Best Network Administration Associate&#39;s Degree Programs 2026

MTI College Associate's Network Administration Program Overview

Hakia ranks MTI College as the #1 associate's in network administration degree program.

This online Associate of Science in Information Technology tops its 126-program network and systems group at number one, and the underlying numbers explain why. A 77 percent graduation rate is exceptional for a two-year IT credential, and the program backs its certificate prep with actual exam vouchers covering CompTIA A+ Core 1 and 2, Network+, AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner, AWS Certified Solutions Architect, and LPI Linux Essentials. Classes meet live with working professionals twice a week rather than running as self-paced modules, which suits people leaving hourly jobs for IT support, network administration, or cloud roles. Full program tuition is listed at $19,520, priced below the Pell Grant maximum so financial aid can cover much of it. With only 10 completions a year and a 63 percent acceptance rate, it stays small and selective even while fully online.

Program Strengths

77% graduation rate
$129,180 median salary
10 graduates annually

🥈

Eastern Florida State College

Associate's in Network AdministrationOn-campus

Melbourne, FLPublic

$129,180 median salary · 52% graduation rate

92.0

Score

$2K

Tuition/yr

52%

Grad Rate

$129K

Median Salary

Eastern Florida State College Associate's Network Administration Program Overview

Hakia ranks Eastern Florida State College as the #2 associate's in network administration degree program.

Eastern Florida State pairs the lowest tuition in this group with the strongest completion rate, and its in-house Center for Cybersecurity and Digital Forensics plus a clean transfer path into the Computer Information Systems Technology BAS make it a low-risk on-ramp. Holding a CCNA or CompTIA cert can earn up to 16 credits, and the cybersecurity focus is real rather than rebranded, since the program was renamed in 2024 to reflect it.

Program Strengths

52% graduation rate
$129,180 median salary
$2,048 in-state tuition
17 graduates annually

🥉

Santa Fe College

Associate's in Network AdministrationOn-campus

Gainesville, FLPublic

$129,180 median salary · 53% graduation rate

91.6

Score

$2K

Tuition/yr

53%

Grad Rate

$129K

Median Salary

Santa Fe College Associate's Network Administration Program Overview

Hakia ranks Santa Fe College as the #3 associate's in network administration degree program.

Ranked first among its in-state networking peers, this open-admission associate is genuinely cheap and exposes you to a wide certification spread (CompTIA A+ through Security+, plus Cisco CCNA and Microsoft tracks) before laddering into a bachelor's. Completion sits at 53 percent, respectable for an open-door program, and the on-campus format suits hands-on learners who want lab access rather than a self-guided online slog.

Program Strengths

53% graduation rate
$129,180 median salary
$1,872 in-state tuition
10 graduates annually

Valencia College

Associate's in Network AdministrationOn-campus

Orlando, FLPublic

$129,180 median salary · 48% graduation rate

91.2

Score

$2K

Tuition/yr

48%

Grad Rate

$129K

Median Salary

Program Strengths

48% graduation rate
$129,180 median salary
$2,467 in-state tuition
62 graduates annually

Miami Dade College

Associate's in Network AdministrationOn-campus

Miami, FLPublic

$129,180 median salary · 46% graduation rate

89.9

Score

$2K

Tuition/yr

46%

Grad Rate

$129K

Median Salary

Miami Dade College Associate's Network Administration Program Overview

Hakia ranks Miami Dade College as the #5 associate's in network administration degree program.

Miami Dade's Networking Services Technology degree is the strongest of these Florida peers, ranking third in its group with the best completion rate of the bunch at 46 percent. It explicitly maps to CCNA, Network+, and Security+ exams, embeds a stackable CCNA certificate, and offers evening, weekend, and fully virtual MDC LIVE formats, making it a practical pick for working students who want certification-ready training cheaply.

