With the world going mostly digital, cybersecurity is more important than ever. And as that is not likely to change, earning a cybersecurity degree is a wise move. It opens job opportunities like security analyst, cryptographer, security consultant, cryptanalyst, and security software developer. Additionally, security threats are prevalent in all industries, such as healthcare, government, education, and more.
A cybersecurity degree provides a wide range of career options, making it a wise move for those into technology and security. However, paying for school is not easy for everyone, and coming out of school in a large amount of debt is no one’s goal. As the financial aspect plays such an important role in college decisions, we have put together a list of the 15 cheapest cybersecurity degrees to help you find the best fit.
Top 5 Cheapest Cyber Security Degree Programs
Rank | School | Location |
---|---|---|
1 | William Woods University | Fulton, Missouri |
2 | University of the Potomac | Washington, D.C., Virginia, and Chicago |
3 | Oklahoma State University Institute of Technology | Okmulgee, Oklahoma |
4 | Utica College | Utica, New York |
5 | Franklin University | Columbus, Ohio |
The following 15 schools are great choices for anyone looking for a cybersecurity degree. Before jumping into the list, though, there is something important to point out. These are Bachelor’s programs, and most Bachelor’s degrees require approximately 120 to 130 total credits. Therefore, the overall cost of the programs listed below will depend on whether you already have an Associate’s degree or if you are starting with no credits. In addition, we have created a list of associate degrees in cyber security and masters in cyber security.
The Best 15 Cheapest Cybersecurity Degrees
William Woods University
William Woods University was founded in 1870. It is a private, not-for-profit institution located in Fulton, Missouri, which offers affordable Associate’s, Bachelor’s, master’s, and doctorate degrees in a wide range of online and campus options. Graduates have included an Olympic gold medalist, Disney and HP employees, and more than 20,000 alumni working in education, business and law, and medicine.
School Overview
University of the Potomac
The University of the Potomac is a small, for-profit institution with locations in Washington, D.C., Virginia, and Chicago. They also provide classes for online learners. The University of the Potomac has Associate’s to Doctorate’s programs led by industry professionals. UOTP invests in its faculty members’ continued development to provide students with the high-quality education they need.
School Overview
Oklahoma State University Institute of Technology
OSUIT is a public institution that was founded in 1946. The degree programs are taught by industry professionals and specialize in preparing students for successful careers in technology. Affordable tuition and a near-perfect career placement rate make Oklahoma State University’s Institute of Technology an excellent choice for a cybersecurity degree.
School Overview
Utica College
Utica College is a private institution in the middle of New York. It was founded in 1946 and has since had over 29,000 graduates. They have gone to work in government intelligence, Homeland Security, law enforcement, corporate security, and more. With the low student-to-teacher ratio, Utica College’s students get the personalized attention of those at smaller colleges.
School Overview
Franklin University
Franklin University was founded in 1902 in Columbus, Ohio, for adult-centered learning. The degrees and certifications are taught by industry professionals and are available on campus or 100 percent online. Among other certifications, Homeland Security named Franklin University a National Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense Education, making it a great place to earn a cybersecurity degree.
School Overview
Dakota State University
Located in Madison, South Dakota, Dakota State University was founded in 1881 and originally intended for teacher education only. Over time, though, DSU expanded its degree programs to also cover accounting, business, computer and cyber operations, health, marketing, and much more. It has a reputation for being a very affordable option.
School Overview
Fort Hays State University
Fort Hays State University got its start in 1902 in Kansas with less than 100 students. At that time, it was geared toward teacher training. After over 100 years, Fort Hays has more than 15,000 students between its on-campus and online courses. Students have access to a wide range of degree programs ranging from philosophy to technology. Though the student-to-teacher ratio is a bit high, FHSU’s affordable tuition and its successful cybersecurity program earn it a spot on our list.
School Overview
Thomas Edison State University
Thomas Edison State University is based in Trenton, New Jersey. It was founded in 1972 and named after the well-known inventor. The university offers Associate’s, Bachelor’s, and graduate’s degrees in more than 100 fields of study. The online cybersecurity degree is designed to meet industry standards and prepare you for the workforce.
Thomas Edison State University
Davenport University
Davenport University is a private, non-profit university located in Michigan. It provides degree and certificate programs online and on-campus in health, arts and sciences, technology, business, and more. Each program is geared toward fully preparing students for a career in their fields. Choosing Davenport University for a cybersecurity degree means learning from a school designated by the NSA as a National Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense Education (CAE-CDE).
School Overview
Wilmington University
Wilmington University is a private, not for profit in New Castle, Deleware. It was founded in 1968 as Wilmington College and now offers more than 200 graduate and undergraduate degrees online and on campus. These programs span across several industries, including arts and sciences, education, business, technology, social and behavioral sciences, and more.
School Overview
Old Dominion University
Old Dominion University was dedicated to distance-learning before the Internet came about. The school provided courses to deployed Navy personnel around the world back in the 1980s. Since then, Old Dominion has helped more than 17,000 students graduate and aims to increase that number exponentially through its online and on-campus program options.
School Overview
Saint Leo University
Saint Leo University is a Catholic university with 17 locations. The institution offers more than 50 degree and certificate programs, both on-campus and online that span arts and science, business, health, education, and social services. Though the university is Catholic, it is open to everyone, including those from other countries. It has also been named as one of the top 100 schools with a high number of graduating minorities.
School Overview
University of Maryland Global Campus
For more than 70 years, the University of Maryland Global Campus has been dedicated to providing affordable education to both the average working adult and those in the military. Their online programs make it easy for servicemen around the world to access their courses and for anyone to work it into their own schedule. As an added bonus, most of UGMC’s courses provide the course materials at no extra cost.
School Overview
Penn State World Campus
Penn State University has been around for more than 120 years. In 1998, the school launched its online Penn State World Campus to give everyone a chance at a good education. Since its inception, Penn State World Campus has grown to offer more than 150 degree and certificate programs. Over the years, it has gained many awards, including being named as one of the best online programs for veterans.
School Overview
Bellevue University
Bellevue University is a non-profit organization that was founded in 1966. They have locations in four different states and provide online courses to people around the world. Though it is open to all, Bellevue is another university well-known for its work with and support of military students. Through Bellevue University, earning a cybersecurity degree means learning from experts from the Department of Defense, NASA, and more.
School Overview
Choosing the best school for your life and goals can be an overwhelming decision, but you don’t have to do it alone. Reach out to us or use our tool below for help.
Our Ranking Methodology
After taking a deep dive into the information about several Bachelor’s level cybersecurity programs. As mentioned earlier, the program’s total cost depends on the number of credits you need, so we gathered the price per credit hour. We started by ranking according to the cost, then the total enrollment, and finally, the student-to-teacher ratio. We then took each category’s rank to calculate each school’s average, resulting in the final score.
If you are a student or employee of one of the schools listed here and notice any mistakes in our information, please let us know. We only want to provide the most accurate information and are happy to update if necessary.