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Key Takeaways
Best database administration degree programs: James Madison, Virginia Commonwealth, Averett
Ranked by graduation rates, program outcomes, and institutional quality
Tuition ranges from $7,914 to $38,400/year
James Madison offers the most affordable option at $7,914/yr
Database Administration degree programs available: 4 master's in Virginia
From community college pathways to advanced research degrees
3 online database administration degree programs in Virginia
Flexible scheduling for working professionals
Major employers: Amazon AWS, Microsoft, Booz Allen, Capital One
Tech hubs in Arlington and Reston
Hakia Research 2026
Database Administration degree programs near 73+ cities across Virginia
Search by city to find programs within 200 miles of your location
Updated June 26, 2026
How we ranked Virginia Database Administration programs
We rank 13 accredited database administration programs in Virginia using IPEDS 2024 institutional data, BLS OEWS 2024 state salary data, and College Scorecard outcomes. A 4-factor weighted composite is normalized to a 0–100 score. Schools cannot pay for placement; rankings are produced algorithmically.
Source: BLS OEWS May 2024
Database Administration Degree Rankings in Virginia
Compare the top-ranked Database Administration programs in Virginia by degree level. Tuition, graduation rate, and Hakia Score for every accredited program.
Best Bachelor's Database Administration Programs in Virginia
Program Landscape
Virginia ranks among the nation's top destinations for database administration education, with 9 accredited bachelor's degree programs across 4 public and 3 private institutions. The highest-ranked programs are James Madison, Virginia Commonwealth, Averett, recognized for academic excellence, research opportunities, and strong industry connections.
Career Outcomes
Graduates from Virginia database administration programs earn a median salary of $107,185, 9% above the national average. The state's robust technology sector, anchored by the Arlington, Reston, Richmond metropolitan areas, provides abundant internship and employment opportunities with companies including Amazon AWS, Microsoft, Booz Allen.
Costs & Value
Tuition ranges from $7,914 to $38,400 annually, with an average of $16,763/yr. Top programs maintain graduation rates above 89%, with the highest reaching 100%. Many programs hold ABET accreditation, the gold standard for computing education, ensuring curriculum meets rigorous industry standards.
Curriculum & Specializations
Students can choose from specializations including software engineering, cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, data science, and systems architecture. Strong industry partnerships provide access to co-op programs, capstone projects with real companies, and direct recruiting pipelines to Virginia's leading technology employers. For students seeking database administration degrees in Virginia, these top-ranked database administration schools offer the strongest combination of academic rigor and career preparation.
Show all 9 ranked programs
| Rank | School | Location | Type | Tuition | Grad Rate | Hakia Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #6 | Regent University | Virginia Beach, VA | Private | $18,986 | 64% | 47.9 |
| #7 | Strayer University-Virginia | Arlington, VA | For-Profit | $13,725 | — | 48.4 |
| #8 | DeVry University-Virginia | Arlington, VA | For-Profit | $14,392 | 100% | 45.6 |
| #9 | Radford University | Radford, VA | Public | $8,401 | — | 41.0 |
Best Master's Database Administration Programs in Virginia
Program Landscape
Virginia offers 4 master's degree programs in database administration, designed for professionals seeking to advance into senior engineering, technical leadership, and specialized roles. The top programs, George Mason, Virginia Commonwealth, Strayer University-Virginia, combine advanced technical training with research opportunities and leadership development.
Career Outcomes
Master's graduates in Virginia earn a median salary of $126,100, approximately 20-30% higher than bachelor's degree holders. The concentration of technology companies in Arlington, Reston, Richmond creates strong demand for graduate-level talent, with Amazon AWS, Microsoft, Booz Allen actively recruiting from these programs.
Costs & Value
Program formats include traditional full-time study (typically 2 years), part-time options for working professionals (2-3 years), and accelerated tracks. Tuition averages $11,268/yr, with many employers offering tuition reimbursement for graduate education. Some programs offer thesis and non-thesis tracks, allowing students to focus on research or professional development based on their career goals.
