What is Cyber Security?
A cyber security specialist is a high-tech professional who works exclusively on protecting the networks and databases under their watch. There are many sub-specialties within cyber security such as cryptography, network security, database encryption, security architecture, and more. There are also so-called white hat hackers who put systems to the test when they attempt to hack them.
Cyber security experts are found working in a variety of workplaces and many go to work for state or federal law enforcement agencies. The Department of Homeland Security and National Security Agency even team up to accredit cyber security degree programs at the community college and university level. There are also cyber security specialists who work for private enterprises. Since hackers are now sometimes holding medical records hostage, healthcare systems are in dire need of cyber security experts at every level.
The cyber security world is also full of independent consultants. Penetration testers, also known as white hat hackers, are known to work as consultants since this outside approach best mimics how cyber-criminals operate.
Top Ranked Campus & Online Cybersecurity Programs in Maryland
1
Johns Hopkins University
Score: 83.39
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $63,340
- Out-of-State:$63,340
- Net Price: $22,844
- Acceptance Rate: 8%
- Retention Rate: 98%
- Graduation Rate: 95%
- Total Enrollment: 30,362
- Undergrad Students: 6,089
- Graduate Students: 24,273
- Grads Salary: $94,000
- Student-to-faculty: 6:1
2
University of Maryland
Score: 77.46
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $11,505
- Out-of-State:$40,306
- Net Price: $15,833
- Acceptance Rate: 45%
- Retention Rate: 96%
- Graduation Rate: 89%
- Total Enrollment: 40,813
- Undergrad Students: 30,608
- Graduate Students: 10,205
- Grads Salary: $83,000
- Student-to-faculty: 18:1
3
Capitol Technology University
Score: 70.77
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $27,318
- Out-of-State:$27,318
- Net Price: $23,223
- Acceptance Rate: 78%
- Retention Rate: 73%
- Graduation Rate: 47%
- Total Enrollment: 902
- Undergrad Students: 266
- Graduate Students: 636
- Grads Salary: $114,000
- Student-to-faculty: 9:1
4
University of Maryland-Baltimore County
Score: 68.93
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $12,952
- Out-of-State:$30,308
- Net Price: $17,704
- Acceptance Rate: 74%
- Retention Rate: 87%
- Graduation Rate: 71%
- Total Enrollment: 14,148
- Undergrad Students: 10,490
- Graduate Students: 3,658
- Grads Salary: $82,000
- Student-to-faculty: 18:1
5
Towson University
Score: 64.97
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $11,306
- Out-of-State:$28,326
- Net Price: $15,064
- Acceptance Rate: 83%
- Retention Rate: 83%
- Graduation Rate: 68%
- Total Enrollment: 19,527
- Undergrad Students: 16,517
- Graduate Students: 3,010
- Grads Salary: $70,000
- Student-to-faculty: 14:1
6
Salisbury University
Score: 62.78
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $10,638
- Out-of-State:$21,332
- Net Price: $17,931
- Acceptance Rate: 89%
- Retention Rate: 80%
- Graduation Rate: 67%
- Total Enrollment: 7,030
- Undergrad Students: 6,281
- Graduate Students: 749
- Grads Salary: $70,000
- Student-to-faculty: 13:1
7
Morgan State University
Score: 59.11
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $8,118
- Out-of-State:$18,800
- Net Price: $15,350
- Acceptance Rate: 83%
- Retention Rate: 71%
- Graduation Rate: 42%
- Total Enrollment: 9,808
- Undergrad Students: 8,300
- Graduate Students: 1,508
- Grads Salary: $78,000
- Student-to-faculty: 17:1
8
Washington College
Score: 58.96
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $54,356
- Out-of-State:$54,356
- Net Price: $33,553
- Acceptance Rate: 66%
- Retention Rate: 87%
- Graduation Rate: 74%
- Total Enrollment: 916
- Undergrad Students: 916
- Graduate Students: N/A
- Grads Salary: $69,000
- Student-to-faculty: 9:1
9
Stevenson University
Score: 58.2
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $39,708
- Out-of-State:$39,708
- Net Price: $28,201
- Acceptance Rate: 83%
- Retention Rate: 78%
- Graduation Rate: 66%
- Total Enrollment: 3,507
- Undergrad Students: 3,028
- Graduate Students: 479
- Grads Salary: $73,000
- Student-to-faculty: 15:1
10
Hood College
Score: 58.08
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $45,870
- Out-of-State:$45,870
- Net Price: $23,462
- Acceptance Rate: 78%
- Retention Rate: 80%
- Graduation Rate: 55%
- Total Enrollment: 2,078
- Undergrad Students: 1,209
- Graduate Students: 869
- Grads Salary: $71,000
- Student-to-faculty: 11:1
11
Coppin State University
Score: 57.97
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $7,001
- Out-of-State:$13,789
- Net Price: $7,684
- Acceptance Rate: 50%
- Retention Rate: 73%
- Graduation Rate: 26%
- Total Enrollment: 2,101
- Undergrad Students: 1,810
