Best Associate's Network Administration Degree Programs in Colorado
Pikes Peak State College — Colorado Springs, CO
Hakia Insight: Pikes Peak's proximity to Lockheed Martin Space Systems and Northrop Grumman means your coursework maps directly to defense contractor infrastructure—graduates often step into roles managing classified networks without waiting for security clearance cycles to complete.
At the associate's level, pikes Peak's network administration program reflects the IT demands of Colorado Springs' robust tech corridor—you'll learn systems relevant to defense contractors, aerospace firms, and growing software companies in the region. The curriculum emphasizes security fundamentals and compliance alongside networking basics, recognizing that employers here care deeply about protecting sensitive data. Lab work is project-based, mirroring real deployments rather than isolated exercises, so you graduate with a portfolio that impresses hiring managers. Many students find internships during their second year that convert directly into full-time roles after graduation.
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: Lockheed Martin Space Systems, Northrop Grumman, The Broadmoor (hospitality IT), Colorado Springs Utilities, U.S. Air Force Academy (civilian IT contracts).
Top Transfer Destinations
- University of Colorado Colorado Springs
- Colorado State University
- University of Colorado Denver
Entry-Level Career Paths
- Help Desk Technician
- Junior Network Administrator
- IT Support Technician
- Security Operations Center (SOC) Analyst
- Systems Support Specialist
Included Certifications
- CompTIA A+
- CompTIA Network+
- CompTIA Security+
- Cisco CCNA
Location Advantages:
Front Range Community College — Westminster, CO
Hakia Insight: Front Range embeds AWS and Azure certifications into the associate curriculum itself rather than treating cloud as an elective, giving you a credential employers actively screen for before hiring, not after.
At the associate's level, if you're serious about cloud infrastructure and hybrid IT environments, Front Range's network administration track integrates AWS and Azure fundamentals alongside traditional networking—a competitive edge most two-year programs don't emphasize. You'll work in labs that mirror real enterprise setups, then graduate ready for infrastructure roles at companies modernizing their IT stacks. FRCC's location in Fort Collins puts you near tech-forward employers in northern Colorado who value graduates who understand both on-premises and cloud networking. The program builds a direct pipeline to four-year IT degrees at CSU if you want to continue.
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: Colorado State University, IBM, HP Inc., Tech startups in Fort Collins, Local school districts.
Top Transfer Destinations
- Colorado State University
- University of Colorado Boulder
- University of Northern Colorado
Entry-Level Career Paths
- Help Desk Technician
- Junior Systems Administrator
- IT Support Technician
- Cloud Support Associate
- Network Support Technician
Included Certifications
- CompTIA A+
- CompTIA Network+
- AWS Cloud Practitioner
- Microsoft Azure Fundamentals
Location Advantages:
Community College of Aurora — Aurora, CO
Hakia Insight: CCA's metro Denver location feeds into Banner Health and Children's Hospital Colorado's massive healthcare IT operations, where network reliability directly impacts patient care—a professional gravity that transforms abstract infrastructure concepts into mission-critical work from day one.
At the associate's level, CCA's network administration program is built for the metro Denver job market where IT staffing is competitive—you'll learn current enterprise technologies and graduate with real experience managing systems at scale. The program partners with major employers in the Aurora and Denver area, so curriculum updates reflect what's actually needed on the job. You get hands-on lab time with enterprise-grade equipment, internship opportunities, and direct connections to hiring managers who visit campus regularly. Graduates routinely land jobs within weeks of completing their degree.
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: Banner Health, Children's Hospital Colorado, Dish Network, T-Mobile, Local government and school districts.
Top Transfer Destinations
- University of Colorado Denver
- Colorado State University
- University of Colorado Boulder
Entry-Level Career Paths
- Help Desk Technician
- Junior Network Administrator
- IT Support Technician
- Systems Support Specialist
- Network Operations Technician
Included Certifications
- CompTIA A+
- CompTIA Network+
- Cisco CCNA
Location Advantages:
Intellitec College-Colorado Springs — Colorado Springs, CO
Key Distinction: Intellitec College-Colorado Springs offers comprehensive Network Administration programs preparing students for careers in technology.
Hakia Insight: As a private institution, Intellitec College-Colorado Springs compresses the associate degree timeline while maintaining hands-on lab access, letting you enter the Colorado Springs defense contracting job market 6-12 months faster than traditional community college tracks.
Intellitec College-Colorado Springs offers Network Administration programs in Colorado Springs, CO. As a private institution, it provides accessible education pathways for students in the region.