Curriculum & Specializations
Curriculum covers advanced topics including machine learning, distributed systems, software architecture, and technical management. Many programs include practicum experiences, industry capstone projects, or consulting engagements that provide real-world application of advanced concepts. Among Virginia's database administration schools at the graduate level, these programs stand out for both academic quality and career outcomes.
Database Administration Degree Costs & Tuition in Virginia
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Average in-state tuition | $16,096/year |
| Average out-of-state tuition | $40,240/year |
| Community college tuition | $4,024/year |
| 4-year savings for residents | $96,576 |
| 2+2 transfer pathway savings | $24,144 |
Source: IPEDS 2024
Financial Aid & Scholarships for Database Administration Students in Virginia
State Aid Programs
Virginia offers multiple financial aid programs for database administration students. The Virginia Tuition Assistance Grant provides need-based aid for eligible residents attending in-state institutions. Merit-based scholarships are available through individual universities and the Virginia State Council of Higher Education. Technology-specific scholarships often target students pursuing STEM fields including computer science and information systems (Virginia Tech Career Fairs).
Key Programs & Amounts
Federal financial aid programs including Pell Grants and Stafford Loans provide additional funding options. Virginia residents qualify for in-state tuition rates at public institutions, significantly reducing costs compared to out-of-state students. Work-study programs allow students to gain relevant experience while earning money for educational expenses. Virginia Tech's Campus internEXP program offers paid internship opportunities for undergraduate students (Virginia Tech Campus internEXP).
Institutional Scholarships
Professional organizations and technology companies provide scholarships specifically for database and information systems students. Students should explore industry partnerships that may offer tuition reimbursement or guaranteed employment opportunities. The financial aid guide provides detailed information about maximizing aid opportunities. Early application submission improves chances of receiving merit-based awards with limited funding.
Database Administration Degree ROI Calculator, Virginia
Use our interactive ROI calculator to estimate your return on investment for a database administration degree in Virginia. Enter your expected tuition costs, financial aid, and career goals to see projected payback periods and lifetime earnings. The calculator uses current salary data from BLS and tuition data from IPEDS to provide accurate estimates.
Database Administration Degree ROI Calculator
Estimate your return on investment for a database administration degree
Leave blank to use average cost for selected program type
+959%
Net gain divided by total investment. ROI above 200% is considered excellent for education investments.
$1,774,135
Your additional lifetime earnings with this degree vs. working without one, minus the total investment.
5 years
Years until your cumulative earnings exceed total investment. Shorter programs often break even faster due to lower opportunity cost.
$100,000
Your starting salary adjusted for local cost of living. This shows real purchasing power compared to a $100K national baseline.
Why does break-even change with program type? Your "total investment" includes both tuition AND opportunity cost (foregone earnings while in school). A 4-year full-time public university (in-state) means 4 years of not earning a salary ($140,000 in opportunity cost). Shorter full-time programs may have higher tuition but lower total investment because you return to the workforce sooner.
Detailed Breakdown
How we calculate your degree ROI using real salary data
Tuition plus opportunity cost (earnings you miss while in school)
Direct cost of the degree program
4 years × $35K/year foregone salary while studying full-time
Projected career earnings starting after graduation, with salary growth
What you'd earn working at $35K/year with 2% annual growth
Median salary for this role in your selected location (BLS 2024)
Your investment's compound annual growth rate (similar to stock market returns)
Data sources: BLS OEWS May 2024, IPEDS 2024. Calculations use median salaries, 3% discount rate, and assume salary growth declines from 6% to 2% over career. Individual results will vary. | Powered by Hakia.com
Database Administration Salaries by Metro Area
Median annual salary in Virginia metro areas
View data table
| Category | Value |
|---|---|
| Arlington | $139K |
| Reston | $132K |
| Richmond | $126K |
| Norfolk | $120K |
Source: BLS OEWS May 2024
Hakia.com
Top Employers Hiring Database Administration Graduates in Virginia
Find database administration jobs in Virginia. These major employers across Virginia metro areas are actively hiring database administration degree holders. Click employer names to view current job openings.
