Best Cybersecurity Bachelor's Degree Programs 2026

Best Cybersecurity Programs - Top 10 Bachelor's — Complete Program Data

1. #1. Purdue University-Main Campus Bachelor's Cybersecurity Program

   Hakia ranks Purdue University-Main Campus as the #1 bachelor's in cybersecurity degree program. Location: West Lafayette, IN | Type: Public | Tuition: $9,718/year | Graduation Rate: 83% | Score: 75.5

   What makes Purdue University-Main Campus stand out: Purdue holds dual NSA designations as a National Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense Education (CAE-CD) across multiple programs and maintains ABET accreditation for its cybersecurity programs, while offering the unique flexibility of studying cybersecurity across three distinct educational pathways within the same university system.

   Hakia Insight: Purdue University-Main Campus's industry network — including Raytheon and Lockheed Martin — provides students with internship and hiring pathways.

   Program Overview: Purdue University's cybersecurity education spans multiple colleges and formats, creating one of the most comprehensive cybersecurity ecosystems in higher education. The flagship undergraduate Cybersecurity major through Purdue Polytechnic's School of Applied and Creative Computing offers hands-on experience in specialized labs like the Cybersecurity & Forensics Lab and Cyber Security and Networking Lab. Students master everything from cryptographic techniques and digital forensics to cyber criminology and incident response management. For graduate study, the Computer Science department offers a Professional Master's Degree in Information and Cybersecurity designed specifically for IT professionals seeking to advance into technical cybersecurity roles, while Purdue Global provides a fully online Master of Science in Cybersecurity Management for working professionals. The undergraduate program is available on both the West Lafayette campus with its traditional university environment and the Indianapolis campus, which leverages Indiana's capital city for expanded internship and industry connections with employers like West Monroe, Crowe LLP, and Deloitte.

   Degree Programs: Cybersecurity (Undergraduate Major) (4 years); MS in Cybersecurity and Trusted Systems (2 years); Professional Master's in Information and Cybersecurity (2 years); MS in Cybersecurity Management (2 years)

   Research Labs: Cybersecurity & Forensics Lab - Digital forensics and cybersecurity investigations; Cyber Security and Networking Lab - Network security and infrastructure protection

   Industry Partners: Raytheon, Lockheed Martin, IBM, Cisco, Department of Defense, National Security Agency (NSA)

   Career Outcomes: | Top Employers: Deloitte, Elevance Health, Amazon, Citigroup, Humana, Northop Grumman, Capital One, Boeing, Randstad, PricewaterhouseCoopers

   Notable Faculty: Eugene Spafford (Computer security, malware analysis, and incident response); Saurabh Bagchi (Resilience and security of distributed systems); Mathias Payer (Software security and systems exploitation)

   Admissions:

   Accreditations: ABET accredited (Computer Science programs), NSA National Centers of Academic Excellence in Cybersecurity (CAE)

2. #2. Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus Bachelor's Cybersecurity Program

   Hakia ranks Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus as the #2 bachelor's in cybersecurity degree program. Location: University Park, PA | Type: Public | Tuition: $19,672/year | Graduation Rate: 87% | Score: 71.8

   What makes Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus stand out: Penn State's cybersecurity program uniquely combines academic rigor with direct access to the Applied Research Laboratory, a DOD-designated University Affiliated Research Center conducting classified cybersecurity research for the U.S. Navy and other government agencies since 1945.

   Hakia Insight: Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus leverages partnerships with U.S. Navy and Department of Defense to offer students real-world project experience valued by employers.

   Program Overview: Penn State's cybersecurity program offers two distinct master's degree pathways through the College of Information Sciences and Technology. The Master of Professional Studies (M.P.S.) in Cybersecurity Analytics and Operations is available 100% online through Penn State World Campus, designed for working professionals with 33 credits spanning core security foundations, analytics, and project management. The Master of Science (M.S.) in Cybersecurity Analytics and Operations is offered on-campus at University Park as a research-focused program requiring 30 credits, with options for one-year intensive study or traditional two-year completion. Both programs blend technology education with incident response, strategic planning, and crisis management to prepare graduates for comprehensive cyber-defense strategies. The curriculum emphasizes hands-on learning through courses like Cybersecurity Analytics, Software Security Foundations, and Threat Hunting and Offensive Cybersecurity. Students can customize their education through specialized electives in enterprise architecture, visual analytics, and forensics. The program is led by Graduate Program Head Carleen Maitland and taught by experienced practitioners and researchers, with strong connections to Penn State's Applied Research Laboratory, a Department of Defense University Affiliated Research Center that conducts cybersecurity research for national security applications.

