2026 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. Located in the town of Austin, Riverland Community College is a mid-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $6,297 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $15,732 to complete the network & system administration/administrator program here. Early-career network & system administration/administrator graduates make about $49,194. That is a strong return on a $15,732 median debt.
A rank of #2 makes Kirkwood Community College one of the best values for network & system administration/administrator. Located in the city of Cedar Rapids, Kirkwood Community College is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,176, compared with $8,220 for out-of-state students. Network & System Administration/administrator graduates carry a median of $17,500 in student loans. Early-career network & system administration/administrator graduates make about $41,575. Set against $17,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Western Iowa Tech Community College earned it the #3 place for network & system administration/administrator. Set in the city of Sioux City, Western Iowa Tech Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,186, with out-of-state students paying around $5,330. Typical student debt for network & system administration/administrator graduates is $8,875. Network & System Administration/administrator graduates of Western Iowa Tech Community College earn a median of $23,745 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $8,875 median debt.
Century College came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best value network & system administration/administrator schools. Set in the suburb of White Bear Lake, Century College is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,214. Typical student debt for network & system administration/administrator graduates is $21,332. Soon after graduation, network & system administration/administrator degree recipients from Century College generally make around $47,502. That is a strong return on a $21,332 median debt.
Students looking for strong value in network & system administration/administrator will find it at Eastern Iowa Community College District, which ranked #5. Located in the city of Davenport, Eastern Iowa Community College District is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,848, while out-of-state students pay about $6,456. Network & System Administration/administrator graduates carry a median of $15,995 in student loans. Network & System Administration/administrator graduates of Eastern Iowa Community College District earn a median of $41,510 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Hennepin Technical College earned the #6 position for value in network & system administration/administrator this year. Located in the suburb of Brooklyn Park, Hennepin Technical College is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,940. Typical student debt for network & system administration/administrator graduates is $20,998. Soon after graduation, network & system administration/administrator degree recipients from Hennepin Technical College generally make around $46,775. Set against $20,998 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Pine Technical College earned the #7 position for value in network & system administration/administrator this year. Located in the rural area of Pine City, Pine Technical College is a mid-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,738. Students borrow a median of $22,454 to complete the network & system administration/administrator program here. Early-career network & system administration/administrator graduates make about $44,905. That is a strong return on a $22,454 median debt.
Des Moines Area Community College came in at #8 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, with out-of-state students paying around $6,690. Network & System Administration/administrator graduates carry a median of $17,694 in student loans. Soon after graduation, network & system administration/administrator degree recipients from Des Moines Area Community College generally make around $66,093. Set against $17,694 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Dakota County Technical College earned the #9 position for value in network & system administration/administrator this year. Set in the rural area of Rosemount, Dakota County Technical College is a mid-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,679. Students borrow a median of $15,327 to complete the network & system administration/administrator program here. Soon after graduation, network & system administration/administrator degree recipients from Dakota County Technical College generally make around $49,173. Set against $15,327 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
St Cloud Technical And Community College earned the #10 position for value in network & system administration/administrator this year. Set in the city of Saint Cloud, St Cloud Technical And Community College is a mid-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,124. Typical student debt for network & system administration/administrator graduates is $16,734. Soon after graduation, network & system administration/administrator degree recipients from St Cloud Technical And Community College generally make around $48,652. That is a strong return on a $16,734 median debt.
University Of Nebraska At Omaha came in at #11 for value in network & system administration/administrator this year. Located in the city of Omaha, University Of Nebraska At Omaha is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $8,718 in tuition and fees, compared with $23,206 for out-of-state students. Network & System Administration/administrator graduates carry a median of $10,500 in student loans. Soon after graduation, network & system administration/administrator degree recipients from University Of Nebraska At Omaha generally make around $82,921. That is a strong return on a $10,500 median debt. University Of Nebraska At Omaha admits about 87% of applicants.
Anoka Ramsey Community College placed #12 among the best values for network & system administration/administrator. Anoka Ramsey Community College is a large public school located in the suburb of Coon Rapids. In-state tuition and fees average $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.
Manhattan Area Technical College ranked #13 on our 2026 list of the best value network & system administration/administrator schools. Manhattan Area Technical College is a small public school located in the city of Manhattan. Students from in state pay about $9,844 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $15,499 to complete the network & system administration/administrator program here. Soon after graduation, network & system administration/administrator degree recipients from Manhattan Area Technical College generally make around $43,205. Set against $15,499 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Saint Paul College A Community And Technical College placed #14 among the best values for network & system administration/administrator. Located in the city of Saint Paul, Saint Paul College A Community And Technical College is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $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. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Minneapolis Community And Technical College placed #15 among the best values for network & system administration/administrator. Minneapolis Community And Technical College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Minneapolis. In-state tuition and fees average $6,161. Students borrow a median of $18,990 to complete the network & system administration/administrator program here. Network & System Administration/administrator graduates of Minneapolis Community And Technical College earn a median of $39,603 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $18,990 median debt.
Lake Superior College landed the #16 spot for network & system administration/administrator value this year. Located in the city of Duluth, Lake Superior College is a moderately-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $5,785. Typical student debt for network & system administration/administrator graduates is $16,750. Network & System Administration/administrator graduates of Lake Superior College earn a median of $44,549 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Butler Community College landed the #17 spot for network & system administration/administrator value this year. Set in the town of El Dorado, Butler Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $3,541, with out-of-state students paying around $6,271. Typical student debt for network & system administration/administrator graduates is $20,225. Network & System Administration/administrator graduates of Butler Community College earn a median of $39,404 early in their careers. Set against $20,225 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Southeast Technical Institute placed #18 among the best values for network & system administration/administrator. Set in the city of Sioux Falls, Southeast Technical Institute is a mid-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $7,650 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for network & system administration/administrator graduates is $17,756. Early-career network & system administration/administrator graduates make about $42,439. That is a strong return on a $17,756 median debt.
Rasmussen College Minnesota placed #19 among the best values for network & system administration/administrator. Located in the city of St. Cloud, Rasmussen College Minnesota is a large private for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,199. Typical student debt for network & system administration/administrator graduates is $34,530. Network & System Administration/administrator graduates of Rasmussen College Minnesota earn a median of $50,864 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $34,530 median debt.
Dakota State University landed the #20 spot for network & system administration/administrator value this year. Set in the town of Madison, Dakota State University is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,654, with out-of-state students paying around $12,756. Students borrow a median of $25,000 to complete the network & system administration/administrator program here. Network & System Administration/administrator graduates of Dakota State University earn a median of $58,166 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $25,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 88%.
Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 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 · 35 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 13 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.
[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.
