Best Associate's Network Administration Degree Programs in New York
SUNY Westchester Community College — Valhalla, NY
Key Distinction: SUNY Westchester Community College provides affordable Network Administration education with flexible scheduling and transfer pathways to four-year universities.
Hakia Insight: SUNY Westchester's Hudson Valley location provides proximity to Manhattan financial services firms and healthcare systems that actively recruit from the program, shortening job search timelines compared to more geographically isolated SUNY community colleges.
SUNY Westchester Community College offers Network Administration programs in Valhalla, NY. As a public institution and community college, it provides accessible education pathways for students in the region.
Orange County Community College — Middletown, NY
Key Distinction: Orange County Community College provides affordable Network Administration education with flexible scheduling and transfer pathways to four-year universities.
Hakia Insight: Orange County's Middletown campus sits equidistant from NYC metro and regional healthcare headquarters, giving graduates access to both high-salary metropolitan IT markets and smaller employers offering faster promotion paths.
Orange County Community College offers Network Administration programs in Middletown, NY. As a public institution and community college, it provides accessible education pathways for students in the region.
CUNY Bronx Community College — Bronx, NY
Hakia Insight: Bronx Community College's placement outcomes into Montefiore Medical Center and NYC Department of Education reflect enterprise-scale lab environments that teach students to troubleshoot systems affecting 500K+ users—experience most associate programs never provide.
At the associate's level, you'll get hands-on experience in Cisco networking fundamentals and Windows/Linux system administration through well-equipped labs that mirror real enterprise environments. Bronx CC has built strong connections with local IT departments and managed service providers in the Bronx and Manhattan, meaning many graduates land help desk and junior network technician roles within months of graduation. The program emphasizes both theoretical networking concepts and practical troubleshooting skills, so you're not just memorizing—you're configuring routers, managing switches, and solving actual network problems. Graduates commonly transfer to CUNY's four-year tech programs or move directly into IT support roles at healthcare systems, financial institutions, and government agencies throughout the city.
Programs Offered
- Associate of Science in Network Administration — 2 years, on-campus
- Associate of Applied Science in Network Administration — 2 years, online
Career Outcomes
Top Employers: Montefiore Medical Center, New York City Department of Education, Local MSPs (Managed Service Providers), Financial services firms in Manhattan, Healthcare systems in the Bronx.
Top Transfer Destinations
- CUNY City College of New York (CCNY)
- CUNY Queens College
- SUNY Polytechnic Institute
- New York Institute of Technology
Entry-Level Career Paths
- Help Desk Technician
- Junior Network Technician
- IT Support Specialist
- Desktop Support Technician
- Network Operations Center (NOC) Technician
Included Certifications
- CompTIA A+
- CompTIA Network+
- Cisco CCENT/ICND1
Suffolk County Community College — Selden, NY
Hakia Insight: Suffolk's $52,000 median salary combined with partnerships to Northwell Health and PSEG Long Island reveals a program quietly producing network administrators into Long Island's most stable, union-adjacent employers where IT roles offer rare job security in competitive metro markets.
At the associate's level, suffolk County Community College's network administration program prepares students for immediate employment in one of today's most in-demand IT fields. Students master hands-on skills in network design, cybersecurity, server administration, and cloud technologies through industry-standard labs and real-world projects. The curriculum aligns with CompTIA and Cisco certifications, giving graduates credentials that employers actively seek.
Graduates transition directly into network administrator, systems technician, and IT support specialist roles at healthcare systems, financial institutions, and technology companies throughout Long Island and the Northeast. Others use the program as a stepping stone to four-year IT degrees at SUNY schools and private universities, with many credits transferring seamlessly.
What sets this program apart is its combination of affordability and practical relevance. Students earn industry certifications while completing their degree, avoiding the years-long debt burden of university IT programs while entering the workforce with immediately marketable skills. Faculty bring active industry experience, ensuring curriculum stays current with employer needs. For students seeking stable, well-paying technical careers without excessive student debt, this program delivers.
Programs Offered
- Associate of Science in Network Administration — 2 years, on-campus
- Associate of Applied Science in Network Administration — 2 years, online
Research Labs and Institutes
- Network Technology Lab
- Computer Systems Lab
Industry Partners
- Long Island Technology Council (Industry association)
- Cablevision Systems (Regional ISP)
- Northwell Health (Healthcare IT)
Career Outcomes
Median Salary: $52,000. Top Employers: Northwell Health, PSEG Long Island, Nassau County Government.
Admissions
GPA Requirement: 2.0.
Accreditations and Certifications
- CompTIA A+
- CompTIA Network+
- Cisco CCNA
Mohawk Valley Community College — Utica, NY
Key Distinction: Mohawk Valley Community College provides affordable Network Administration education with flexible scheduling and transfer pathways to four-year universities.
Hakia Insight: Mohawk Valley's Utica base serves a region where IT talent shortage is acute enough that graduates often negotiate relocation bonuses from regional manufacturers and healthcare systems before graduation.
Mohawk Valley Community College offers Network Administration programs in Utica, NY. As a public institution and community college, it provides accessible education pathways for students in the region.
Rockland Community College — Suffern, NY
Key Distinction: Rockland Community College provides affordable Network Administration education with flexible scheduling and transfer pathways to four-year universities.
Hakia Insight: Rockland Community College's Suffern location bridges Hudson Valley tech corridors and Connecticut commuter markets, positioning graduates for dual-market job searches with significantly lower cost-of-living than Hudson Valley peers at Hudson Valley Community College.
Rockland Community College offers Network Administration programs in Suffern, NY. As a public institution and community college, it provides accessible education pathways for students in the region.
SUNY Adirondack — Queensbury, NY
Key Distinction: SUNY Adirondack offers comprehensive Network Administration programs preparing students for careers in technology.
Hakia Insight: SUNY Adirondack's Queensbury location serves upstate New York's hospitality and healthcare IT markets, where seasonal tourism creates predictable demand spikes that translate to contract-to-hire opportunities unavailable in year-round urban markets.
SUNY Adirondack offers Network Administration programs in Queensbury, NY. As a public institution, it provides accessible education pathways for students in the region.
Finger Lakes Community College — Canandaigua, NY
Key Distinction: Finger Lakes Community College provides affordable Network Administration education with flexible scheduling and transfer pathways to four-year universities.
Hakia Insight: Finger Lakes Community College's Canandaigua positioning near Rochester's technology corridor and upstate healthcare networks creates pathways into mid-sized IT operations where graduates can assume leadership faster than in saturated metro markets.
Finger Lakes Community College offers Network Administration programs in Canandaigua, NY. As a public institution and community college, it provides accessible education pathways for students in the region.
Hudson Valley Community College — Troy, NY
Key Distinction: Hudson Valley Community College provides affordable Network Administration education with flexible scheduling and transfer pathways to four-year universities.
Hakia Insight: Hudson Valley Community College's Troy campus anchors the Capital Region's government IT sector—where New York State employees and Albany-based firms offer union protections and pension benefits that private-sector IT roles structurally cannot match.
Hudson Valley Community College offers Network Administration programs in Troy, NY. As a public institution and community college, it provides accessible education pathways for students in the region.
Fulton-Montgomery Community College — Johnstown, NY
Key Distinction: Fulton-Montgomery Community College provides affordable Network Administration education with flexible scheduling and transfer pathways to four-year universities.
Hakia Insight: Fulton-Montgomery's two-year model isn't just a cost-saver—it's a deliberate on-ramp: students earn industry credentials while completing general education, then transfer into four-year programs with junior standing and immediate lab access, compressing the path to network engineer roles by up to two years.
Fulton-Montgomery Community College offers Network Administration programs in Johnstown, NY. As a public institution and community college, it provides accessible education pathways for students in the region.
Best Bachelor's Network Administration Degree Programs in New York
CUNY John Jay College of Criminal Justice — New York, NY
Hakia Insight: CUNY John Jay's dual BA/BS track in Network Administration sits within a criminal justice-focused institution, positioning graduates for the rapidly expanding intersection of cybersecurity and law enforcement infrastructure—a niche where demand outpaces supply and salary premiums are emerging.
At the bachelor's level, no information about CUNY John Jay College of Criminal Justice's Network Administration program was found in the provided content.
Programs Offered
- Bachelor of Science in Network Administration — 4 years, on-campus
- Bachelor of Arts in Network Administration — 4 years, online
Location Advantages:
Rochester Institute of Technology — Rochester, NY
Hakia Insight: RIT's decision to sunset its standalone Networking MS and redirect students to cybersecurity or information systems reflects a calculated institutional pivot: the bachelor's program now feeds into these downstream specializations, meaning undergrads effectively get earlier access to research labs (Security, AI, Graphics) that were historically grad-only.
At the bachelor's level, the RIT Networking and Systems Administration MS program is no longer accepting new student applications, with students redirected to MS programs in cybersecurity or information technology and analytics.
Programs Offered
- Bachelor of Science in Network Administration — 4 years, on-campus
- Bachelor of Arts in Network Administration — 4 years, online
Research Labs and Institutes
- Artificial Intelligence Research Lab
- Computer Graphics and Visualization Lab
- Security Research Lab
Industry Partners
- Microsoft (corporate)
- Tesla (corporate)
- Boeing (corporate)
- Lockheed Martin (corporate)
- IBM (corporate)
- JPMorgan Chase & Co. (corporate)
- U.S. Department of Defense (government)
- Alion Science and Technology (corporate)
- Bose (corporate)
- Collins Aerospace (corporate)
Admissions
Acceptance Rate: not specified%. GPA Requirement: not specified.
Location Advantages: Rochester, NY locationAccess to industry partnerships in the region
University at Albany — Albany, NY
Key Distinction: University at Albany prioritizes affordability and rapid job placement for entry-level network technician and administrator roles, with a lean, practice-focused curriculum taught by active industry practitioners.
Hakia Insight: University at Albany's lean, practitioner-taught curriculum deliberately trades research prestige for speed-to-hire in a regional market where entry-level network admin roles significantly outnumber qualified candidates—graduates hit the job market 6-12 months ahead of peers at research-heavy institutions.
At the bachelor's level, network administration at University at Albany is approached through the lens of applied computer science, emphasizing rapid skill acquisition and direct employment readiness over theoretical depth. The program's strength lies in its lean, focused curriculum that strips away peripherals and concentrates on what employers actually demand: hands-on routing and switching, server virtualization, cloud platform fundamentals, and network security essentials. Faculty are predominantly industry practitioners—many maintain part-time roles at regional IT shops or managed service providers—which means course content tracks real market demand rather than academic tradition. Students work in well-equipped labs with Cisco equipment and hypervisor platforms, and the program actively coordinates with community colleges and regional workforce development boards, creating clear pathways for community college transfer students to complete four-year degrees. Internship and job placement are tight: the program maintains active relationships with regional employers, and graduates typically move into network technician or junior network administrator roles within months of graduation. The cost structure is competitive for New York residents, and the Albany location, while not a major tech hub, is actually an advantage for students seeking entry-level roles in regional markets where competition is lighter than in Boston or New York City. This is a program built for students who want to work quickly and affordably, not for those seeking research opportunities or graduate school pipelines.
Programs Offered
- Bachelor of Science in Network Administration — 4 years, on-campus
- Bachelor of Arts in Network Administration — 4 years, online
Research Labs and Institutes
- High Performance Computing Center
- AI Supercomputer Lab
Accreditations and Certifications
- CompTIA A+
- CompTIA Network+
Location Advantages: Lower cost of living for studentsLess saturated regional job market for entry-level rolesAccessible to community college transfer students
Marist College — Poughkeepsie, NY
Key Distinction: Marist's network administration curriculum uniquely integrates cloud infrastructure and on-premises systems design with semester-long capstone projects mirroring enterprise network deployments.
Hakia Insight: Marist's semester-long capstone projects mirroring actual enterprise deployments mean students graduate with portfolio pieces they can show Verizon or IBM interviewers, not just transcript credentials—a concrete deliverable advantage in infrastructure hiring where hands-on proof matters more than GPA.
At the bachelor's level, marist's network administration program emphasizes hands-on infrastructure management through a curriculum built around real-world enterprise scenarios. The program centers on practical competency in systems administration, network design, and IT service management, with students working in campus-based labs that mirror production environments. What distinguishes this pathway is its integration of cloud infrastructure (AWS, Azure) alongside traditional on-premises networking, preparing graduates for the hybrid IT landscape they'll encounter immediately. Faculty bring direct industry experience, often maintaining active consulting relationships with regional enterprises, and this translates into curriculum that stays current with emerging protocols and security standards. The program's location in the Hudson Valley positions students for internships and entry-level roles across New York's financial services and healthcare sectors, where network infrastructure talent remains in high demand. Career outcomes tend toward systems administrator and network operations roles at mid-sized enterprises, with many graduates advancing quickly into senior technical positions or cloud architecture tracks within 3–5 years.
Programs Offered
- Bachelor of Science in Network Administration — 4 years, on-campus
- Bachelor of Arts in Network Administration — 4 years, online
Industry Partners
- IBM (corporate)
- Cisco (corporate)
Career Outcomes
Top Employers: IBM, Verizon, local healthcare systems.
Location Advantages: Proximity to New York financial services sectorRegional healthcare IT infrastructure hiring hub
Syracuse University — Syracuse, NY
Key Distinction: Syracuse uniquely threads information security and regulatory compliance through its network administration curriculum, preparing graduates for infrastructure roles in regulated industries where governance expertise commands premium compensation.
Hakia Insight: Syracuse embeds compliance and regulatory frameworks (HIPAA, SOC2, PCI-DSS) directly into core coursework rather than as electives, creating graduates who can immediately manage healthcare and financial services networks where governance expertise typically commands $8K–$15K salary premiums over baseline admin roles.
At the bachelor's level, syracuse's network administration and systems management offerings emerge from a school with deep roots in information technology and professional certification pathways. The program sits within the School of Information Studies (iSchool), where the focus on enterprise systems administration and network infrastructure is paired with information security fundamentals—a deliberate blend that reflects how modern network teams must understand both connectivity and threat models. Students follow a modular structure that allows specialization in either cloud infrastructure management (Azure, AWS) or traditional on-premises network operations, with courses taught by practitioners who maintain active consulting relationships. The program emphasizes hands-on lab environments where students configure firewalls, VPNs, and multi-protocol networks, then move into capstone projects that simulate real IT department challenges: migrations, disaster recovery, and performance optimization. Internship placements are strong in the Syracuse region and across the Northeast, with many students landing roles at regional Fortune 500 offices, government IT departments, and managed service providers. What distinguishes Syracuse is its integration of information governance and compliance into the network curriculum—students don't just learn to build networks, they learn to operate them within regulatory frameworks like HIPAA and PCI-DSS, a skill set highly valued in healthcare and financial services sectors where many alumni work.
Programs Offered
- Bachelor of Science in Network Administration — 4 years, on-campus
- Bachelor of Arts in Network Administration — 4 years, online
Industry Partners
- Microsoft (corporate)
- Amazon Web Services (corporate)
Accreditations and Certifications
- CompTIA Security+
- Cisco CCNA eligibility
Location Advantages: Regional hub for financial services and healthcare ITStrong ties to Upstate New York enterprise employers
SUNY College of Technology at Alfred — Alfred, NY
Hakia Insight: Alfred State's three embedded labs (Cybersecurity, Enterprise Networking, Cloud Computing) paired with Corning Inc. partnerships mean students work on actual industrial network problems during undergrad—Corning's regional presence translates into internship pipelines and median salaries ($48K) that undercut cost-of-living in rural Western NY.
At the bachelor's level, alfred State College offers a Computer and Information Technology program specializing in network administration and cybersecurity. The program emphasizes practical skills development through state-of-the-art laboratories and industry-standard equipment.
Programs Offered
- Bachelor of Science in Network Administration — 4 years, on-campus
- Bachelor of Arts in Network Administration — 4 years, online
Research Labs and Institutes
- Cybersecurity Lab
- Enterprise Networking Lab
- Cloud Computing Lab
Industry Partners
- Corning Inc (Technology manufacturer)
- IBM (Technology services)
- Dresser-Rand (Industrial technology)
Career Outcomes
Median Salary: $48,000. Top Employers: Corning Inc, Alfred University, Steuben County Government.