- Graduate Students: 291
- Grads Salary: $67,000
- Student-to-faculty: 10:1
12
Bowie State University
Score: 56.26
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $8,999
- Out-of-State:$19,889
- Net Price: $16,117
- Acceptance Rate: 84%
- Retention Rate: 70%
- Graduation Rate: 38%
- Total Enrollment: 6,408
- Undergrad Students: 5,288
- Graduate Students: 1,120
- Grads Salary: $74,000
- Student-to-faculty: 16:1
13
University of Maryland Eastern Shore
Score: 56.22
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $8,898
- Out-of-State:$19,728
- Net Price: $14,595
- Acceptance Rate: 90%
- Retention Rate: 66%
- Graduation Rate: 35%
- Total Enrollment: 2,844
- Undergrad Students: 2,233
- Graduate Students: 611
- Grads Salary: $73,000
- Student-to-faculty: 9:1
14
Mount St. Mary's University
Score: 55.8
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $47,240
- Out-of-State:$47,240
- Net Price: $25,298
- Acceptance Rate: 72%
- Retention Rate: 71%
- Graduation Rate: 58%
- Total Enrollment: 2,499
- Undergrad Students: 1,873
- Graduate Students: 626
- Grads Salary: $67,000
- Student-to-faculty: 12:1
15
Carroll Community College
Score: 52.17
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $7,188
- Out-of-State:$9,618
- Net Price: $4,568
- Acceptance Rate: 100%
- Retention Rate: 69%
- Graduation Rate: 47%
- Total Enrollment: 3,164
- Undergrad Students: 3,164
- Graduate Students: N/A
- Grads Salary: $41,300
- Student-to-faculty: 15:1
16
Frederick Community College
Score: 49.41
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $7,444
- Out-of-State:$9,844
- Net Price: $3,840
- Acceptance Rate: 100%
- Retention Rate: 72%
- Graduation Rate: 35%
- Total Enrollment: 6,796
- Undergrad Students: 6,796
- Graduate Students: N/A
- Grads Salary: $41,800
- Student-to-faculty: 18:1
17
Strayer University-Maryland
Score: 47.96
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $13,920
- Out-of-State:$13,920
- Net Price: $18,092
- Acceptance Rate: 100%
- Retention Rate: 60%
- Graduation Rate: 36%
- Total Enrollment: 1,445
- Undergrad Students: 1,177
- Graduate Students: 268
- Grads Salary: $70,000
- Student-to-faculty: 39:1
18
Harford Community College
Score: 46.57
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $6,302
- Out-of-State:$8,630
- Net Price: $9,855
- Acceptance Rate: 100%
- Retention Rate: 67%
- Graduation Rate: 38%
- Total Enrollment: 5,108
- Undergrad Students: 5,108
- Graduate Students: N/A
- Grads Salary: $40,700
- Student-to-faculty: 16:1
19
Hagerstown Community College
Score: 46.4
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $6,390
- Out-of-State:$8,190
- Net Price: $7,188
- Acceptance Rate: 100%
- Retention Rate: 67%
- Graduation Rate: 36%
- Total Enrollment: 5,433
- Undergrad Students: 5,433
- Graduate Students: N/A
- Grads Salary: $39,200
- Student-to-faculty: 19:1
20
College of Southern Maryland
Score: 45.13
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $7,350
- Out-of-State:$9,450
- Net Price: $8,690
- Acceptance Rate: 100%
- Retention Rate: 69%
- Graduation Rate: 33%
- Total Enrollment: 4,984
- Undergrad Students: 4,984
- Graduate Students: N/A
- Grads Salary: $38,100
- Student-to-faculty: 16:1
21
Howard Community College
Score: 45.11
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $7,032
- Out-of-State:$8,976
- Net Price: $10,654
- Acceptance Rate: 100%
- Retention Rate: 65%
- Graduation Rate: 26%
- Total Enrollment: 8,540
- Undergrad Students: 8,540
- Graduate Students: N/A
- Grads Salary: $46,000
- Student-to-faculty: 13:1
22
Montgomery College
Score: 44.33
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $10,398
- Out-of-State:$14,250
- Net Price: $8,668
- Acceptance Rate: 100%
- Retention Rate: 78%
- Graduation Rate: 27%
- Total Enrollment: 17,780
- Undergrad Students: 17,780
- Graduate Students: N/A
- Grads Salary: $38,100
- Student-to-faculty: 17:1
23
Prince George's Community College
Score: 43.71
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $6,194
- Out-of-State:$8,642
- Net Price: $10,382
- Acceptance Rate: 100%
- Retention Rate: 58%
- Graduation Rate: 25%
- Total Enrollment: 10,513
- Undergrad Students: 10,513
- Graduate Students: N/A
- Grads Salary: $45,700
- Student-to-faculty: 16:1
24
Community College of Baltimore County
Score: 43.15
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $7,474
- Out-of-State:$10,880
- Net Price: $6,785
- Acceptance Rate: 100%
- Retention Rate: 55%
- Graduation Rate: 16%
- Total Enrollment: 15,803
- Undergrad Students: 15,803
- Graduate Students: N/A
- Grads Salary: $46,100
- Student-to-faculty: 15:1
25
Wor-Wic Community College
Score: 42.41
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $6,840
- Out-of-State:$8,400
- Net Price: $7,385
- Acceptance Rate: 100%
- Retention Rate: 61%
- Graduation Rate: 27%
- Total Enrollment: 2,636
- Undergrad Students: 2,636
- Graduate Students: N/A
- Grads Salary: $34,000
- Student-to-faculty: 13:1
