2023 Best Online Cybersecurity Degrees
An online cybersecurity bachelor's degree teaches students how to protect companies and organizations from vulnerabilities in their networks and information systems. The coursework explores various ways to analyze threats and the processes used to implement security measures that protect valuable data. Instructors are likely to cover subjects such as cloud infrastructure, data management, and ethical hacking. Students may also learn team management and communication skills because many cybersecurity careers take place within a team environment.
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Online Cybersecurity Bachelor's Degrees You May Be Interested In
Arizona State University
Southern New Hampshire University Online
Annual Tuition: $9,600
3 Programs (view all)
ECPI University Online
List Of Accredited Online Cybersecurity Schools
| School | Online Enrollment | Annual Tuition |
|---|---|---|
| Western Governors University | ||
| Southern New Hampshire University Online | 86,849 | $9,600 |
| University of Phoenix | 72,096 | $9,552 |
| Strayer University | 41,599 | $13,515 |
| American Public University System | 37,335 | $7,324 |
| University of Maryland Global Campus | 35,971 | $12,336 |
| Liberty University | 34,092 | $11,700 |
| Purdue University Global | 28,447 | $14,358 |
| Excelsior University | 22,674 | NA |
| DeVry University | 16,922 | $18,197 |
Western Governors University
- Annual Tuition: $6,670
- Locations: Salt Lake City (UT)
- Accreditation: NWCCU
Western Governors University (WGU) is a private university offering a Bachelor of Science in Cybersecurity and Information Assurance that requires the completion of 34 courses — ranging from three to four credits each. Typically, students complete this online program in around 21 months while studying full time. The acceptance rate at WGU is 100%, and 54% of students earn their degrees.
At WGU, students can complete their coursework entirely online and on a flexible study schedule. The cybersecurity program is designed to improve a student's theoretical understanding of cybersecurity on top of any practical experience they may already possess. Required classes include Legal Issues in Information Security, Fundamentals of Information Security, and Data Management. A capstone project is also required, which means that students need to write a technical work proposal. Graduates with cybersecurity degrees may explore roles as cybersecurity analysts, cybersecurity engineers, and vulnerability assessment analysts.
Southern New Hampshire University Online
- Annual Tuition: $9,600
- Locations: Manchester (NH)
- Accreditation: NECHE
Southern New Hampshire University Online (SNHU) is a private university that features a Bachelor of Science in Cyber Security. This online program requires the completion of 120 credit hours, which full-time students may complete in around four years. Additionally, there are two concentrations to choose from: (1) Data Analytics Fundamentals and (2) Project Management Fundamentals. SNHU accepts 94% of its applicants, with 30% of enrolled students earning degrees.
At SNHU Online, students use the Brightspace learning management system (LMS) for their remote studies, which are taught completely online. Students can attend class on their own schedule and have 24/7 access to their coursework. The cybersecurity curriculum takes both an adversarial- and systems-based approach to its teaching — discussing the interactions between cybersecurity professionals and hackers. The core coursework includes Foundation in Application Development, Computer Operating Systems, and Network Security. Upon graduation, students are eligible to explore careers as cybersecurity specialists, analysts, or managers.
University of Phoenix
- Annual Tuition: $9,552
- Locations: Nationwide
- Accreditation: HLC
The University of Phoenix (UOPX) is a private university with a Bachelor of Science in Cybersecurity requiring 120 credit hours. Students studying full time are likely to complete the degree in a four-year period. This online school accepts all of its applicants, while 27% of UOPX students graduate.
UPOX uses the Blackboard LMS to deliver online coursework for this program, allowing cybersecurity students to finish their degrees completely online and on a schedule that meets their needs. During the core curriculum, students learn about security policies, IT infrastructure, network and information systems security, and programming languages. They also conduct ethical hacking to understand the potential vulnerabilities within these systems. Required classes include Foundations Of Security, Computer Network Defense, and Cyber Domain. A capstone project is also required. Career options include IT systems security analysts, information security specialists, and IT specialists.
Strayer University
- Annual Tuition: $13,515
- Locations: Nationwide
- Accreditation: MSCHE
Strayer University is a private university with a Bachelor of Science in Information Technology - Cybersecurity. This degree requires 180 credit hours, which full-time students can complete in two years. All students are accepted into Strayer, and it has a 15% graduation rate.
Stryer students use Blackboard as its primary LMS, where students complete courses online and on their own time. The curriculum for the IT program with cybersecurity emphasis teaches students fundamental cybersecurity skills, such as protecting data and networks, completing digital forensics, and various information defense techniques. Among the required classes are Communication at Work, Computer Forensic Technology, and Perimeter Defense Techniques. Students are also required to complete a capstone project from the perspective of a senior IT manager. In general, students who graduate with a cybersecurity degree may seek employment as network administrators, ethical hackers, and cybersecurity engineers.
American Public University System
- Annual Tuition: $7,324
- Locations: Charles Town (WV)
- Accreditation: HLC
American Public University System (APUS) is a private set of institutions with a Bachelor of Science in Cybersecurity. Students must complete 120 credit hours, which typically takes about four years of full-time study. While there is a general degree option, students may also choose from concentrations in wireless and mobile security, critical infrastructure, digital forensics, or privacy and surveillance. APUS accepts 100% of its applicants, with 18% of undergraduates earning degrees.
Online students at APUS use MyClassroom to complete their coursework remotely. Through this LMS, the curriculum delivers lessons that are designed to teach students cybersecurity theory along with the practical skills needed to design and implement security systems in different types of infrastructure. Among the major requirements are courses such as Scripting Languages for the Administrator, Networking Concepts, and Hardening Operating Systems. Students are also required to complete a senior seminar in cybersecurity. Graduates may also find employment in cybersecurity forensics at a law enforcement agency.
Overview
The federal government's Cybersecurity & Infrastructure Security Agency publishes some very sobering stats about cyber crime. For example, the agency notes that consumers spend an average of $358 and 21 hours of their lives each year fighting online crime. Further, computers in one in three homes are infected with malicious software, and 47% of American adults have had their personal information exposed by cyber criminals.
For these reasons and others, the top online cybersecurity programs are more important than ever. By pursuing a degree in this program, students can learn what it takes to protect homes and businesses from various online threats as well as how to protect computer data, operating systems, and networks from cyber attacks.
What Can I Expect From an Online Bachelor's in Cybersecurity Program?
When you decide to pursue an online bachelor's degree in cybersecurity, you make the decision to enter a growing and dynamic field of study.
The fact cybersecurity is a technology-related profession also means you can easily earn this degree online and from the comfort of your home. Online bachelor’s and master’s degrees in cybersecurity are also fully respected — provided a program is accredited — and many schools offer the same curriculum to their online students as they do for those earning an on-campus degree.
Bachelor's degrees from the best online colleges for cybersecurity can take anywhere from 21 months to four years to complete, and it's often possible to transfer existing college credits to your new school. Admission requirements also vary by institution, but some of the best schools for cybersecurity let you get started without having to take college entrance exams or maintain a specific GPA.
Is Cybersecurity a Hard Major?
The best cybersecurity schools can help you prepare for an in-demand career, yet you should definitely expect the curriculum to be rigorous and demanding. The reality is, this college major requires you to understand the fundamentals of information security at every level as well as network security, cloud security, data security, and more.
If you're already good with computers and knowledgeable about IT fundamentals and network security, you may have a leg up when it comes to earning a degree in cybersecurity. However, those with minimal experience using computers may face a learning curve as they begin their program.
Common Courses for a Cybersecurity Major
The best cybersecurity schools introduce students to the fundamentals of computer security and build from there. This means students pursuing an online bachelor's degree in cybersecurity will take core courses that provide general education as well as targeted courses meant to help grow knowledge and expertise in the field.
Core courses that may be required for this program include English Composition, Applied Algebra, Arts and Humanities, and more. Meanwhile, technology courses required for this program include at least the following:
Computer Operating Systems
Students pursuing a degree at the best cybersecurity schools need to have a full understanding of computer operating systems and how they work. This program provides an introduction to the features and components of computer operating systems as well as the common issues that plague them. Students also learn how to maintain computer operations systems and how to troubleshoot problems as they arise.
Digital Forensics
Digital Forensics is the study of how cybercrimes are investigated, and it's an important component of any cybersecurity career. Students who take this course learn about the most common cybercrimes that take place in homes and in corporate settings as well as how to handle evidence and trace incidents back to their place or origin. Cybersecurity students generally walk away from this course with a better understanding of various online threats and the security laws that aim to protect against them.
IT Fundamentals
IT Fundamentals includes the study of information technology as well as its foundations and disciplines. Course participants learn about the roles and functions of an IT department within an organization or industry as well as the hardware and software programs that companies commonly use. Other topics covered include data storage and retrieval as well as network and system security.
Network Security
Network Security is the study of the most common network-based attacks faced by companies and organizations. Students learn about specific vulnerabilities organizations face when it comes to using their networks and other virtual systems to operate. Faculty may also cover detection and prevention technologies that can work in students' favor.
Penetration Testing
This course introduces students to various testing techniques they can use to examine their organization's systems for vulnerabilities. Topics covered include planning and scoping, gathering relevant information, identifying vulnerabilities, and reporting. Students also learn about common issues and vulnerabilities of computer systems and networks as well as strategies they can use to protect their hiring organization from online attacks and threats.
Cybersecurity Careers
As you compare career options in this field, you'll quickly notice that the starting salary for a cybersecurity bachelor's degree can be on the high end. After you complete your program at one of the best schools for cybersecurity, you may be eligible for the following positions:
Computer Network Architects
Computer network architects use their knowledge of computer systems to design and build data communication networks. This requires extensive knowledge of an organization's business plan since the systems created need to be formatted in a way that helps the organization reach their goals. Not only do computer network architects design computer systems — such as local area networks (LANs), wide area networks (WANs), and Intranets — for the company that hires them, but they troubleshoot issues and set up plans to protect against security threats. This career requires a bachelor's degree in a computer-related field as well as workplace experience.
Computer Systems Analysts
Computer systems analysts take on a wide range of tasks for the organization they work for, such as researching various technologies to see if they might approve an organization's efficiency and analyzing the potential benefits of various IT system upgrades. These workers also come up with new ways to improve existing computer systems, either by adding new or reconfiguring hardware and software programs.
Database Administrators and Architects
Database administrators and architects create and organize systems within an organization that store and secure a wide range of data. This can include the financial information of a company, their list of clients and sales, and shipping records. Not only do these professionals conceptualize and create data systems, but they take steps to ensure all data is secure and protected from various threats.
Information Security Analysts
Information security analysts use their knowledge of cybersecurity to protect organizations from various online threats and crimes. They monitor their organization's networks for security concerns, and they check for vulnerabilities in computer and network systems. They also stay up-to-date on various information security trends in order to initiate and maintain the best security practices within the organization they work for.
Network and Computer Systems Administrators
Network and computer systems administrators oversee the daily operations of computer systems for their organization. They help determine the hardware and software requirements for the company they work for, install these systems, and make needed upgrades and repairs over time. They also maintain computer and network system security standards for their organization, and they may work with cybersecurity professionals in order to help recognize threats and vulnerabilities that may occur over time.
Learn about the top industries for cybersecurity graduates with an online degree.
Is Cybersecurity Oversaturated?
If you're wondering whether the field of cybersecurity is oversaturated or not, all you have to do is look at the numbers. For example, job openings for information security analysts are expected to increase 35% through 2031. This means as many as 19,500 new positions are expected to be added each year during that time.
Meanwhile, computer occupations, in general, are expected to see a 15% increase in employment through 2031. That's significantly higher than the 5% increase in job openings expected for all types of occupations combined.
Fortunately, a degree from the top online cybersecurity programs can prepare you for nearly any career that requires knowledge of computers and information technology. In fact, the vast majority of computer-related jobs only require a bachelor's degree and relevant work experience to get started.
Benefits of a Cybersecurity Degree
Is online cybersecurity a good degree? Ultimately, the value of the best cybersecurity degree depends on your areas of interest and the industry you hope to enter after you graduate. That said, there are plenty of upsides that come with pursuing a cybersecurity degree or any other degree in a computer- or technology-related field.
To begin with, starting salaries in these fields tend to be on the high end. In fact, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reports that the median annual salary for all computer occupations combined works out to $99,270. Job openings are also expected to increase 9% nationally for computer system analysts through 2031, as we mentioned already, so finding work may not be an issue if you're flexible on the type of cybersecurity position you take on.
Workers in computer and technology-related occupations also tend to be relatively happy in their careers. For example, CareerExplorer data reveals that network administrators reported a medium level of happiness in their chosen positions, and the same applies for computer and information research scientists. Computer hardware engineers — who also begin their careers with a bachelor's degree in a computer-related field — even reported a high level of job satisfaction, according to the most recent CareerExplorer stats.
The biggest downside of pursuing a degree in this field is the cost and time commitment involved. After all, you'll need to spend anywhere from two to four years completing a bachelor's degree program in cybersecurity or another computer-related field. You'll also need to find a way to pay for your degree, either with or without the help of financial aid, such as scholarships and student loans.
Bottom Line
Which bachelor's degree is best for cybersecurity? While you can earn a bachelor's degree specific to cybersecurity at many of the top schools, you can also consider degrees in software engineering, homeland security, data science, and computer science.
Whatever you decide, you should make sure schools you consider are fully accredited by accrediting agencies that are recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.
Our master list of accredited online colleges and universities is a good place to begin your research, and you can even use it to filter your search based on the program you want to pursue.
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