What is Cyber Security?
Cyber security is a broad and multidisciplinary field that consists of identifying threats and attacks on critical systems and sensitive information and correcting or preventing them. Cyber security uses technology, processes, and various types of controls to protect computer systems, information networks, and connected devices from unwanted intrusions.
The field of cyber security is a vital part of the US economy and the United States is among the most advanced users of computers and Internet-based functions. The extensive integration of computerized and digital technologies in the US economy is a strength and an asset that requires diligence and protection.
Protecting cyber systems is vital to the economy and national security. Critical functions like electric power, fuel, and transportation are vulnerable to the impacts of cyber-attacks. Cyber security risks can come from domestic crime, international security threats, competition from rival nations, and actions by hostile forces.
The roles and titles of cyber security specialist can vary with the size of the organization and the nature of the computer systems and networks. The typical role is to create and carry out security audits across computer hardware and software systems and networks.
Security specialists work in a range of settings and business environments. They are needed in government agencies that store and utilize large databases. Specialists can work in healthcare institutions and health service organizations that have special requirements to protect medical privacy and patient information. Security analysts work in business organizations that use large databases and businesses in which data is a key asset. They help prevent intrusions and hacks that seek to interfere with the organizations use and access to its data.
News events and national security studies demonstrate the ever-growing number of threats and the severity of cyber security risks. Due to the constant threat, specialists must grow through continued education, training, and professional experience in cyber operations. Analysts play key roles in preventing international security threats, national security threats, and supporting sound business management.
Top Ranked Campus & Online Cybersecurity Programs in Massachusetts
Harvard University
Score: 94.42
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $59,076
- Out-of-State:$59,076
- Net Price: $19,491
- Acceptance Rate: 3%
- Retention Rate: 98%
- Graduation Rate: 98%
- Total Enrollment: 30,631
- Undergrad Students: 9,368
- Graduate Students: 21,263
- Grads Salary: $96,000
- Student-to-faculty: 7:1
Tufts University
Score: 84.05
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $67,844
- Out-of-State:$67,844
- Net Price: $30,479
- Acceptance Rate: 10%
- Retention Rate: 96%
- Graduation Rate: 94%
- Total Enrollment: 13,431
- Undergrad Students: 6,815
- Graduate Students: 6,616
- Grads Salary: $87,000
- Student-to-faculty: 10:1
Boston University
Score: 82.03
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $65,168
- Out-of-State:$65,168
- Net Price: $27,829
- Acceptance Rate: 14%
- Retention Rate: 94%
- Graduation Rate: 89%
- Total Enrollment: 36,714
- Undergrad Students: 18,459
- Graduate Students: 18,255
- Grads Salary: $85,000
- Student-to-faculty: 11:1
Boston College
Score: 81.13
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $67,680
- Out-of-State:$67,680
- Net Price: $30,559
- Acceptance Rate: 17%
- Retention Rate: 95%
- Graduation Rate: 91%
- Total Enrollment: 15,287
- Undergrad Students: 9,982
- Graduate Students: 5,305
- Grads Salary: $85,000
- Student-to-faculty: 12:1
Northeastern University
Score: 79.21
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $63,141
- Out-of-State:$63,141
- Net Price: $35,827
- Acceptance Rate: 7%
- Retention Rate: 97%
- Graduation Rate: 91%
- Total Enrollment: 30,013
- Undergrad Students: 16,302
- Graduate Students: 13,711
- Grads Salary: $87,000
- Student-to-faculty: 16:1
Worcester Polytechnic Institute
Score: 76.29
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $59,070
- Out-of-State:$59,070
- Net Price: $46,876
- Acceptance Rate: 57%
- Retention Rate: 91%
- Graduation Rate: 89%
- Total Enrollment: 7,308
- Undergrad Students: 5,246
- Graduate Students: 2,062
- Grads Salary: $95,000
- Student-to-faculty: 13:1
University of Massachusetts-Amherst
Score: 75.25
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $17,357
- Out-of-State:$39,293
- Net Price: $22,291
- Acceptance Rate: 64%
- Retention Rate: 90%
- Graduation Rate: 83%
- Total Enrollment: 32,229
- Undergrad Students: 24,391
- Graduate Students: 7,838
- Grads Salary: $82,000
- Student-to-faculty: 18:1
Assumption University
Score: 73.11
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $49,414
- Out-of-State:$49,414
- Net Price: $28,911
- Acceptance Rate: 82%
- Retention Rate: 83%
- Graduation Rate: 72%
- Total Enrollment: 2,059
- Undergrad Students: 1,704
- Graduate Students: 355
- Grads Salary: $86,000
- Student-to-faculty: 11:1
University of Massachusetts-Lowell
Score: 72.6
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $16,570
- Out-of-State:$35,396
- Net Price: $17,240
- Acceptance Rate: 86%
- Retention Rate: 84%
- Graduation Rate: 71%
- Total Enrollment: 17,153
- Undergrad Students: 12,389
- Graduate Students: 4,764
- Grads Salary: $82,000
- Student-to-faculty: 17:1
Simmons University
