Recent hacking events of databases in the fields of finance and medicine profoundly highlight how criminals use the Internet to steal private and personal information from remote locations across the globe. The best cybercrime degree online programs educate professionals to protect the vulnerable aspects of networks and electronic databases. As such, cybercrime and related disciplines are becoming an increasingly relevant & fast-growing sector of the economy.
Cybersecurity & Cybercrime professionals are experts at preventing cyberattacks and data breaches. As computer networks grow more complex, security breaches will require specialized information systems to apply the relevant legal principles of criminal cases.
Cybercrime professionals are always in high demand as businesses – working with small startups to government operations – as these businesses are tasked with managing sensitive and private information electronically. As more companies and organizations rely on technology to communicate, manage, and store data, cybersecurity professionals’ skills will be needed more and more.
The key to getting started in this fast-paced, growing field is finding the right cybersecurity program that meets a student’s needs and fits their budget.
Cybercrime online programs are available from the associate degree through master’s degree level. The most suitable cybercrime degree programs will provide students a pathway that merges a student’s criminal justice with the use of cutting-education information technology.
Cybercrime students tend to be lifelong learners as the cybersecurity field is typically evolving faster than most fields.
Cybercrime degree online programs prepare students to professionals detect, mitigate and hopefully prevent cyberattacks through an interdisciplinary curriculum that includes –
- Digital Skills.
- Technical Skills
- Critical-Thinking Skills.
- Legal and Ethical Prowess.
- Effective Analysis Skills, among others.
The narrative that follows is designed to help students refine their research regarding available cybercrime degree online programs.
Best 11 Cybercrime Degree Online Programs
1. Guilford Technical Community College (GTCC – North Carolina)
Guilford Technical Community College offers both an Associate of Applied Science degree (AAS) and a certificate program in Cyber Crime Technology. Degree candidates enrolled in this associate degree, or certificate cybercrime online program will graduate prepared to enter the fields of private security or computer crime investigation. The AAS degree requires 67 to 69-semester units, depending on the exact academic path, with some on-campus visits required.
- Tuition Costs – $76 per credit (NC Resident), $ 268 per credit (Nonresidents)
- The student to Faculty Ratio for GTCC – 16 to 1.
- Total Enrollment – 11,070 students.
2. The University of Maine (UM – Fort Kent)
The University of Maine’s campus in Fort Kent offers the only associate cybercrime degree online program in the state. UM’s Associate of Applied Science degree (AAS) in Information Security includes coursework in the areas of intelligence, vulnerability reduction, incident response, recovery guidelines, and international engagement, to name a few. Graduates of the University of Maine’s associate degree in cybercrime enter the job market as a vulnerability analyst, system administrator, information security analyst, or forensics computer analyst, among others.
- Tuition Costs – $ 245 per credit (Maine and Canadian Residents), $ 392 per credit (nonresidents).
- The student to Faculty Ratio for CMU – 19 to 1.
- Total Enrollment – 19,362 students.
3. Dakota State University (DSU -South Dakota)
Dakota State University‘s Beacom Computer and Cyber Sciences College offers a Bachelor of Science degree (BS) in Cyber Operations that prepares students to identify and investigate data breaches, software vulnerabilities, and malware infections, to name a few. Degree candidates enrolled in DSU’s cybercrime degree program can opt to enroll in the school’s 4+1 program, which permits a student to earn a BS in Cyber Operations and an MS in Computer Science in only five years.
- Tuition Costs – $ 291.40 per credit (SD residents), $ 303.75 per credit (MN reciprocity), $393.75 (nonresident)
- The student to Faculty Ratio for DSU – 19 to 1.
- Total Enrollment – 3,268 students.
4. Old Dominion University (ODU – Virginia)
Old Dominion University’s College of Arts and Letters offers a Bachelor of Science degree (BS) in Cybercrime that is considered a complete degree program that is available entirely online. Students enrolled in this interdisciplinary cybercrime online program must complete 120-semester credits. ODU offers active military students a discounted tuition rate. Graduates of Old Dominion University’s cybersecurity degree enter the job market as compliance managers, intelligence analysts, or government property investigators, to name a few.
- Tuition Costs – $360 per credit (Virginia residents), $ 407 per credit (Nonresidents)
- The student to Faculty Ratio for ODU – 17 to 1.
- Total Enrollment – 23,675 students.
5. Utica College (UC – New York)
Utica College (UC) offers a Bachelor of Science degree (BS) in Cybersecurity with an academic emphasis in Cybercrime & Fraud Investigation that prepares students for rewarding careers in the cybercrime sector. Students enrolled in Utica College’s 120 semester-unit bachelor’s in cybercrime program will complete coursework in steganography, security policies, cryptography, and computer forensics, to name a few. Classes for this undergraduate degree in cybercrime include white-collar criminology, and cybercrime investigations and forensics, to name a few.
- Tuition Costs – $ 475 per credit unit.
- The student to Faculty Ratio for UC – 11 to 1.
- Total Enrollment – 4,947 students.
6. Drexel University (Drexel – Pennsylvania)
Drexel University’s computing and cyber security program emphasizes practical hands-on education and provides fundamental concepts that are supplemented by work experience. The curriculum is designed for those currently employed in the field of information technology who are seeking a career change or personal enrichment; or working adults who have already earned an associate’s degree or completed approximately two years of college work.
- Tuition Costs – $435 per credit
- The student to faculty ratio for Drexel – 11 to 1.
- Undergraduate student population: 15,414
7. Pace University (Pace – New York)
The Seidenberg School at Pace University (Pace Online) offers a completion Bachelor of Science degree (BS) in Professional Technology Studies program with an academic focus in Computer Forensics that is recognized among the best degree online programs by US News and World Report. Classes for this BS in cybercrime program include 56 to 64 semester credits in global networking technology, web authoring, crime & public policy, and mobile device forensics, among others.
- Tuition Costs – $555 per credit.
- The student to Faculty Ratio for Pace – 15 to 1.
- Total Enrollment – 13,995 students.
8. The University of Nevada (UN Reno)
The University of Nevada (UN Reno) offers a Master of Science (MS) degree in Cybersecurity that requires students to finish 30 credit units to graduate unless a student is required to complete two bridge courses in fundamentals of computer science and operating systems for an additional six credits. The University of Nevada’s cybercrime degree online program includes classes in cybersecurity law and ethics, game theory for cybersecurity, digital forensics, and blockchain/cryptography, to name a few.
- Tuition Costs – $331.25 per credit (Nevada residents).
- The student to Faculty Ratio for UN Reno – 18 to 1.
- Total Enrollment – 20,993 students.
9. Florida State University (FSU – Tallahassee)
Florida State University’s Criminology & Criminal Justice College offers a Master of Science (MS) degree in Cyber Criminology that requires students to complete 33 semester credits to graduate. Classes for this MS cybercrime program include crimes of the powerful, comparative criminology, history of criminological thought, and network security, to name a few. It is noted the FSU’s college of criminal justice operates the oldest program in the country and is considered a college of value.
- Tuition Costs – $ 403.51 per credit for in-state graduate students.
- The student to Faculty Ratio for FSU – 21 to 1.
- Total Enrollment – 42,450 students.
10. Florida Institute of Technology (FIT – Online)
Florida Institute of Technology (FIT) offers a Master of Science (MS) degree in Cybersecurity and Information Assurance that is available entirely online. Degree candidates enrolled in FIT’s graduate and enter the workforce as cybersecurity consultants, threat intelligence officers, vulnerability assessors, and security systems administrators, to name a few. US News & World Report ranks FIT’s graduate degree program as the best program in the nation.
- Tuition Costs – $ 777 per credit unit.
- The student to Faculty Ratio for FIT – 17 to 1 online, 14 to 1 on-campus.
- Total Enrollment – 1,841 students online, total student enrollment is 6,022.
11. Maryville University of St. Louis (MU – Missouri)
Maryville University‘s Simon Business School offers a Master of Science (MS) degree in Cybersecurity that can be completed in only one year, with no on-campus visits required. Maryville University’s degree online program includes coursework in cloud security, mobile device handling, cryptography, and incident handling, to name a few. Maryville University’s cybercrime degree is approved by the ACBSP Global Accreditation and recognized among the best value of schools by Kiplinger. Maryville University offers students a collaborative learning environment and a generous transfer credit policy.
- Tuition Costs – $ 816 per credit.
- The student to Faculty Ratio for MU – 14 to 1.
- Total Enrollment – 10,013 students.
Our Ranking Methodology
The cybercrime degree online programs ranked above have been assessed by BestValueSchools.org as representative of a cross-section of the available programs offered online by both private and public institutions of higher education. The information & data that has been used in this analysis has been extracted from each school/college/university’s website, the US Dept. Of Labor (DOL) and the federal government’s National Center for Education Statistics (NCES).
These online programs are ranked according to their affordability factors, with the most cost-effective tuition fees shown first. Each school listed denotes the following relevant information –
- Tuition Costs – Each program’s tuition fees are provided on a per unit basis to allow students to compare the same cost for each school. The tuition fees noted represent the costs to attend the program based on the academic years of either 2020/2021 or 2019/2020.
- Each Student to Faculty ratio is provided to help potential students understand how a professor’s time is divided among a class or cohort.
- The Student Enrollment data for the college or university indicates the size of the higher learning institution.
Concerned about the ranking of a cybercrime degree online program?
Are you interested in updating the data or the information for the cybercrime degree online programs listed above? Please reach out to BestValueSchools.org so we can ensure we have the most current details for the schools in the above-noted rankings.
