Most Affordable Database Administration Degree Programs 2026

Best Database Administration Programs - Top 10 Most Affordable, Complete Program Data

1. #1. University of South Florida — Database Administration

   Hakia ranks University of South Florida's database administration program #1. Delivery: on-campus. Location: Tampa, FL | Type: Public | Tuition: $4,559/year | Graduation Rate: 85%

   What makes University of South Florida stand out: USF's integration of medical research with advanced computing and engineering, combined with its status as a Carnegie Tier 1 institution, uniquely positions graduates for healthcare IT, biomedical engineering, and medical informatics careers.

   Hakia Insight: University of South Florida's direct partnerships with Cisco and Tampa General Hospital give students a competitive edge through industry-embedded projects and recruiting pipelines.

   Program Overview: USF's database administration program operates within a major research university context, which shapes the program's emphasis on both production database management and the research applications of data systems. The curriculum incorporates big data technologies and analytical database approaches alongside traditional administrative skills, preparing graduates for an expanding job market where database professionals increasingly need to understand data science methodologies. Faculty expertise spans multiple specialization areas, from performance optimization to distributed systems to data governance, giving students exposure to the full breadth of modern database administration. The program benefits from USF's strong engineering and computer science traditions, meaning database courses connect to broader concepts in systems design and software architecture that provide valuable context for administrative decisions. Partnerships with Tampa Bay area technology companies, healthcare organizations, and financial services firms create internship opportunities and ensure the program stays responsive to employer needs. What makes USF's approach distinctive is the emphasis on database professionals as strategic business contributors rather than purely technical support roles, students learn to communicate database implications to non-technical stakeholders and understand how data infrastructure decisions affect organizational goals. Graduates report that this broader contextual understanding gave them advantages in early career advancement, moving into roles with greater business responsibility than pure administration.

   Degree Programs: BS in Computer Science (4 years); BS in Information Technology (4 years); MS in Computer Science (2 years); PhD in Computer Science (5-6 years)

   Research Labs: USF Research Park - Technology commercialization and research partnerships; Center for Advanced Medical Learning and Simulation (CAMLS) - Medical simulation and healthcare technology; Biomedical Engineering and Biomaterials Laboratory - Biomedical applications and medical devices

   Industry Partners: Cisco, Tampa General Hospital, Johns Hopkins Medicine, NOAA

   Career Outcomes: | Top Employers: Cisco, IBM, Duke Energy, Baxter, Johnson & Johnson | Common Roles: Software Engineer, Systems Engineer, Biomedical Engineer, Healthcare IT Specialist

   Admissions:

   Accreditations: ABET accredited (Engineering and Computer Science programs)

2. #2. Bellevue College — Database Administration

   Hakia ranks Bellevue College's database administration program #2. Delivery: on-campus. Location: Bellevue, WA | Type: Public | Tuition: $4,074/year | Graduation Rate: 96%

   What makes Bellevue College stand out: Bellevue College's stackable certificate-to-degree model and embedded industry certification preparation make it uniquely accessible for working adults entering database administration while maintaining employer credibility.

   Hakia Insight: Students at Bellevue College benefit from active collaborations with Oracle and Microsoft, connecting classroom learning to the workforce.

   Program Overview: Based on the provided sources, I was unable to locate specific information about a Database Administration program at Bellevue College. The faculty directory shows extensive expertise in computer science, information technology, and data analytics, with faculty like Cheng Cheng teaching in BAS Data Analytics and Fatma Cemile Serce specializing in Computer Science with a doctorate in Information Systems from Middle East Technical University. The college operates under strong leadership including Rodger Harrison as Vice President of Information Technology Services with a Master's in Information Technology Management from Western Governors University. However, without specific program curriculum, degree requirements, or dedicated database administration faculty details in the sources, I can't provide comprehensive program information.

