2027 Best Value Network & System Administration/Administrator Schools in the The Plains States Region

[Network & System Administration/Administrator](/majors/computer-information-sciences/it-information-technology/network-and-system-administration-administrator/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
For its 2027 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 20 schools to find the best return on investment for network & system administration/administrator students.
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2027 Best Value Network & System Administration/Administrator Schools in the The Plains States Region
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the network & system administration/administrator degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Network & System Administration/Administrator Schools
Leading the list is Riverland Community College, our #1 best value for network & system administration/administrator in the The Plains States Region. Riverland Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Austin. In-state tuition and fees average $6,297. Typical student debt for network & system administration/administrator graduates is $15,732. Network & System Administration/administrator graduates of Riverland Community College earn a median of $49,194 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Western Iowa Tech Community College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in network & system administration/administrator, landing the #2 spot this year. Set in the city of Sioux City, Western Iowa Tech Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $5,186 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $5,330. Students borrow a median of $8,875 to complete the network & system administration/administrator program here. Network & System Administration/administrator graduates of Western Iowa Tech Community College earn a median of $23,745 early in their careers. Set against $8,875 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
A rank of #3 makes Kirkwood Community College one of the best values for network & system administration/administrator. Kirkwood Community College is a large public school located in the city of Cedar Rapids. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,176, while out-of-state students pay about $8,220. Students borrow a median of $17,500 to complete the network & system administration/administrator program here. Soon after graduation, network & system administration/administrator degree recipients from Kirkwood Community College generally make around $41,575. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Students looking for strong value in network & system administration/administrator will find it at St Cloud Technical And Community College, which ranked #4. Set in the city of Saint Cloud, St Cloud Technical And Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,124. Students borrow a median of $16,734 to complete the network & system administration/administrator program here. Early-career network & system administration/administrator graduates make about $48,652. Set against $16,734 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Students looking for strong value in network & system administration/administrator will find it at Hennepin Technical College, which ranked #5. Hennepin Technical College is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Brooklyn Park. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,940. Network & System Administration/administrator graduates carry a median of $20,998 in student loans. Network & System Administration/administrator graduates of Hennepin Technical College earn a median of $46,775 early in their careers. Set against $20,998 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Des Moines Area Community College came in at #6 for value in network & system administration/administrator this year. Located in the suburb of Ankeny, Des Moines Area Community College is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,790, while out-of-state students pay about $6,690. Students borrow a median of $17,694 to complete the network & system administration/administrator program here. Network & System Administration/administrator graduates of Des Moines Area Community College earn a median of $66,093 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Century College placed #7 among the best values for network & system administration/administrator. Set in the suburb of White Bear Lake, Century College is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $6,214 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $21,332 to complete the network & system administration/administrator program here. Soon after graduation, network & system administration/administrator degree recipients from Century College generally make around $47,502. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Saint Paul College A Community And Technical College placed #8 among the best values for network & system administration/administrator. Saint Paul College A Community And Technical College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Saint Paul. In-state tuition and fees average $6,326. Typical student debt for network & system administration/administrator graduates is $17,650. Soon after graduation, network & system administration/administrator degree recipients from Saint Paul College A Community And Technical College generally make around $38,179. Set against $17,650 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
University Of Nebraska At Omaha earned the #9 position for value in network & system administration/administrator this year. University Of Nebraska At Omaha is a large public school located in the city of Omaha. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,718, compared with $23,206 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for network & system administration/administrator graduates is $10,500. Early-career network & system administration/administrator graduates make about $82,921. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 87% of applicants are accepted.
Dakota County Technical College placed #10 among the best values for network & system administration/administrator. Dakota County Technical College is a mid-sized public school located in the rural area of Rosemount. In-state tuition and fees average $6,679. Typical student debt for network & system administration/administrator graduates is $15,327. Network & System Administration/administrator graduates of Dakota County Technical College earn a median of $49,173 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $15,327 median debt.
Minneapolis Community And Technical College came in at #11 for value in network & system administration/administrator this year. Minneapolis Community And Technical College is a large public school located in the city of Minneapolis. In-state tuition and fees average $6,161. Typical student debt for network & system administration/administrator graduates is $18,990. Soon after graduation, network & system administration/administrator degree recipients from Minneapolis Community And Technical College generally make around $39,603. That is a strong return on a $18,990 median debt.
Eastern Iowa Community College District came in at #12 for value in network & system administration/administrator this year. Set in the city of Davenport, Eastern Iowa Community College District is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $4,848 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $6,456. Students borrow a median of $15,995 to complete the network & system administration/administrator program here. Soon after graduation, network & system administration/administrator degree recipients from Eastern Iowa Community College District generally make around $41,510. That is a strong return on a $15,995 median debt.
Lake Superior College landed the #13 spot for network & system administration/administrator value this year. Lake Superior College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Duluth. Students from in state pay about $5,785 in tuition and fees. Network & System Administration/administrator graduates carry a median of $16,750 in student loans. Early-career network & system administration/administrator graduates make about $44,549. Set against $16,750 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Butler Community College came in at #14 for value in network & system administration/administrator this year. Set in the town of El Dorado, Butler Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $3,541 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $6,271. Students borrow a median of $20,225 to complete the network & system administration/administrator program here. Early-career network & system administration/administrator graduates make about $39,404. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Anoka Ramsey Community College ranked #15 on our 2027 list of the best value network & system administration/administrator schools. Located in the suburb of Coon Rapids, Anoka Ramsey Community College is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,682. Network & System Administration/administrator graduates carry a median of $22,593 in student loans. Early-career network & system administration/administrator graduates make about $44,293. That is a strong return on a $22,593 median debt.
Southeast Technical Institute ranked #16 on our 2027 list of the best value network & system administration/administrator schools. Located in the city of Sioux Falls, Southeast Technical Institute is a mid-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $7,650. Network & System Administration/administrator graduates carry a median of $17,756 in student loans. Early-career network & system administration/administrator graduates make about $42,439. Set against $17,756 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Bellevue University ranked #17 on our 2027 list of the best value network & system administration/administrator schools. Bellevue University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Bellevue. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,873. Typical student debt for network & system administration/administrator graduates is $24,694. Early-career network & system administration/administrator graduates make about $82,054. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Rasmussen College Minnesota ranked #18 on our 2027 list of the best value network & system administration/administrator schools. Rasmussen College Minnesota is a large private for-profit school located in the city of St. Cloud. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,199. Students borrow a median of $34,530 to complete the network & system administration/administrator program here. Soon after graduation, network & system administration/administrator degree recipients from Rasmussen College Minnesota generally make around $50,864. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Dakota State University came in at #19 for value in network & system administration/administrator this year. Set in the town of Madison, Dakota State University is a moderately-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $9,654, compared with $12,756 for out-of-state students. Network & System Administration/administrator graduates carry a median of $25,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, network & system administration/administrator degree recipients from Dakota State University generally make around $58,166. That is a strong return on a $25,000 median debt. Roughly 88% of applicants are accepted.
Wichita Technical Institute placed #20 among the best values for network & system administration/administrator. Wichita Technical Institute is a small private for-profit school located in the city of Wichita. Typical student debt for network & system administration/administrator graduates is $17,518. Network & System Administration/administrator graduates of Wichita Technical Institute earn a median of $32,236 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $17,518 median debt.
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. Schools are scored on the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 20 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 20 ranked schools only.
- The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE), serves as the core of our data about colleges.
- Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
More about our data sources and methodologies.