Program Strengths

46% graduation rate
$129,180 median salary
$1,987 in-state tuition
13 graduates annually

Rasmussen University-Minnesota

Associate's in Network AdministrationOn-campus

St. Cloud, MNPrivate for-profit

$129,180 median salary · 53% graduation rate

87.8

Score

$11K

Tuition/yr

53%

Grad Rate

$129K

Median Salary

Program Strengths

53% graduation rate
$129,180 median salary
$10,595 in-state tuition
35 graduates annually

Southeast Technical College

Associate's in Network AdministrationOn-campus

Sioux Falls, SDPublic

$129,180 median salary · 59% graduation rate

87.3

Score

$4K

Tuition/yr

59%

Grad Rate

$129K

Median Salary

Program Strengths

59% graduation rate
$129,180 median salary
$3,720 in-state tuition
27 graduates annually

Dakota County Technical College

Associate's in Network AdministrationOn-campus

Rosemount, MNPublic

$129,180 median salary · 58% graduation rate

85.7

Score

$6K

Tuition/yr

58%

Grad Rate

$129K

Median Salary

Program Strengths

58% graduation rate
$129,180 median salary
$5,759 in-state tuition
19 graduates annually

Athens Technical College

Associate's in Network AdministrationOn-campus

Athens, GAPublic

$129,180 median salary · 51% graduation rate

85.5

Score

$3K

Tuition/yr

51%

Grad Rate

$129K

Median Salary

Program Strengths

51% graduation rate
$129,180 median salary
$2,568 in-state tuition
10 graduates annually

#10

Southern Crescent Technical College

Associate's in Network AdministrationFully online

Griffin, GAPublic

$129,180 median salary · 58% graduation rate

85.4

Score

$3K

Tuition/yr

58%

Grad Rate

$129K

Median Salary

Best Network Administration Associate's Programs in California

Program Strengths

58% graduation rate
$129,180 median salary
$2,568 in-state tuition
3 graduates annually

Best Network Administration Associate's Programs - Top 10, Complete Program Data

#1. MTI College — Associate's Network Administration (Online)
Hakia ranks MTI College's online associate's network administration program #1. Degree: Associate's. Delivery: fully online. Location: Sacramento, CA | Type: Private for-profit | Graduation Rate: 77% | Median Salary: $129,180 | Score: 92.9
#2. Eastern Florida State College — Associate's Network Administration
Hakia ranks Eastern Florida State College's associate's network administration program #2. Degree: Associate's. Delivery: on-campus. Location: Melbourne, FL | Type: Public | Tuition: $2,048/year | Graduation Rate: 52% | Median Salary: $129,180 | Score: 92.0
#3. Santa Fe College — Associate's Network Administration
Hakia ranks Santa Fe College's associate's network administration program #3. Degree: Associate's. Delivery: on-campus. Location: Gainesville, FL | Type: Public | Tuition: $1,872/year | Graduation Rate: 53% | Median Salary: $129,180 | Score: 91.6
#4. Valencia College — Associate's Network Administration
Hakia ranks Valencia College's associate's network administration program #4. Degree: Associate's. Delivery: on-campus. Location: Orlando, FL | Type: Public | Tuition: $2,467/year | Graduation Rate: 48% | Median Salary: $129,180 | Score: 91.2
#5. Miami Dade College — Associate's Network Administration
Hakia ranks Miami Dade College's associate's network administration program #5. Degree: Associate's. Delivery: on-campus. Location: Miami, FL | Type: Public | Tuition: $1,987/year | Graduation Rate: 46% | Median Salary: $129,180 | Score: 89.9
#6. Rasmussen University-Minnesota — Associate's Network Administration
Hakia ranks Rasmussen University-Minnesota's associate's network administration program #6. Degree: Associate's. Delivery: on-campus. Location: St. Cloud, MN | Type: Private for-profit | Tuition: $10,595/year | Graduation Rate: 53% | Median Salary: $129,180 | Score: 87.8
#7. Southeast Technical College — Associate's Network Administration
Hakia ranks Southeast Technical College's associate's network administration program #7. Degree: Associate's. Delivery: on-campus. Location: Sioux Falls, SD | Type: Public | Tuition: $3,720/year | Graduation Rate: 59% | Median Salary: $129,180 | Score: 87.3
#8. Dakota County Technical College — Associate's Network Administration
Hakia ranks Dakota County Technical College's associate's network administration program #8. Degree: Associate's. Delivery: on-campus. Location: Rosemount, MN | Type: Public | Tuition: $5,759/year | Graduation Rate: 58% | Median Salary: $129,180 | Score: 85.7
#9. Athens Technical College — Associate's Network Administration
Hakia ranks Athens Technical College's associate's network administration program #9. Degree: Associate's. Delivery: on-campus. Location: Athens, GA | Type: Public | Tuition: $2,568/year | Graduation Rate: 51% | Median Salary: $129,180 | Score: 85.5
#10. Southern Crescent Technical College — Associate's Network Administration (Online)
Hakia ranks Southern Crescent Technical College's online associate's network administration program #10. Degree: Associate's. Delivery: fully online. Location: Griffin, GA | Type: Public | Tuition: $2,568/year | Graduation Rate: 58% | Median Salary: $129,180 | Score: 85.4

