Our world relies on technology — the internet especially — to run our most crucial industries. Entire economies, healthcare organizations, and emergency services depend on secure networks in order to function. Cybersecurity talent is in high demand across the board, with many top-level positions earning upwards of $100,000 per year.
Why Get A Master’s Degree In Cybersecurity?
This career requires a sophisticated set of skills that can only be garnered through targeted training and education. While many companies will hire professionals with a bachelor’s degree, higher-level positions are competitive. A master’s degree prepares potential candidates for handling the advanced levels of responsibility needed for handling critically sensitive data and systems.
What Does A Typical Cybersecurity Career Look Like?
A common career in this field is Information Security Analyst. According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, information security analysts monitor network security breaches and investigate such violations when they occur. They install and use software to protect sensitive information, prepare reports that document security breaches, and conduct regular testing to look for vulnerabilities in an organization system. Information security analysts typically work full time.
If you are interested in earning your Cybersecurity master’s degree online, please check out our degree finding tools!
We ranked a list of 20 schools offering cyber-security master’s degree programs. The data we gathered included important subjects such as program cost and credit hour length. Check out the results below.
Best 20 Master’s Degree in Cybersecurity
1. Florida International University – Florida – 72 points
The School of Computing and Information Sciences at Florida International University provides a Master of Science in Cybersecurity. Courses within this program include secure application programming, principles of cybersecurity, and an introduction to machine learning. FIU has a total graduate enrollment of 9,385.
- Program cost: $13,680
- Credit hours: 30
2. Iowa State University – Iowa – 71 points
Iowa State University offers on-campus and off-campus graduate degree options in cybersecurity. Students choose between an MS with a thesis or an MS with a creative component. This degree is offered by several departments including Electrical and Computer Engineering, Management Information Systems, Political Science, and Mathematics. ISU’s graduate enrollment is 5,078. They also offer an MS in Cybersecurity online so those working in the field do not need to take a break from working to complete the program.
- Program cost: $21,980
- Credit hours: 24
3. University of North Carolina at Charlotte – North Carolina – 66 points
The University of North Carolina at Charlotte offers a Master of Science degree in cybersecurity. There are three areas of concentration: network security, secure software development, and emerging technologies. Undergraduate students with exceptional progress may enter the program early before completion of their bachelor’s degree. UNC has a 5,545 graduate student enrollment population.
- Program cost: $15,428
- Credit hours: 30
4. Old Dominion University – Virginia – 61 points
The school of cybersecurity at Old Dominion University features a Master of Science degree that may be earned online and on campus. Students can finish this non-thesis program in one year. This program features a flexible schedule with start dates in fall, spring, and summer. ODU’s graduate enrollment is 4,499.
- Program cost: $16,530
- Credit hours: 30
5. University of Houston – Texas – 60 points
The School of Technology at the University of Houston offers a master’s degree that can be completed in two years. Courses offered in this program include secure enterprise computing, cryptography and cyber-security, and cybersecurity risk analysis. A school offers four career pathways including risk management, SOC analyst, infrastructure security, and data analytics and security. The University of Houston has an average graduate enrollment of 7,551.
- Program cost: $18,720
- Credit hours: 30
5. Indiana University at Bloomington – Indiana – 60 points
Indiana University at Bloomington offers a Master of Science in Cybersecurity Risk Management. This program is a joint effort between the schools of technology, business, and law. Students may attend classes on campus, online, or in a hybrid format. Concentrations are available in the technical, business, or legal dimensions of cybersecurity, as well as AI. IU also participates in Hacking4Defense (H4D), NSF’s CyberCorps Program, and offers many opportunities for applied learning such as through the IU Cybersecurity Clinic that is focused on protecting critical infrastructure. This degree can be completed within one year, but students have the option to take up to five years to finish. Indiana University at Bloomington has a graduate enrollment of 10,176 students.
- Program cost: $20,752
- Credit hours: 30
6. Missouri Western State University – Missouri – 59 points
The cybersecurity master’s degree program at Missouri Western State University is also known as the Information Technology Assurance Administration program. Exceptional undergraduates may enter this program while still completing their bachelor’s degree. Eligible students may apply for the Missouri Western graduate scholarship and may also receive graduate assistantship positions. MWSU’s graduate student population is 239.
- Program cost: $10,890
- Credit hours: 30
7. Utah Valley University – Utah – 58 points
Utah Valley University cybersecurity master’s program focuses on managerial and technical aspects of cybersecurity. Coursework in this program includes cyber security operations, ethics and cybersecurity, and penetration testing. Students are expected to complete all courses with an average grade of B- or better and an overall GPA of 3.0. Total graduate enrollment at UVU is 542.
- Program cost: $12,570
- Credit hours: 30
8. University of Nebraska at Omaha – Nebraska – 53 points
The Master of Science in cybersecurity at University of Nebraska at Omaha can be completed with two finishing options: thesis option or capstone option. Students may choose between two concentration areas: cyber operations or interdisciplinary concentration. UNO has a graduate enrollment of 2,908.
- Program cost: $15,504
- Credit hours: 33
9. Wright State University – Ohio – 52 points
Wright State University has a master’s degree program that can be completed online or on-campus. This university is designated by the NSA as a National Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense. Students interested in meeting the NSA specifications may choose to concentrate in cyberdefense. WSU’s graduate enrollment is 2,985 students.
- Program cost: $19,800
- Credit hours: 30
10. Georgia State University – Georgia – 47 points
The Master of Science in computer science program at Georgia State University offers a concentration in security and privacy. Full-time students can complete this degree in 1.5 years. The program may take up to three years to complete for those who do not possess a computer science bachelor’s degree. GSU has a graduate enrollment of 7,080.
- Program cost: $23,360
- Credit hours: 31 (For those with a computer science undergraduate degree)
10. Temple University – Pennsylvania – 47 points
Temple University offers a professional science master’s degree in cyber defense and information assurance. This is an interdisciplinary degree focusing on subjects such as digital forensics, ethical and unethical hacking, and software modeling and design. They also offer graduate certificates in areas of ethical hacking, information systems security, and forensic investigation of computer hacking. Temple University has 10,068 enrolled graduates.
- Program cost: $34,770
- Credit hours: 30
11. SUNY Polytechnic Institute – New York – 44 points
The Master of Science in cybersecurity at SUNY Polytechnic Institute focuses on network and computer security. This program is designed for students with an existing undergraduate degree in computer science or related fields, however, students without a background still enter the program by completing prerequisite coursework. Students may enroll at full and part-time. This university has a graduate enrollment of 790 students. For more information about the program visit: https://sunypoly.edu/academics/majors-and-programs/ms-network-computer-security.html. The program also has an Advanced Cybersecurity Research Lab (ACRL) that involves graduates in real-time research projects that include machine learning and artificial intelligence in the cybersecurity domain. For more information about ACRL, visit: https://sunypoly.edu/research/centers-programs/acrl.html
- Program cost: $17,589
- Credit hours: 33
12. University of Delaware – Delaware – 35 points
The University of Delaware has a cybersecurity master’s program that may be completed in person or online. They offer several concentration areas including secure software, secure systems, security analytics, and security management. The online program is especially designed for working adults and may be completed within two years. They also offer a graduate certificate in cybersecurity. UD’s graduate enrollment is 4,130.
- Program cost: $37,110
- Credit hours: 30
12. National University – California – 35 points
National University offers their MS in cybersecurity on campus and online. They offer degree specializations in ethical hacking & pen testing and enterprise cybersecurity management. The school is designated as a Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense Education by the NSA and DHS. This program features monthly start dates and accelerated classes. National University has 9,314 graduate students enrolled.
- Program cost: $25,857
- Credit hours: 39
13. New Jersey Institute of Technology – New Jersey – 30 points
The Ying Wu College of Computing at NJIT features a Master of Science in cybersecurity and privacy. Students may choose between a project or thesis option. Students with a non-computing STEM background may be accepted, but are required to take bridge courses. Those with some professional experience may opt to earn the Professional Science Master degree in cyber defense. NJIT has a graduate enrollment of 2724.
- Program cost: $47,656
- Credit hours: 30
14. City University of Seattle – Washington – 29 Points
City University of Seattle offers their MS in cybersecurity online, in person, or in a hybrid format. Total credit requirements ranges between 39 and 59 depending on student background. This program enrolls in all quarters of the year. Students can specialize in cyber security environment or information security audit. CUS has a graduate enrollment of 1,153.
- Program cost: $21,060
- Credit hours: 39
15. Davenport University – Michigan – 28 points
Davenport University features a Master of Science in information assurance and cybersecurity. Students may earn this degree online through the Global Campus or in person at the Detroit campus and the W.A. Lettinga campus in Grand Rapids. They do not require a GRE or GMAT score. Students are not required to have a background in technology. Davenport University has 1,351 enrolled graduate students.
- Program cost: $29,648
- Credit hours: 34
16. Lewis University – Illinois – 17 points
The cybersecurity program at Lewis University features evening classes in an 8-week format. They offer courses at the main campus in Romeoville. Many lectures are broadcast simultaneously online and are also available archived. Students may start anytime within a rolling admission schedule. LU has 2,085 graduate students.
- Program cost: $36,900
- Credit hours: 45
17. Auburn University at Montgomery – Alabama – 13 points
The computer information systems and cybersecurity program at Auburn University at Montgomery features training in subjects such as computer networking, secure software engineering, and applied cryptology.Students in this program may be eligible for graduate assistantship programs. AUM has 665 graduate students enrolled.
- Program cost: $15,156
- Credit hours: 36
Discover online Master’s Degree in cybersecurity opportunities by searching with our degree finding tools.
Our Ranking Methodology
We ranked a list of 20 schools from across the United States that offer master’s degrees in cybersecurity. 40% of the ranking comprised program cost, with data taken directly from each school’s website. Program cost did not include expenses such as housing or travel. 40% of the ranking comprised credit hour length, and the remaining 20% was made up by graduate enrollment population. We obtained credit hour and enrollment data from the National Center for Education Statistics.
Reporting Errors
Employees of the schools mentioned above may contact us directly to make edits to the data presented in this article.
