University Headquarters (HQ) is an industry-leading, independent educational organization that provides independent college rankings using a proprietary formula to create first class, unbiased rankings. The team at University HQ strives to provide accurate and trustworthy rankings that highlight the best programs for cyber security.
Are you looking for the best possible school from which to earn your cyber security education? If you’re looking to earn a degree in cyber security, these are some of your best options. Whether you want something that’s accredited by ABET or as a Center of Academic Excellence, somewhere that will offer you a 100% online cyber security degree experience, or just the least expensive school offering the degree you’re interested in. We’ve got all the information you need to choose the best cyber security school for you.
You might be wondering what education is needed to become a cyber security expert. While in the past some have found their way into the field without any formal education, cyber security education is becoming both more necessary and easier to find throughout the US. Choosing the right cyber security school can set the foundation for a successful career in this rapidly growing field. We've researched and analyzed the top programs to help you make an informed decision. The best cyber security schools offer a combination of comprehensive curricula, experienced faculty, cutting-edge technology, and industry connections.
Cyber security degrees are in high demand as organizations face increasing digital threats. They can equip students with the skills to protect sensitive information, detect vulnerabilities, and respond to cyber-attacks. Many top schools offer both online and on-campus options, allowing flexibility for working cyber security professionals and traditional students alike. When evaluating cyber security programs, it's essential to consider factors such as accreditation, specialization options, and hands-on learning opportunities.
Featured Online Programs
Choosing the Right Cyber Security School
When you're evaluating cyber security programs, pay close attention to the admission requirements, the delivery format that best suits your lifestyle, and the available career support services to maximize your educational investment.
Admission Requirements
Before applying, check the admission requirements closely. They typically include transcripts, standardized test scores, and often proof of technical proficiency. Look for programs where the requirements align with your academic background and experience.
Program Flexibility and Delivery
Balancing life commitments with education is crucial. Seek programs that offer online cyber security degree options or hybrid formats. Confirm the total credits required and assess if the program offers small class sizes, which can impact your learning experience.
Support Services and Career Development
Ensuring your program offers career services is critical for post-graduation success. Investigate if they provide internship opportunities, job placement services, and networking events. Access to such services can significantly influence your professional advancement in the cybersecurity field.
Evaluating College Programs
When assessing cybersecurity programs, we consider several key factors to ensure students receive a high-quality education. These include accreditation, curriculum relevance, tuition cost, retention rate, graduation rate and faculty.
Accreditation and Reputation
Your first step should be to check whether a program holds the necessary accreditation. Accredited programs have met rigorous standards set by a recognized accrediting body, ensuring quality and facilitating the transfer of credits. Additionally, consider the reputation of the institution and its cyber security program. Rankings by reputable sources like US News & World Report can offer insights into a program's standing in the academic and professional communities.
Curriculum and Specializations
Examine the curriculum closely to ensure a comprehensive coverage of cybersecurity. Core areas should include cyber defense, ethical hacking, and digital forensics. Look for programs that offer a well-rounded cybersecurity major with a mix of theoretical and hands-on learning experiences. Specializations or concentrations allow you to tailor your cybersecurity or computer science education to your career goals, be it network security, information assurance, or another niche within cybersecurity.
Faculty and Research Opportunities
Investigate the faculty and their expertise; experienced instructors can impart real-world knowledge and guide your professional development. Research opportunities also play a crucial role in your education. Engaging in research can help you deepen your understanding of complex cybersecurity issues and work on the cutting edge of technology. Look for programs that encourage student participation in research projects and partnerships with industry. You can review the UniversityHQÂ top cybersecurity programs below.