Full Network Administration Associate's Rankings 2026

Rank	Program & School	Delivery	Annual Tuition	Grad Rate	Median Salary	Hakia Score
#1	Associate's in Network Administration MTI College Sacramento, CA · Private for-profit	Online	—	77%	$129,180	92.9
#2	Associate's in Network Administration Eastern Florida State College Melbourne, FL · Public	On-campus	$2,048	52%	$129,180	92.0
#3	Associate's in Network Administration Santa Fe College Gainesville, FL · Public	On-campus	$1,872	53%	$129,180	91.6
#4	Associate's in Network Administration Valencia College Orlando, FL · Public	On-campus	$2,467	48%	$129,180	91.2
#5	Associate's in Network Administration Miami Dade College Miami, FL · Public	On-campus	$1,987	46%	$129,180	89.9
#6	Associate's in Network Administration Rasmussen University-Minnesota St. Cloud, MN · Private for-profit	On-campus	$10,595	53%	$129,180	87.8
#7	Associate's in Network Administration Southeast Technical College Sioux Falls, SD · Public	On-campus	$3,720	59%	$129,180	87.3
#8	Associate's in Network Administration Dakota County Technical College Rosemount, MN · Public	On-campus	$5,759	58%	$129,180	85.7
#9	Associate's in Network Administration Athens Technical College Athens, GA · Public	On-campus	$2,568	51%	$129,180	85.5
#10	Associate's in Network Administration Southern Crescent Technical College Griffin, GA · Public	Online	$2,568	58%	$129,180	85.4
#11	Associate's in Network Administration Oconee Fall Line Technical College Sandersville, GA · Public	Online	$2,568	65%	$129,180	85.3
#12	Associate's in Network Administration Central Georgia Technical College Warner Robins, GA · Public	Online	$2,568	47%	$129,180	85.1
#13	Associate's in Network Administration Broward College Fort Lauderdale, FL · Public	On-campus	$1,968	39%	$129,180	85.0
#14	Associate's in Network Administration Western Iowa Tech Community College Sioux City, IA · Public	On-campus	$4,296	50%	$129,180	85.0
#15	Associate's in Network Administration Manhattan Area Technical College Manhattan, KS · Public	On-campus	$6,544	74%	$129,180	84.7
#16	Associate's in Network Administration Seminole State College of Florida Sanford, FL · Public	Online	$2,393	41%	$129,180	84.5
#17	Associate's in Network Administration Palm Beach State College Lake Worth, FL · Public	On-campus	$3,030	41%	$129,180	83.8
#18	Associate's in Network Administration Georgia Northwestern Technical College Rome, GA · Public	Online	$2,568	43%	$129,180	83.4
#19	Associate's in Network Administration Mitchell Technical College Mitchell, SD · Public	On-campus	$4,092	76%	$129,180	83.4
#20	Associate's in Network Administration Saint Johns River State College Palatka, FL · Public	On-campus	$1,892	49%	$129,180	83.3
#21	Associate's in Network Administration Wiregrass Georgia Technical College Valdosta, GA · Public	Online	$2,568	50%	$129,180	83.3
#22	Associate's in Network Administration West Virginia Junior College-Morgantown Morgantown, WV · Private for-profit	On-campus	$13,196	71%	$129,180	83.2
#23	Associate's in Network Administration Chipola College Marianna, FL · Public	On-campus	$2,365	53%	$129,180	82.6
#24	Associate's in Network Administration South Georgia Technical College Americus, GA · Public	On-campus	$3,210	61%	$129,180	82.5
#25	Associate's in Network Administration Daytona State College Daytona Beach, FL · Public	On-campus	$3,072	43%	$129,180	82.4
