If the field of cybersecurity appeals to you, then you are living in an extremely advantageous time to explore an advanced degree in the field. Because of a constant growth of international bad actors, employers need even more cybersecurity professionals than ever. Also, at the graduate level, you will likely need to have to employ tools such as ethical hacking, which though it sounds contradictory you will likely need to grasp and explain such concepts to people you will lead. The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reports that salaries are high and expected to grow higher; in addition, the job market for information security analysts is projected to increase 28 percent in the runup to 2026. In 2017, the median income for information security analysts with only a bachelor’s degree was more than $98,000. Information systems managers with advanced degrees earned a median 2017 income of more than $142,000. Here are a few typical job titles for those with master’s degrees in information security: forensics expert; security consultant; security engineer; security administrator/analyst; chief InfoSec officer; incident responder; and vulnerability assessor.
If you are employed full-time or part-time and have day-to-day obligations, the lure of returning to school for an advanced degree may seem like a pipe dream. You don’t need to merely dream, however, because online schooling exists for people like you. Most of these degrees can be completed in between 12-24 months and are between 27-52 credit hours in length. Virtual classrooms allow you to set your own pace, and the faculty is usually the same professors who teach the courses on-campus. At graduation, your diploma will be identical to the one awarded to students in traditional classes.
The schools reviewed here have been thoroughly researched for the value of the degree offered. The charts below show the categories in which they were ranked. The designation by NSA and DHS refers to the institutions that have been named as a Center for Academic Excellence for Cyber Defense Education or Research.
Rating and Ranking Methodology
Hourly Tuition
- Hourly Out of State Rate $600 and Below : 5 points
- Hourly Out of State Rate $700 and Below : 4 points
- Hourly Out of State Rate $800 and Below: 3 points
- Hourly Out of State Rate $900 and Below: 2 points
- Hourly Out of State Rate $1,400 and Below : 1 point
Salary Six Years after Graduation
- $56,000 and up: 5 points
- $50,000 to $55,999: 4 points
- $45,000 to $49,999: 3 points
- $40,000 to $44,999: 2 points
- $39,999 and below: 1 point
Student to Faculty Ratio
- 15:1 or fewer: 5 points
- 20:1 or fewer: 4 points
- 30:1 or fewer: 3 points
- 40:1 or fewer: 2 points
- 50:1 or fewer: 1 point
Acceptance Rate
- 67% to 100%: 1 point
- 34% through 66%: 2 points
- 1 through 33%: 3 points
Regional Accreditation – 5 points
Designation by NSA and DHS – 5 points
#1 – University of Maryland Global Campus
Adelphi, Maryland
MS in Cybersecurity Management, and Policy Online
Regional Accreditation: Yes
Designation by NSA and DHS: Yes
Hourly Tuition Rate: $694
Salary 6 Years After Graduation: $62,900
Student to Faculty Ratio: 18:1
Acceptance Rate: 45%
Graduation Rate: 85%
Points: 28
Website
University of Maryland Global Campus features a 36 credit hour, online master of science in cybersecurity management and policy degree with several well-defined student outcomes, which include the following: applying risk analysis concepts to a variety of organizations; and incorporating cybersecurity into numerous organizations, such as healthcare and financial services organizations. Admission calls for transcripts but no GRE/GMAT scores, and up to 6 credits may be transferred in. Coursework for the University of Maryland Global Campus’s MS in cybersecurity management and policy degree includes communicating, problem-solving, and leading in cybersecurity, foundations in cybersecurity management, and risk management and organizational resilience.
#2 – George Washington University
Washington, District of Columbia
Master of Engineering in Cybersecurity Policy and Compliance Online
Regional Accreditation: Yes
Designation by NSA and DHS: Yes
Hourly Tuition Rate: $1,125
Salary 6 Years After Graduation: $69,600
Student to Faculty Ratio: 13:1
Acceptance Rate: 41%
Graduation Rate: 81%
Points: 26
Website
Students in George Washington University’s online master of engineering in cybersecurity policy and compliance degree program will take a ten-course, 30 credit hour curriculum consisting of four computer science courses and six focused on policy, management, compliance, and risk management. Applicants for the online M.Eng.(CPC) degree from George Washington University must demonstrate specific IT work experience or have a technical degree, as well as a minimum 2.7 GPA, resume, three letters of recommendation, and a statement of purpose. GWU has earned NSA and DHS designation as a Center for Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense Education-Research.
