Top 40 Colleges for a Bachelor’s in Cybersecurity

When University of Washington students enroll in the Information School and embark on a degree in informatics, they have several options. For those with a penchant for sleuthing and investigations, the information assurance and cyber security degree option will launch a terrific career. UW is already central to some of the hottest tech firms in the world, so their graduates often find more offers than they can handle. When students aren't studying hard, they enjoy innumerable outdoor activities in Puget Sound or around Mt Rainier. Seattle also offers world class restaurants, music, and culture.

The University of Texas at Austin offers a top-rated bachelor’s degree with a cyber security concentration. With this concentration, you will learn a variety of skills and subject matter including threat assessment, cryptography, ethical hacking, product design, public policy, and network security. Students will be able to choose from foundation courses and elective classes in a range of topics to ensure a well-rounded background with which to begin their career in cyber security.

George Mason University has a dedicated Cyber Physical Lab within the School of Engineering that allows students to explore simulated cyber-attacks for a more practical and realistic approach to cyber security education and research. Cyber security-related programs offered at Mason prepare students to be leaders in the fight against digital threats and malicious attacks. You can choose from a variety of cyber security concentrations and certificates within the department.

Carnegie Mellon University offers an undergraduate concentration in security and privacy. Only students in pursuit of a computer science degree are eligible for this concentration. The program centers around superior cyber security practices, legislation, and research. As a graduate, you will be highly trained in relevant areas and able to find work in the public, private, or government sectors.

Virginia Tech offers an intensely rigorous course of study for cyber security students. Cyber security students can choose between a minor, a BS on the cyber operations track, the networks and cyber security BS, or the BS/MS dual degree option. Outside of the classroom, students can participate in VTCSec, a student club that offers students the opportunity to expand their knowledge along with their peers.

The University of Maryland in Baltimore County offers both a BS and an undergraduate certificate in various cyber security specialties. You can even pursue an accelerated BS/MPS program as a way to fast track two degrees in cyber security at the same time. Students can choose from a variety of courses including forensics, malware analysis, data mining, software security, cyber security informatics, and more.

The University of Maryland Global Campus offers degrees and certificates in a number of areas throughout cyber security including computer networks and cyber security, software development and security, and cyber security management and policy. Students can pursue these degrees entirely online from the comfort of their home. One of the greatest benefits to these programs is the local and regional partnerships and affiliations the university has established, from military and research institutions to private corporations and federal agencies.

The Rochester Institute of Technology features a Department of Computing Security for individuals in search of top careers in cyber security. The department has won various awards, including the 2013 Collegiate Cyber Defense Competition National Championship. You can choose between a standard bachelor’s degree or an accelerated dual degree. Both programs prepare you for an intense and long-lasting career in cyber security in various industries such as wireless communications, the Internet of Things, connected cars, and more.

As a National Center of Academic Excellence, thus acknowledged by the National Security Agency and the Department of Homeland Security as a top cyber security program, Texas A&M University is a first choice for information security aficionados. Undergraduate students can add a minor in cyber security to their computer science or engineering degree. Unlike many minor programs, students must apply and be accepted before pursuing this esteemed designation for their transcript.

Brigham Young University in Provo focuses on helping students develop student skills that will serve them for decades throughout their career including problem analysis, solution identification, computing evaluations, effective communication, legal and ethical judgments, teamwork, leadership, and security practices. Students will be required to complete at least 120 hours and certain courses must have a minimum of a C grade to move on to core courses.

Rutgers University at New Brunswick offers various cyber security courses through their Rutgers Center for Innovation Education. Their certificate is often pursued by working professionals to complement an existing skill set. You will go through 8 sessions and 13 course modules such as cyber security auditing, cyber security regulations and forensics, cyber security basics, and more.

North Carolina State University at Raleigh features a bachelor’s degree in computer science with a concentration in cyber security. The program examines numerous approaches and methodologies to mitigating risk through elite cyber security practices including security risk analysis, threat landscape, and ethical practices. Students will learn both business acumen and cyber defense, making graduates ideal recruits for any number of industries and business types.

Oregon State University has a dedicated undergraduate certificate in cyber security. The program is available online to all current undergraduate students at Oregon State, as well as graduate students in the computer science program. You will require at least a 3.0 GPA and a minimum of a C grade in specific, relevant courses to graduate. In the program, students will learn about cyber security management, design, implementation, and evaluation. The program is eligible for financial aid as a full degree.

Arizona State University at Tempe’s cyber security programs focus on well-rounded courses to ensure graduates are prepared in as many aspects of information protection as possible including engineering, business, law, and social sciences. The program also works with local employers to promote local graduates for the burgeoning cyber security job market in the Tempe area. The overall goal of cyber security at ASU is to provide an education that will serve graduates for decades.

