What is Cybersecurity?
Cyber security professionals are the defenders and protectors of all online information, systems, technology infrastructure, devices, and so much more. These individuals fight every day to prevent bad actors and cyber-criminals from breaching networks, devices, and systems. They also stop the theft of protected data and information that can destroy people’s livelihoods and bankrupt businesses in mere moments. Cyber security professionals are truly today’s superheroes. With the growing threat of imminent cyber-attacks on a daily basis, the need for cyber security professionals to protect nearly every aspect of technology is greater than ever.
Bad actors are relentless in their pursuits, and they come in the form of criminal enterprises, nation states, lone wolves, and more. These individuals have only one agenda and that is to break through cyber protections to get what they want, which is typically financially based. In 2020, the FBI stated that cyber-attacks cost US businesses and individuals $3.5 billion. These criminals need to be stopped to secure the quality of life for the innocent people and businesses being attacked. Unfortunately, the US has a massive talent shortage and skills gap in the cyber security field. The country needs more cyber security education programs.
California is particularly concerned with these issues given that it has the fifth largest economy in the world, and it is often considered the tech capital of the world. The state is also the nation’s leader in passing policies relating to cyber-crime. At this time, California is doing more to protect its people and businesses, as well as all consumers of tech manufacturers, from these crippling invasions than the US government. Cyber security schools in California are influenced by their industry and current trends. Some of the biggest industries in the state are real estate, business services, manufacturing, information, healthcare, and others. As a result, it is possible to find cyber security degree programs that specialize in these industries.
Top Ranked Campus & Online Cybersecurity Programs in California
Stanford University
Score: 92.36
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $62,484
- Out-of-State:$62,484
- Net Price: $18,279
- Acceptance Rate: 4%
- Retention Rate: 98%
- Graduation Rate: 95%
- Total Enrollment: 18,283
- Undergrad Students: 8,049
- Graduate Students: 10,234
- Grads Salary: $116,000
- Student-to-faculty: 5:1
California Institute of Technology
Score: 91.7
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $63,255
- Out-of-State:$63,255
- Net Price: $20,755
- Acceptance Rate: 3%
- Retention Rate: 98%
- Graduation Rate: 94%
- Total Enrollment: 2,401
- Undergrad Students: 982
- Graduate Students: 1,419
- Grads Salary: $117,000
- Student-to-faculty: 3:1
University of California-Berkeley
Score: 82.26
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $14,850
- Out-of-State:$45,627
- Net Price: $19,257
- Acceptance Rate: 11%
- Retention Rate: 96%
- Graduation Rate: 94%
- Total Enrollment: 45,307
- Undergrad Students: 32,479
- Graduate Students: 12,828
- Grads Salary: $97,000
- Student-to-faculty: 19:1
University of Southern California
Score: 73.76
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $68,237
- Out-of-State:$68,237
- Net Price: $36,808
- Acceptance Rate: 12%
- Retention Rate: 97%
- Graduation Rate: 92%
- Total Enrollment: 48,945
- Undergrad Students: 20,699
- Graduate Students: 28,246
- Grads Salary: $92,000
- Student-to-faculty: 9:1
San Diego State University
Score: 72.6
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $8,290
- Out-of-State:$20,170
- Net Price: $13,017
- Acceptance Rate: 39%
- Retention Rate: 89%
- Graduation Rate: 78%
- Total Enrollment: 37,402
- Undergrad Students: 32,194
- Graduate Students: 5,208
- Grads Salary: $82,000
- Student-to-faculty: 25:1
San Jose State University
Score: 70.63
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $7,992
- Out-of-State:$19,872
- Net Price: $14,219
- Acceptance Rate: 77%
- Retention Rate: 85%
- Graduation Rate: 68%
- Total Enrollment: 35,751
- Undergrad Students: 26,863
- Graduate Students: 8,888
- Grads Salary: $91,000
- Student-to-faculty: 22:1
California State University-Fullerton
Score: 70.28
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $7,073
- Out-of-State:$18,953
- Net Price: $7,925
- Acceptance Rate: 67%
- Retention Rate: 86%
- Graduation Rate: 69%
- Total Enrollment: 40,386
- Undergrad Students: 35,432
- Graduate Students: 4,954
- Grads Salary: $80,000
- Student-to-faculty: 24:1
University of the Pacific
Score: 66.69
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $55,340
- Out-of-State:$55,340
- Net Price: $28,164
- Acceptance Rate: 93%
- Retention Rate: 88%
- Graduation Rate: 74%
- Total Enrollment: 6,277
- Undergrad Students: 3,294
- Graduate Students: 2,983
- Grads Salary: $91,000
- Student-to-faculty: 14:1
University of San Diego
Score: 65.87
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $56,444
- Out-of-State:$56,444
- Net Price: $36,008
- Acceptance Rate: 53%
- Retention Rate: 90%
- Graduation Rate: 83%
- Total Enrollment: 8,815
- Undergrad Students: 5,669
- Graduate Students: 3,146
- Grads Salary: $85,000
- Student-to-faculty: 13:1
California State University-Northridge
Score: 64.38
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $7,095
- Out-of-State:$18,975
- Net Price: $8,936
- Acceptance Rate: 91%
- Retention Rate: 75%
- Graduation Rate: 56%
- Total Enrollment: 37,579
- Undergrad Students: 32,181
- Graduate Students: 5,398
- Grads Salary: $81,000
- Student-to-faculty: 24:1
California State University-Stanislaus
Score: 64.34
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $7,826
- Out-of-State:$19,706
- Net Price: $7,555
- Acceptance Rate: 97%
- Retention Rate: 81%
- Graduation Rate: 55%
- Total Enrollment: 10,154
- Undergrad Students: 8,926
- Graduate Students: 1,228
- Grads Salary: $76,000
- Student-to-faculty: 18:1
California State University-Los Angeles
Score: 63.46
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $6,818
- Out-of-State:$18,698
- Net Price: $5,801
- Acceptance Rate: 87%
- Retention Rate: 73%
- Graduation Rate: 51%
- Total Enrollment: 26,460
- Undergrad Students: 22,737
- Graduate Students: 3,723
- Grads Salary: $77,000
- Student-to-faculty: 22:1
California Lutheran University
Score: 62.94
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $50,670
- Out-of-State:$50,670
- Net Price: $30,416
- Acceptance Rate: 87%
- Retention Rate: 81%
- Graduation Rate: 73%
- Total Enrollment: 3,615
- Undergrad Students: 2,513
- Graduate Students: 1,102
- Grads Salary: $85,000
- Student-to-faculty: 14:1
California State University-San Bernardino
Score: 62.2
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $7,675
- Out-of-State:$19,555
- Net Price: $8,805
- Acceptance Rate: 91%
- Retention Rate: 80%
- Graduation Rate: 54%
- Total Enrollment: 19,803
- Undergrad Students: 17,034
- Graduate Students: 2,769
- Grads Salary: $74,000
- Student-to-faculty: 23:1
California State University-Dominguez Hills
Score: 61.73
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $7,064
- Out-of-State:$18,944
- Net Price: $5,068
- Acceptance Rate: 89%
- Retention Rate: 70%
- Graduation Rate: 46%
- Total Enrollment: 16,426
- Undergrad Students: 13,969
- Graduate Students: 2,457
- Grads Salary: $76,000
- Student-to-faculty: 22:1
California State University-San Marcos
Score: 61.21
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $7,739
- Out-of-State:$19,619
- Net Price: $10,463
- Acceptance Rate: 95%
- Retention Rate: 72%
- Graduation Rate: 57%
- Total Enrollment: 15,109
- Undergrad Students: 13,914
- Graduate Students: 1,195
- Grads Salary: $74,000
- Student-to-faculty: 23:1
California State University-East Bay
Score: 61.02
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $7,055
- Out-of-State:$18,935
- Net Price: $11,464
- Acceptance Rate: 96%
- Retention Rate: 75%
- Graduation Rate: 46%
- Total Enrollment: 13,673
- Undergrad Students: 10,796
- Graduate Students: 2,877
- Grads Salary: $82,000
- Student-to-faculty: 22:1
Mount Saint Mary's University
Score: 58.56
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $48,132
- Out-of-State:$48,132
- Net Price: $28,717
- Acceptance Rate: 76%
- Retention Rate: 77%
- Graduation Rate: 60%
- Total Enrollment: 2,440
- Undergrad Students: 1,797
- Graduate Students: 643
- Grads Salary: $78,000
- Student-to-faculty: 11:1
Point Loma Nazarene University
Score: 57.73
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $43,550
- Out-of-State:$43,550
- Net Price: $34,933
- Acceptance Rate: 82%
- Retention Rate: 85%
- Graduation Rate: 76%
- Total Enrollment: 4,319
- Undergrad Students: 3,154
- Graduate Students: 1,165
- Grads Salary: $71,000
- Student-to-faculty: 13:1
California Baptist University
Score: 56.16
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $39,720
- Out-of-State:$39,720
- Net Price: $27,304
- Acceptance Rate: 80%
- Retention Rate: 73%
- Graduation Rate: 63%
- Total Enrollment: 11,495
- Undergrad Students: 8,334
- Graduate Students: 3,161
- Grads Salary: $72,000
- Student-to-faculty: 18:1
De Anza College
Score: 54
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $1,562
- Out-of-State:$12,317
- Net Price: $8,267
- Acceptance Rate: 100%
- Retention Rate: 78%
- Graduation Rate: 67%
- Total Enrollment: 16,335
- Undergrad Students: 16,335
- Graduate Students: N/A
- Grads Salary: $43,200
- Student-to-faculty: 27:1
DeVry University-California
Score: 52.26
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $17,488
- Out-of-State:$17,488
- Net Price: $33,145
- Acceptance Rate: 40%
- Retention Rate: 66%
- Graduation Rate: 9%
- Total Enrollment: 1,677
- Undergrad Students: 1,583
- Graduate Students: 94
- Grads Salary: $105,000
- Student-to-faculty: 16:1
William Jessup University
Score: 50.31
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $37,150
- Out-of-State:$37,150
- Net Price: $27,591
- Acceptance Rate: 66%
- Retention Rate: 67%
- Graduation Rate: 52%
- Total Enrollment: 1,624
- Undergrad Students: 1,169
- Graduate Students: 455
- Grads Salary: $60,000
- Student-to-faculty: 11:1
College of the Canyons
Score: 48.53
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $1,176
- Out-of-State:$11,232
- Net Price: $6,185
- Acceptance Rate: 100%
- Retention Rate: 71%
- Graduation Rate: 43%
- Total Enrollment: 18,075
- Undergrad Students: 18,075
- Graduate Students: N/A
- Grads Salary: $44,500
- Student-to-faculty: 26:1
National University
Score: 47.53
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $11,064
- Out-of-State:$11,064
- Net Price: $30,527
- Acceptance Rate: 100%
- Retention Rate: 64%
- Graduation Rate: 22%
- Total Enrollment: 11,578
- Undergrad Students: 106
- Graduate Students: 11,472
- Grads Salary: $80,000
- Student-to-faculty: 1:1