Score: 72.35
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $45,538
- Out-of-State:$45,538
- Net Price: $24,423
- Acceptance Rate: 76%
- Retention Rate: 81%
- Graduation Rate: 74%
- Total Enrollment: 5,710
- Undergrad Students: 1,788
- Graduate Students: 3,922
- Grads Salary: $75,000
- Student-to-faculty: 7:1
Clark University
Score: 70.63
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $55,160
- Out-of-State:$55,160
- Net Price: $32,053
- Acceptance Rate: 50%
- Retention Rate: 88%
- Graduation Rate: 76%
- Total Enrollment: 3,770
- Undergrad Students: 2,389
- Graduate Students: 1,381
- Grads Salary: $73,000
- Student-to-faculty: 9:1
Fitchburg State University
Score: 67.72
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $11,046
- Out-of-State:$17,126
- Net Price: $15,535
- Acceptance Rate: 86%
- Retention Rate: 72%
- Graduation Rate: 56%
- Total Enrollment: 6,554
- Undergrad Students: 3,168
- Graduate Students: 3,386
- Grads Salary: $76,000
- Student-to-faculty: 12:1
Salem State University
Score: 66.12
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $11,978
- Out-of-State:$18,961
- Net Price: $19,277
- Acceptance Rate: 93%
- Retention Rate: 75%
- Graduation Rate: 55%
- Total Enrollment: 6,539
- Undergrad Students: 5,078
- Graduate Students: 1,461
- Grads Salary: $76,000
- Student-to-faculty: 12:1
Wentworth Institute of Technology
Score: 65.72
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $41,010
- Out-of-State:$41,010
- Net Price: $37,901
- Acceptance Rate: 92%
- Retention Rate: 82%
- Graduation Rate: 69%
- Total Enrollment: 3,920
- Undergrad Students: 3,713
- Graduate Students: 207
- Grads Salary: $85,000
- Student-to-faculty: 17:1
Endicott College
Score: 65.42
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $39,212
- Out-of-State:$39,212
- Net Price: $39,496
- Acceptance Rate: 73%
- Retention Rate: 85%
- Graduation Rate: 78%
- Total Enrollment: 4,006
- Undergrad Students: 3,062
- Graduate Students: 944
- Grads Salary: $72,000
- Student-to-faculty: 12:1
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $15,208
- Out-of-State:$31,750
- Net Price: $19,700
- Acceptance Rate: 96%
- Retention Rate: 67%
- Graduation Rate: 55%
- Total Enrollment: 7,457
- Undergrad Students: 5,517
- Graduate Students: 1,940
- Grads Salary: $79,000
- Student-to-faculty: 15:1
Bridgewater State University
Score: 61.92
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $11,389
- Out-of-State:$17,529
- Net Price: $17,225
- Acceptance Rate: 88%
- Retention Rate: 75%
- Graduation Rate: 56%
- Total Enrollment: 9,604
- Undergrad Students: 8,116
- Graduate Students: 1,488
- Grads Salary: $68,000
- Student-to-faculty: 17:1
Bay Path University
Score: 61.38
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $37,227
- Out-of-State:$37,227
- Net Price: $18,502
- Acceptance Rate: 76%
- Retention Rate: 70%
- Graduation Rate: 47%
- Total Enrollment: 2,465
- Undergrad Students: 1,315
- Graduate Students: 1,150
- Grads Salary: $67,000
- Student-to-faculty: 11:1
Benjamin Franklin Institute of Technology
Score: 58.33
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $18,906
- Out-of-State:$18,906
- Net Price: $18,198
- Acceptance Rate: 100%
- Retention Rate: 71%
- Graduation Rate: 44%
- Total Enrollment: 513
- Undergrad Students: 513
- Graduate Students: N/A
- Grads Salary: $61,000
- Student-to-faculty: 8:1
North Shore Community College
Score: 56.07
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $5,352
- Out-of-State:$10,920
- Net Price: $8,444
- Acceptance Rate: 100%
- Retention Rate: 53%
- Graduation Rate: 21%
- Total Enrollment: 4,391
- Undergrad Students: 4,391
- Graduate Students: N/A
- Grads Salary: $70,000
- Student-to-faculty: 12:1
Fisher College
Score: 51.93
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $35,013
- Out-of-State:$35,013
- Net Price: $26,257
- Acceptance Rate: 74%
- Retention Rate: 55%
- Graduation Rate: 26%
- Total Enrollment: 1,421
- Undergrad Students: 1,312
- Graduate Students: 109
- Grads Salary: $67,000
- Student-to-faculty: 11:1
Cape Cod Community College
Score: 44.14
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $5,712
- Out-of-State:$10,656
- Net Price: $9,348
- Acceptance Rate: 100%
- Retention Rate: 53%
- Graduation Rate: 23%
- Total Enrollment: 2,336
- Undergrad Students: 2,336
- Graduate Students: N/A
- Grads Salary: $37,900
- Student-to-faculty: 9:1
Bunker Hill Community College
Score: 44.13
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $5,520
- Out-of-State:$10,464
- Net Price: $8,857
- Acceptance Rate: 100%
- Retention Rate: 63%
- Graduation Rate: 17%
- Total Enrollment: 8,439
- Undergrad Students: 8,439
- Graduate Students: N/A
- Grads Salary: $48,700
- Student-to-faculty: 19:1
Massachusetts Bay Community College
Score: 43.44
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $5,616
- Out-of-State:$10,560
- Net Price: $6,872
- Acceptance Rate: 100%
- Retention Rate: 54%
- Graduation Rate: 18%
- Total Enrollment: 3,497
- Undergrad Students: 3,497
- Graduate Students: N/A
- Grads Salary: $41,000
- Student-to-faculty: 13:1
Berkshire Community College
Score: 43.22
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $5,612
- Out-of-State:$11,228
- Net Price: $8,935
- Acceptance Rate: 100%
- Retention Rate: 56%
- Graduation Rate: 16%
- Total Enrollment: 1,367
- Undergrad Students: 1,367
- Graduate Students: N/A
- Grads Salary: $39,900
- Student-to-faculty: 10:1