Database Administration Jobs in Northern Virginia
VANorthern Virginia is home to Amazon HQ2, major data center infrastructure, and the largest concentration of defense contractors.
Nearby cities: Arlington, Tysons, Reston, Herndon, Ashburn, McLean
Database Administration Jobs in Richmond
VARichmond hosts Capital One's main campus and a growing fintech ecosystem.
Nearby cities: Glen Allen, Midlothian, Short Pump
Virginia Tech Industry & Infrastructure
Virginia's tech economy is uniquely defined by Northern Virginia — the highest concentration of federal cybersecurity, defense, and cloud-infrastructure employers in the country. Loudoun and Prince William counties host the world's largest cluster of data centers (carrying an estimated 70%+ of global internet traffic), Amazon's HQ2 is in Arlington, and the federal contracting market employs tens of thousands of cleared engineers.
Northern Virginia
Arlington, Alexandria, Fairfax, Loudoun, Prince William
Amazon HQ2 (Arlington), Capital One HQ (McLean), AOL/Yahoo legacy footprint, and the world's largest cluster of federal-contractor engineering employers — Booz Allen Hamilton, MITRE, Leidos, SAIC, Northrop Grumman, Lockheed Martin's NoVA operations, CACI, ManTech. Loudoun County's data-center alley hosts AWS, Microsoft Azure, Google Cloud, Oracle, and dozens of colocation providers.
Richmond
Richmond metro
State government IT, CarMax HQ, Markel Insurance, Genworth, Altria. Smaller but stable enterprise-tech market; lower cost of living than NoVA.
Hampton Roads / Norfolk
Virginia Beach-Norfolk-Newport News
Navy and military-adjacent tech employment (Naval Information Warfare Center, Joint Forces Staff College), Newport News Shipbuilding tech, and a growing regional cybersecurity cluster.
Virginia has a graduated state income tax (top rate 5.75%). The Virginia Investment Performance Grant and Virginia Talent Accelerator Program are the principal tech-employer incentives — both used in attracting Amazon HQ2.
Virginia Regulation Affecting Database Administration Graduates
Virginia was the second US state (after California) to pass a comprehensive consumer privacy law. The Virginia Consumer Data Protection Act (VCDPA) is now one of the foundational state privacy frameworks copied by other states. For NoVA's massive federal-contractor base, however, the more daily-relevant compliance regime is FedRAMP, FISMA, NIST 800-171, and CMMC — federal cybersecurity standards that shape engineering practice across the contractor ecosystem.
Virginia Consumer Data Protection Act (VCDPA)
Effective January 2023. Grants VA residents rights to access, correct, delete, and opt out of sale of personal data. Applies to businesses processing data of 100,000+ VA consumers, or 25,000+ deriving 50%+ revenue from data sales.
Engineers building consumer-facing products for VA users must implement VCDPA-compliant data flows. The law's thresholds make it less broadly applicable than CCPA, but the model has influenced subsequent state laws.
Read moreFederal cybersecurity frameworks (FedRAMP, FISMA, NIST 800-171, CMMC)
Not Virginia laws, but the practical compliance regime for the NoVA federal-contractor base. Engineers at Booz Allen, MITRE, SAIC, and similar employers operate under these standards daily.
For most cybersecurity, cloud, and defense-tech roles in Northern Virginia, federal cybersecurity framework knowledge is more valuable than state privacy law expertise. CISSP, CCSP, and clearance-eligible profiles dominate hiring requirements.
Read moreVirginia Identity Theft Passport Program
State program providing identity-theft victims with a verification document; backed by data-handling rules for credit-reporting and consumer-data businesses.
Standard compliance for consumer-data businesses operating in Virginia.
Read moreProfessional Engineer Licensure in Virginia
Virginia does not administer a separate Software Engineering PE license. ABET-EAC accreditation supports traditional engineering PE tracks. For the NoVA market, federal security clearances (Secret, Top Secret, TS/SCI with poly) are dramatically more relevant than PE licensure — most tech roles at major federal contractors require clearance-eligibility at minimum.
