50 Best Master’s Cyber Security Schools and Universities in the U.S.

Stanford is an institution located in Stanford, California that is home to 17,000+ students each year. Students can expect reasonable class sizes due to the excellent student-to-teacher ratio of 5 to 1. Stanford University’s Freeman Spogli Institute offers an online master’s degree program in cyber security studies. The university has over 7,000 students enrolled in both online and on-campus programs. There are several specializations a student can choose from and the school offers seminars and networking opportunities with leaders in the cyber industry. Students can even join the Applied Cybersecurity Club.

Johns Hopkins, located near downtown Baltimore Maryland, offers nearly 200 majors in the form of bachelor’s, master’s, and doctorate degrees. John Hopkins University offers its graduate students a master’s degree in cyber security informatics. Under the umbrella of the Whiting School of Engineering, students can choose from several programs such as Information Assurance, Networking, and Security Analysis. The programs can be completed online, on campus, or a combination of the two.

Carnegie Mellon University is located near downtown Pittsburg, Pennsylvania. Their 14,000+ students not only benefit from their low student-to-teacher ratio, but can also look forward to earning bachelor’s, master’s, or doctorate degrees from one of the most respected universities in the nation. Carnegie Mellon has several graduate programs in cyber security. The Information Network Institute offers programs in Information Networking, Information Security, and Cyber Forensics. The programs are available online or as hybrid programs, where some classes are taken online and other courses are available on campus. A variety of clubs and organizations, as well as research opportunities, exist for students throughout their school careers.

Here, students will not only be able to earn the degree they want. They will be able to do it in a large city with plenty to offer; the state capital of NC has a lot to recommend it and the state university is located close enough to have a view of downtown. North Carolina State University at Raleigh also offers a robust computer science program for its undergraduate and graduate students. For those interested in distance learning, the school offers two graduate programs online for computer science students. The master’s in computer science allow students to add a cyber security specialization, while the Master of Science in Computer Networking focuses on building secure computer networks. Neither degree requires a thesis or comprehensive exam and students can take one or two courses a semester.

Located in Los Angeles, CA, the University of Southern California provides its 47,000+ students a modern campus, proximity to the beach and the city, and a great student-to-faculty ratio at 9 to 1. The University of Southern California’s USC Viterbi School of Engineering offers a Master of Science Cyber Security Engineering degree. This program is for people who are currently working in the computer science field and specifically in the area of internet and cyber security. The program will train workers on higher-level security protocols and initiatives that will make them even more valuable in the workforce. The entire program can be completed online and takes 2-3 years depending on the course load.

This university’s beautiful, open campus is located in central San Jose, just an hour south of San Francisco. Their graduate programs serve over 8,000 students and include a Master of Science in Software Engineering program with a specialization in cyber security. The program is focused on offering flexible education for recent graduates and professional practitioners alike. They also aim to provide the degree at the highest possible value, meaning it is inexpensive while offering all kinds or opportunity for career growth.

This school’s beautiful, tree-filled campus is located in Berkeley, California. Students living on campus will only be 15 minutes from downtown Oakland, CA. Over 11,000 graduate students attend master’s and doctoral degree programs here, either in person or through online learning. The university offers their Master of Information and Cyber Security Degree for any student with a computer science background. The program is focused on creating leaders who know the field of information and cyber security inside and out.

Located on the northern side of Atlanta, Georgia, the state’s institute of technology offers bachelor’s master’s, and doctorate degrees along with an excellent view of downtown. Georgia Tech offers an online Master's in Cyber Security to its graduate students. The program is entirely online and includes courses in cyber security, networking, and information systems among others. The program takes between two and three years to complete and is designed for working individuals who want to continue their education while working in the computer science field.

Near downtown Phoenix, Arizona State has a beautiful, sprawling campus covered in palms and just waiting for you to come for a visit and become one of their huge 50,000+ students who enroll every year. Arizona State offers a Master of Science in Computer Science with a concentration in cyber security. The program is ideal for working people who want to continue their education in the information security field. People who are coders, IT professionals, and networking specialists can use this degree to further their careers. The program is offered entirely online and is expected to take two to three years to complete.