DePaul University’s College of Computing and Digital Media features a specialized cyber security program centered around information security, computer forensics, risk assessment, security infrastructure design, and more. The security and information assurance laboratory allows students to gain practical, real-world experience by using routers, switches, multi-vendor firewalls, VPNs, and intrusion detection systems along with coursework. Classes will range from ethical and social issues to computer forensics and incident response. You can even take a dual bachelor’s and master’s degree to speed up the process and save money.

Purdue University’s main campus offers a bachelor’s degree in cyber security from their Department of Computer and Information Technology. This program gives graduates the skills to keep networks secure and to discover the source of hacks and attacks. The class sizes are small, with hands-on experience and varied subjects including cryptography, UNIX, analytical thinking, secure coding, and digital forensics. You will also have access to a number of internship opportunities.

Undergraduate students in UVA's School of Engineering and Applied Science can receive a degree in computer science with a focus on cyber security. The cyber security focal path includes ten courses that cover topics such as statistics, theory of computation, and Defense Against the Dark Arts (with guest lectures from Professor Snape, no doubt. Ok, no Snape, but this is the title of the course.) UVA supports its students with four cyber security clubs and the NYU-CSAW, the largest student-run cyber security event in the world. The faculty here is so good that many students stick around for their master’s degree.

Western Washington University partners with many state community colleges to allow students to seamlessly transition from an associate degree to a bachelor’s degree in cyber security. Graduates of these programs will be highly trained in threat prevention and breach response and will be able to pursue any number of cyber security positions including network security administration, secure software development specialist, reactive forensic practices, or proactive forensic analysis.

Northeastern University offers a BS in cyber security that focuses on reliable and secure networks through the development of practical and conceptual skills in both classroom and laboratory settings. The courses overview a wide range of interdisciplinary focuses including offensive hacking, data breaches, cyber-attack prevention, social behavior, law, public policy, and more. You can find several scholarships within the cyber security department.

The University of Houston has top cyber security programs throughout various colleges and departments. Such programs focus on security initiatives, recovery, and research alongside the development of various skills including critical thinking, ethics, and problem solving. The University of Houston's cyber security programs are also recognized by the NSA’s Centers of Academic Excellence.

Mercy College has a dedicated BS in cyber security that has a well-rounded focus on testing, implementing, and configuring new technologies and security software. The program also focuses on security policies, disaster recovery, and privacy protection. It is possible to complete a dual degree program in both a bachelor’s and a master’s degree in cyber security in five years. Graduates often go on to work for top businesses and in government sectors. These programs are endorsed by the NSA’s Centers of Academic Excellence in Information Assurance Education.

This school’s highly competitive computer engineering program only accepts the very top students from high school. Students who make their focus information security (cyber security) have gone on to top positions in private industry as well as with the Department of Defense. Ambitious students can enroll in the joint BS/MS program and graduate with a graduate degree in only five years.

Missouri University of Science and Technology provides a wealth of cyber security-related educational opportunities within the College of Engineering and Computer. For example, you can pursue a BS in computer science with an emphasis on cyber security research. The program is accredited by the Computing Accreditation Commission of ABET and has been endorsed by the NSA’s Centers of Academic Excellence in Information Assurance Research since 2008.

Students in the Computer Science & Engineering program at the University of South Carolina can choose to complete a degree in cyber security with an information assurance specialization. In fact, the program satisfies the standards for National Training Standard for Information Systems Security (INFOSEC) Professionals. Since the program has received credentials from the National Center of Academic Excellence, students are sure to land a top position with any private firm if not federal law enforcement, including the NSA, CIA, or Homeland Security, to name the three top agencies looking for these professionals.

Florida State University’s College of Criminology and Criminal Justice offers a bachelor’s degree in cyber criminology. Students will be required to complete 52 credit hours in specific curriculum to successfully complete the degree including prerequisite courses, criminology courses, computer science courses, selective elective courses, and a capstone course. You will learn highly specific skills and knowledge, from law enforcement and white-collar crime to computer security and crime detection and investigation.

The University of Notre Dame features several concentrations in cyber security through their Department of Computer Science and Engineering. A cyber security concentration will require various technical and CSE electives and required courses including computer networks, data science, computer security, computer forensics, software engineering, and more. All students will also be required to complete cyber security-related research. The program is accredited by the Computing Accreditation Commission of the ABET.

Cyber security students at the University of Delaware are fortunate to become a part of a National Center of Academic Excellence, a designation bestowed by the NSA and the Department of Homeland Security. Undergraduate students can complete a minor in cyber security which will nicely compliment their foundational work in computer engineering. Upon graduation, students are welcome to apply to the graduate program for an MS in Cyber Security which is available both on campus and online.

Old Dominion University offers a BS in Cyber Security that is endorsed by the NSA Centers of Academic Excellence in Cyber Operations. Students will learn the skills necessary to develop a successful career in cyber security in various areas such as online data protection, network security, and computer systems. Courses will be diverse to ensure a well-rounded education and include information assurance, criminal justice, psychology, computer science, and much more. All students must also complete an entrepreneurship or an internship before graduation.

The Illinois Institute of Technology has bachelor’s degrees in cyber security, such as computer and cyber security engineering. Courses will prepare students for careers in a variety of industries and sectors including corporations, governments, and non-profits. You will learn to analyze issues, develop software solutions, communicate, design computer networks, operate within the Internet of Things, create defenses, and operate on a budget.

Citadel Military College of South Carolina offers a BS in computer science with a minor in cyber security. The minor program offers student preparation for entry into various cyber security positions throughout many business entities, the military, and government agencies. Students will develop an array of skills and knowhow including information on computer networks, cyber security, computer architecture, and more. The minor will require a minimum of 15 credit hours in designated courses.

Iowa State University has one of the most well-established and reputable cyber security programs in the country and has since 1995. The Iowa State BS in Cyber Security Engineering and other cyber security programs teach students the fundamentals of complex problems associated with cyber security while developing high-level skills to solve such problems including an understanding of software systems, application security, networks, hardware security, computer information, and data security.

Florida Atlantic University dedicates certificate and degree programs to cyber security in the Department of Computer and Electrical Engineering and Computer Science. Students who pursue a BS in computer science, mathematics, or a related field are also able to pursue cyber security programs. Graduates of these programs go on to work in various fields and industries including digital media, financial services, entertainment, aviation, and others.

UW Tacoma works in conjunction with UW campuses in nearby Bothell and Seattle. Since this program is both available to students paying in-state tuition and is one of the top ten cyber security programs in the nation, this degree is a terrific value. The NSA and the Department of Homeland Security have designated this tri-campus program as one of its Centers of Academic Excellence and graduates therefore have top cyber security credentials. Careers with federal law enforcement or local technology firms are not uncommon.

Computer science students at Cal State Fullerton can choose to take the cyber security track. To complete this specialization, students will take courses in cryptography, network security, and malware, among others. Note that this track is exclusive to computer science students. The University's Center for Cybersecurity is engaged in exciting research into areas such as biometrics, virtualization, cloud computing, and deception detection, among others. Students can also join the extra-curricular clubs, Offensive Security Society and ISACA, which offer them the opportunity to compare notes, network, and fellowship with their peers in cyber security.

Students who are pursuing a major degree program in either the Electrical and Computer Engineering Department or the Department of Computing Sciences in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences can minor in cyber security. The minor requires four foundational courses, three core classes, and a capstone project offered by either the Engineering or Computing Sciences department. Note that students must file an official request to pursue this minor. When graduation day looms, students can apply to continue at Villanova and pursue their Master of Science in Cyber Security.

The Virginia Military Institute offers a BS degree in computer science with a cyber security minor from the Department of Computer and Information Sciences. The program prepares students for a technical, information security career by having them complete a variety of courses including web application development, data analysis, programming, systems analysis, and more. Students will also learn about behavior and ethics for a complete and well-rounded education.

The University of Louisiana at Lafayette offers a cyber security concentration from their School of Computing and Informatics. The cyber security program curriculum centers around infrastructure vulnerabilities, physical risks, and technical hazards. Students should note that the cyber security concentration is different from, and an addition to, the computer science major.

The University of Arizona offers a Bachelor of Applied Science in Cyber Operations. The program gives students the opportunity to develop skills and knowhow based on hands-on experience with concentrations in defense and forensics, cyber law and policy, and engineering. Students are also offered a wide array of educational and skill development in various subjects. Graduates often go on to work in law enforcement, defense, or for private corporations. The cyber security program is also endorsed by the NSA Centers of Academic Excellence in Cyber Operations.

The University of New Hampshire’s main campus has a dedicated center for Cyber Security Leadership, Education, and Outreach endorsed by the NSA Centers of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense and Education. You can earn a BS in Homeland Security that focuses on managing risk, protecting data, and responding accordingly. The university also offers several cyber security and technology clubs for students.

Computer science students in Tufts' undergraduate Computer Science department are invited to pursue cyber security as a focus area. This pathway includes a strong grounding in computer science and cyber security which is then concluded with one of three capstone projects. The capstones are intended to help students build resumes, on top of their prestigious transcripts. In fact, these capstones may be the deciding factor when it comes to graduate school admissions.