   Degree Programs: BS (4 years); BS (World Campus) (4 years); Integrated BS/MS

   Research Labs: Center for Cyber-Security, Information Privacy, and Trust (LIONS Center) - Interdisciplinary cybersecurity and privacy research, threat detection and mitigation; Cyber Security Laboratory - Attack-resilient control systems, IoT security, malware analysis, and proactive threat containment; AI for Cyber Security through Big Data - Leveraging artificial intelligence and machine learning for cybersecurity applications using big data; Applied Research Laboratory - DOD University Affiliated Research Center conducting cybersecurity research for national security

   Industry Partners: U.S. Navy, Department of Defense, U.S. Armed Forces

   Career Outcomes: | Common Roles: cybersecurity analysts, cyber defense professionals, malware analysts, forensics specialists, information security managers

   Admissions: GPA: M.P.S.: 3.00 minimum; M.S.: 3.50 minimum

3. #3. University of South Florida Bachelor's Cybersecurity Program

   Hakia ranks University of South Florida as the #3 bachelor's in cybersecurity degree program. Location: Tampa, FL | Type: Public | Tuition: $4,559/year | Graduation Rate: 85% | Score: 68.8

   What makes University of South Florida stand out: USF hosts the state's official Cyber Florida initiative and recently launched the Rapid7 Cyber Threat Intelligence Lab with $1.5 million in industry funding, giving students unprecedented access to real-world threat intelligence data and global cyberattack tracking.

   Hakia Insight: University of South Florida graduates earn $124,910, driven by the program's industry connections and hands-on cybersecurity curriculum.

   Program Overview: The University of South Florida offers one of the nation's most comprehensive cybersecurity education ecosystems, spanning multiple colleges and degree levels. At the undergraduate level, the Bellini College of Artificial Intelligence, Cybersecurity and Computing houses a rigorous B.S. in Cybersecurity (B.S.C.Y.S.) that combines technical foundations with hands-on experience through courses like penetration testing and malware analysis. The program requires 120 credit hours and emphasizes real-world application through mandatory industry internships and specialized labs. For graduate students, USF offers multiple pathways including the innovative M.S. in Cybersecurity Intelligence and Information Security through the College of Arts and Sciences, which can be completed entirely online and focuses on the intelligence function of cybersecurity. The university's cybersecurity programs are enhanced by the $1.5 million Rapid7 Cyber Threat Intelligence Lab, established in 2023, which provides students hands-on experience tracking global threat actors using real-world data. Faculty and students collaborate across four colleges, creating an interdisciplinary approach that spans technical, behavioral, business, and policy aspects of cybersecurity.

   Degree Programs: BS Cybersecurity (4 years); Bachelor of Science in Cybersecurity (4 years); Master of Science in Cybersecurity (30 credit hours); BS to MS Pathway (accelerated)

   Research Labs: USF Institute for Artificial Intelligence + X - Artificial Intelligence applications; Rapid7 Threat Intelligence Center - Cybersecurity threat intelligence; Center for Innovation, Technology, and Aging (CITA) - Technology applications for aging populations; SPRAI: Security and Privacy Research of AI Systems Lab - AI systems security and privacy; Reality, Autonomy, and Robot Experience (RARE) Lab - Human-robot interaction and robotics; Robot Perception and Action Lab - Robot perception and control systems; The Engaging Computing Design (EnCoDe) Lab - Human-computer interaction design; Florida Center for Cybersecurity - Cybersecurity research and workforce development

   Industry Partners: Apple, Lockheed Martin, Meta, Jabil, ReliaQuest, Rapid7, Cisco

   Career Outcomes: | Top Employers: Apple, Lockheed Martin, Meta, Jabil, ReliaQuest, Rapid7, Cisco | Common Roles: Information Security Analyst, Cybersecurity Consultant, Cybersecurity Risk Analyst, Information Technology Security Specialist

   Notable Faculty: John Licato (Artificial Intelligence and technology research)

   Admissions: GPA: 2.0 minimum for progression to upper division | Acceptance Rate: not specified

   Accreditations: ABET

4. #4. Rochester Institute of Technology Bachelor's Cybersecurity Program

   Hakia ranks Rochester Institute of Technology as the #4 bachelor's in cybersecurity degree program. Location: Rochester, NY | Type: Private | Tuition: $55,784/year | Graduation Rate: 90% | Score: 67.5

   Hakia Insight: Through ties with Microsoft and Tesla, Rochester Institute of Technology bridges the gap between academic training and industry practice.