Virginia licensing boardVirginia Financial Aid Programs
Up to $5,000/yr (undergraduate)
VA residents attending eligible private nonprofit VA colleges/universities
Commonwealth Award
State grantVaries by institution; awarded by individual schools from state allocation
VA residents with financial need at public VA colleges/universities
Tuition, fees, and book allowance
VA residents from low-income households attending VA public 4-year institutions with academic merit
G3 (Get Skilled, Get a Job, Give Back) Tuition Assistance
Workforce grant (community college)Covers tuition, books, and fees
Low- to middle-income VA residents enrolling in qualifying high-demand VA community college programs (incl. IT, cybersecurity, healthcare)
Transfer Pathways for Database Administration Degrees in Virginia
State Transfer System
Virginia's Community College System maintains formal transfer agreements with four-year institutions throughout the state. The Virginia Transfer Grant program provides guaranteed admission pathways for community college students meeting specific GPA and coursework requirements. Students can complete general education and prerequisite courses at community colleges before transferring to complete database administration specializations at universities. These pathways significantly reduce overall degree costs while maintaining program quality (Virginia Tech Campus internEXP).
How Transfers Work
Transfer students should work closely with advisors to ensure course alignment between institutions. Virginia's transfer credit evaluation process allows students to transfer 60+ credit hours from community colleges. Online database administration courses may transfer with proper accreditation and content verification. Students considering multiple states should compare Virginia's transfer policies with neighboring states like database administration in maryland for optimal pathway selection.
Source: BLS Occupational Outlook
Database Administration Job Market & Salary Data in Virginia
Employment Outlook
Virginia's database administration job market shows consistent growth driven by government contracting and private sector demand. The state's proximity to federal agencies creates steady employment opportunities for database professionals with security clearances. Technology companies and defense contractors throughout Virginia actively recruit database administrators for critical infrastructure projects (Virginia Tech Career Fairs).
Salaries by Metro
Salary ranges vary significantly by region within Virginia. Northern Virginia database administrators earn higher salaries due to cost of living and federal contractor premiums. Richmond and Norfolk metro areas offer competitive salaries with lower living costs. Remote work opportunities have expanded post-2020, allowing Virginia residents to access national job markets while maintaining state residency benefits.
High-Growth Sectors
High-growth sectors include healthcare data management, financial services, and government contracting. The emergence of AI applications increases demand for administrators skilled in big data platforms and cloud databases (Brookings AI Economy Mapping). Students should explore software developer roles as complementary career paths that often overlap with database administration responsibilities.
Entry-Level (0-2 yrs)
New graduates and career changers
Senior (8+ yrs)
Technical leads and architects
Online vs On-Campus Database Administration Programs in Virginia
Online Programs
3 available in Virginia
On-Campus Programs
Traditional classroom experience
Compare Database Administration Programs in Other States
- Total Programs
- 27
- Median Tuition
- $9,200
- Total Programs
- 9
- Median Tuition
- $8,100
- Total Programs
- 6
- Median Tuition
- $12,500
- Total Programs
- 13
- Median Tuition
- $7,000
- Total Programs
- 25
- Median Tuition
- $11,800
- Total Programs
- 12
- Median Tuition
- $5,100
- Total Programs
- 47
- Median Tuition
- $7,700
Database Administration Degree Programs in Virginia: FAQ
What are the best database administration degree programs in Virginia?
How much do database administration degree programs cost in Virginia?
What salary can database administration degree graduates earn in Virginia?
Are there online database administration degree programs in Virginia?
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Data Sources
Institutional characteristics, completions, graduation rates
Virginia salary and employment data
Program details and admissions information
Last Updated: June 26, 2026. Rankings based on IPEDS 2024 data. Salary data from BLS OEWS May 2024.
Taylor Rupe
Co-founder & Editor (B.S. Computer Science, Oregon State • B.A. Psychology, University of Washington)
Taylor combines technical expertise in computer science with a deep understanding of human behavior and learning. His dual background drives Hakia's mission: leveraging technology to build authoritative educational resources that help people make better decisions about their academic and career paths.