#26	Associate's in Network Administration St Petersburg College St. Petersburg, FL · Public	Online	$1,943	38%	$129,180	82.2
#27	Associate's in Network Administration Florida SouthWestern State College Fort Myers, FL · Public	On-campus	$2,436	39%	$129,180	81.9
#28	Associate's in Network Administration Atlanta Technical College Atlanta, GA · Public	Online	$2,568	49%	$129,180	81.9
#29	Associate's in Network Administration Florida State College at Jacksonville Jacksonville, FL · Public	On-campus	$2,095	37%	$129,180	81.7
#30	Associate's in Network Administration ECPI University Virginia Beach, VA · Private for-profit	On-campus	$17,424	42%	$129,180	81.5
#31	Associate's in Network Administration Chaffey College Rancho Cucamonga, CA · Public	On-campus	$1,104	36%	$129,180	81.3
#32	Associate's in Network Administration Tallahassee State College Tallahassee, FL · Public	On-campus	$2,002	38%	$129,180	81.3
#33	Associate's in Network Administration Maranatha Baptist University Watertown, WI · Private nonprofit	On-campus	$20,040	64%	$129,180	81.2
#34	Associate's in Network Administration Eastern Iowa Community College District Davenport, IA · Public	Online	$4,848	45%	$129,180	80.9
#35	Associate's in Network Administration Kirkwood Community College Cedar Rapids, IA · Public	On-campus	$6,076	43%	$129,180	80.7
#36	Associate's in Network Administration Kaskaskia College Centralia, IL · Public	On-campus	$7,050	49%	$129,180	80.6
#37	Associate's in Network Administration Ridgewater College Willmar, MN · Public	On-campus	$5,473	50%	$129,180	80.6
#38	Associate's in Network Administration Chattahoochee Technical College Marietta, GA · Public	On-campus	$2,568	38%	$129,180	80.1
#39	Associate's in Network Administration Central Lakes College-Brainerd Brainerd, MN · Public	On-campus	$5,424	53%	$129,180	79.6
#40	Associate's in Network Administration St Cloud Technical and Community College Saint Cloud, MN · Public	On-campus	$5,392	45%	$129,180	78.9
#41	Associate's in Network Administration University of Northwestern Ohio Lima, OH · Private nonprofit	On-campus	$12,020	54%	$129,180	78.6
#42	Associate's in Network Administration West Virginia Junior College-Charleston Cross Lanes, WV · Private for-profit	On-campus	$13,196	60%	$129,180	78.6
#43	Associate's in Network Administration Coastal Pines Technical College Waycross, GA · Public	Online	$2,568	48%	$129,180	78.6
#44	Associate's in Network Administration South Florida State College Avon Park, FL · Public	On-campus	$3,135	48%	$129,180	78.5
#45	Associate's in Network Administration Lansdale School of Business North Wales, PA · Private for-profit	On-campus	$12,000	85%	$129,180	78.5
#46	Associate's in Network Administration Washington County Community College Calais, ME · Public	On-campus	$2,880	55%	$129,180	78.4
#47	Associate's in Network Administration Des Moines Area Community College Ankeny, IA · Public	On-campus	$5,790	39%	$129,180	78.3
#48	Associate's in Network Administration Hennepin Technical College Brooklyn Park, MN · Public	On-campus	$5,342	42%	$129,180	78.3
#49	Associate's in Network Administration State College of Florida-Manatee-Sarasota Bradenton, FL · Public	On-campus	$2,365	38%	$129,180	78.2
#50	Associate's in Network Administration Columbia Central University-Caguas Caguas, PR · Private for-profit	On-campus	$7,600	56%	$129,180	78.1

Showing all 50 ranked programs.