   Program Overview: RIT's cybersecurity program features one of the world's leading cybersecurity education centers with a state-of-the-art 52,000-square-foot Global Cybersecurity Institute and a Cyber Range capable of hosting 5,000+ virtual machines. Students consistently win national cybersecurity competitions and benefit from NSA designation as a Center of Academic Excellence.

   Degree Programs: Bachelors in Cybersecurity

   Research Labs: Artificial Intelligence Research Lab - Computer vision, robotics, virtual theatre, sensor networks, data mining; Computer Graphics and Visualization Lab - Advanced graphics programming, image synthesis, computer animation, virtual reality; Security Research Lab - Networking security, cryptography, secure databases

   Industry Partners: Microsoft, Tesla, Boeing, Lockheed Martin, IBM, JPMorgan Chase & Co., U.S. Department of Defense, Alion Science and Technology, Bose, Collins Aerospace

   Career Outcomes:

   Admissions: GPA: not specified | Acceptance Rate: not specified

   Accreditations: National Center of Academic Excellence in Cybersecurity Research and Education by the National Security Agency

5. #5. University of Maryland Global Campus Bachelor's Cybersecurity Program

   Hakia ranks University of Maryland Global Campus as the #5 bachelor's in cybersecurity degree program. Location: Adelphi, MD | Type: Public | Tuition: $7,632/year | Graduation Rate: 74% | Score: 67.2

   What makes University of Maryland Global Campus stand out: UMGC has achieved dual prestigious designations as a National Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense (CAE-CD) by the NSA and as a Center of Digital Forensics Academic Excellence (CDFAE) by DC3, while pioneering the use of AI-driven virtual learning through their MARS platform for hands-on cybersecurity training.

   Hakia Insight: University of Maryland Global Campus's direct partnerships with NSA and DC3 give students a competitive edge through industry-embedded projects and recruiting pipelines.

   Program Overview: The University of Maryland Global Campus (UMGC) Master of Science in Cybersecurity Technology is a 30-credit online program specifically designed for working professionals seeking to advance their cybersecurity careers. The program combines 15 credits of core courses covering threat analysis, attack prevention strategies, and exploitation methodologies with 12 elective credits that allow students to specialize in areas like cloud computing, digital forensics, or cyber operations. What sets UMGC's approach apart is their innovative use of the Multi-Dimensional Applied Relevant System (MARS), an AI-driven virtual learning platform that provides students with practical, immersive cybersecurity training environments. Students work with industry-standard tools including Microsoft Windows, Kali Linux, Red Hat Linux, and Cisco routers, while being taught by faculty who are active cybersecurity professionals. The program concludes with a 3-credit capstone project that synthesizes the technical and strategic knowledge gained throughout the curriculum.

   Degree Programs: MS in Cybersecurity Technology (Variable (self-paced))

   Research Labs: Center for Security Studies - Applied research, consulting services, and specialized cybersecurity education tools including virtual labs and simulations

   Industry Partners: NSA, DC3, EC-Council

   Career Outcomes: | Top Employers: Booz Allen Hamilton, Leidos, General Dynamics, Northrop Grumman | Common Roles: Security Architect, Compliance Analyst, Incident Response Manager, DoD Systems Security Manager

   Admissions: GPA: 3.0 minimum GPA required

6. #6. Syracuse University Bachelor's Cybersecurity Program

   Hakia ranks Syracuse University as the #6 bachelor's in cybersecurity degree program. Location: Syracuse, NY | Type: Private | Tuition: $61,310/year | Graduation Rate: 99% | Score: 66.6

   What makes Syracuse University stand out: Syracuse University's cybersecurity program is ranked #1 for military and veteran students by Military Times, and faculty have received NSA funding to develop innovative open-source, hands-on cybersecurity curriculum that bridges theory with real-world application.

   Hakia Insight: Syracuse University's industry network — including NVIDIA and Cisco — provides students with internship and hiring pathways.

