Best Master's In Database Management Degrees

Overview

Boston University easily tops our list as the Best Online Master’s degree in Database Management. The private research institution not only has a respectable history that reaches back to 1839, but also towers above so many other schools for its impressive return on investment, its high retention rate, and its number 4 spot on US News & World Report’s ranking for best Online Graduate Computer Information Technology programs.

Features

The online Master of Science in Computer Information Systems program at Boston University features a concentration in Database Management & Business Intelligence. Students use industry-relevant SQL tools like Oracle and other database management systems. Most students complete the 40-credit-hour program in about 18 to 24 months, though the online format allows for some flexibility. The curriculum consists of five core courses, a specialty course in Java or Python, and then five courses in the database management concentration. Some highlight courses include:

• Data Analysis and Visualization
• Advanced Database Management
• Data Mining
• Quantitative Methods for Information Systems

Notables

Boston University is widely known for its academic prowess. It ranks not only at a national level, but also globally! For example, Academic Ranking of World Universities places it 39th in the nation and 75 in the world. Part of what sets Boston University apart—in both its traditional and online classrooms—is its full-time, highly educated faculty. Students in the online Database Management program enjoy the one-on-one attention of 13 faculty members.

Overview

Located in beautiful Tampa, Florida, the University of South Florida is a large public research institution that was founded in 1956. With a total student body of 48,000, it holds a strong status as the fourth-largest university in Florida, and contains three separate campuses within its system: USF Tampa, USF St. Petersburg, and USF Sarasota-Manatee.

Features

The University of South Florida offers an online Master of Science in Information Technology, with highlight classes in Database Management. This degree requires 30 credit hours and draws from undergraduate experience and prerequisites in IT database systems and basic data structures/algorithms. Though USF offers a non-thesis format, students take a 3-credit-hour practicum that requires you to tackle a real-world problem in a database system. Additional database management classes include:

• Advanced Database Administration
• Data Mining
• Statistical Data Mining
• Enterprise Information Systems Management

Notables

University of South Florida ranks in the top 100 online Graduate Computer Information Technology programs in the nation (89th) according to US News & World Report, but that’s not all that it is known for as a school. The university has a rare gold rating by the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education, and its campus reflects a commitment to clean energy and sustainability. This kind of intentionality and care is something you can also expect in your education at the University of South Florida.

Overview

Another Florida-based school (this one from Melbourne), Florida Institute of Technology is a private research university that delivers degrees primarily in technology, engineering, aviation, and STEM. Florida Institute of Technology is known for its research activity, and its 6,000 students enjoy their proximity to the Kennedy Space Center and Florida Tech Research Park; nearly all degree programs incorporate academic research in hands-on ways.

Features

At Florida Institute of Technology, the online Master of Science in Information Technology features a specialization in Database Administration. Within the 33 required credit hours you’ll experience a blend of information technology courses and business management courses. Most students finish the program in two years. The capstone project—Advanced Management of Information Systems—comes at the end of the program and prepares you for jumping directly into a database management position. Some of the highlight courses (each spanning eight weeks) include:

• Database Systems Management
• Topics in Advanced Database Management
• Corporate Finance
• Global Information Technology Management

Notables

Florida Technical Institute may have a specific academic focus in the sciences and technology, but its influence is wide-reaching. US News & World Report listed it as a tier-1 school in its list of Best National Universities in the country. In addition, you can be assured that you’ll get the best bang for your buck—Payscale recently ranked Florida Technical Institute #1 “Best Value College in Florida” for its quality return on investment.

Overview

Held in high regard as a classified R3-Doctoral University by the Carnegie Commission on Higher Education, the University of West Georgia is a public university that is located in Carrollton, Georgia. Originally founded as an agricultural and mechanical institution in 1906, the University of West Georgia is now a thriving, doctoral-granting university that caters to over 13,000 students, both in-person and online.

Features

The online Master of Science in Applied Computer Science at the University of West Georgia features a number of courses related to database management while emphasizing project-based classes in software development. The program is designed to be completed in two years, with students taking two classes (6 credit hours) each semester. Some of the core areas of focus in this program are:

• Program Construction
• Web Technologies
• Database Systems
• Software Development

Notables

Widely respected by other area institutions, the University of West Georgia has made a respectable name for itself. Princeton University has named it among the “Best Southeastern Colleges” in the nation for a number of years in a row. In addition, it falls in the top 50 of US News & World Report’s “Best Online Graduate Computer and Technology” programs (it ranks at #37).

Overview

Located in the heart of Baltimore City, Maryland, you’ll find a nationally-known public research institute—the University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC). A large percentage of UMBC’s 13,000 students end up majoring in engineering or the sciences based on the school’s historical focus on industry. Students of University of Maryland Baltimore County enjoy numerous research opportunities through the university’s many impressive partnerships with NASA, the US Army Research Laboratory, and the Goddard Space Flight Center.

Features

At the University of Maryland Baltimore County, you’ll find an online Master’s of Science in Information Systems program that is flexible, versatile, and academically rigorous. The program takes the form of 34 required credit hours in both core courses and advanced courses, all giving you a focus in managing and implementing database systems. Students have the option of completing their degree with a master’s thesis option or an independent study of their choice of topic. Some of the database management-related courses in this program include:

• Management Information Systems
• Database Management Systems
• Introduction to Data Mining
• Readings in Advanced Structured Systems Design

Notables

The University of Maryland Baltimore County is a quietly making huge strides in the world of higher education. For example, US News & World Report recently listed it #1 in its “Up-and-Coming Schools” ranking. As for its online graduate program in Computer Information Technology, UMBC ranks 19th in the nation, and it consistently falls in the top 50 list of Princeton Review’s “Best Value College.”