Transfer Pathways to Bachelor's Programs

Transfer pathways are critical for associate's degree students. According to NCES, about 34% of first-time community college students transfer to another institution within 150% of normal completion time.

Preparation is Key: Success in transfer requires strong foundations and careful planning. Students should complete prerequisite courses at their community college and verify course equivalencies through official articulation agreements before transferring.

State Transfer Systems

California: The Associate Degree for Transfer (ADT) guarantees CSU admission. Use ASSIST.org to verify course-by-course transfer equivalencies.
Washington: Direct Transfer Agreement (DTA) programs provide guaranteed pathways to state universities.
North Carolina: The Comprehensive Articulation Agreement ensures seamless credit transfer to UNC System schools.
Texas: The Texas Common Course Numbering System facilitates transfer between community colleges and state universities.

Key to Success: Research from PPIC shows successful transfer students share common traits: they start planning early, attend colleges with strong transfer partnerships, and choose universities with strong support services for transfer students.

Community College Advantages

Community colleges are experiencing a significant resurgence. According to the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center, community college enrollment increased 5.4% between Fall 2023 and Fall 2024 (+288,000 students), the largest growth among all institutional sectors.

As Dr. Walter Bumphus, president of the American Association of Community Colleges (AACC), noted: "Community colleges have always been gateways to opportunity, but in 2025, they're increasingly engines of innovation in workforce development."

Why Community Colleges Excel for Technology Programs

Smaller class sizes: Community college classes average 25-35 students, compared to 100+ in university introductory courses (Community College Review)
Industry-connected instructors: Many instructors work in tech and teach part-time, bringing current industry practices to the classroom
Lower cost: Average public community college tuition is $3,990/year vs $11,260 at public 4-year schools (AACC Fast Facts 2024)
Open access: No SAT/ACT requirements, community colleges serve all students regardless of prior academic performance
Flexible scheduling: Evening, weekend, and hybrid options designed for working adults
Transfer pathways: State articulation agreements provide guaranteed transfer to 4-year universities

2-Year Curriculum Overview

Network Administration associate's programs require 60-65 credit hours completed over 2 years full-time. The curriculum balances technical skills with general education requirements, preparing students for both employment and transfer to bachelor's programs.

Core Network Administration Courses

Networking Fundamentals
TCP/IP
Network Security
Server Administration
Wireless Networking
Network Troubleshooting

Typical Course Sequence

Year 1: Programming fundamentals, math requirements (algebra/statistics), English composition, introductory technical courses
Year 2: Advanced technical courses, electives in specialization area, capstone project or internship

Transfer Requirements: Most courses will transfer to 4-year universities through articulation agreements. A grade of C or better is required for technical courses. Check your state's transfer agreements (e.g., ASSIST.org for California, Direct Transfer Agreement for Washington).

Accelerated & Online Options

Online learning has become mainstream in higher education. According to NCES, 53% of U.S. students were enrolled in at least one online course in 2022-23. BestColleges research found that 60% of institutions reported online classes filling first in 2024, indicating strong student preference for flexible formats.

Enrollment Trends: The National Student Clearinghouse reports associate degree enrollment grew 6.3% in Spring 2025. Notably, older first-year students are driving growth, enrollment among those aged 25+ increased 19.7% compared to the prior year.

Flexible Format Options

Fully online: Complete your degree from anywhere with asynchronous courses, many community colleges now offer 100% online associate's degrees
Hybrid programs: Mix of online coursework and in-person labs, ideal for hands-on technical practice
Accelerated tracks: Complete in 18 months with year-round enrollment at schools offering quarterly or trimester calendars
Evening/weekend programs: Designed for working adults. Many community colleges offer courses starting at 6pm or on Saturdays

Tip: Look for programs with asynchronous course delivery if your work schedule is unpredictable. Synchronous (live) classes require logging in at specific times.