   Program Overview: Syracuse University's College of Engineering and Computer Science offers a comprehensive Master of Science in Cybersecurity program designed to prepare students for the rapidly evolving cybersecurity landscape. The 30-credit program is available both on-campus and fully online, with the online version completing in as few as 15 months through four annual start dates. Students gain hands-on experience through cutting-edge research and multidisciplinary collaboration, learning from faculty who have received recognition from top national security organizations, including NSA funding to develop open-source cybersecurity curriculum. The program emphasizes practical application, with graduates securing positions at major tech companies, financial institutions, and government agencies with median salaries ranging from $110,000-$114,999.

   Degree Programs: MS in Cybersecurity (On-Campus) (2 years); MS in Cybersecurity (Online) (15 months minimum)

   Research Labs: Full Stack Security Lab (FSSL) - Blockchain security, mempool security, and decentralized systems

   Industry Partners: NVIDIA, Cisco, Lockheed Martin

   Career Outcomes: | Top Employers: IBM, Microsoft, Google, defense contractors | Common Roles: Security Analyst, Systems Administrator, Penetration Tester, Security Consultant

   Admissions: GPA: 3.0 minimum

7. #7. CUNY John Jay College of Criminal Justice Bachelor's Cybersecurity Program

   Hakia ranks CUNY John Jay College of Criminal Justice as the #7 bachelor's in cybersecurity degree program. Location: New York, NY | Type: Public | Tuition: $6,930/year | Graduation Rate: 90% | Score: 66.1

   What makes CUNY John Jay College of Criminal Justice stand out: John Jay uniquely bridges cybersecurity with criminal justice, preparing professionals for cybercrime investigation and law enforcement security roles.

   Hakia Insight: Students at CUNY John Jay College of Criminal Justice benefit from active collaborations with NYPD and FBI, connecting classroom learning to the workforce.

   Program Overview: Cybersecurity education at John Jay College emerges from the institution's unique mission in criminal justice and forensic science, creating a distinctive program perspective. Rather than treating security as purely technical, the curriculum integrates digital forensics, cybercrime investigation, and legal/regulatory frameworks alongside network defense and system hardening. This approach produces graduates prepared for roles in law enforcement cybercrime units, government agencies, and corporate security teams that require understanding both technical vulnerabilities and investigative protocols. Students examine real cases where digital evidence proved decisive, learning to think like both defenders and investigators. Faculty include professionals with backgrounds in NYPD cybercrime units, FBI cyber divisions, and forensic labs, bringing case experience and investigative methodologies into classrooms. The college's location in New York City—home to major financial institutions, media companies, and government offices—creates opportunities for applied learning with organizations handling sensitive digital evidence and critical infrastructure. Specialized tracks allow students to focus on areas like forensic analysis, intrusion investigation, or compliance within criminal justice contexts. For students drawn to cybersecurity through interest in crime investigation, law enforcement, or forensic work, John Jay's program offers a criminology-informed pathway that differentiates their expertise in an increasingly security-conscious criminal justice system.

   Degree Programs: BS in Cybersecurity (4 years); MS in Cybersecurity (2 years)

   Industry Partners: NYPD, FBI, Department of Justice

   Career Outcomes: | Top Employers: Federal Bureau of Investigation, Secret Service, New York Police Department, Other federal and state law enforcement agencies | Common Roles: Digital Forensics Analyst, Cybercrime Investigator, Government Security Analyst

   Admissions:

8. #8. University at Albany Bachelor's Cybersecurity Program

   Hakia ranks University at Albany as the #8 bachelor's in cybersecurity degree program. Location: Albany, NY | Type: Public | Tuition: $7,070/year | Graduation Rate: 99% | Score: 64.7

   What makes University at Albany stand out: University at Albany's program leverages its SUNY system position and Albany's proximity to state government to provide unique internship and career pathways in public sector cybersecurity.

   Hakia Insight: Students at University at Albany benefit from active collaborations with New York State government agencies and Regional financial institutions, connecting classroom learning to the workforce.

   Program Overview: The University at Albany (SUNY Albany) offers cybersecurity education through its College of Engineering and Applied Sciences. The program provides foundational computer science and engineering training with specialization pathways in cybersecurity and information security. As part of the State University of New York system, Albany benefits from SUNY's extensive resources and connections to state and federal agencies. The cybersecurity program emphasizes core competencies in networking, systems administration, cryptography, and secure software development. The university maintains relationships with regional financial services companies, healthcare organizations, and government agencies that provide internship and career placement opportunities for students.