Overview

Straddling the distance between New York City and Newark, the New Jersey Institute of Technology (NJIT) is an urban dynamo for engineering and science-minded thinkers. The public research university was founded in 1881 with an aim toward bolstering the northeast region with forward-thinking industrialists and inventors. History has proven to be true for the university; its 11,000 students excel in NJIT’s 50 undergraduate and 78 graduate programs.

Features

New Jersey Institute of Technology’s online Master of Computer Science cuts through to the essential elements of the field by offering two speciality tracks: Databases/Data Mining and Networking. Additionally, you can also earn graduate-level certificates in Data Mining and Software Engineering, Analysis, and Design alongside your master’s degree. The 30-credit-hour program—designed by industry leaders and software business partners of NJIT—consists of 10 classes that are divided into core, speciality, elective courses. You can expect to take some of the following classes:

• Data Management System Design
• Data Structures and Algorithms
• Operating System Design
• Data Mining

Notables

New Jersey Institute of Technology gets a lot of love—as it deserves!—for both its return on investment and for its quality education. For instance, it lists among the top 100 schools in the world for its Computer Science program according to Academic Ranking of World Universities. It also recently claimed a number 1 spot for the “most underrated colleges in the nation” by Business Insider.

Overview

Located in mountainous Colorado Springs, Colorado Technical University is a for-profit institution that offers bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees in dozens of areas—among them, business, technology, engineering, criminal justice, finance, health, and, most notably, computer science. Despite its beautiful setting, over 90 percent of the students at CTU attend via the online programs, especially those majoring in information technology, criminal justice, and business.

Features

Offered completely online, the Master of Science in Computer Systems degree at Colorado Technical University covers a breadth of information as it relates to managing and designing systems of all kinds. The program specifically focuses on software engineering, security, and database management systems. However, CTU also offers a unique specialization in Database Systems; the 48-credit-hour program is divided into 28 core credits and 20 credits related to a concentration. Some of the database-specific courses include:

• Database Design
• Database Administration
• Data Warehouse
• Distributed Databases

Notables

In the past number of years, Colorado Technical University has been praised for its online degree programs and for its notable strides in accommodating veterans. In 2016, Colorado Technical University was ranked among the “Best for Vets” 2016 list by Military Times, and US News & World Report recently ranked it 38th for “Best Online Graduate Computer Information Technology Programs.”

Overview

Part of the larger University of Illinois system (one of three universities), the University of Illinois Springfield is a public institution that caters to around 5,400 each year. Its online program was established in 1999 and offers over 40 different degrees entirely online, ranging from philosophy to education to business to information systems.

Features

Among its many online options, the University of Illinois Springfield offers a Master of Science in Management Information Systems, which is offered either in person, completely online, or as a hybrid program. The 36-credit-hour degree hones in on the essentials of managing large-scale data systems and design teams. The degree culminates in a thesis paper or a capstone project. Along the way, the curriculum is packed full of rewarding database management classes such as:

• Management of Database Systems
• Data Communications and Networking
• Data Warehousing
• Managerial Decision Support Systems

Notables

The University of Illinois Springfield has a lot of local pride to lean on. US News & World Report recently named it the 63rd “Best Regional University in the Midwest,” and it also landed a 8th spot on a list of “Top Public Schools” in the Midwest. Even more, the National Security Agency honored Computer Science department at the University of Illinois Springfield for its excellence in Information Assurance.

Overview

Based in Evanston, Illinois, Northwestern University is a private research university with a history that spans back to 1851. This highly competitive school enrolls around 21,000 students each year. Though Northwestern’s main campus is located in Illinois, Northwestern is very much a global academic center, with an online division and satellite campuses in Qatar, Chicago, San Francisco, and elsewhere.

Features

Northwestern University takes an interdisciplinary approach to database management through its online Master of Science in Information Design and Strategy. It draws from a number of different fields to encourage their graduates to be open-minded managers and astute strategists in the field of IT. Their Data Science and Analytics specialization is where the rubber meets the road in database management. Some of the classes involved in this 48-credit-hour degree include:

• Data Management Principles
• Data Visualization
• Data Collection and Analytics
• User-Centered Design

Notables

If you can afford the tuition (it’s the priciest school on our list) you certainly can’t go wrong with Northwestern University as it is one of the most highly respected and prestigious schools in the country. On a national level, it ranks 20th by Academic Ranking of World Universities, 15th by Forbes, and 12th by US News & World Report.

Overview

Known as the oldest private higher education institution in the Rocky Mountains, the University of Denver was founded in 1864 and has a long history of educating both undergraduates and graduates in through many academic programs. Its University College of Professional and Continuing Studies houses their online division, offering programs that cover a range of topics, from environmental policy and management to database systems.

Features

The Masters of Science in Information & Communications Technology degree at the University of Denver addresses the disconnect between business and technology head on by designing their program to emphasize hands-on application over theory, and one-on-one instruction by top-notch faculty members. The University of Denver features numerous concentration areas and certificates in their master’s program, one of which is the Database Design and Administration specialization. In addition to 4 core courses and 4 elective courses, this track offers 4 classes specifically in database management:

• Web Enabled Information Systems
• Database Administration
• Database Design & Programming
• Data Warehousing Design

Notables

The University of Denver has a lot going for it in terms of quality education and tuition rates. It’s one of the more affordable schools on our list ($660 per credit hour) and it receives high marks for its academic success. US News & World Report ranked it in the top 100 national universities—among both public and private schools—and it ranks in the top 50 in the country for its online graduate program in Information Technology.