Top 25 Best Campus Cybersecurity Colleges
Stanford University
Score: 93.69
- 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
Georgia Institute of Technology
Score: 84.91
- 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
Carnegie Mellon University
Score: 84.59
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $63,829
- Out-of-State:$63,829
- Net Price: $33,499
- Acceptance Rate: 11%
- Retention Rate: 97%
- Graduation Rate: 92%
- Total Enrollment: 16,002
- Undergrad Students: 7,059
- Graduate Students: 8,943
- Grads Salary: $108,000
- Student-to-faculty: 5:1
Johns Hopkins University
Score: 83.61
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $63,340
- Out-of-State:$63,340
- Net Price: $24,034
- Acceptance Rate: 7%
- Retention Rate: 97%
- Graduation Rate: 94%
- Total Enrollment: 31,275
- Undergrad Students: 6,044
- Graduate Students: 25,231
- Grads Salary: $94,000
- Student-to-faculty: 6:1
University of Pennsylvania
Score: 83.44
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $66,104
- Out-of-State:$66,104
- Net Price: $26,123
- Acceptance Rate: 7%
- Retention Rate: 98%
- Graduation Rate: 96%
- Total Enrollment: 28,201
- Undergrad Students: 11,250
- Graduate Students: 16,951
- Grads Salary: $94,000
- Student-to-faculty: 8:1
Northwestern University
Score: 83.41
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $65,997
- Out-of-State:$65,997
- Net Price: $22,095
- Acceptance Rate: 7%
- Retention Rate: 98%
- Graduation Rate: 97%
- Total Enrollment: 23,161
- Undergrad Students: 8,993
- Graduate Students: 14,168
- Grads Salary: $89,000
- Student-to-faculty: 6:1
Brown University
Score: 82.93
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $68,230
- Out-of-State:$68,230
- Net Price: $26,723
- Acceptance Rate: 5%
- Retention Rate: 99%
- Graduation Rate: 95%
- Total Enrollment: 11,189
- Undergrad Students: 7,639
- Graduate Students: 3,550
- Grads Salary: $93,000
- Student-to-faculty: 6:1
Cornell University
Score: 82.71
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $66,014
- Out-of-State:$66,014
- Net Price: $26,060
- Acceptance Rate: 7%
- Retention Rate: 97%
- Graduation Rate: 95%
- Total Enrollment: 25,898
- Undergrad Students: 15,735
- Graduate Students: 10,163
- Grads Salary: $93,000
- Student-to-faculty: 9:1
Washington University in St. Louis
Score: 79.61
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $62,982
- Out-of-State:$62,982
- Net Price: $23,432
- Acceptance Rate: 12%
- Retention Rate: 96%
- Graduation Rate: 94%
- Total Enrollment: 17,012
- Undergrad Students: 8,132
- Graduate Students: 8,880
- Grads Salary: $83,000
- Student-to-faculty: 7:1
The University of Texas at Austin
Score: 78.49
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $11,678
- Out-of-State:$42,778
- Net Price: $17,434
- Acceptance Rate: 31%
- Retention Rate: 95%
- Graduation Rate: 88%
- Total Enrollment: 52,384
- Undergrad Students: 41,309
- Graduate Students: 11,075
- Grads Salary: $83,000
- Student-to-faculty: 18:1
University of Maryland
Score: 78.42
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $11,505
- Out-of-State:$40,306
- Net Price: $16,210
- Acceptance Rate: 45%
- Retention Rate: 95%
- Graduation Rate: 89%
- Total Enrollment: 40,792
- Undergrad Students: 30,353
- Graduate Students: 10,439
- Grads Salary: $83,000
- Student-to-faculty: 18:1
University of Wisconsin-Madison
Score: 78.03
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $11,205
- Out-of-State:$40,603
- Net Price: $13,376
- Acceptance Rate: 49%
- Retention Rate: 94%
- Graduation Rate: 89%
- Total Enrollment: 48,956
- Undergrad Students: 36,306
- Graduate Students: 12,650
- Grads Salary: $80,000
- Student-to-faculty: 18:1
Binghamton University
Score: 77.89
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $10,363
- Out-of-State:$29,453
- Net Price: $19,535
- Acceptance Rate: 42%
- Retention Rate: 91%
- Graduation Rate: 83%
- Total Enrollment: 18,312
- Undergrad Students: 14,402
- Graduate Students: 3,910
- Grads Salary: $90,000
- Student-to-faculty: 19:1
University of Southern California
Score: 77.73
- 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
North Carolina State University at Raleigh
Score: 77.39
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $8,895
- Out-of-State:$31,767
- Net Price: $14,852
- Acceptance Rate: 47%
- Retention Rate: 94%
- Graduation Rate: 85%
- Total Enrollment: 36,700
- Undergrad Students: 26,254
- Graduate Students: 10,446
- Grads Salary: $82,000
- Student-to-faculty: 16:1
Purdue University
Score: 77.36
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $9,992
- Out-of-State:$28,794
- Net Price: $12,576
- Acceptance Rate: 53%
- Retention Rate: 90%
- Graduation Rate: 83%
- Total Enrollment: 51,528
- Undergrad Students: 38,593
- Graduate Students: 12,935
- Grads Salary: $83,000
- Student-to-faculty: 14:1
Villanova University
Score: 77.07
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $64,701
- Out-of-State:$64,701
- Net Price: $34,837
- Acceptance Rate: 23%
- Retention Rate: 96%
- Graduation Rate: 91%
- Total Enrollment: 10,383
- Undergrad Students: 6,989
- Graduate Students: 3,394
- Grads Salary: $91,000
- Student-to-faculty: 10:1
Boston University
Score: 77.05
- 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
New York University
Score: 77.01
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $60,438
- Out-of-State:$60,438
- Net Price: $29,499
- Acceptance Rate: 12%
- Retention Rate: 95%
- Graduation Rate: 87%
- Total Enrollment: 59,144
- Undergrad Students: 29,401
- Graduate Students: 29,743
- Grads Salary: $87,000
- Student-to-faculty: 8:1
Northeastern University
Score: 76.01
- 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
Stevens Institute of Technology
Score: 75.9
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $60,952
- Out-of-State:$60,952
- Net Price: $41,689
- Acceptance Rate: 46%
- Retention Rate: 93%
- Graduation Rate: 88%
- Total Enrollment: 9,314
- Undergrad Students: 4,070
- Graduate Students: 5,244
- Grads Salary: $101,000
- Student-to-faculty: 11:1
Florida State University
Score: 74.98
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $5,656
- Out-of-State:$18,786
- Net Price: $14,003
- Acceptance Rate: 25%
- Retention Rate: 94%
- Graduation Rate: 85%
- Total Enrollment: 44,161
- Undergrad Students: 32,936
- Graduate Students: 11,225
- Grads Salary: $71,000
- Student-to-faculty: 17:1
Brigham Young University
Score: 74.96
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $6,496
- Out-of-State:$6,496
- Net Price: $13,521
- Acceptance Rate: 67%
- Retention Rate: 90%
- Graduation Rate: 79%
- Total Enrollment: 34,464
- Undergrad Students: 31,411
- Graduate Students: 3,053
- Grads Salary: $83,000
- Student-to-faculty: 21:1
Rutgers University-New Brunswick
Score: 74.75
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $17,239
- Out-of-State:$36,001
- Net Price: $17,535
- Acceptance Rate: 66%
- Retention Rate: 92%
- Graduation Rate: 84%
- Total Enrollment: 50,637
- Undergrad Students: 36,344
- Graduate Students: 14,293
- Grads Salary: $81,000
- Student-to-faculty: 15:1
Capitol Technology University
Score: 74.48
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $27,318
- Out-of-State:$27,318
- Net Price: $25,445
- Acceptance Rate: 64%
- Retention Rate: 73%
- Graduation Rate: 55%
- Total Enrollment: 823
- Undergrad Students: 301
- Graduate Students: 522
- Grads Salary: $114,000
- Student-to-faculty: 9:1
College Coursework and Classes
Your Cybersecurity program will typically cover a wide range of technical and non-technical subjects. Common courses include:
- Network Security
- Cryptography Fundamentals
- Ethical Hacking and Penetration Testing
- Digital Forensics
- Security Policy and Governance
- Cyber Law and Ethics
- Computer Crime and Forensics
- Cyber Criminology
- Computer Forensics
- Security Architecture
- Computer Systems Security
Programming languages like Python and C++ are often part of the curriculum. Many programs also include hands-on labs and simulations to provide practical experience.
Capstone projects or internships are frequently required, especially in bachelor's and master's programs, allowing students to apply their skills to real-world scenarios.
Financial Considerations for Postsecondary Education
When considering a cybersecurity degree, it's crucial to understand the various financial aspects. You will need to plan for tuition, seek out scholarships, and prepare for additional costs that are part of your educational journey.
Tuition and Fees
Cyber security programs can vary widely in cost, with tuition ranging from $16,000 to $62,000 for a 120-credit bachelor's program. On average, tuition and fees can be estimated as follows:
Low-end programs: $16,000 total
High-end programs: More than $62,000 total
Remember, these costs can differ based on factors like the type of institution (public vs. private) and whether you qualify for in-state tuition discounts.
Scholarships and Financial Aid
Scholarships and financial aid can significantly reduce your financial burden. Look for:
Scholarships: Offered based on merit, need, or specific criteria such as demographic or field of study.
Financial Aid: FAFSA and grants which are need-based and loans that must be repaid.
Many cybersecurity programs also offer special designations that come with specific scholarships or financial aid options, such as the CAE-CD (Centers of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense) designation.
Budgeting for Additional Costs
Beyond tuition, include these expenses in your budget:
Textbooks: May cost up to $1,200 per year.
Technology: A reliable computer and software licenses.
Certifications: Payment for certification exams, which can improve your earning potential upon graduation.
Maintaining a detailed budget helps you avoid unexpected debt and stay focused on your goal of earning a degree in cybersecurity.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I identify an accredited college program?
An accredited cybersecurity college program will be recognized by national or regional accrediting agencies, such as the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET). Verifying accreditation ensures the program meets high educational standards.
What factors should be considered when selecting a college?
You should consider factors such as the program's curriculum, faculty expertise, industry connections, employment rates, and hands-on learning opportunities. Additionally, certifications like CompTIA Security+ and further industry-recognized credentials should be part of your consideration.