Most Affordable Network Administration Programs 2026

Best Network Administration Programs - Top 10 Most Affordable — Complete Program Data

1. #1. Florida State College at Jacksonville

   Location: Jacksonville, FL | Type: Public | Tuition: $2,095/year | Graduation Rate: 89%

   What makes Florida State College at Jacksonville stand out: Program designed to provide advanced skills to professionals who know how to create, program, install and maintain high demand computer networks with rolling admissions throughout the term and focus on preparing graduates for leadership roles.

   Program Overview: The Bachelor of Applied Science (B.A.S.) in Computer Systems Networking degree equips students with technical and management skills required to become dedicated network professionals. The program provides comprehensive understanding of business from the practitioner's perspective, building to mastery of organizational and project management, as well as higher-level technical skills.

   Degree Programs: Bachelor of Applied Science (B.A.S.)

   Career Outcomes: | Common Roles: network professionals, network virtualization and security specialists

   Admissions:

   Accreditations: SACSCOC

2. #2. Dalton State College

   Location: Dalton, GA | Type: Public | Tuition: $2,563/year | Graduation Rate: 98%

   Program Overview: A strong partnership with the northwest Georgia manufacturing and logistics industries means your network administration training is directly tied to what regional employers need—you're learning from instructors who understand the specific challenges of those sectors and networking with guest speakers and potential employers throughout the program. The degree is designed for both immediate employment and transfer to four-year programs, so whether you want to start working right away or continue your education, the foundation is solid and respected by Georgia's universities. Graduates often find opportunities at manufacturing plants, distribution centers, and the service companies that support them.

   Degree Programs: AAS/AS in Network Administration (2 years)

   Career Outcomes: | Top Employers: Local manufacturing facilities, Regional IT service providers, Healthcare systems | Common Roles: Help Desk Technician, Network Support Technician

   Admissions:

3. #3. Collin County Community College District

   Location: McKinney, TX | Type: Public | Tuition: $3,450/year | Graduation Rate: 89%

   What makes Collin County Community College District stand out: Programs feature hands-on labs and prepare students for multiple industry certifications including Cisco, Microsoft, and CompTIA, with courses offered in flexible eight-week express sessions

   Hakia Insight: Collin County Community College District's partnerships with Cisco and Microsoft translate research into real-world experience — a key differentiator for hiring managers.

   Program Overview: Collin College's network administration programs prepare students for careers in cybersecurity management, network management, system administration, and technical support. The programs include hands-on labs and prepare students to take various Cisco, Microsoft, and CompTIA certification examinations.

   Degree Programs: Information Systems Cybersecurity AAS (2 years); Computer Networking AAS - Infrastructure Track (2 years); Computer Networking AAS - Integrated Systems Track (2 years); Cybersecurity BAT

   Industry Partners: Cisco, Microsoft, CompTIA

   Career Outcomes: | Common Roles: cybersecurity management, network management, system administration, technical support, hardware/software installation, equipment repair

   Admissions:

   Accreditations: Cisco, Microsoft, CompTIA

4. #4. University of South Florida

   Location: Tampa, FL | Type: Public | Tuition: $4,559/year | Graduation Rate: 85%

   What makes University of South Florida stand out: USF's network administration program is distinguished by its integration within the College of Artificial Intelligence, Cybersecurity and Computing, providing unique interdisciplinary research opportunities spanning cybersecurity, AI applications, and global health surveillance systems.

   Hakia Insight: University of South Florida's partnerships with Tampa General Hospital and Florida Department of Health translate research into real-world experience — a key differentiator for hiring managers.

   Program Overview: The University of South Florida's College of Artificial Intelligence, Cybersecurity and Computing houses faculty conducting extensive network administration and cybersecurity research. The college features over 50 faculty members across multiple specialization areas, with professors holding distinguished awards including NSF CAREER awards, IEEE fellowships, and AAAS fellowships. Key faculty include Professor Ken Christensen specializing in performance evaluation of computer networks, high-speed packet switch architectures, and energy-efficient networks, and Professor Yao Liu focusing on network security and wireless technologies. The program is supported by the broader USF ecosystem including the Muma College of Business centers and the College of Public Health's surveillance and data systems research. Faculty research spans real-time and cyber-physical systems, Internet of Things security, cloud security, machine learning applications to cybersecurity, and network performance optimization. The program benefits from cross-disciplinary collaboration with public health surveillance systems, business analytics centers, and global health research initiatives. Distinguished professors like Dmitry Goldgof and Lawrence Hall provide expertise in intelligent systems and machine learning applications. The college maintains strong industry connections through practice centers and partnerships with organizations like Tampa General Hospital. Research funding includes over $42 million through various centers and NSF CAREER awards held by multiple faculty members.

   Research Labs: Center for Global Health and Inter-Disciplinary Research - Vector-borne and infectious disease control with data systems; Causal Inference in Public Health Research Lab - Development and application of causal inference methods; Behavioral AI Lab - AI role in human behavior within business contexts; Customer Experience Labs - Neuromarketing tools and data analytics; Institute for Data Analytics and Visualization - Data analytics and visualization consulting; School of Information Systems Practice Center - Real-world industry-sponsored projects

   Industry Partners: Tampa General Hospital, Florida Department of Health, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, The Carter Center, Cumberland Advisors, Merrill Lynch, The Harris Poll

   Career Outcomes: | Top Employers: Tampa General Hospital | Common Roles: Web Content Administrator, Network Security Analyst

   Notable Faculty: Dr. Ken Christensen (Computer networks performance evaluation and energy-efficient networks); Dr. Yao Liu (Network security and wireless technologies); Dr. Sriram Chellappan (Socio-technical systems and cybersecurity); Dr. Lawrence Hall (Intelligent systems and machine learning); Dr. Jay Ligatti (Runtime security mechanisms and authentication)

   Admissions:

5. #5. University of West Florida

   Location: Pensacola, FL | Type: Public | Tuition: $3,735/year | Graduation Rate: 84%

   What makes University of West Florida stand out: UWF's network administration program stands out for its direct pipeline to defense and government sector roles through established partnerships with regional military and critical infrastructure organizations.

   Hakia Insight: University of West Florida's partnerships with Naval Air Station Pensacola and Accenture Federal Services translate research into real-world experience — a key differentiator for hiring managers.

   Program Overview: UWF's network administration program leverages the university's strong regional tech partnerships and coastal Florida location to build practical, industry-aligned curriculum. The program emphasizes hands-on lab work across routing, switching, wireless infrastructure, and network security—with students working on real enterprise-grade equipment rather than simulators. What distinguishes this pathway is its integration with local government and defense contractor networks; UWF's proximity to Naval Air Station Pensacola and regional cybersecurity firms creates internship pipelines that often convert to full-time roles. Faculty bring active industry experience, regularly updating coursework to reflect emerging threats in critical infrastructure protection. Graduates typically enter roles managing mid-sized enterprise networks or specialize in secure network design for government clients. The program structure allows working professionals to pursue credentials part-time, balancing CCNA and CompTIA Network+ preparation alongside degree requirements.

   Degree Programs: BS in Computer Science (Network Administration concentration) (4 years)

   Industry Partners: Naval Air Station Pensacola, Accenture Federal Services

   Career Outcomes: | Top Employers: Naval Air Station Pensacola, Accenture Federal Services | Common Roles: Network Administrator, Systems Administrator, Network Support Technician

   Admissions:

6. #6. Green River College

   Location: Auburn, WA | Type: Public | Tuition: $4,074/year | Graduation Rate: 99%

   Program Overview: Green River builds its network administration program around real-world troubleshooting scenarios you'll encounter on day one as a help desk technician—not abstract networking theory. The college's proximity to the Puget Sound tech ecosystem and partnerships with regional employers means internship and job placement opportunities are built into the curriculum from the start. Graduates commonly report that the program's focus on customer service skills alongside technical competencies gave them an edge in landing their first role and moving up quickly.

   Degree Programs: Bachelors in Network Administration

   Career Outcomes:

   Admissions:

7. #7. University of North Georgia

   Location: Dahlonega, GA | Type: Public | Tuition: $4,230/year | Graduation Rate: 100%

   What makes University of North Georgia stand out: University of North Georgia distinctively serves military-connected and non-traditional students through career-focused engineering technology and applied computing programs designed for immediate workforce entry.

   Hakia Insight: Proximity to Gainesville tech employment corridor

   Program Overview: UNG's approach to network administration prioritizes regional industry relevance and accessibility for students from across Georgia's diverse communities. The program connects directly with the growing tech presence in North Georgia, including corporations and government agencies seeking skilled infrastructure professionals. Rather than treating certifications as afterthoughts, the curriculum scaffolds CompTIA, Cisco, and Microsoft credentials throughout the degree program, with exam preparation built into coursework timelines. Faculty bring practical experience from IT operations roles, meaning classroom discussions ground technical concepts in real deployment scenarios students will actually encounter. The program emphasizes troubleshooting methodology and systematic problem-solving over memorization, preparing students for the unpredictable nature of production network environments. Partnerships with regional employers create cooperative education opportunities where students apply classroom learning to live systems under professional supervision. Graduates report strong job placement rates within Georgia's expanding tech sector, often staying in their communities while advancing into senior technician or junior network engineer positions within two to three years of employment.

   Degree Programs: BS in Engineering Technology (4 years)

   Career Outcomes: | Common Roles: Network Technician, IT Support Specialist, Systems Technician

   Admissions:

8. #8. Whatcom Community College

   Location: Bellingham, WA | Type: Public | Tuition: $3,633/year | Graduation Rate: 78%

   Program Overview: Whatcom's network program emphasizes hands-on lab work and vendor certifications that employers actually check for during hiring—you won't just study networking theory, you'll configure routers and manage firewalls on real equipment. The curriculum aligns with CompTIA and Cisco pathways, and the college has established connections with employers throughout Whatcom and Skagit counties who regularly hire graduates for support and junior admin positions. Graduates often cite the small class sizes and instructor access as key to their success in breaking into the field.

   Degree Programs: AAS in Network Administration (2 years)

   Career Outcomes: | Top Employers: Whatcom County government, School districts in Whatcom County, Skagit Valley Hospital, Regional healthcare systems, Local government IT departments | Common Roles: Help Desk Technician, Junior Network Administrator, IT Support Technician, Network Technician

   Admissions:

9. #9. Ensign College

   Location: Salt Lake City, UT | Type: Public | Tuition: $3,888/year | Graduation Rate: 76%

   Program Overview: Ensign College integrates faith-based values into a focused technology curriculum where networking fundamentals connect directly to real-world IT infrastructure problems students solve in labs and internships. The college emphasizes personal mentorship and a supportive learning community, which helps non-traditional and transfer students gain the confidence they need to earn entry-level IT certifications and secure their first tech job. Ensign's smaller cohorts mean instructors actively help you map your path—whether that's moving into help desk roles at local employers or continuing to a four-year degree at University of Utah or Brigham Young University.

   Degree Programs: Bachelors in Network Administration

   Career Outcomes:

   Admissions:

10. #10. Kennesaw State University

    Location: Kennesaw, GA | Type: Public | Tuition: $4,450/year | Graduation Rate: 66%

    What makes Kennesaw State University stand out: Kennesaw State University combines accessible, high-quality computer science education with strong regional industry connections and a focus on practical workforce preparation.

    Hakia Insight: Kennesaw State University's partnerships with Vistaprint and Ascentium Capital translate research into real-world experience — a key differentiator for hiring managers.

    Program Overview: Kennesaw State's network administration program stands out through its explicit alignment with industry certification pathways and demonstrated employer responsiveness in curriculum design. KSU maintains close partnerships with major technology vendors and Atlanta-area employers, ensuring coursework directly maps to certifications employers actually require: CompTIA Network+, Cisco CCNA, and Microsoft certifications across multiple platforms. The program operates within KSU's College of Computing and Software Engineering, an environment saturated with technical expertise and research computing infrastructure that generates authentic learning environments. A particularly valuable aspect is the program's integration with KSU's substantial internship network; the university's Cobb County location puts it near technology firms, financial services companies, and corporate headquarters actively recruiting entry-level network technicians. Rather than treating certifications as optional add-ons, KSU builds exam preparation directly into course sequences, with many students earning certifications by program completion. The curriculum balances Cisco networking technologies with broader systems administration skills, Linux command-line proficiency, and cloud computing platform basics—recognizing that modern network administrators need broader infrastructure knowledge than prior generations. Hands-on lab components run throughout every semester, ensuring students develop practical troubleshooting abilities and hands-on configuration experience. Faculty recruitment prioritizes practitioners with current industry certifications and active IT experience, minimizing the gap between classroom teaching and workplace expectations. KSU's career services and alumni networks actively facilitate job placement, with graduation-to-employment timelines often measured in weeks rather than months. Graduates enter roles as network technicians, junior network administrators, or support specialists with employer-valued certifications already in hand, creating genuine competitive advantage in entry-level job markets throughout Metro Atlanta and beyond.

    Degree Programs: BS in Computer Science (4 years); MS in Computer Science (2 years)

    Research Labs: Center for Cybersecurity and Information Security - Cybersecurity, network security, and threat analysis

    Industry Partners: Vistaprint, Ascentium Capital

    Career Outcomes: | Top Employers: Accenture, Cognizant, Microsoft, Home Depot, State of Georgia | Common Roles: Software Developer, Systems Administrator, IT Analyst, Cybersecurity Specialist

    Admissions:

    Accreditations: ABET accredited (Computer Science programs)