#3 – University of Delaware
Newark, Delaware
Online MS in Cybersecurity
Regional Accreditation: Yes
Designation by NSA and DHS: Yes
Hourly Tuition Rate: $1,237
Salary 6 Years After Graduation: $57,000
Student to Faculty Ratio: 15:1
Acceptance Rate: 63%
Graduation Rate: 82%
Points: 26
Website
Due to having a master of science in cybersecurity degree, the University of Delaware has been designated by NSA and DHS as a National Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense Education. Students will use virtual machine environments to apply forensic tools to real-life situations that demonstrate current trends. To apply to the University of Delaware for their MS in cybersecurity, submit proof of a minimum 3.0 GPA, three letters of recommendation, GRE scores, and transcripts showing graduation with an undergraduate degree in electrical engineering, computer engineering, computer science, mathematics, physics, or a related discipline.
#4 – Champlain College
Burlington, Vermont
Online MS in Information Security
Regional Accreditation: Yes
Designation by NSA and DHS: Yes
Hourly Tuition Rate: $795
Salary 6 Years After Graduation: $45,400
Student to Faculty Ratio: 14:1
Acceptance Rate: 70%
Graduation Rate: 62%
Points: 24
Website
The master’s of science in information security degree offered by Champlain College is 100% online and has two concentrations: management and operations. Twelve credits of required courses include threat and vulnerability analysis, security design and architecture, and managing risk in IT organizations. The capstone project for operations is wargames; for management, it is IS management. To apply to Champlain College for their thirty credit hour, online MS in information security degree, you must have two years of experience and current employment in a technological setting and a minimum 2.5 GPA, but there is no application fee.
#5 – DePaul University
Chicago, Illinois
MS in Cybersecurity Online
Regional Accreditation: Yes
Designation by NSA and DHS: Yes
Hourly Tuition Rate: $865
Salary 6 Years After Graduation: $53,300
Student to Faculty Ratio: 16:1
Acceptance Rate: 72%
Graduation Rate: 71%
Points: 24
Website
Introductory coursework may be needed for admission to DePaul University’s online master of science in cybersecurity degree program. Students may choose from three capstone options: completion of the information security governance course; completion of the computer information and network security capstone course; or completion of a master’s research project. Curriculum for the 52 credit hour program includes the following: distributed systems; object-oriented software development; information security management; data analysis and regression; data visualization; and IT auditing. DePaul University asks for transcripts showing a minimum 2.5 GPA, letters of recommendation, and a resume when applying for their online MS in cybersecurity degree.
#6 – University of the Cumberlands
Williamsburg, Kentucky
Online MS in Information Systems Security
Regional Accreditation: Yes
Designation by NSA and DHS: Yes
Hourly Tuition Rate: $315
Salary 6 Years After Graduation: $35,100
Student to Faculty Ratio: 17:1
Acceptance Rate: 74%
Graduation Rate: 41%
Points: 23
Website
University of the Cumberlands is among the just over 200 educational institutions nationwide that have been designated by NSA and DHS as a National Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense. The university’s 31 credit hour, online master of science in information systems security is for students already working in the IT field. The curriculum consists of 12 courses, including the following: telecommunications and network security; business continuity planning and disaster recovery planning; and legal regulations, compliance, and investigation. To apply to the University of the Cumberlands for their MS in information systems security degree, send transcripts showing a minimum 2.5 GPA
#7 – Saint Leo University
Saint Leo, Florida
MBA in Cybersecurity & Management Online
Regional Accreditation: Yes
Designation by NSA and DHS: Yes
Hourly Tuition Rate: $770
Salary 6 Years After Graduation: $43,800
Student to Faculty Ratio: 18:1
Acceptance Rate: 58%
Graduation Rate: 48%
Points: 23
Website
Founded in 1889, Saint Leo University’s educational traditions are rooted in the Benedictine belief in the dignity, value, and gifts of all people. Offering an online master of business in cybersecurity management degree, the school has been designated by the NSA and DHS as a National Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense Education through 2021. The program’s chief objectives are enriching cybersecurity education, creating a knowledgeable and skilled workforce, and encouraging faculty and student engagement in applied cybersecurity research. The MBA in cybersecurity and management online degree offered by Saint Leo University is a 36 credit hour program.