   Degree Programs: Certificate in Database Administration (1 year); Associate Degree in Database Administration (2 years)

   Industry Partners: Oracle, Microsoft

   Career Outcomes:

   Admissions:

   Accreditations: Oracle Certified Associate, Microsoft SQL Server certifications

3. #3. Georgia Southern University — Database Administration

   Hakia ranks Georgia Southern University's database administration program #3. Delivery: on-campus. Location: Statesboro, GA | Type: Public | Tuition: $4,371/year | Graduation Rate: 94%

   Hakia Insight: Georgia Southern University leverages partnerships with Gulfstream Aerospace and Enmarket to offer students real-world project experience valued by employers.

   Program Overview: Georgia Southern's Information Technology program includes database administration specialization within their comprehensive IT curriculum. The program combines theoretical foundations with practical applications in database design, implementation, and management.

   Degree Programs: Bachelor of Science in Information Technology (4)

   Research Labs: Data Analytics and Visualization Lab - Big data and business intelligence; Cybersecurity Research Lab - Database security and privacy

   Industry Partners: Gulfstream Aerospace, Enmarket, IBM

   Career Outcomes: | Top Employers: Gulfstream Aerospace, Memorial Health, Georgia Ports Authority | Common Roles: Database Administrator, Data Analyst, Systems Administrator

   Admissions:

   Accreditations: CompTIA Database+, Microsoft SQL Server, Oracle Database

4. #4. University of North Georgia — Database Administration

   Hakia ranks University of North Georgia's database administration program #4. Delivery: on-campus. Location: Dahlonega, GA | Type: Public | Tuition: $4,230/year | Graduation Rate: 100%

   Hakia Insight: University of North Georgia's industry network, including Northside Hospital and Amazon Web Services, provides students with internship and hiring pathways.

   Program Overview: UNG's Information Systems program provides strong database administration foundation within their comprehensive business and technology curriculum. The program emphasizes practical database management skills and business application integration.

   Degree Programs: Bachelor of Business Administration in Information Systems (4)

   Research Labs: Business Analytics Lab - Database-driven business intelligence; Cybersecurity Research Center - Database security and compliance

   Industry Partners: Northside Hospital, Amazon Web Services, Local North Georgia businesses

   Career Outcomes: | Top Employers: Northside Hospital, Habersham Medical Center, Regional banks | Common Roles: Database Analyst, Information Systems Specialist, Database Administrator

   Admissions:

   Accreditations: Microsoft Office Specialist, CompTIA Database+, AWS Cloud Practitioner

5. #5. University of North Florida — Database Administration

   Hakia ranks University of North Florida's database administration program #5. Delivery: on-campus. Location: Jacksonville, FL | Type: Public | Tuition: $3,996/year | Graduation Rate: 82%

   Hakia Insight: University of North Florida leverages partnerships with CSX Corporation and Fidelity National Financial to offer students real-world project experience valued by employers.

   Program Overview: UNF's Computing and Information Sciences program offers specialized tracks in database systems and data management. The program combines computer science fundamentals with advanced database technologies and data analytics.

   Degree Programs: BS Computing and Information Sciences - Database Systems Track (4)

   Research Labs: Data Science Research Institute - Big Data Analytics; Cybersecurity Lab - Database Security

   Industry Partners: CSX Corporation, Fidelity National Financial, Johnson & Johnson

   Career Outcomes: | Top Employers: CSX, Fidelity National Financial, Blue Cross Blue Shield | Common Roles: Database Administrator, Data Scientist, Business Intelligence Developer

   Admissions:

   Accreditations: Oracle Certified Professional, Microsoft SQL Server, MongoDB

6. #6. Grambling State University — Database Administration

   Hakia ranks Grambling State University's database administration program #6. Delivery: on-campus. Location: Grambling, LA | Type: Public | Tuition: $5,140/year | Graduation Rate: 99%

   What makes Grambling State University stand out: Grambling's database administration program is known for its tight integration with regional business partnerships and employer-led capstone projects that build job-ready portfolios before graduation.

   Hakia Insight: Proximity to Shreveport-Bossier City financial and healthcare sectors

   Program Overview: Grambling State's database administration program emphasizes practical, hands-on technical training grounded in real-world business scenarios. Rather than treating database work as a theoretical discipline, the curriculum prioritizes SQL proficiency, data modeling, and systems administration across multiple platforms. Oracle, SQL Server, and MySQL, ensuring graduates can immediately contribute in enterprise environments. The program builds around a core sequence in database design, advanced SQL query optimization, and database security, with electives allowing students to specialize in areas like data warehousing or business intelligence. What distinguishes this pathway is its integration with local and regional business partnerships. Students engage in capstone projects with actual companies seeking solutions to their data management challenges, creating a portfolio that speaks directly to employer needs. Faculty bring experience from both academic research and industry roles, mentoring students through certification prep (Oracle and Microsoft credentials are actively encouraged) while maintaining emphasis on the soft skills, communication, documentation, troubleshooting methodology, that separate competent DBAs from exceptional ones. Graduates consistently move into junior DBA roles at regional financial institutions, healthcare systems, and manufacturing firms, with many advancing to senior positions within 3–5 years. The program's relatively intimate cohort size means students receive individualized attention and networking opportunities that larger programs can't match.

   Degree Programs: BS in Computer Science (Database Administration Track) (4 years)

   Career Outcomes: | Common Roles: Junior Database Administrator, Database Support Specialist, SQL Developer

   Admissions:

7. #7. Kennesaw State University — Database Administration

   Hakia ranks Kennesaw State University's database administration program #7. Delivery: on-campus. Location: Kennesaw, GA | Type: Public | Tuition: $4,450/year | Graduation Rate: 66%

   What makes Kennesaw State University stand out: Programs focus on the intersection of business operations and information systems technology, with hands-on training and diverse career pathways in both profit and non-profit organizations.

   Program Overview: Kennesaw State University offers database administration education through their Information Systems and Information Technology programs. The BBA in Information Systems covers database architecture and business systems, while the MS in Information Technology includes specialized database administration coursework.

   Degree Programs: BBA Information Systems (4 years); MS Information Technology (30 credit hours)

   Career Outcomes: | Common Roles: Database Administrator, Computer and Information Systems Manager, Business Analyst, Computer System Analyst

   Admissions:

8. #8. University of Oklahoma-Norman Campus — Database Administration

   Hakia ranks University of Oklahoma-Norman Campus's database administration program #8. Delivery: on-campus. Location: Norman, OK | Type: Public | Tuition: $5,070/year | Graduation Rate: 88%

   What makes University of Oklahoma-Norman Campus stand out: OU offers database training within a research-intensive environment where theory, systems research, and enterprise practice converge, preparing students for senior technical and research-oriented roles.

   Hakia Insight: University of Oklahoma-Norman Campus leverages partnerships with IBM and Microsoft to offer students real-world project experience valued by employers.

   Program Overview: OU's database systems curriculum, delivered through the School of Computer Science, balances foundational database theory with contemporary systems challenges at a research-active institution where faculty actively investigate scalability, distributed databases, and data management innovation. Students progress through rigorous coursework in relational design, query optimization, transaction processing, and increasingly, distributed and cloud database architectures that reflect current industry evolution. The program benefits from OU's position as a major research university where database-related projects span healthcare IT (through the medical school), energy systems research, and large-scale data analytics initiatives. Graduate students and advanced undergraduates frequently participate in faculty-mentored research and industry internships with Fortune 500 companies and technology leaders who actively recruit from OU. The Norman location anchors access to Oklahoma's energy research ecosystem and proximity to Dallas-Fort Worth tech corridors, creating multiple pathways into senior database engineering and research roles.

   Degree Programs: BS in Computer Science (Database Systems track) (4 years); MS in Computer Science (Database Systems specialization) (2 years)

   Research Labs: OU School of Computer Science Database and Systems Lab - Database systems, query optimization, distributed data management

   Industry Partners: IBM, Microsoft, Oracle

   Career Outcomes: | Top Employers: IBM, Microsoft, Oracle, AT&T, ExxonMobil | Common Roles: Senior Database Administrator, Database Engineer, Data Systems Architect, Research Software Engineer

   Admissions:

9. #9. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill — Database Administration

   Hakia ranks University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill's database administration program #9. Delivery: on-campus. Location: Chapel Hill, NC | Type: Public | Tuition: $7,019/year | Graduation Rate: 93%

   What makes University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill stand out: UNC-Chapel Hill doesn't appear to offer a dedicated database administration program based on the available content.

   Program Overview: Based on the provided content, there's no dedicated database administration program at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. However, database-related expertise exists within the School of Information and Library Science (SILS), where adjunct faculty member Ramanarao Chamarty specializes in database management systems, logical and physical design, data query and manipulation, database administration and related emerging topics including data analytics and data science. The content reveals that UNC-Chapel Hill is a major research university with substantial research infrastructure, including the Gillings School of Global Public Health which has secured over $1 billion in research funding since 2016, and various departments conducting data-intensive research. The Applied Biostatistics Team in the Department of Surgery assists faculty and trainees with large database access and analysis. The university has extensive research computing needs across departments including the Department of Biostatistics, which is described as a world leader in statistical research, and various research centers conducting epidemiological and health services research that require substantial database management capabilities. However, the search results don't reveal a formal database administration degree program, suggesting this field may be covered as part of broader information science, computer science, or data science curricula rather than as a standalone program.

   Career Outcomes:

   Notable Faculty: Ramanarao Chamarty (Database management system, logical and physical design, data query and manipulation, database administration and related emerging topics (data analytics, data science))

   Admissions:

10. #10. Texas A & M University-Commerce — Database Administration

    Hakia ranks Texas A & M University-Commerce's database administration program #10. Delivery: on-campus. Location: Commerce, TX | Type: Public | Tuition: $4,790/year | Graduation Rate: 83%

    What makes Texas A & M University-Commerce stand out: The program uniquely offers specialized cybersecurity education at the Texas A&M System RELLIS campus in Bryan, with comprehensive training in IoT security, cryptography, and risk assessment alongside traditional computer science foundations.

    Hakia Insight: Located in Commerce, Texas with additional cybersecurity program at RELLIS Campus in Bryan

    Program Overview: Texas A&M University-Commerce offers comprehensive computer science and information systems programs through its Department of Computer Science and Information Systems, led by Abdullah Arslan. The department provides three main academic pathways: Bachelor of Science in Computer Science, Bachelor of Science in Computer Information Systems (B.S.C.I.S.), and Bachelor of Science in Cybersecurity (available only at the RELLIS Campus in Bryan, Texas). The Computer Science program prepares students for diverse applications within the computer science field through core foundation courses and advanced coursework in networking, database management, programming, and information assurance and security. Students are prepared for careers as systems analysts, application software developers, software engineers, database administrators, network administrators, security specialists, and graphics/animation developers. The Cybersecurity program focuses specifically on assessing security needs of computer and network systems, recommending safeguard solutions, and managing implementation of security devices and procedures, with curriculum covering computer architecture, programming, networking, telecommunications, cryptography, Internet of Things (IoT), and security system design.

    Degree Programs: Bachelor of Science in Computer Science (4 years); Bachelor of Science in Computer Information Systems (4 years); Bachelor of Science in Cybersecurity (4 years)

    Career Outcomes: | Common Roles: Systems Analyst, Application Software Developer, Software Engineer, Computer Engineer, Technical Writer, System Designer, Security Administrator, Computer Security Specialist, Database Administrator, Network Administrator, Network Security Specialist, Simulation/Modeling Developer, Graphics/Animation Developer

    Notable Faculty: Abdullah Arslan (Computer Science and Information Systems)

    Admissions: