Network Administration Programs 2026: CCNA, Network+ & Pay

Network and computer systems administrators earned a median annual wage of $99,130 in May 2025 (BLS OEWS, May 2025), with the top 10 percent of earners above $155,050. Network administration programs typically teach you to design, configure, secure, and troubleshoot the wired and wireless networks that every modern organization depends on. Most programs align their curriculum with industry certifications such as CompTIA Network+ and Cisco CCNA, and they are offered as short certificates, two-year associate degrees, and four-year bachelor’s degrees at community colleges, technical schools, and universities.

What Is a Network Administration Program?

A network administration program trains students to install, manage, and maintain the local area networks (LANs), wide area networks (WANs), servers, and cloud resources that keep an organization’s data flowing. Coursework typically combines networking theory (the OSI and TCP/IP models, IP addressing, routing, and switching) with hands-on lab time on real or virtualized routers, switches, firewalls, and servers. Programs are commonly titled Network Administration, Network Systems Technology, Computer Networking, or Network and Systems Administration, and many are structured so that each course maps to a specific certification exam objective list.

Unlike a general computer science degree, a network administration program is applied and operational: less programming theory, more time building, breaking, and repairing networks in a lab. That focus makes these programs a common route into help desk, network technician, and junior systems administrator roles, the usual starting points before a full administrator position.

What You’ll Learn

• Network fundamentals: the OSI model, TCP/IP, subnetting, IPv4 and IPv6 addressing, DNS, and DHCP
• Routing and switching: VLANs, spanning tree, static and dynamic routing protocols (OSPF, EIGRP, BGP basics), and inter-VLAN routing
• Windows Server administration: Active Directory, Group Policy, file and print services, and user account management
• Linux administration: the command line, shell scripting, permissions, package management, and common server services
• Cloud administration: virtual machines, virtual networking, identity, and storage in platforms such as AWS, Azure, or Google Cloud
• Wireless networking: 802.11 standards, access point placement, and WLAN security
• Network security: firewalls, access control lists, VPNs, network segmentation, and basic threat detection
• Virtualization: hypervisors, virtual switches, and lab environments built on VMware, Hyper-V, or Proxmox
• Monitoring and troubleshooting: packet capture with Wireshark, SNMP, syslog, and structured troubleshooting methodology
• Documentation, change management, and disaster recovery planning

How Long Does Training Take?

Program length depends on the credential you pursue:

• Certificate programs typically run from a few months to a year and focus narrowly on the skills covered by one or two certification exams, most often Network+ and CCNA. These are common at community colleges and technical schools and suit career changers who already hold a degree in another field.
• Associate degrees (AAS or AS in Network Administration or Network Technology) typically take two years of full-time study. They add general education courses plus deeper coverage of Windows and Linux server administration, security, and cloud platforms.
• Bachelor’s degrees (BS in Information Technology, Network Engineering, or Computer Networking) typically take four years and add project management, enterprise architecture, advanced security, and often an internship or capstone. Some universities accept an associate degree as the first two years through an articulation agreement.

Part-time and evening formats stretch these timelines, while some accelerated cohort programs compress them. Confirm the actual schedule with each school before enrolling.

Admissions & Requirements

• High school diploma or GED for certificate and associate programs; bachelor’s programs may also require SAT/ACT scores or a minimum GPA
• Placement testing in math and English at many community colleges
• Basic computer literacy; some programs require or recommend CompTIA A+ or an introductory IT course first
• A reliable computer and internet connection for online and hybrid formats, since virtual labs are a core part of coursework
• Transfer credit evaluation if you hold prior college credit or industry certifications (some schools award credit for a current CCNA or Network+)
• No prior IT work experience is required for most entry-level programs

Licensing & Certification

Network administration is not a licensed profession, so there is no state license to obtain. Industry certifications serve that role instead, and most employers list them in job postings. Programs commonly align with:

• CompTIA Network+: a vendor-neutral entry credential covering networking concepts, infrastructure, operations, security, and troubleshooting
• Cisco CCNA: the most widely recognized vendor certification for routing and switching, network access, IP services, security fundamentals, and automation basics
• CompTIA Security+: often paired with Network+ for roles that touch security
• Microsoft, Red Hat, and AWS certifications: for Windows Server, Linux, and cloud administration respectively

Certification exams are administered by the certifying body, not by the school, and are scheduled and paid for separately from the program. Look for programs that are Cisco Networking Academy members or CompTIA Authorized Partners, which gives you access to official curriculum and lab tools. For degree programs, the school should hold regional institutional accreditation; some bachelor’s programs in IT also hold programmatic accreditation from ABET’s Computing Accreditation Commission.

Career Outlook & Salary

According to BLS OEWS, May 2025, network and computer systems administrators (SOC 15-1244) earned a median annual wage of $99,130. The lowest 10 percent earned under $62,640 and the highest 10 percent earned over $155,050. National employment in the occupation was 314,340.

The projection picture deserves an honest reading. BLS Employment Projections, 2024-34 project employment of network and computer systems administrators to decline 4.2 percent over the decade as cloud services and automation reduce the number of on-premises systems that need hands-on management. Even with that decline, BLS projects about 14,300 openings per year, most of them from workers retiring or moving into other roles.

Related occupations that network administration programs can also prepare you for show a mixed picture:

• Computer network support specialists (SOC 15-1231): median $76,220, with the 10th percentile at $47,120 and the 90th at $127,780 (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Employment is projected to grow 1.8 percent from 2024-34, with about 9,600 openings per year.
• Computer network architects (SOC 15-1241): median $134,050 (BLS OEWS, May 2025), with employment projected to grow 11.9 percent from 2024-34 and about 11,200 openings per year. Architect roles usually require a bachelor’s degree and several years of administration experience.

The practical takeaway: the strongest long-term positioning combines core network skills with cloud and security competence, which is why most current programs build those subjects into the curriculum.

Where You’ll Work

Network administrators are employed across nearly every industry because every organization with more than a handful of employees runs a network. Common employers include:

• Corporate IT departments in finance, manufacturing, retail, and professional services
• Hospitals and healthcare systems, where uptime and HIPAA-driven security requirements are strict
• K-12 school districts, colleges, and universities
• Federal, state, and local government agencies
• Managed service providers (MSPs) that administer networks for many small business clients at once
• Telecommunications carriers and internet service providers
• Data centers and cloud hosting companies

Work is typically full time with on-call duty for outages. Some roles are remote, though positions that involve physical hardware in server rooms require on-site presence.

Online vs In-Person Options

Network administration is one of the more online-friendly technical programs because most labs can be run on virtualized equipment. Cisco Packet Tracer, GNS3, EVE-NG, and cloud-hosted lab environments let you configure routers and switches from home, and Windows and Linux server administration can be practiced in virtual machines. Many community colleges and universities offer fully online associate and bachelor’s programs in the field.

In-person programs offer access to physical racks of enterprise equipment, which matters for skills like cabling, hardware troubleshooting, and console access that simulators do not fully replicate. Hybrid formats, with online lectures and scheduled on-campus lab days, are a common middle ground. When comparing formats, ask each school what lab platform it uses, whether you get practice on physical hardware at any point, and whether the program includes a supervised internship or capstone project.

Browse by Location

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Related Programs

Other IT training paths that overlap with network administration:

• IT Support programs
• Cybersecurity programs
• Software Development programs

Career Guide

Network administration sits in the middle of a well-defined IT career ladder. Most people enter through help desk or network technician roles, move into administration after earning Network+ or CCNA and gaining a year or two of experience, and then specialize in security, cloud infrastructure, or network architecture. Because the entry-level and mid-level certifications carry so much weight with employers, mapping out which credentials to earn and in what order is worth doing before you choose a program.

For a breakdown of the major IT credentials, how they stack, and which ones employers ask for most often, see our IT Certifications guide.

Career Questions

Common questions people ask before enrolling, answered with BLS data:

• How Long Does It Take to Become an IT Support Specialist?

FAQs

Do I need a degree to become a network administrator?

Requirements vary by employer. Many job postings for network administrators list a bachelor’s degree in a computer-related field, but a substantial share of employers accept an associate degree or relevant certifications (Network+, CCNA) combined with hands-on experience. Government and large enterprise positions tend to hold firmer degree requirements; small businesses and managed service providers are often more flexible.

Is Network+ or CCNA better to start with?

Network+ is vendor-neutral and covers broad networking concepts, which makes it a good first credential if you are new to the field. CCNA is Cisco-specific but goes deeper into routing and switching configuration and is more frequently named in job postings for administrator roles. Many programs typically prepare you for both, typically Network+ first and CCNA second.

Is network administration a declining field?

BLS Employment Projections, 2024-34 project a 4.2 percent decline in employment for network and computer systems administrators, driven by cloud adoption and automation. However, BLS still projects about 14,300 openings per year from replacement needs, and closely related roles such as computer network architects are projected to grow 11.9 percent. Administrators who add cloud and security skills are positioned for that shift.

Can I complete a network administration program entirely online?

Yes, many schools offer fully online certificate, associate, and bachelor’s programs using virtual lab platforms such as Packet Tracer, GNS3, or cloud-hosted lab environments. The tradeoff is less time on physical hardware. If you want hands-on experience with real switches and servers, look for a hybrid program with on-campus lab days.

What is the difference between a network administrator and a systems administrator?

The titles overlap heavily, which is why BLS groups them into one occupation. In general, network administrators focus on routers, switches, firewalls, and connectivity, while systems administrators focus on servers, operating systems, and directory services. At smaller organizations one person does both; at larger ones the roles are separate.

Salary data reflects U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) for May 2025. Projections reflect BLS Employment Projections, 2024-34. Actual salaries vary by location, experience, and employer. Program availability varies by school.

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