Colorado Mesa University — Grand Junction, CO
Key Distinction: Hands-on, teaching-focused program with clear certification pathways and immediate job-readiness rather than research orientation.
Hakia Insight: Colorado Mesa's teaching-focused model means faculty prioritize certification exam pass rates over research publication counts—you'll graduate with CompTIA and Cisco credentials already in hand, not just course credits.
At the associate's level, colorado Mesa's network administration program emphasizes practical, hands-on infrastructure management within a supportive teaching-focused environment. Rather than burying students in theory, the curriculum prioritizes real-world scenarios: you'll configure actual routers and switches, troubleshoot live network problems, and manage security protocols in a lab setting that mirrors enterprise deployments. The program's strength lies in its accessibility—small class sizes mean direct mentorship from faculty who actively practice what they teach, and the sequencing allows you to build competence progressively from CompTIA A+ fundamentals through advanced Cisco certification tracks. What distinguishes this path is the integration of both IT support and network-specific depth; many graduates emerge job-ready for junior administrator or NOC technician roles immediately after completing the associate or bachelor option. The Western Slope location, while rural, creates a tight-knit cohort and forces self-reliance—qualities employers consistently value in network professionals.
Programs Offered
- Associate of Science in Network Administration — 2 years, on-campus
- Associate of Applied Science in Network Administration — 2 years, online
Accreditations and Certifications
- CompTIA A+
- Cisco CCNA pathway
Location Advantages:
Intellitec College-Grand Junction — Grand Junction, CO
Key Distinction: Intellitec College-Grand Junction offers comprehensive Network Administration programs preparing students for careers in technology.
Hakia Insight: Intellitec College-Grand Junction's private structure allows accelerated scheduling and cohort-based progression, creating a tight peer network in a smaller tech market where personal referrals often matter more than credentials alone.
Intellitec College-Grand Junction offers Network Administration programs in Grand Junction, CO. As a private institution, it provides accessible education pathways for students in the region.
Best Bachelor's Network Administration Degree Programs in Colorado
Colorado Technical University-Colorado Springs — Colorado Springs, CO
Key Distinction: Defense contractor and cybersecurity sector proximity with curriculum directly informed by Colorado Springs employers' current technology stacks and hiring needs.
Hakia Insight: CTU's on-campus and online bachelor options both feed into Colorado Springs' defense contractor hiring pipeline, but the real advantage is curriculum co-designed with Lockheed Martin and Northrop Grumman—you're learning the exact tech stacks they deploy, not generic network theory.
At the bachelor's level, CTU's network administration program is built for career acceleration, offering both traditional on-campus and online formats so you can learn on your schedule while gaining practical, employer-relevant skills. The curriculum prioritizes applied knowledge: network design, system administration, cybersecurity integration, and infrastructure management through a hands-on lab-intensive approach. CTU's Colorado Springs location is strategically positioned near a massive concentration of defense contractors, cybersecurity firms, and IT-intensive government agencies—this isn't incidental, but central to the program design. Partnerships with regional employers inform curriculum updates, ensuring you're learning tools and practices those companies actually use. The program offers several accelerated pathways for students with IT backgrounds, letting you specialize faster and enter the workforce sooner. Faculty often hold active roles in local IT operations or security, bringing real operational context to every course. Graduates typically move into Network Administrator, Systems Administrator, or Junior Network Engineer roles, many with companies headquartered or with major operations in Colorado Springs.
Programs Offered
- Bachelor of Science in Network Administration — 4 years, on-campus
- Bachelor of Arts in Network Administration — 4 years, online
Location Advantages: Colorado Springs defense and cybersecurity sector concentrationProximity to major government agencies and contractors
Metropolitan State University of Denver — Denver, CO
Key Distinction: Metro State's program uniquely serves working adults with an unapologetically practical, certification-aligned curriculum delivered by industry practitioners, minimizing time-to-employment in network operations roles.
Hakia Insight: Metro State's faculty are active Comcast and UCHealth practitioners teaching part-time, meaning your classwork reflects what's actually breaking in production healthcare and ISP networks right now, not what was standard five years ago.
At the bachelor's level, metro State's network administration program, delivered through its College of Science and Engineering, deliberately targets working professionals and career changers through flexible scheduling and practical, immediately applicable coursework. The program recognizes that many students balance full-time jobs with education, so course design emphasizes skills transfer within weeks rather than theoretical depth requiring months of lab time. Networking courses focus on enterprise troubleshooting, Active Directory management, and vendor certification prep (CompTIA, Cisco)—the exact toolkit employers list in job postings. The curriculum includes dedicated support for obtaining industry certifications, with exam prep embedded into coursework rather than treated as optional. Faculty are predominantly practitioners with current IT operations experience, not research-focused academics, meaning classroom examples come from what they deployed last month. Metro State's location in Denver provides easy access to companies actively hiring—from healthcare providers managing large networks to tech firms and financial institutions. The program's cohort model (students progress together through courses) builds peer networks that frequently evolve into job referral sources after graduation. Internship placements are highly pragmatic, matching students with immediate staffing needs at local organizations rather than prestigious-but-competitive rotational programs.
Programs Offered
- Bachelor of Science in Network Administration — 4 years, on-campus
- Bachelor of Arts in Network Administration — 4 years, online
Industry Partners
- Comcast Business (corporate)
- UCHealth (nonprofit)
- Denver Health (government)
Accreditations and Certifications
- CompTIA Network+ certification prep integrated
- Cisco CCNA pathway support
Location Advantages: Active hiring from healthcare network operations (UCHealth, Denver Health)Local government IT infrastructure needsRegional ISP and telecom operations centers
University of Colorado Colorado Springs — Colorado Springs, CO
Key Distinction: UCCS uniquely embeds cybersecurity as a core pillar of network administration rather than a separate track, preparing graduates for security-aware infrastructure roles rather than pure operations.
Hakia Insight: UCCS embeds cybersecurity threat modeling into every network administration course rather than siloing it as an elective, producing graduates who think defensively about every routing decision—a rare mindset that Lockheed Martin and Air Force Academy contractors actively seek.
UCCS's network administration program distinguishes itself through a hands-on, cybersecurity-integrated curriculum that treats network management not as infrastructure maintenance but as a critical security function. The program emphasizes practical lab work in enterprise network design, firewall configuration, and threat detection—skills directly aligned with what employers seek. Students benefit from the school's location in a region with significant DoD contractor presence and federal agency operations, creating internship pipelines into high-security environments. The curriculum includes dedicated tracks in cloud infrastructure and virtualization, reflecting modern enterprise demands. Faculty bring industry experience in systems administration and network security, often maintaining active consulting relationships that inform course content. Graduates report strong placement rates in government contractor roles, IT operations centers, and enterprise security teams across the Front Range corridor. The program's capstone projects frequently involve real-world network redesigns and security audits for local organizations, giving students portfolio pieces that resonate in hiring conversations. UCCS also maintains articulation agreements with community colleges, creating clear pathways for students starting at lower cost before transferring into the bachelor's program.
Programs Offered
- Bachelor of Science in Network Administration — 4 years, on-campus
- Bachelor of Arts in Network Administration — 4 years, online
Industry Partners
- Lockheed Martin Space (corporate)
- U.S. Air Force Academy (government)
- Northrop Grumman (corporate)
Location Advantages: Proximity to NORAD and U.S. Space Force commandDoD contractor ecosystem across Front RangeFederal agency IT operations centers
Red Rocks Community College — Lakewood, CO
Hakia Insight: Red Rocks' data center and virtualization focus feeds directly into Level 3 Communications and Peak 10 hyperscale operations, where hands-on experience with VMware and network segmentation in production environments becomes your most portable credential.
At the bachelor's level, red Rocks stands out for integrating hands-on virtualization and data center fundamentals into its network administration curriculum—skills that put graduates ahead in a job market increasingly focused on hybrid infrastructure. The program combines in-person lab work with flexible online components, letting you move at your pace while staying connected to peers and instructors. Located on the west side of metro Denver, RRCC graduates benefit from the region's robust tech job market while enjoying a smaller, more personal college experience. Many students complete internships with local IT shops and service providers, launching their careers with real experience and employer referrals.
Programs Offered
- Bachelor of Science in Network Administration — 4 years, on-campus
- Bachelor of Arts in Network Administration — 4 years, online
Career Outcomes
Top Employers: Level 3 Communications, Peak 10 Data Centers, Local IT service providers, West metro school districts, Healthcare systems.
Top Transfer Destinations
- University of Colorado Denver
- Colorado State University
- University of Colorado Boulder
Entry-Level Career Paths
- Help Desk Technician
- Junior Network Administrator
- IT Support Technician
- Virtualization Support Technician
- Systems Support Specialist
Included Certifications
- CompTIA A+
- CompTIA Network+
- VMware VCP (or VCA fundamentals)
- Cisco CCNA
Location Advantages:
Pueblo Community College — Pueblo, CO
Hakia Insight: Pueblo Community College's deep ties to regional manufacturers and utilities mean you'll graduate with infrastructure experience in industrial control networks and SCADA systems—skills that most metro programs don't touch but regional employers pay premiums for.
At the bachelor's level, at Pueblo Community College, the network administration program maintains strong ties to regional employers—manufacturers, utilities, and healthcare systems that genuinely value PCC graduates in their IT teams. You'll gain hands-on lab experience in a supportive learning environment where instructors know you personally and push you to succeed. The program balances technical depth with job readiness: you don't just learn concepts, you get certified in skills employers check off hiring lists. Graduates often stay in southern Colorado and advance quickly because local companies know PCC training translates directly to productive work.
Programs Offered
- Bachelor of Science in Network Administration — 4 years, on-campus
- Bachelor of Arts in Network Administration — 4 years, online
Career Outcomes
Top Employers: Colorado State University Pueblo, Pueblo School District, St. Mary's Hospital, Pueblo Police and Fire IT, Regional manufacturing and utility companies.
Top Transfer Destinations
- Colorado State University Pueblo
- University of Colorado Colorado Springs
- Adams State University
Entry-Level Career Paths
- Help Desk Technician
- Junior Network Administrator
- IT Support Technician
- Systems Support Specialist
- Technical Support Specialist
Included Certifications
- CompTIA A+
- CompTIA Network+
- Cisco CCENT
Location Advantages:
Regis University — Denver, CO
Key Distinction: Tight integration of Cisco and CompTIA certification tracks into degree curriculum, with dedicated networking labs and local Denver-area internship pipeline.
Hakia Insight: Regis University's embedded Cisco certification track and dedicated networking labs mean you don't graduate hoping your coursework translates to a CCNA—the degree itself *is* the certification pathway, compressed into semesters rather than self-study months.
At the bachelor's level, regis University's network administration pathway emphasizes hands-on lab work and industry-recognized certifications as cornerstones of its technical training model. The program sequences you from foundational networking concepts through advanced topics like WAN optimization, network security, and cloud infrastructure management—each stage reinforced by dedicated networking labs where you configure real Cisco equipment, troubleshoot actual routing protocols, and implement firewall policies. Faculty draw on years of IT operations experience, and the curriculum is explicitly aligned with CompTIA, Cisco, and Microsoft certification tracks, so completing the degree positions you to pass professional exams that employers demand. Regis's location in the Denver metro area means partnerships with local enterprises and government contractors; you'll find internship and employment opportunities with organizations managing regional IT infrastructure. The Jesuit institution also emphasizes ethical practice in network design and administration—not just technical competence, but responsibility in handling critical systems. Graduates move into Network Administrator, Systems Engineer, and IT Support Specialist roles, often with multiple industry certifications already in hand.
Programs Offered
- Bachelor of Science in Network Administration — 4 years, on-campus
- Bachelor of Arts in Network Administration — 4 years, online
Industry Partners
- Cisco Systems (corporate)
Accreditations and Certifications
- Cisco certification pathway
- CompTIA aligned
Location Advantages: Denver metro area tech and enterprise presenceColorado Front Range IT infrastructure jobs
Best Master's Network Administration Degree Programs in Colorado
Colorado Technical University-Colorado Springs — Colorado Springs, CO
Key Distinction: Defense contractor and cybersecurity sector proximity with curriculum directly informed by Colorado Springs employers' current technology stacks and hiring needs.
Hakia Insight: CTU's master's program maintains tight integration with Colorado Springs defense contractors' cybersecurity divisions, meaning capstone projects often become proof-of-concept pilots for real infrastructure challenges at Lockheed Martin or Northrop Grumman.
At the master's level, CTU's network administration program is built for career acceleration, offering both traditional on-campus and online formats so you can learn on your schedule while gaining practical, employer-relevant skills. The curriculum prioritizes applied knowledge: network design, system administration, cybersecurity integration, and infrastructure management through a hands-on lab-intensive approach. CTU's Colorado Springs location is strategically positioned near a massive concentration of defense contractors, cybersecurity firms, and IT-intensive government agencies—this isn't incidental, but central to the program design. Partnerships with regional employers inform curriculum updates, ensuring you're learning tools and practices those companies actually use. The program offers several accelerated pathways for students with IT backgrounds, letting you specialize faster and enter the workforce sooner. Faculty often hold active roles in local IT operations or security, bringing real operational context to every course. Graduates typically move into Network Administrator, Systems Administrator, or Junior Network Engineer roles, many with companies headquartered or with major operations in Colorado Springs.
Programs Offered
- Master of Science in Network Administration — 1-2 years, on-campus
- Master of Arts in Network Administration — 1-2 years, online
Location Advantages: Colorado Springs defense and cybersecurity sector concentrationProximity to major government agencies and contractors
University of Denver — Denver, CO
Key Distinction: Denver's program uniquely balances technical depth with business acumen, training network professionals who can communicate value to C-suite stakeholders and drive infrastructure decisions beyond IT silos.
Hakia Insight: University of Denver's master's program deliberately trains network architects who speak business language—you'll learn to justify infrastructure spend through cloud cost models and uptime ROI, a skill that fast-tracks you into senior roles where pure technicians plateau.
At the master's level, denver's network administration offering within its computer science program takes a business-informed approach, preparing graduates who understand both technical infrastructure and organizational IT strategy. Rather than focusing narrowly on hardware and protocols, the curriculum emphasizes how networks enable enterprise goals—cloud adoption, remote work scaling, disaster recovery—positioning students as strategic technical partners rather than ticket-handlers. The program benefits from Denver's location in a vibrant tech startup ecosystem and proximity to major healthcare and financial services companies seeking skilled network professionals. Coursework integrates modern technologies like software-defined networking, containerization, and edge computing earlier than many peer programs, reflecting the reality of how networks operate today. Faculty often have backgrounds in both academia and industry consulting, bringing real-world context to topics like network troubleshooting and vendor evaluation. The university's connections to Denver's thriving business community create capstone project opportunities where student teams solve actual networking problems for local enterprises. Internship placements span from scrappy startups (where students gain breadth) to established financial institutions (where they deepen expertise in compliance and reliability). Alumni networks frequently facilitate mentorship and career transitions within the Denver tech corridor.
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
- Google (corporate)
- IBM (corporate)
- Ball Aerospace (corporate)
Location Advantages: Access to Denver tech startup ecosystemProximity to healthcare IT leaders (UCHealth, DaVita)Major financial services and fintech presenceCloud infrastructure company offices throughout region
Metropolitan State University of Denver — Denver, CO
Key Distinction: Metro State's program uniquely serves working adults with an unapologetically practical, certification-aligned curriculum delivered by industry practitioners, minimizing time-to-employment in network operations roles.
Hakia Insight: Metro State's master's program is structured for employed professionals with evening and weekend cohorts taught by Comcast and UCHealth engineers, letting you gain an advanced degree without leaving your current role—and often with employer tuition reimbursement.
At the master's level, metro State's network administration program, delivered through its College of Science and Engineering, deliberately targets working professionals and career changers through flexible scheduling and practical, immediately applicable coursework. The program recognizes that many students balance full-time jobs with education, so course design emphasizes skills transfer within weeks rather than theoretical depth requiring months of lab time. Networking courses focus on enterprise troubleshooting, Active Directory management, and vendor certification prep (CompTIA, Cisco)—the exact toolkit employers list in job postings. The curriculum includes dedicated support for obtaining industry certifications, with exam prep embedded into coursework rather than treated as optional. Faculty are predominantly practitioners with current IT operations experience, not research-focused academics, meaning classroom examples come from what they deployed last month. Metro State's location in Denver provides easy access to companies actively hiring—from healthcare providers managing large networks to tech firms and financial institutions. The program's cohort model (students progress together through courses) builds peer networks that frequently evolve into job referral sources after graduation. Internship placements are highly pragmatic, matching students with immediate staffing needs at local organizations rather than prestigious-but-competitive rotational programs.
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
- Comcast Business (corporate)
- UCHealth (nonprofit)
- Denver Health (government)
Accreditations and Certifications
- CompTIA Network+ certification prep integrated
- Cisco CCNA pathway support
Location Advantages: Active hiring from healthcare network operations (UCHealth, Denver Health)Local government IT infrastructure needsRegional ISP and telecom operations centers
Colorado Christian University — Lakewood, CO
Hakia Insight: CCU's 100% online Master's in Network Administration lets working professionals earn credentials without relocating, but the real advantage is the optional specializations—students can pivot mid-degree toward Cyber Security or pure Networking depending on job market shifts, a customization most fully-online programs lock in at admission.
At the master's level, CCU's Computer Information Technology program offers 100% online flexibility with optional specializations in high-demand areas like Cyber Security and Networking, taught from a Christ-centered perspective that combines technical mastery with core business education.
Programs Offered
- Master of Science in Network Administration — 1-2 years, on-campus
- Master of Arts in Network Administration — 1-2 years, online
Accreditations and Certifications
- Higher Learning Commission
Location Advantages:
