10 Best Online Bachelor's in Network Administration for 2019
Online network administration degree programs offer location-flexible options preparing students for rewarding roles managing computer systems. As businesses and other organizations become increasingly dependent on multiple forms of technology to accomplish their goals, the skills learned in network administrator bachelor degree programs are increasingly relevant to today's workforce
Attaining a network and computer systems administrators degree is a practical way to gain expertise overseeing the complex server arrays, desktop computers, mobile devices, and peripherals needed to maximize business productivity. Pursuing this degree may also be an efficient way to launch a lucrative career: Payscale reports that network and computer system administrators earn an average salary of $59,499.
What Are The Best Online Bachelor's in Network Administration Programs?
10 Best Online Bachelor's in Network Administration of 2019
Admissions Rate
66%
Graduation Rate
58%
Online Enrollment
44%
Retention Rate
79%
Champlain offers a bachelor's of science in computer and information systems program that also allows students to earn a system administration certificate. This program prepares students for careers as IT support specialists, programmers, application developers, IT consultants, and more. The curriculum includes courses on a variety of topics, such as networking fundamentals, information systems design, operating systems, and financial systems for management.
Students can transfer up to 90 credits towards the degree, and can gain credit for professional experience in the field. Champlain offers courses in seven-week terms, allowing students to earn their degree at an accelerated pace. Applicants must have a minimum 2.5 GPA and show a demonstrated ability to learn online to be considered. Champlain is accredited by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges.
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How to Choose an Online Bachelor's in Network Administration Program
Network administration degree online programs typically cover computer science fundamentals and networking practices. However, prospective students should consider that programs vary in content, duration, and support available to distance learners. Different programs allow learners to gain experience administrating different operating systems, and using various computer languages for specialized purposes, such as web development.
What Will I Learn in This Program?
Students enrolled in undergraduate network administrator degree programs learn the fundamental skills required to manage large-scale computer systems. Programs typically include core courses in computer hardware maintenance, data communication, documentation practices, and network security. However, it is important for students to understand the elective options available within each program, as these specialized courses determine the specific career paths available to graduates. Each prospective student should carefully consider which program offers courses best matching his or her knowledge goals.
Most network administrator bachelor degree programs include administrator training in one or more operating systems, particularly Windows and Linux/Unix. Network systems administrator degree students are also expected to learn the basic elements of one or more programming language, typically including C++, Java, and PHP. Some programs offer courses that emphasize the skills needed to work in networking in a web-based environment. Others offer more thorough training in cybersecurity.
How Long Will it Take to Complete This Program?
Online degrees give students increased control over when, where, and for how long they study in their selected network administration programs. It is important for each prospective student to consider the timeframe that best fits his or her needs. Some candidates may seek a fast way to gain basic knowledge of the field, while others might prefer options that allow for more specialized professional preparation.
Online bachelor's in network administration degree programs typically consist of eight semesters and usually take four years of full-time study to complete. However, some network and computer systems administrators degree programs allow students to complete their studies in three or fewer years if they can demonstrate previous networking or programming experience. Some students may choose to remain in programs for additional semesters if they seek advanced training for professional certifications.
How Does this Program Support Online Students?
Other online majors often require candidates to attend in-person sessions for practicums. In contrast, information pertinent to network administration inherently involves a computer interface. This fact makes network administration degrees ideal for distance learning. However, students should understand how different program course options, and the support given to online candidates, will fit their educational needs.
Students should consider whether programs offer synchronous or asynchronous lectures. Asynchronous formats could allow students to cover technically complex material at their own pace, potentially maximizing the power of previous knowledge. Prospects should note specific lecturer backgrounds and match their own interests to professor expertise. It is also important to consider forms of peer interaction available, such as online forums, chat options, or video conferencing.
Careers for Network Administration Graduates
Graduates of network administration programs enjoy a myriad of rewarding career options. The skills gained from this degree can be used in corporate, nonprofit, and government settings. Since computer technology is increasingly important to the workforce, the range of roles available to network administration experts is likely to broaden over the coming decades. All work with computers and networking in some sense, but different jobs notably vary in terms of the routine activities they involve.
Network and computer systems administrators are responsible for the day to day maintenance of an organization's computing and communications services. Professionals in this field must have both a big-picture understanding of organizational technology architecture and the ability to provide hands-on support as need arises. They must be able to administer and service an organization's crucial hardware and software.
Median Salary: $59,499
Job Outlook and Salary
According to BLS projections , employment options available to candidates with undergraduate degrees in network administration will grow at least as fast as the national average. This degree enables graduates to pursue a wide range of professional roles, and some will grow much faster than average. To some extent, job availability varies by location (with employment opportunities concentrated in urban areas), but this is becoming less true as computer networks become centrally important to more industries.
All related careers considered together, the BLS projects that hundreds of thousands of new jobs requiring network administration skills will become available in the United States over the next decade. Pay for these jobs will surpass the national median, with some being significantly higher than average.
| Employment, 2014 | Projected Employment, 2024 |
|---|---|
| 382,600 | 412,800 |
Salary Growth by Experience for Graduates of Network Administration Programs
Salaries in the broadly defined network administration field typically increase with experience. Pay scales also vary by organization type. Corporate roles often (but not always) pay more than nonprofit or government positions. Overall, this is a field with strong salary growth potential. Years of experience in network administration usually translate into expertise in more specific technology areas, and mid-career professionals with a good understanding of widely used computer network technologies can earn generous pay.
To determine the best online network administration programs, we looked at the most important factors prospective students, mainly common predictors of future success and a school's commitment to online programs. This boils down to admissions rate, student loan default rate, retention rate, graduation rate, and the percent of students enrolled in online classes. All data points are taken from information provided by colleges and universities to the National Center for Education Statistics.
Each factor is weighted evenly in order to give an objective view and determine the 10 best online network administration degree programs. To calculate our rankings, we looked at a school's ranking when organized by a single factor, and then averaged each category's ranking to find an overall score: Admissions Rate (20%) + Default Rate (20%) + Retention Rate (20%) + Graduation Rate (20%) + Percent of Students Enrolled in Online Classes (20%) = Final score.