Associate's vs Bootcamp vs Certificate

Choosing between an associate's degree, bootcamp, or certificate depends on your career goals, timeline, and budget. Each path has trade-offs.

Coding Bootcamp Outcomes: According to the Council on Integrity in Results Reporting (CIRR), 71% of coding bootcamp graduates find a job within 6 months of completion. Course Report's 2025 survey found 79% of alumni land programming jobs within six months, with a 51% average salary increase over pre-bootcamp income.

Comparison

Associate's degree (2 years, $7-15K total): Regionally accredited credential, transfers to bachelor's programs, qualifies for federal financial aid, recognized by employers across industries
Coding bootcamp (3-6 months, $10-20K): 71% job placement within 6 months (CIRR), fastest path to specific dev roles, but limited to certain job titles and employers
Industry certificate (6-12 months, $2-5K): CompTIA, AWS, or vendor-specific certifications focus on specific skills. Best for career changers with some tech background

Key difference: Only associate's degrees are regionally accredited and qualify for federal student aid. Bootcamps require full upfront payment or income share agreements. As The Century Foundation notes, always read the fine print on any education program's outcomes claims.

Our recommendation: Choose an associate's degree if you want maximum flexibility, transfer options, employer recognition, and financial aid eligibility. Choose a bootcamp if you're confident about a specific developer role and can afford the upfront cost.

Financial Aid & Employer Tuition Assistance

Community college programs qualify for federal financial aid, state grants, and employer tuition assistance. With average tuition under $4,000/year, many students graduate debt-free.

Federal Pell Grants: The maximum Federal Pell Grant for 2024-25 is $7,395 (minimum $740). Since this exceeds typical community college tuition, eligible students may have funds left for books and fees. Lifetime eligibility is limited to 12 semesters.

Free Community College Programs: Over 300 promise programs now operate at state and local levels, including:

California: California College Promise provides free tuition for first-time students at participating community colleges
Maryland: Community College Promise Scholarship covers up to $5,000/year in tuition
Oregon: Oregon Promise Grant covers tuition for recent high school graduates
Maine: Free College Scholarship covers tuition at all 7 Maine community colleges for classes 2020-2025

Employer Tuition Assistance: In 2023, 80% of large U.S. employers offered tuition reimbursement, spending $28 billion annually (Learn & Work Ecosystem Library). Key programs:

Amazon Career Choice: Pre-pays 100% of tuition, books, and fees for associates and bachelor's degrees at participating schools. Available to hourly employees after 90 days.
Target Dream to Be: 100% tuition coverage for 250+ programs at 40 partner schools, or up to $5,250/year for other programs
Starbucks College Achievement Plan: 100% tuition coverage for Arizona State University online bachelor's programs after 3 months of 20+ hours/week

Tax benefits: The American Opportunity Tax Credit provides up to $2,500/year in tax credits for the first four years of higher education.

Top States for Network Administration Associate's Programs

Total Programs: 1
Median Tuition: $14,400

Best Network Administration Associate's Programs in Texas

DeVry University

Total Programs: 1
Median Tuition: $14,400

Best Network Administration Associate's Programs in New York

DeVry University

Total Programs: 4
Median Tuition: $14,400

SUNY College of Technology at Alfred

Best Network Administration Associate's Programs in Florida

Total Programs: 5
Median Tuition: $14,400

Florida State College at Jacksonville

Best Network Administration Associate's Programs in Pennsylvania

Total Programs: 1
Median Tuition: $15,500

Pennsylvania College of Technology

Best Network Administration Associate's Programs in Maryland

Total Programs: 1
Median Tuition: $36,900

Best Network Administration Associate's Programs in Illinois

Stevenson University

Total Programs: 4
Median Tuition: $37,000

Best Network Administration Associate's Programs in Georgia

DePaul University

Total Programs: 4
Median Tuition: $14,400