#8 – Nova Southeastern University
Fort Lauderdale, Florida
Online MS in Information Assurance and Cybersecurity
Regional Accreditation: Yes
Designation by NSA and DHS: Yes
Hourly Tuition Rate: $849
Salary 6 Years After Graduation: $45,300
Student to Faculty Ratio: 17:1
Acceptance Rate: 58%
Graduation Rate: 52%
Points: 23
Website
Full-time students may complete Nova Southeastern University’s online master of science in information assurance and cybersecurity degree in 12-14 months; part-time students may take from 16-24 months. The 30 credit program consists of ten courses that focus on skills and knowledge needed for designing secure network infrastructures and other essential aims of information security. Both NSA and DHS have certified that Nova Southeastern University’s MS in information assurance and cybersecurity degree meets or exceeds the requirements that are expected of a leader in the field. Applicants should submit sealed, official transcripts that show a minimum 2.5 GPA, a resume, and a $50 fee.
#9 – Utica College
Utica, New York
MS in Cybersecurity Online
Regional Accreditation: Yes
Designation by NSA and DHS: Yes
Hourly Tuition Rate: $895
Salary 6 Years After Graduation: $45,300
Student to Faculty Ratio: 13:1
Acceptance Rate: 84%
Graduation Rate: 49%
Points: 23
Website
Utica College’s online master of science in cybersecurity degree has five tracks: intelligence; cyber operations; malware analysis; electronic crime; and computer forensics. Utica College is designated by NSA and DHS as a Center for Academic Excellence in Information Assurance and Cyber Defense Education. Applicants for the MS in cybersecurity online degree should send transcripts showing a minimum 3.0 GPA, two letters of recommendation, and a $50 fee. Courses in the 30 credit hour program include advanced fraud analysis, malware practicum, access methods and data hiding, intrusion forensics and network analysis, open source cyber intelligence, and critical national infrastructures and national security.
#10 – Salve Regina University
Newport, Rhode Island
MS in Administration of Justice and Homeland Security Online
Regional Accreditation: Yes
Designation by NSA and DHS: No
Hourly Tuition Rate: $605
Salary 6 Years After Graduation: $53,500
Student to Faculty Ratio: 14:1
Acceptance Rate: 72%
Graduation Rate: 71%
Points: 22
Website
Salve Regina University has designed a 100% online master of science in administration of justice and homeland security degree with three concentrations: cybersecurity and intelligence; digital forensics; and leadership in justice. The 36 credit degree consists of 12 courses and may be completed in 18-24 months. The following are some of the required courses: constitutional issues; theories of justice; management issues in the justice system; homeland security/the national incident management system; and terrorism and transnational crime. Salve Regina University’s online MS in administration of justice and homeland security degree calls for transcripts, personal statement, current resume, and two professional letters of recommendation.
#11 – Valparaiso University
Valparaiso, Indiana
Online MS in Cyber Security
Regional Accreditation: Yes
Designation by NSA and DHS: No
Hourly Tuition Rate: $656.65
Salary 6 Years After Graduation: $48,500
Student to Faculty Ratio: 12:1
Acceptance Rate: 84%
Graduation Rate: 72%
Points: 22
Website
Founded in the Lutheran tradition of freedom, faith, and scholarship, Valparaiso University offers a 36 credit hour, online master of science in cyber security degrees. The curriculum focuses on subjects like ethical hacking and countermeasures, cyber operations, cryptography, reverse software engineering, cyber forensics, and communicating technical information. Applications to Valparaiso University’s online MS in cyber security program must include transcripts showing a minimum 3.0 GPA, two letters of recommendation, statement of purpose, resume, and $30 fee. Students must also show they have taken a statistics course and have the equivalent of a minor in computer science, IT, or a related field.
#12 – University of Arizona
Tucson, Arizona
MS in Cybersecurity Online
Regional Accreditation: Yes
Designation by NSA and DHS: Yes
Hourly Tuition Rate: $1,332
Salary 6 Years After Graduation: $47,300
Student to Faculty Ratio: 15:1
Acceptance Rate: 84%
Graduation Rate: 64%
Points: 22
Website
University of Arizona has a 33 credit hour master of science in cybersecurity online degree with two tracks: information systems; and physical systems. All common core courses and electives for the information systems track are 8 weeks in length, and the electives for the physical systems track are 16 weeks. The common curriculum includes the following: information security public and private sectors; systems security management; business data communications and networking; and data mining for business intelligence. University of Arizona’s admissions process calls for transcripts, a professional resume, purpose of graduate study essay, and an $85 fee when applying to their MS in cybersecurity online program.
#13 – University of Charleston
Charleston, West Virginia
Online MS in Cybersecurity
Regional Accreditation: Yes
Designation by NSA and DHS: No
Hourly Tuition Rate: $425
Salary 6 Years After Graduation: $<40,800/strong>
Student to Faculty Ratio: 15:1
Acceptance Rate: 64%
Graduation Rate: 49%
Points: 21
Website
University of Charleston’s online master of science in cybersecurity degree consists of 30 credit hours and ten courses and can be completed in five terms, which is less than three years. The admissions office requires an undergraduate degree in business, information technology, or a related information sciences field, and an on-campus visit to meet with admissions personnel or program faculty is highly encouraged. Curriculum for University of Charleston’s online MS in cybersecurity degree includes the following courses: cyber operations management; strategic cyber intelligence; offensive and defensive strategies; strategic investments in information security; and a capstone course.
#14 – University of San Diego
San Diego, California
MS in Cybersecurity Online
Regional Accreditation: Yes
Designation by NSA and DHS: No
Hourly Tuition Rate: $925
Salary 6 Years After Graduation: $60,000
Student to Faculty Ratio: 14:1
Acceptance Rate: 50%
Graduation Rate: 82%
Points: 21
Website
From enrollment to graduation, students in the University of San Diego’s online master of science in cybersecurity degree program will be supported and encouraged by an Academic Advisor and a Program Advisor to ensure their success. Coursework includes applied cryptography, cybersecurity risk management, network visualization and vulnerability detection, and a capstone course. Application to the University of San Diego for their 31 credit hour, online MS in cybersecurity program calls for GRE/GMAT scores if the GPA is lower than 2.75, statement of purpose, two letters of reference or a letter of support from an employer, and resume showing information technology experience.
#15 – Liberty University
Lynchburg, Virginia
Online MS in Cybersecurity
Regional Accreditation: Yes
Designation by NSA and DHS: No
Hourly Tuition Rate: $565
Salary 6 Years After Graduation: $36,700
Student to Faculty Ratio: 18:1
Acceptance Rate: 30%
Graduation Rate: 47%
Points: 20
Website
Liberty University’s 100% online master of science in cybersecurity degree is a 36 credit hour program that may be completed in as little as 18 months. The 8-week classes include courses in digital forensics, applied cryptography, issues in security, privacy, and anonymity, and ethical hacking. Subjects are taught from Christian perspectives. Electronic textbooks are provided at no cost to you. To apply to Liberty University for their MS in cybersecurity, submit a transcript request form (showing a minimum 3.0 GPA) and an undergraduate major in one of these fields: computer programming; computer science; information systems; information systems management; or information technology.