   Degree Programs: BS in Cybersecurity (4 years)

   Research Labs: High Performance Computing Center - Scientific computing and AI workloads; AI Supercomputer Lab - Machine learning and deep learning workloads using NVIDIA DGX systems

   Industry Partners: New York State government agencies, Regional financial institutions

   Career Outcomes: | Top Employers: New York State agencies, financial services companies | Common Roles: Security Analyst, Systems Security Engineer

   Admissions:

9. #9. Western Governors University Bachelor's Cybersecurity Program

   Hakia ranks Western Governors University as the #9 bachelor's in cybersecurity degree program. Location: Salt Lake City, UT | Type: Private | Tuition: $7,710/year | Score: 62.8

   What makes Western Governors University stand out: A competency-based online degree model that permits accelerated progression, vendor-integrated labs, and stackable certifications—ideal for self-directed learners and working professionals.

   Hakia Insight: Through ties with Palo Networks and Cisco, Western Governors University bridges the gap between academic training and industry practice.

   Program Overview: WGU's cybersecurity offerings exemplify competency-based education applied to security domains—students progress by demonstrating mastery rather than seat time, a model that allows motivated learners to accelerate and tailor their study pace. The program structure permits specialization in cloud security, application security, and IT audit while maintaining a core foundation in cryptography, network defense, and risk management. Faculty-led mentorship pairs students with industry practitioners, and the platform integrates labs from vendors like CompTIA, Cisco, and Palo Networks into degree requirements, creating a seamless pathway from coursework to certification. WGU's online-first architecture and moderate tuition attract working professionals and military-connected learners who value flexibility without sacrificing credential rigor. Graduates emerge with multiple stackable certifications—Security+, CISSP prerequisites, and cloud security credentials—aligned with hiring managers' expectations. The university's growing reputation in remote cybersecurity education benefits students seeking employment across distributed tech companies and remote-first security firms.

   Degree Programs: BS in Cybersecurity and Information Assurance (2-4 years); MS in Cybersecurity and Information Assurance (1-2 years)

   Industry Partners: Palo Networks, Cisco, CompTIA

   Career Outcomes:

   Admissions:

   Accreditations: CompTIA Security+, CISSP pathway, Cloud security certifications aligned with AWS and Azure

10. #10. Northeastern University Bachelor's Cybersecurity Program

    Hakia ranks Northeastern University as the #10 bachelor's in cybersecurity degree program. Location: Boston, MA | Type: Private | Tuition: $62,000/year | Score: 61.1

    What makes Northeastern University stand out: The program combines one of the largest interdisciplinary cybersecurity faculty groups in academia with unique facilities like the Mon(IoT)r Lab and comprehensive research spanning from theoretical cryptography to human-centered security.

    Hakia Insight: Northeastern University's industry network — including MIT Lincoln Labs and European Commission — provides students with internship and hiring pathways.

    Program Overview: The program combines essential computer science with conceptual and practical specialization in security, featuring hands-on laboratories as an essential component where students put learned knowledge into practice. Students take the standard computer science course sequence as foundation, then dive deep into cybersecurity-specific coursework covering threat modeling, cryptography, authentication, and secure systems design.

    Degree Programs: Bachelors in Cybersecurity

    Research Labs: Mon(IoT)r Lab - Internet-connected devices security and privacy risks testing; Cybersecurity and Privacy Institute - Comprehensive cybersecurity research and technology development; Institute of Information Assurance - Multidisciplinary cybersecurity research and education; Center for Generative AI - Large language models and generative AI research; Kostas Research Institute - National security and homeland security research

    Industry Partners: MIT Lincoln Labs, European Commission, Google, Department of Homeland Security, Data Transparency Lab, National Science Foundation, Euro Disney

    Career Outcomes:

    Notable Faculty: Dr. David Choffnes (Internet-connected systems and mobile security); Dr. Christo Wilson (Digital consumer protection and algorithm auditing); Dr. Alina Oprea (Security analytics and machine learning in cybersecurity); Dr. Daniel Wichs (Cryptography and cloud security); Dr. Cristina Nita-Rotaru (Software-defined infrastructure security); Dr. Jonathan Ullman (Differential privacy and secure computation); Dr. Alan Mislove (Large-scale platforms and algorithmic auditing); Dr. Tianshi Li (Privacy and human-centered security)

    Admissions: