What is Cyber Security?
Because so many industries rely on cyber security professionals, demand for qualified job candidates in the state is relatively high. A wide range of companies and organizations benefit significantly from hiring graduates with degrees in this field. As a result, there are numerous colleges and universities in Georgia that offer notable academic programs, both on-campus and online. While remote learning allows you to enroll in nearly any institution you want and take classes from anywhere with an internet connection, choosing a local program is best if you plan to work in the state after graduation. Schools in the area often have better relationships with local companies and offer the most geographically relevant educations.
A degree in cyber security can prepare graduates for a wide variety of employment opportunities across numerous industries. This does, however, mean that job descriptions and responsibilities can vary significantly.
The daily tasks of cyber security professionals often depend on the type and size of the industry that employs them. In general, the primary focus tends to be protecting data, devices, and networks from criminal activity, as well as preventing unapproved access. In fact, they often work to stop and catch criminals who seek to misuse network accounts and data. Other common tasks include monitoring networks for security breaches, investigating violations, installing/utilizing firewall and data encryption software, and preparing reports documenting security issues and the damage they caused. Additionally, these professionals sometimes conduct penetration testing, research information technology trends, develop security standards, and recommend potential enhancements.
Cyber security professionals play a vital role in society today. People utilize and depend on electronic devices and the internet continuously to complete a wide variety of tasks, from posting on social media platforms and shopping for groceries to sending work correspondence and managing personal finances. As the use of technology, and the subsequent attempts to exploit those using it, becomes more prevalent, familiarity with computers and information security will only become more valuable over time. Notably, most program graduates are trained to combat common threats like malware, password theft, traffic interception, phishing, social engineering, and ransomware.
Individuals who are best suited for cyber security jobs tend to be highly detailed oriented and enjoy solving problems. The most successful professionals in the field also likely possess great analytical and ingenuity skills.
Top Ranked Campus & Online Cybersecurity Programs in Georgia
Georgia Institute of Technology
Score: 83.95
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $11,764
- Out-of-State:$32,876
- Net Price: $17,402
- Acceptance Rate: 17%
- Retention Rate: 98%
- Graduation Rate: 93%
- Total Enrollment: 45,296
- Undergrad Students: 18,415
- Graduate Students: 26,881
- Grads Salary: $95,000
- Student-to-faculty: 19:1
Emory University
Score: 75.78
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $60,774
- Out-of-State:$60,774
- Net Price: $26,680
- Acceptance Rate: 11%
- Retention Rate: 95%
- Graduation Rate: 90%
- Total Enrollment: 14,841
- Undergrad Students: 7,101
- Graduate Students: 7,740
- Grads Salary: $84,000
- Student-to-faculty: 9:1
University of Georgia
Score: 73.31
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $11,180
- Out-of-State:$30,220
- Net Price: $17,180
- Acceptance Rate: 43%
- Retention Rate: 94%
- Graduation Rate: 88%
- Total Enrollment: 40,607
- Undergrad Students: 30,714
- Graduate Students: 9,893
- Grads Salary: $73,000
- Student-to-faculty: 17:1
Mercer University
Score: 66.33
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $40,890
- Out-of-State:$40,890
- Net Price: $22,087
- Acceptance Rate: 75%
- Retention Rate: 86%
- Graduation Rate: 74%
- Total Enrollment: 8,889
- Undergrad Students: 4,859
- Graduate Students: 4,030
- Grads Salary: $77,000
- Student-to-faculty: 13:1
Georgia State University
Score: 59.83
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $8,478
- Out-of-State:$23,709
- Net Price: $17,589
- Acceptance Rate: 67%
- Retention Rate: 78%
- Graduation Rate: 55%
- Total Enrollment: 36,516
- Undergrad Students: 28,924
- Graduate Students: 7,592
- Grads Salary: $73,000
- Student-to-faculty: 26:1
Georgia Southern University
Score: 56.79
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $5,905
- Out-of-State:$16,959
- Net Price: $15,352
- Acceptance Rate: 89%
- Retention Rate: 72%
- Graduation Rate: 53%
- Total Enrollment: 25,481
- Undergrad Students: 21,979
- Graduate Students: 3,502
- Grads Salary: $66,000
- Student-to-faculty: 22:1
Columbus State University
Score: 56.62
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $5,751
- Out-of-State:$16,805
- Net Price: $12,902
- Acceptance Rate: 88%
- Retention Rate: 65%
- Graduation Rate: 43%
- Total Enrollment: 7,479
- Undergrad Students: 6,003
- Graduate Students: 1,476
- Grads Salary: $69,000
- Student-to-faculty: 17:1
DeVry University-Georgia
Score: 56.34
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $17,488
- Out-of-State:$17,488
- Net Price: $30,175
- Acceptance Rate: 50%
- Retention Rate: 68%
- Graduation Rate: 10%
- Total Enrollment: 532
- Undergrad Students: 509
- Graduate Students: 23
- Grads Salary: $112,000
- Student-to-faculty: 16:1
Kennesaw State University
Score: 56.34
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $5,786
- Out-of-State:$17,040
- Net Price: $18,079
- Acceptance Rate: 68%
- Retention Rate: 75%
- Graduation Rate: 46%
- Total Enrollment: 43,190
- Undergrad Students: 38,927
- Graduate Students: 4,263
- Grads Salary: $70,000
- Student-to-faculty: 22:1
University of West Georgia
Score: 55.14
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $5,971
- Out-of-State:$17,024
- Net Price: $15,625
- Acceptance Rate: 80%
- Retention Rate: 73%
- Graduation Rate: 43%
- Total Enrollment: 11,893
- Undergrad Students: 8,666
- Graduate Students: 3,227
- Grads Salary: $65,000
- Student-to-faculty: 16:1
Valdosta State University
Score: 54.11
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $6,007
- Out-of-State:$17,062
- Net Price: $12,836
- Acceptance Rate: 89%
- Retention Rate: 59%
- Graduation Rate: 40%
- Total Enrollment: 10,209
- Undergrad Students: 7,573
- Graduate Students: 2,636
- Grads Salary: $66,000
- Student-to-faculty: 17:1
Oconee Fall Line Technical College
Score: 52.93
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $3,201
- Out-of-State:$5,601
- Net Price: $6,097
- Acceptance Rate: 100%
- Retention Rate: 75%
- Graduation Rate: 61%
- Total Enrollment: 1,819
- Undergrad Students: 1,819
- Graduate Students: N/A
- Grads Salary: $31,200
- Student-to-faculty: 11:1
Clark Atlanta University
Score: 51.79
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $26,446
- Out-of-State:$26,446
- Net Price: $30,015
- Acceptance Rate: 56%
- Retention Rate: 71%
- Graduation Rate: 46%
- Total Enrollment: 4,000
- Undergrad Students: 3,427
- Graduate Students: 573
- Grads Salary: $72,000
- Student-to-faculty: 16:1
Southern Crescent Technical College
Score: 51.49
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $3,126
- Out-of-State:$5,526
- Net Price: $4,354
- Acceptance Rate: 100%
- Retention Rate: 63%
- Graduation Rate: 57%
- Total Enrollment: 5,018
- Undergrad Students: 5,018
- Graduate Students: N/A
- Grads Salary: $33,600
- Student-to-faculty: 17:1
Savannah State University
Score: 50.96
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $5,498
- Out-of-State:$16,218
- Net Price: $9,452
- Acceptance Rate: 100%
- Retention Rate: 68%
- Graduation Rate: 28%
- Total Enrollment: 2,945
- Undergrad Students: 2,740
- Graduate Students: 205
- Grads Salary: $62,000
- Student-to-faculty: 21:1
Brenau University
Score: 50.51
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $33,275
- Out-of-State:$33,275
- Net Price: $23,635
- Acceptance Rate: 87%
- Retention Rate: 55%
- Graduation Rate: 46%
- Total Enrollment: 2,704
- Undergrad Students: 1,368
- Graduate Students: 1,336
- Grads Salary: $66,000
- Student-to-faculty: 11:1
University of North Georgia
Score: 49.83
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $5,009
- Out-of-State:$15,441
- Net Price: $11,721
- Acceptance Rate: 70%
- Retention Rate: 72%
- Graduation Rate: 39%
- Total Enrollment: 18,029
- Undergrad Students: 17,240
- Graduate Students: 789
- Grads Salary: $46,800
- Student-to-faculty: 18:1
Wiregrass Georgia Technical College
Score: 47.85
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $3,212
- Out-of-State:$5,612
- Net Price: $4,914
- Acceptance Rate: 100%
- Retention Rate: 66%
- Graduation Rate: 43%
- Total Enrollment: 4,003
- Undergrad Students: 4,003
- Graduate Students: N/A
- Grads Salary: $32,600
- Student-to-faculty: 14:1
Albany Technical College
Score: 46.49
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $3,196
- Out-of-State:$5,596
- Net Price: $5,159
- Acceptance Rate: 100%
- Retention Rate: 52%
- Graduation Rate: 45%
- Total Enrollment: 2,577
- Undergrad Students: 2,577
- Graduate Students: N/A
- Grads Salary: $30,800
- Student-to-faculty: 12:1
Herzing University-Atlanta
Score: 45.33
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $13,420
- Out-of-State:$13,420
- Net Price: $23,073
- Acceptance Rate: 93%
- Retention Rate: 40%
- Graduation Rate: 25%
- Total Enrollment: 663
- Undergrad Students: 615
- Graduate Students: 48
- Grads Salary: $73,000
- Student-to-faculty: 14:1
Georgia Military College
Score: 45.31
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $8,112
- Out-of-State:$8,112
- Net Price: $10,544
- Acceptance Rate: 100%
- Retention Rate: 33%
- Graduation Rate: 37%
- Total Enrollment: 6,998
- Undergrad Students: 6,998
- Graduate Students: N/A
- Grads Salary: $48,000
- Student-to-faculty: 14:1
West Georgia Technical College
Score: 44.43
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $3,122
- Out-of-State:$5,522
- Net Price: $2,497
- Acceptance Rate: 100%
- Retention Rate: 50%
- Graduation Rate: 34%
- Total Enrollment: 6,140
- Undergrad Students: 6,140
- Graduate Students: N/A
- Grads Salary: $32,900
- Student-to-faculty: 19:1
Georgia Piedmont Technical College
Score: 43.18
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $3,188
- Out-of-State:$5,588
- Net Price: $10,584
- Acceptance Rate: 100%
- Retention Rate: 56%
- Graduation Rate: 37%
- Total Enrollment: 2,874
- Undergrad Students: 2,874
- Graduate Students: N/A
- Grads Salary: $35,500
- Student-to-faculty: 14:1
Augusta Technical College
Score: 41.61
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $4,022
- Out-of-State:$7,022
- Net Price: $10,258
- Acceptance Rate: 100%
- Retention Rate: 54%
- Graduation Rate: 35%
- Total Enrollment: 3,970
- Undergrad Students: 3,970
- Graduate Students: N/A
- Grads Salary: $32,700
- Student-to-faculty: 14:1
Gwinnett Technical College
Score: 40.82
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $3,356
- Out-of-State:$5,756
- Net Price: $13,773
- Acceptance Rate: 100%
- Retention Rate: 57%
- Graduation Rate: 31%
- Total Enrollment: 8,450
- Undergrad Students: 8,450
- Graduate Students: N/A
- Grads Salary: $39,300
- Student-to-faculty: 17:1