#16 – Stevenson University
Stevenson, Maryland
Online MS in Cybersecurity and Digital Forensics
Regional Accreditation: Yes
Designation by NSA and DHS: No
Hourly Tuition Rate: $695
Salary 6 Years After Graduation: $49,600
Student to Faculty Ratio: 16:1
Acceptance Rate: 61%
Graduation Rate: 54%
Points: 20
Website
Stevenson University’s online master of science in cybersecurity and digital forensics degree program promises “Personalized attention in a supportive community.” The curriculum uses Blackboard for the delivery format in its accelerated-pace, 8-week courses which include the following; incident response and evidence collection; windows forensics examination; network penetration testing; mock intrusion and response; malware detection, analysis, and prevention; and legal compliance and ethics. To apply to Stevenson University’s online MS in cybersecurity and digital forensics degree, submit a personal statement and transcripts showing a minimum 3.0 GPA in a degree in technical or quantitative field or proof of related professional work.
#17 – Eastern Illinois University
Charleston, Illinois
Online MS in Cybersecurity
Regional Accreditation: Yes
Designation by NSA and DHS: No
Hourly Tuition Rate: $743
Salary 6 Years After Graduation: $42,200
Student to Faculty Ratio: 14:1
Acceptance Rate: 52%
Graduation Rate: 56%
Points: 19
Website
Eastern Illinois University offers a 32 credit hour master of science in cybersecurity degree that is mostly online. The cohort modality calls for fall-semester courses and the first summer term to be fully online, but the spring semester courses each year have hands-on laboratory requirements; the second summer term mandates on-campus days to complete the capstone experience. Students in the program will engage in the following subjects: advanced database technology; management of information for technologies; and ethical hacking. Application to Eastern Illinois University’s online MS in cybersecurity degree must be made to the graduate school as well as the cybersecurity program.
#18 – Maryville University of Saint Louis
Saint Louis, Missouri
MS in Cybersecurity Online
Regional Accreditation: Yes
Designation by NSA and DHS: No
Hourly Tuition Rate: $897
Salary 6 Years After Graduation: $47,200
Student to Faculty Ratio: 14:1
Acceptance Rate: 92%
Graduation Rate: 72%
Points: 19
Website
The department motto for Maryville University of Saint Louis’s online master of science in cybersecurity program is, “When we’re not stopping cyber breakthroughs, we’re starting yours.” The degree can be completed in only twelve months, and the curriculum is delivered through the Maryville Virtual Lab, which was lauded by Apple for its mobile innovation. Coursework includes the following: legal aspects of privacy and compliance; advanced pen testing; mobile device hacking and forensics; controls for effective cyber defense; and forensic examination and analysis. The MS in cybersecurity degree offered by Maryville University of Saint Louis is 100% online.
#19 – Robert Morris University
Moon Township, Pennsylvania
Online MS in Cybersecurity and Information Assurance
Regional Accreditation: Yes
Designation by NSA and DHS: Yes
Hourly Tuition Rate: $940
Salary 6 Years After Graduation: $32,300
Student to Faculty Ratio: 21:1
Acceptance Rate: 67%
Graduation Rate: 39%
Points: 19
Website
Robert Morris University’s master of science in cybersecurity and information assurance online degree is identical in every way to the face-to-face version. The 27 credit program offers a 3-credit specialization consisting of any course selected from the 6000 level courses in the computer information systems discipline. The curriculum includes the following: microcomputing technology; enterprise database systems; information technology security and assurance; secure programming; information technology governance; and a cybersecurity capstone. To apply to Robert Morris University’s MS in cybersecurity and information assurance program, send transcripts and a graduate recommendation form, but no fee is required.
#20 – Western Governors University
Salt Lake City, Utah
MS in Cybersecurity and Information Assurance Online
Regional Accreditation: Yes
Designation by NSA and DHS: No
Hourly Tuition Rate: $316
Salary 6 Years After Graduation: $41,900
Student to Faculty Ratio: 41:1
Acceptance Rate: 100%
Graduation Rate: 38%
Points: 16
Website
The online master of science in cybersecurity and information assurance degree from Western Governors University gives students an advantage in their organizations by developing the skills and tools needed to protect cyberspace operations. The curriculum has nine courses which include forensics and network intrusion, cybersecurity management, hacking, secure systems analysis and design, network design and management, and a capstone. You may begin the asynchronous classes the first of any month. Applicants to Western Governors University for their online MS in cybersecurity and information assurance degree must have an undergraduate degree in a STEM or quantitative analysis field.
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