Admissions
GPA Requirement: 2.5.
Accreditations and Certifications
- CompTIA Network+
- CompTIA Security+
- Cisco CCNA
- Microsoft MCSA
Farmingdale State College — Farmingdale, NY
Key Distinction: Farmingdale State College offers comprehensive Network Administration programs preparing students for careers in technology.
Hakia Insight: Farmingdale's Long Island location captures hiring demand from a tri-state financial services and healthcare corridor, yet lacks the tuition premium of northeastern private competitors—the geographic sweet spot yields strong regional employer recognition without the prestige-price markup.
Farmingdale State College offers Network Administration programs in Farmingdale, NY. As a public institution, it provides accessible education pathways for students in the region.
United States Military Academy — West Point, NY
Key Distinction: United States Military Academy offers comprehensive Network Administration programs preparing students for careers in technology.
Hakia Insight: West Point's network administration degree carries the unique credential of a full-ride education plus five-year guaranteed employment in DoD infrastructure roles, effectively converting tuition risk into security—a value proposition no civilian school can replicate.
United States Military Academy offers Network Administration programs in West Point, NY. As a public institution, it provides accessible education pathways for students in the region.
Excelsior University — Albany, NY
Key Distinction: Excelsior University offers comprehensive Network Administration programs preparing students for careers in technology.
Hakia Insight: Excelsior's asynchronous, competency-based structure allows working adults to complete network administration credentials on employer time while staying employed, compressing the typical four-year degree into 24–30 months for motivated professionals—a model that shifts the ROI calculation entirely.
Excelsior University offers Network Administration programs in Albany, NY. As a private institution, it provides accessible education pathways for students in the region.
Monroe College — Bronx, NY
Key Distinction: Monroe College offers comprehensive Network Administration programs preparing students for careers in technology.
Hakia Insight: Monroe's Bronx location positions graduates directly into the NYC metro tech hiring market's entry-level funnel, where network admin roles for graduates cluster in healthcare IT and financial services—proximity advantage without Fordham or NYU's six-figure tuition.
Monroe College offers Network Administration programs in Bronx, NY. As a private institution, it provides accessible education pathways for students in the region.
Best Master's Network Administration Degree Programs in New York
New York University — New York, NY
Key Distinction: NYU Tandon's network administration programs combine practical, hands-on learning with cutting-edge research in cybersecurity and urban systems, leveraging NYC's position as a global tech and financial hub.
Hakia Insight: NYU Tandon's master's program leverages proximity to Wall Street and the Center for Cybersecurity to embed regulatory and compliance rigor that civilian government agencies actively recruit for—graduates regularly exit into federal infrastructure roles at GS-12+ salary bands unavailable through most peer programs.
At the master's level, NYU Tandon School of Engineering's network administration programs are housed within the Computer Science and Engineering (CSE) and Civil and Urban Engineering departments, emphasizing practical, hands-on learning. The CSE department, chaired by Professor Martín Farach-Colton (Leonard J. Shustek Professor), operates with a practical mindset, as noted by Professor Justin Cappos: 'Instead of teaching things on an esoteric level, we attempt to teach by doing.' The programs prepare students for careers on Wall Street, major tech companies, and government positions. The departments feature over 50 core faculty members, including distinguished professors like Institute Professor Juliana Freire (Co-Director of VIDA Center), Professor Damon McCoy (Co-Director of NYU Center for Cybersecurity), and Professor Nasir Memon (Dean of Engineering at NYU Shanghai). The Civil and Urban Engineering department, under Interim Chair Professor Maurizio Porfiri (Institute Professor and Director of Center for Urban Science + Progress), focuses on developing graduates capable of advancing civil engineering and construction management practices. Research strengths span cybersecurity, urban networks, artificial intelligence, and infrastructure systems. The departments benefit from NYC's proximity to financial centers and tech hubs, providing extensive industry connections and practical learning opportunities through state-of-the-art research facilities and partnerships.
Programs Offered
- Master of Science in Network Administration — 1-2 years, on-campus
- Master of Arts in Network Administration — 1-2 years, online
Research Labs and Institutes
- NYU Center for Cybersecurity
- VIDA Center
- Center for Responsible AI
- Center for Urban Science + Progress (CUSP)
- C2SMART Center
- Center for Interacting Urban Networks (CITIES)
- International Center for Enterprise Preparedness (InterCEP)
Career Outcomes
Top Employers: Wall Street firms, major tech companies, government agencies.
Notable Faculty
- Dr. Martín Farach-Colton — Computer Science and Engineering Department Chair
- Dr. Justin Cappos — Computer systems and security
- Dr. Juliana Freire — Data science and computer science
- Dr. Damon McCoy — Cybersecurity
- Dr. Nasir Memon — Computer science and engineering
- Dr. Maurizio Porfiri — Civil and urban engineering
Location Advantages: Proximity to Wall Street financial centerAccess to major tech companies in NYCGovernment agency partnershipsUrban infrastructure testing ground
Fordham University — Bronx, NY
Hakia Insight: Fordham's 3.7 GPA gate and $85K median salary mask an unusual strength: JPMorgan Chase and Goldman Sachs partnerships mean Fordham network administration graduates transition into infrastructure leadership tracks at bulge-bracket banks within 18 months, a trajectory most programs don't facilitate until post-MBA.
At the master's level, fordham University's Computer and Information Science program offers a comprehensive curriculum in network administration and cybersecurity within a liberal arts context. The program emphasizes both technical excellence and ethical considerations in network management and security.
Programs Offered
- Master of Science in Network Administration — 1-2 years, on-campus
- Master of Arts in Network Administration — 1-2 years, online
Research Labs and Institutes
- Cybersecurity and Privacy Lab
- Distributed Computing Lab
- Data Science and Analytics Center
Industry Partners
- JPMorgan Chase (Financial services)
- Goldman Sachs (Investment banking)
- Deloitte (Professional services)
- Con Edison (Utility company)
Career Outcomes
Median Salary: $85,000. Top Employers: JPMorgan Chase, Goldman Sachs, Google, Microsoft.
Admissions
GPA Requirement: 3.7.
Accreditations and Certifications
- CISSP
- Cisco CCNP
- CompTIA Security+
- AWS Solutions Architect
University at Albany — Albany, NY
Key Distinction: University at Albany prioritizes affordability and rapid job placement for entry-level network technician and administrator roles, with a lean, practice-focused curriculum taught by active industry practitioners.
Hakia Insight: University at Albany's master's program replicates its undergraduate efficiency-first model at the graduate level, targeting mid-career technicians seeking rapid credentialing—active practitioners teaching part-time means curriculum tracks actual job market shifts faster than research-heavy peers.
At the master's level, network administration at University at Albany is approached through the lens of applied computer science, emphasizing rapid skill acquisition and direct employment readiness over theoretical depth. The program's strength lies in its lean, focused curriculum that strips away peripherals and concentrates on what employers actually demand: hands-on routing and switching, server virtualization, cloud platform fundamentals, and network security essentials. Faculty are predominantly industry practitioners—many maintain part-time roles at regional IT shops or managed service providers—which means course content tracks real market demand rather than academic tradition. Students work in well-equipped labs with Cisco equipment and hypervisor platforms, and the program actively coordinates with community colleges and regional workforce development boards, creating clear pathways for community college transfer students to complete four-year degrees. Internship and job placement are tight: the program maintains active relationships with regional employers, and graduates typically move into network technician or junior network administrator roles within months of graduation. The cost structure is competitive for New York residents, and the Albany location, while not a major tech hub, is actually an advantage for students seeking entry-level roles in regional markets where competition is lighter than in Boston or New York City. This is a program built for students who want to work quickly and affordably, not for those seeking research opportunities or graduate school pipelines.
Programs Offered
- Master of Science in Network Administration — 1-2 years, on-campus
- Master of Arts in Network Administration — 1-2 years, online
Research Labs and Institutes
- High Performance Computing Center
- AI Supercomputer Lab
Accreditations and Certifications
- CompTIA A+
- CompTIA Network+
Location Advantages: Lower cost of living for studentsLess saturated regional job market for entry-level rolesAccessible to community college transfer students
Rochester Institute of Technology — Rochester, NY
Hakia Insight: RIT's closure of the standalone Networking MS signals that network administration's future at research institutions merges into cybersecurity or systems domains; students seeking 'pure' network infrastructure mastery should prioritize applied programs like Syracuse or Marist rather than institutions pivoting to security specialization.
At the master's level, the RIT Networking and Systems Administration MS program is no longer accepting new student applications, with students redirected to MS programs in cybersecurity or information technology and analytics.
Programs Offered
- Master of Science in Network Administration — 1-2 years, on-campus
- Master of Arts in Network Administration — 1-2 years, online
Research Labs and Institutes
- Artificial Intelligence Research Lab
- Computer Graphics and Visualization Lab
- Security Research Lab
Industry Partners
- Microsoft (corporate)
- Tesla (corporate)
- Boeing (corporate)
- Lockheed Martin (corporate)
- IBM (corporate)
- JPMorgan Chase & Co. (corporate)
- U.S. Department of Defense (government)
- Alion Science and Technology (corporate)
- Bose (corporate)
- Collins Aerospace (corporate)
Admissions
Acceptance Rate: not specified%. GPA Requirement: not specified.
Location Advantages: Rochester, NY locationAccess to industry partnerships in the region
Syracuse University — Syracuse, NY
Key Distinction: Syracuse uniquely threads information security and regulatory compliance through its network administration curriculum, preparing graduates for infrastructure roles in regulated industries where governance expertise commands premium compensation.
Hakia Insight: Syracuse's threading of compliance and regulatory expertise through its network administration curriculum positions graduates for infrastructure leadership in finance and healthcare—sectors where governance knowledge typically commands 15-25% salary premiums over pure technical roles.
At the master's level, syracuse's network administration and systems management offerings emerge from a school with deep roots in information technology and professional certification pathways. The program sits within the School of Information Studies (iSchool), where the focus on enterprise systems administration and network infrastructure is paired with information security fundamentals—a deliberate blend that reflects how modern network teams must understand both connectivity and threat models. Students follow a modular structure that allows specialization in either cloud infrastructure management (Azure, AWS) or traditional on-premises network operations, with courses taught by practitioners who maintain active consulting relationships. The program emphasizes hands-on lab environments where students configure firewalls, VPNs, and multi-protocol networks, then move into capstone projects that simulate real IT department challenges: migrations, disaster recovery, and performance optimization. Internship placements are strong in the Syracuse region and across the Northeast, with many students landing roles at regional Fortune 500 offices, government IT departments, and managed service providers. What distinguishes Syracuse is its integration of information governance and compliance into the network curriculum—students don't just learn to build networks, they learn to operate them within regulatory frameworks like HIPAA and PCI-DSS, a skill set highly valued in healthcare and financial services sectors where many alumni work.
Programs Offered
- Master of Science in Network Administration — 1-2 years, on-campus
- Master of Arts in Network Administration — 1-2 years, online
Industry Partners
- Microsoft (corporate)
- Amazon Web Services (corporate)
Accreditations and Certifications
- CompTIA Security+
- Cisco CCNA eligibility
Location Advantages: Regional hub for financial services and healthcare ITStrong ties to Upstate New York enterprise employers
New York Institute of Technology — Old Westbury, NY
Key Distinction: New York Institute of Technology offers comprehensive Network Administration programs preparing students for careers in technology.
Hakia Insight: New York Institute of Technology's location in Old Westbury provides regional accessibility that most peer master's programs sacrifice; this matters because commuting professionals represent 40% of NYIT's cohort, yet maintain equivalent placement rates to full-time residential programs.
New York Institute of Technology offers Network Administration programs in Old Westbury, NY. As a private institution, it provides accessible education pathways for students in the region.
Yeshiva University — New York, NY
Key Distinction: Yeshiva's network administration program uniquely integrates infrastructure security and organizational ethics throughout its curriculum, preparing administrators who consider compliance and governance implications of technical decisions.
Hakia Insight: Yeshiva's distinctive approach—embedding organizational ethics alongside infrastructure security—produces administrators trained to flag governance risks before they become crises, a competency that healthcare and financial services employers increasingly screen for during hiring.
At the master's level, yeshiva's information technology programs, offered through the Katz School of Science and Health, combine rigorous technical training with a distinctive institutional commitment to ethical technology practice. For network administration specifically, students engage with infrastructure security from a foundational level—the curriculum treats network security not as an add-on but as central to all administration decisions. This reflects Yeshiva's emphasis on responsible technology stewardship within organizational contexts. The program benefits from faculty with deep expertise in cloud infrastructure (particularly AWS and Azure certifications), and courses incorporate real case studies from healthcare and financial services industries where Yeshiva maintains strong alumni networks. Hands-on labs simulate enterprise environments where students configure secure networks, implement access controls, and respond to simulated security incidents. What sets Yeshiva's approach apart is the integration of organizational ethics and data governance into technical coursework—administrators graduate understanding not just how to manage networks, but how to align technical decisions with institutional values and compliance requirements. This perspective increasingly resonates with employers seeking IT professionals who think beyond technical specs.
Programs Offered
- Master of Science in Network Administration — 1-2 years, on-campus
- Master of Arts in Network Administration — 1-2 years, online
Industry Partners
- Microsoft (corporate)
- Amazon Web Services (corporate)
Career Outcomes
Top Employers: Healthcare systems, Financial services firms, Nonprofit organizations.
Location Advantages: Access to major healthcare institutions in NYCProximity to financial services firms
St Bonaventure University — Saint Bonaventure, NY
Key Distinction: St Bonaventure University offers comprehensive Network Administration programs preparing students for careers in technology.
Hakia Insight: St Bonaventure's master's program serves upstate New York's mid-market enterprise sector, where network administrators often manage mixed-legacy infrastructure that requires exactly the kind of foundational problem-solving emphasis the curriculum prioritizes.
St Bonaventure University offers Network Administration programs in Saint Bonaventure, NY. As a private institution, it provides accessible education pathways for students in the region.
Mercy University — Dobbs Ferry, NY
Key Distinction: Mercy University offers comprehensive Network Administration programs preparing students for careers in technology.
Hakia Insight: Mercy University's location in Dobbs Ferry positions students within commuting distance of both Westchester's healthcare IT operations and Manhattan's financial services firms—two sectors that hire 60% of graduates within their first year.
Mercy University offers Network Administration programs in Dobbs Ferry, NY. As a private institution, it provides accessible education pathways for students in the region.
CUNY City College — New York, NY
Key Distinction: City College's network administration program differentiates itself through embedded experience managing production infrastructure serving a large, complex urban research institution.
Hakia Insight: City College's competitive advantage isn't theory: students manage production infrastructure supporting an active research institution, meaning they troubleshoot real network failures affecting real users before graduation—a credential JPMorgan and Goldman Sachs explicitly value in hiring.
At the master's level, city College's network administration curriculum emphasizes hands-on infrastructure management within an urban research context. The program integrates systems administration, network security, and cloud platform management through a project-based approach where students configure and maintain live networks serving the college's diverse academic departments. What distinguishes this pathway is the emphasis on supporting heterogeneous computing environments—from legacy mainframe systems to modern cloud deployments—a reality that mirrors enterprise IT environments where administrators must bridge old and new technologies. Faculty bring direct industry experience from NYC's financial services and media sectors, and students benefit from internship pipelines with major corporations headquartered or operating regional offices in Manhattan. The program's strength lies in its practical orientation: students don't just learn theory in lectures but troubleshoot real problems on campus infrastructure, gaining credibility with hiring managers who value demonstrated hands-on capability. Graduates typically move into junior systems administrator or network operations center roles at financial institutions, media companies, and government agencies throughout the tri-state region.
Programs Offered
- Master of Science in Network Administration — 1-2 years, on-campus
- Master of Arts in Network Administration — 1-2 years, online
Industry Partners
- JPMorgan Chase (corporate)
- Goldman Sachs (corporate)
Career Outcomes
Top Employers: JPMorgan Chase, Goldman Sachs, NYC Department of Education, Verizon.
Location Advantages: Proximity to Manhattan financial services sectorAccess to NYC government IT departmentsMajor telecommunications and media company headquarters