The Boston University campus is located within the city of Boston, Massachusetts, near the shore of the Charles River, not far from downtown. While the university offers bachelor’s, master’s, and doctorate degrees, students interested in this list might want to check out their master’s degree specialization in cyber security. It can be combined with computer science, math, engineering, and other areas where data security would be important. The program can be completed entirely online and takes two to three years to complete. Students get to study cyber security from a broader perspective, and it can help the working student progress in their chosen career faster.

The University of Pennsylvania’s main campus is located in the city of Philadelphia and is home to over 25,000 students who enroll each year. They offer associate, bachelor’s, master’s, and doctorate degrees to students with relatively small class sizes due to their excellent 6 to 1 student-to-faculty ratio. The Master in Computer and Information Technology program at the University of Pennsylvania is for students who have undergraduate degrees in fields other than computer science. The program is for working professionals that are looking to add knowledge about computer systems and networking to their knowledge base.

The College Station campus of Texas A&M University commands a large swath of the city of College Station, located two hours east of Austin and an hour and a half north of Houston. Even in this midsize city, the school enrolls over 15,000 graduate students in a variety of programs. As for cyber security, they offer a bachelor’s degree, certifications, and master’s degrees for those who are looking to move forward into management or leadership roles.

Another college that sits near the downtown area of its home city, the New Jersey Institute of Technology can be found in Newark, New Jersey, only 16 miles from New York City. The cyber security and privacy program at the New Jersey Institute of Technology was created for those who want to be on the front lines of fighting cyber security threats. The program provides comprehensive education on networks as well as cyber-attacks and teaches countermeasures so that graduates can keep networks safe and clear of threats.

The University of Texas at Dallas has two cyber security programs to choose from. For those who are working in the IT or computer science field, the Master of Science (MS) in Cyber Security is an ideal continuation in education that will lead to better job opportunities. For those who are working on the business and management side, obtaining a Master of Business Administration with a cyber security concentration is a way to increase your knowledge in both business and cyber security, making you an incredible asset to any organization.

Northeastern University’s campus is located in Boston, Massachusetts, outside of downtown. Under the umbrella of the Khoury College of Computer Sciences, Northeastern University students can attain a Master of Science in Cyber Security. This program is tailored for working IT professionals who want to enhance and improve their skill set. It combines computer systems training with network security knowledge so that student learns how to recognize, combat, and prevent cyber security threats. The program takes two to three years to complete and can be done entirely online.

This university is located between lower and midtown Manhattan, near Washington Square Park. This campus provides education to over 50,000 students each year in the form of associate, bachelor’s, master’s, and doctorate degrees. New York University’s Tandon School of Engineering offers several graduate programs in IT and cyber security. The MS in Cyber Security is available online or as a blended program. The program utilizes a remote lab called VITAL where online students can get practical experience dealing with cyber security threats.

DePaul University, in Chicago, Illinois, is close enough to downtown to provide a beautiful view of the Chicago skyline. The Master of Science in Cyber Security at DePaul University is for students who are already working in the information technology field and want to pursue greater opportunities in that field. Under the umbrella of the College of Computing and Digital Media, students learn how to spot, combat, and prevent threats to internet and digital media. The school also offers master’s programs in information assurance, computer programming, computer systems analysis, and more.

This school is located in a relatively large suburb in Fairfax, Virginia. An Applied Information Technology or Information Security and Assurance graduate degree from George Mason University will enable a person to pursue a career in Information Technology, Computer Science, or business to the highest levels. The Applied Information Technology degree prepares students to take on the responsibility of leading a team of programmers or designers of cyber security systems. On the other side of the spectrum, those who major in Information Security and Assurance lead teams that test these systems and create worst-case scenarios when it comes to cyber-attacks.

The Stevens Institute of Technology is located just across the river from Manhattan. One of several computer sciences master’s degrees they offer is in cyber security. Students will learn to recognize a cyber threat as well as ways to counter a threat if one occurs. The program takes between two and three years and can be completed online. This makes the program ideal for those who are working but still want to pursue an advanced degree.

Purdue University offers its 44,000+ students associate, bachelor’s, master’s, and doctorate degrees. One of these master’s degrees is focused in cyber security management. The three-year program blends cyber security courses, management courses, and computer science courses together to create a program that allows students to train to not just battle cyber security threats, but to also lead a team that fights and prevents the events from happening.

Rochester Institute of Technology offers master’s degrees in several computer science specializations, but they take a different approach toward a master’s degree in cyber security. Students must first complete the cyber security MicroMasters certificate program. Upon successful completion, they can then apply to RIT’s Master of Science in Computing Security. The combination of the two programs gives students a thorough and well-rounded education in both computer science and cyber security. The school offers master’s in information assurance, informatics, and more.

Students at the University of Massachusetts in Amherst have two options for attaining graduate-level training in cyber security. For those who want a traditional graduate degree, UMass offers a Master of Science in Computer Science with a security specialization. For those who want to focus solely on cyber security, the school has a graduate certificate program in cyber security.

Illinois Institute of Technology offers several programs in the field of cyber security at their campus south of Chicago. The master’s of cyber forensics and security program trains students in detecting and tracing cyber security threats using investigation techniques and technical tools of the trade. The master’s in cyber security engineering program trains students to detect, combat, and prevent cyber security threats. The Cybersecurity (M.A.S.) trains students to combat hackers seeking to infiltrate systems and steal data. All three programs take approximately 28 months to complete.

The University of North Carolina at Charlotte is a four-year, public institution offering bachelor’s, master’s, and doctorate degrees. One of their offerings in computer science is a graduate degree in cyber security. The program’s purpose is to make sure students are equipped with the most up-to-date skills and knowledge in cyber security. The courses are offered in the evening or online, so the program works for people currently working in their chosen field.

In the small city of Bloomington, Indiana, students interested in earning a higher education in computer science have several options to consider. Indiana University at Bloomington offers an M.S. in Secure Computing and a Master of Science in Cybersecurity Risk Management. The program is for students who are currently working in the security field and want to advance in their careers. Students learn how to identify, combat, and prevent cyber security threats. The program is completely online and takes between two and three years to complete. There are also master’s degrees to be had in information assurance and information technology services administration and management.

Villanova University’s campus is located in a large suburb, only 18 miles from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Here, they offer a unique path to attaining a Master of Science in Cyber Security. Classes can be taken completely online, or students can choose the on-campus program but complete it remotely by joining classes via webinar or watching the class lectures later when it is more convenient. Villanova also offers a graduate certificate in cyber security.

With a campus of 46,000+ students located on the southern side of the city of Houston, the University of Houston’s Master of Science in Cyber Security is recognized as a National School of Excellence program by the National Security Agency. Students enrolled in the program receive hands-on training in labs, dealing with cyber security threats in real time. The program can be completed online and takes between two and three years to complete. Because of its National School of Excellence, graduates have an extremely high placement rate in government jobs as well as top-tier tech and Fortune 500 companies.

This school’s campus is located on the shore of Lake Michigan, about half an hour north of Chicago. Northwestern University offers several graduate programs in the cyber security field, such as a master’s in information systems and a Master of Science in Information Technology. The programs offer students robust training in the areas of information technology and prepare them for real-world cyber security encounters. The programs can be completed entirely online.

George Washington University serves over 28,000 students and is located in the District of Columbia, the nation’s capital. The master’s degree in cyber security strategy and information management is ideal for students who are currently working in the field but intend to move up the managerial ladder. Students take courses that explore the intersectionality of computer science, business, and engineering and how security threats can jeopardize everything. The program can be completed 100% online. George Washington University is recognized as a National School of Excellence by the National Security Agency.

Florida State University is located near downtown Tallahassee, where over 41,000 students attend classes and earn associate, bachelor’s, master’s, and doctorate degrees. This school has several graduate programs for students who want advanced degrees to help them move up in the cyber security field. These programs take between one and three years to complete and can be done online, which allows students to continue to work while seeking additional education

FIU has a particularly large campus to house it’s nearly 58,000 students who enroll every year. However, nearly all of their computer science and cyber security programs can be completed online if you aren’t interested in being surrounded by such a sea of humanity. Florida International offers graduate programs in information assurance/security and systems analysis. Upon graduation, students will be well-versed in the intricacies of a computer information network and know how to recognize threats and how to eliminate such threats. The programs can be completed online and are four to six semesters in length.

Surrounded by trees and beautiful rolling hills, Binghamton University offers bachelor’s, master’s, and doctorate degrees to their nearly 18,000 studwnts each year. They offer a master’s in computer science, an advanced certificate in cyber security, and a Master of Science in Cyber Security. All three programs can be completed online and will prepare a student for working in the information security sector. The certificate takes up to a year to complete, while the computer science and cyber security graduate degrees take between two and three years to complete.

Located near Central Park, the New York Institute of Tech is the perfect location for students who want to be in the middle of it all. The College of Engineering and Computing Science at New York Institute of Technology offers a master’s in cyber security. The program prepares students to identify, combat, and prevent cyber security threats to a variety of network systems including electronics, appliances, autos, and other systems people use on a daily basis that could be vulnerable to hacking attempts. The program can be completed online and takes two to three years.

Drexel University’s campus is located near downtown Philadelphia, with excellent views of the Philadelphia skyline. They offer a Master of Science in Cyber Security. The program offers training to students so they can learn about the various types of cyber threats that exist and how to combat them. Students also learn the tools and techniques designers can implement to help prevent attacks. The program can be completed online in two to three years. Other master’s degrees offered include computer and information systems security/information assurance and informatics.

This university’s campus is located in Syracuse, New York, among beautiful trees and rolling hills, and is home to over 22,000 students who attend to earn associate, bachelor’s, master’s, and doctorate degrees. Syracuse University’s Master of Science in Cyber Security program is an online program with a twist. Students attend live online classes that enable them to interact with their instructors. The 30-hour program helps students prepare for handling cyber threats and teaches them the skills to recognize possible threats and the tool needed to prevent threats from happening. Other offerings from this school include master’s degrees in artificial intelligence, information assurance, and informatics.

Worcester Polytechnic Institute offers a graduate certificate in cyber security. The certificate can be completed within a year, and certificate recipients are trained and ready to defend against cyber threats in the governmental arena as well as the private sector. The certificate can be completed online. If a student chooses to continue and pursue a graduate degree in computer science or information technology, some if not all the credits obtained from the certificate can be applied to the graduate program.

The University of Central Missouri had two cyber security programs. The Cybersecurity Graduate Certificate is a hands-on program that trains students to recognize, combat, and prevent cyber security attacks on all manner of electronic and internet-based equipment. The Cyber Security and Information Assurance MS program provides students with upper-level education and training in dealing with cyber security threats. The degree prepares students for upper level positions in the information technology and network security fields. Both can be completed

The University of Denver sits on another beautiful, green campus, on the southern side of Denver, CO. The Master of Science in Information and Communications Technology with a concentration in cyber security management at the University of Denver provides its students with a well-rounded education in information technology and cyber security. The program is 48 credit hours with four courses from the core classes, four courses in the concentration area and four course electives. The program can be completed in two years.

The St. Louis campus of Washington University is located close to the downtown of St. Louis itself. More than 15,000 students enroll in with campus each year and benefit from small class sizes thanks to the 7 to 1 student-to-faculty ratio. The Master of Science in Cyber Security Management was created with working students in mind. The program is comprised of 30 credit hours and is available online, which makes juggling classes with work and family responsibilities less of a challenge. Upon successful completion, students are prepared to take on upper-medium and senior level management positions.

The University of Tulsa has an open, sprawling campus in Tulsa, Oklahoma. They offer degrees to a small student body of just over 4,000 students each year. The Master of Science in Cyber Security - professional track program is ideal for students who want to add an additional skill set to make them more attractive to potential employers. The program is completed entirely online and gives students a well-rounded education on cyber security threats of all kinds.

The Colorado School of Mines campus is located in the small town of Golden, Colorado and provides some beautiful mountainous views to any students who attend school on campus. The Master of Science in Computer Science with a concentration in Cyber Security from the Colorado School of Mines prepares students for real-life threats from cyber-attacks. Upon completion, students will be able to detect, combat, and prevent cyber-attacks as well as lead a team of specialists.

Brown University offers bachelor’s, master’s, and doctorate degrees to students on their campus located near downtown Providence, Rhode Island. Whether you’re a history buff, or just interested in finding entertainment in your off-time, you’ll find plenty on offer in the city and surrounding areas. The school’s Master of Science in Cyber Security is a 16-month program that offers one-on-one online learning. The program is designed for working professionals that want to add cyber security skills to their resume. Although the program is mainly online, four in-residence visits are required.

Auburn University, in Alabama, enrolls over 30,000 students each year. They come to earn bachelor’s, master’s, and doctorate degrees. The school’s Master of Cyber Security Engineering program enables students to pursue a graduate degree online. This is ideal for working professionals. The program is a minimum of 33 hours and prepares students for handling cyber security threats on the job. By the end of the program, students will have advanced knowledge in digital forensics, computer and network security, reverse engineering, and advanced operating

The Missouri University of Science and Technology is located in the relatively remote town of Rolla, Missouri. Here, nearly 9,000 students earn degrees and certificates to prepare them for or help them move forward in their chosen fields. The school offers a Certificate in Cyber Security program. Upon completion, students will have the knowledge and skills required to detect, combat, and prevent cyber security attacks on computer and network systems, electronics, and other devices used by consumers and businesses. The certificate can be used as a gateway into the Master of Science in Computer Science program.

Regis University is another school located in beautiful Denver, CO, though this one is a bit closer to downtown. Students who enroll in Regis University’s Master of Science in Information and Cyber Security program will receive the knowledge and skills they need to advance in their IT or computer science careers. The program can be completed in as little as two years and can be done either online or through on-campus evening courses. Graduates are ready to take on career paths as Information Security Analyst, Information Assurance Specialists, or Network Forensic Analysts.

Right on the shore of the Merrimack River, the University of Massachusetts at Lowell campus enrolls 18,000+ students each year and offers them the opportunity to earn associate, bachelor’s, master’s, and doctorate degrees in their chosen field. The Master of Science in Security Studies: cyber security concentration prepares students to help individuals and organizations design and develop network and computer systems that are safer and less vulnerable to cyber-attacks. They will also attain the knowledge to detect and combat cyber threats. The program can be completed online.

Clemson University’s beautiful, tree-filled campus hosts more than 24,000 students who enroll each year. However, there’s no need to make a move if you want to complete your program online. The Master of Science in Computer Engineering - Cybersecurity builds on an undergraduate degree in computer science or engineering. Students will learn how to detect cyber threats, gain the tools to combat those threats, and the knowledge required to prevent threats from happening in the future. The program is offered online and takes two to three years to complete.

Students enrolled in Bellevue University’s master’s in cyber security degree program will graduate with a strong set of skills for combating cyber security threats. Students are trained in cyber-attack detection, how to combat an attack, and how to prevent attacks from happening. They will also be equipped to train businesses and individuals in how to create computer and system networks which are more impervious to attacks. The 24-36 month program can be completed online.

West Virginia University is located in the city Morgantown and is home to 26, 864 students of which 21,155 are undergrad students and 5,709 are graduate students. Student can complete both online and on-campus courses and degree programs in cybersecurity. The student to faculty ratio for students is 18 to 1, the college has an overall graduation rate of 61% and the average salary for grads is $68,000. A stronger tomorrow starts today and West Virginia University is committed to provide an incredible education.

The main campus for the University of New Hampshire sits on a gorgeous piece of land in Durham, NH. The school is home to around 3,000 graduate students who use on-campus and online programs to complete their master’s or doctoral degrees. The student-to-faculty ratio is a bit high at 19 to 1 but retention rates are also high, sitting at 86%. The average salary for a graduate of the University of New Hampshire is $71,000.