Extract insights from large datasets using statistical analysis and machine learning techniques.
Database Developer
SOC 15-1132Design and create database applications, stored procedures, and data integration solutions.
Data Analyst
SOC 15-2041Analyze business data to identify trends, create reports, and support decision-making processes.
Software Engineer
SOC 15-1252Develop applications that interact with database systems and implement data-driven solutions.
Database Administration Programs by State
California
Texas
Florida
New York
Illinois
Pennsylvania
How to Choose the Right Database Administration Program
Selecting the right database administration program requires careful consideration of your career goals, learning style, and financial situation. Start by evaluating program curricula to ensure they cover current industry technologies. Look for programs that offer both theoretical foundations and practical experience with enterprise database systems.
Consider the program's industry connections and internship opportunities. Universities with strong relationships with technology companies provide valuable networking opportunities and often lead to job offers. Online programs offer flexibility but may lack hands-on laboratory experiences that are crucial for database administration skills.
Evaluate the total cost of education including tuition, fees, and living expenses. Public universities often provide excellent value with quality education at lower costs. However, private institutions may offer smaller class sizes, more individualized attention, and extensive alumni networks.
Research faculty backgrounds and current research projects. Professors with industry experience bring real-world perspectives to the classroom. Look for faculty who publish research in database technologies and collaborate with industry partners on cutting-edge projects.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Makes a Great Database Administration Program
The best database administration bachelor's programs combine theoretical knowledge with extensive hands-on experience. Students need exposure to multiple database management systems, from traditional relational databases like Oracle and SQL Server to modern NoSQL solutions like MongoDB and Cassandra.
Top programs emphasize database design principles, normalization, indexing strategies, and performance tuning. Students learn to work with large datasets and understand how database systems scale to handle enterprise-level workloads. The curriculum should cover both technical skills and business applications of database technology.
Industry partnerships distinguish exceptional programs from average ones. Universities with connections to major technology companies provide students with internship opportunities, guest lectures from working professionals, and access to enterprise software. These relationships often translate directly into job offers upon graduation.
Faculty expertise matters significantly in database education. The best programs feature professors with industry experience who stay current with evolving database technologies. Look for programs where faculty actively research database systems, publish in academic journals, and collaborate with industry partners on real-world projects.
Essential Database Administration Curriculum Components
A comprehensive database administration program covers both foundational computer science principles and specialized database technologies. Core coursework typically includes database design theory, SQL programming, data modeling, and systems analysis. Students learn to design efficient database schemas and write complex queries for data retrieval and manipulation.
Advanced courses focus on database administration tasks like performance tuning, backup and recovery procedures, and security implementation. Students gain experience with database monitoring tools, capacity planning, and troubleshooting techniques. Many programs include cloud database management courses covering Amazon RDS, Azure SQL Database, and Google Cloud SQL.
Hands-on laboratory work is essential for developing practical skills. Students work with enterprise database systems including Oracle Database, Microsoft SQL Server, MySQL, and PostgreSQL. Labs simulate real-world scenarios like database migrations, disaster recovery, and multi-user environment management.
- Database Design and Normalization - Creating efficient, scalable database structures
- SQL Programming and Optimization - Advanced query writing and performance tuning
- Database Security - Access controls, encryption, and compliance requirements
- Backup and Recovery - Disaster planning and business continuity strategies
- NoSQL Technologies - MongoDB, Cassandra, and document databases
- Cloud Database Services - AWS RDS, Azure SQL, Google Cloud Spanner
- Big Data Systems - Hadoop, Spark, and distributed database architectures
- Data Warehousing - ETL processes and business intelligence systems
Based on 45 programs from IPEDS 2023, BLS OES May 2024
Database Administration degree completions indicating program size, faculty, and resources
6-year completion rate from IPEDS 2023 (4-year institutions weighted higher)
Admission rate from IPEDS 2023 (lower = more selective)
State-specific database administration salaries from BLS OES 2024
Data Sources and Methodology
Employment and salary data for database administrators
Graduation rates, employment outcomes, and earnings data
Institutional characteristics, enrollment, and financial data
Graduate employment and starting salary surveys
Technology trends and salary benchmarks
Related Database Administration Resources
Taylor Rupe
Full-Stack Developer (B.S. Computer Science, B.A. Psychology)
Taylor combines formal training in computer science with a background in human behavior to evaluate complex search, AI, and data-driven topics. His technical review ensures each article reflects current best practices in semantic search, AI systems, and web technology.