![Best Online Cybersecurity Degrees [NSA Designated] 2025](/images/heroes/rankings/cybersecurity-best-value-programs.webp)
- 1.Information Security Analysts earn a median salary of $120,360 with 32% projected job growth through 2032 (BLS OES 2024)
- 2.Top-ranked Cybersecurity programs include Carnegie Mellon University, Purdue University-Main Campus, University of Southern California based on graduation rates, program strength, and career outcomes
- 3.Best value: Purdue University-Main Campus offers cybersecurity education at $9,718/year with 83% graduation rate
- 4.50 accredited Cybersecurity programs analyzed using IPEDS 2023 completion data
Best Cybersecurity Programs - Top 10 Online
Carnegie Mellon University
CMU's Plaid Parliament of Pwning hacking team has won a record nine DEF CON Capture-the-Flag championships in 13 years, while CyLab operates as the largest university-based security and privacy institute with triple NSA Center of Academic Excellence designations.
Program Overview
Carnegie Mellon University operates one of the nation's most comprehensive cybersecurity ecosystems through its Information Networking Institute and the renowned CyLab Security and Privacy Institute. The flagship Master of Science in Information Security (MSIS) is a two-year technical program that combines rigorous coursework in security principles with hands-on research opportunities. Students can choose from specialized tracks including Cyber Forensics and Incident Response (CyFir) and Cyber Operations certificates, with part-time options available for working professionals.
What sets CMU apart is its integration across multiple colleges - students can pursue cybersecurity through the College of Engineering, Heinz College's policy-focused MSISPM program, or newer offerings like the AI Engineering - Information Security degree. The university's CyLab comprises 40 core faculty and over 120 affiliated researchers, making it one of the largest university-based security research centers globally. Pittsburgh's emerging tech scene, with major expansions by Google, Uber, Disney, and Facebook, provides students with unprecedented access to both traditional defense contractors and cutting-edge tech companies.
Degree Programs
Research Labs & Institutes
University-wide security and privacy institute coordinating research across all departments
Privacy policies and human factors in security
Facial recognition and biometric security systems
Industry Partners
Admissions
Purdue University-Main Campus
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.
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
Research Labs & Institutes
Digital forensics and cybersecurity investigations
Network security and infrastructure protection
Industry Partners
University of Southern California
USC's cybersecurity program is one of only six featured in Fortune magazine for career advancement potential and offers both traditional on-campus and fully equivalent online delivery through DEN@Viterbi, making it accessible to working professionals worldwide while maintaining the same rigorous USC engineering standards.
Program Overview
USC's Master of Science in Cyber Security Engineering is a 28-unit professional program housed within the prestigious Viterbi School of Engineering, focusing on the fundamentals of developing, engineering, and operating secure information systems. The program uniquely emphasizes how security policy drives technology decisions, training students in secure operating systems, applications, networking, cryptography, and key management. Available both on-campus and through DEN@Viterbi's fully equivalent online platform, this program serves graduate students seeking careers in computer network operations or those advancing toward doctoral studies with an information security focus.
Degree Programs
Research Labs & Institutes
Systems security and cybersecurity research
Security systems and privacy research
Network security and traffic analysis
Industry Partners
Admissions
Georgia Institute of Technology-Main Campus
Georgia Tech offers the only interdisciplinary cybersecurity master's degree from a Top 10 public university that can be completed entirely online for under $12,000 total tuition, while delivering the same curriculum across information security, cyber-physical systems, and policy tracks.
Georgetown University
Georgetown's program uniquely focuses on cybersecurity risk management as an interdisciplinary field rather than a purely technical discipline, preparing strategic thinkers who can bridge the critical gap between security policies, information technology, and human behavior across organizations.
New York University
NYU Tandon is one of only select institutions recognized by the NSA as a Center of Academic Excellence in both Cyber Operations and Cyber Defense Research, with students conducting research in the NSF-funded OSIRIS Laboratory alongside internationally renowned cybersecurity experts.
University of Maryland Global Campus
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.
Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus
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.
University of South Florida
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.
Western Governors University
1514 cybersecurity graduates annually
Best Cybersecurity Programs - Compare Top 5 Online
| School | Location | Type | Tuition | Grad Rate | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 Carnegie Mellon University | Pittsburgh, PA | Private | $62,260 | 98% | 90.1/100 |
| #2 Purdue University-Main Campus | West Lafayette, IN | Public | $9,718 | 83% | 75.5/100 |
| #3 University of Southern California | Los Angeles, CA | Private | $66,640 | 92% | 74.1/100 |
| #4 Georgia Institute of Technology-Main Campus | Atlanta, GA | Public | $10,258 | 76% | 73.5/100 |
| #5 Georgetown University | Washington, DC | Private | $64,896 | 1% | 72.4/100 |
Top 30 Online Cybersecurity Bachelor's Programs 2026
| Rank | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Carnegie Mellon University | Pittsburgh, PA | Private | $62,260 | 98% | — | 90.1 |
| 2 | Purdue University-Main Campus | West Lafayette, IN | Public | $9,718 | 83% | — | 75.5 |
| 3 | University of Southern California | Los Angeles, CA | Private | $66,640 | 92% | — | 74.1 |
| 4 | Georgia Institute of Technology-Main Campus | Atlanta, GA | Public | $10,258 | 76% | — | 73.5 |
| 5 | Georgetown University | Washington, DC | Private | $64,896 | 100% | — | 72.4 |
| 6 | New York University | New York, NY | Private | $60,438 | — | — | 72.3 |
| 7 | University of Maryland Global Campus | Adelphi, MD | Public | $7,632 | 74% | — | 72.2 |
| 8 | Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus | University Park, PA | Public | $19,672 | 87% | — | 71.8 |
| 9 | University of South Florida | Tampa, FL | Public | $4,559 | 85% | — | 68.8 |
| 10 | Western Governors University | Salt Lake City, UT | Private | $7,710 | — | — | 67.8 |
| 11 | Rochester Institute of Technology | Rochester, NY | Private | $55,784 | 90% | — | 67.5 |
| 12 | Syracuse University | Syracuse, NY | Private | $61,310 | 99% | — | 66.6 |
| 13 | CUNY John Jay College of Criminal Justice | New York, NY | Public | $6,930 | 90% | — | 66.1 |
| 14 | University of San Diego | San Diego, CA | Private | $55,690 | 97% | — | 65.8 |
| 15 | Johns Hopkins University | Baltimore, MD | Private | $62,840 | — | — | 65.3 |
| 16 | University at Albany | Albany, NY | Public | $7,070 | 99% | — | 64.7 |
| 17 | Southern New Hampshire University | Manchester, NH | Private | $15,450 | 67% | — | 64.5 |
| 18 | Brown University | Providence, RI | Private | $65,656 | 96% | — | 64.2 |
| 19 | Washington University in St Louis | Saint Louis, MO | Private | $61,750 | 97% | — | 63.6 |
| 20 | University of Central Florida | Orlando, FL | Public | $4,478 | 93% | — | 63.6 |
| 21 | University of the Cumberlands | Williamsburg, KY | Private | $9,875 | 75% | — | 62.9 |
| 22 | The University of Texas at Austin | Austin, TX | Public | $11,678 | 89% | — | 62.7 |
| 23 | Tufts University | Medford, MA | Private | $66,358 | 81% | — | 62 |
| 24 | Brandeis University | Waltham, MA | Private | $64,348 | 99% | — | 61.9 |
| 25 | Fordham University | Bronx, NY | Private | $60,335 | 94% | — | 61.3 |
Showing 1–25 of 50
Career Paths
Cybersecurity Analyst
SOC 15-1212Monitor networks, investigate security breaches, and implement protective measures. Entry-level position for most graduates.
Information Security Manager
SOC 11-3021Oversee cybersecurity programs, manage security teams, and develop organizational security policies.
Penetration Tester
SOC 15-1212Conduct authorized attacks on systems to identify vulnerabilities and assess security posture.
Security Architect
SOC 15-1199Design secure network and system architectures, develop security standards and frameworks.
Digital Forensics Investigator
SOC 15-1212Recover and analyze digital evidence from computers, networks, and mobile devices for legal proceedings.
Incident Response Specialist
SOC 15-1212Lead response efforts during security incidents, coordinate containment and recovery activities.
Compliance Officer
SOC 13-1041Ensure organizational adherence to cybersecurity regulations and industry standards.
Cloud Security Engineer
SOC 15-1212Secure cloud infrastructure and applications, implement cloud-native security tools and practices.
Financial Aid and Tuition Analysis
Online cybersecurity programs show significant cost variation, with annual tuition ranging from $7,128 at Thomas Edison State University to $59,870 at George Washington University. Public institutions offer substantial savings, with median in-state tuition of $14,450 compared to $31,200 at private institutions (IPEDS 2023).
Federal financial aid eligibility applies to accredited online programs, with many students qualifying for Pell Grants that don't require repayment. Veterans can use GI Bill benefits for online cybersecurity degrees, while employers increasingly offer tuition reimbursement for cybersecurity education given the critical skills shortage.
Online Cybersecurity Degree Overview
Online cybersecurity degree programs have emerged as a critical pathway for professionals entering the rapidly growing field of information security. With 3.5 million unfilled cybersecurity positions globally and job growth projected at 32% through 2032 (BLS Employment Projections 2022-2032), earning an accredited online degree provides the flexibility working professionals need while maintaining rigorous academic standards.
The most prestigious online cybersecurity programs hold NSA/DHS Center of Academic Excellence (CAE) designations, which recognize institutions meeting strict curriculum standards in information assurance and cyber defense (NSA CAE Program). Programs like University of Maryland Global Campus and Penn State World Campus offer the same rigorous curriculum as their on-campus counterparts, with additional benefits like asynchronous learning, industry partnerships, and integrated certification preparation.
Students considering online cybersecurity programs should prioritize NSA designation, ABET accreditation where applicable, hands-on lab access, and strong career services. Top programs integrate industry certifications like CompTIA Security+ and CISSP preparation into their curriculum, ensuring graduates meet industry standards from day one.
Choose the Right Online Cybersecurity Program
- You're seeking NSA-designated program with government connections
- You prefer accelerated 8-week course format
- You want comprehensive virtual labs with enterprise tools
- You're targeting federal cybersecurity careers
- You value high job placement rates and strong ROI
- You want identical curriculum to prestigious on-campus program
- You prefer traditional 16-week semester format
- You value research opportunities and faculty mentorship
- You want strong alumni network in corporate cybersecurity
- You're interested in pursuing graduate education later
- You want top-ranked online platform and student experience
- You need flexible 7.5-week courses with multiple start dates
- You value extensive industry partnerships and career services
- You want diverse elective options and specialization tracks
- You're seeking large, established online program
- You're a career changer needing extensive transfer credits
- You want 24/7 student support and academic assistance
- You prefer competency-based learning options
- You need non-traditional scheduling and support
- You're willing to invest more for personalized attention
Frequently Asked Questions
Based on 127 programs from IPEDS 2023, BLS OES May 2024
Degree completions (sqrt normalized, capped at 500)
6-year completion rate from IPEDS 2023
State-specific salary data from BLS OES 2024
Admission rate (lower = more selective)
Institution type (R1/R2 research bonus)
CAE-CD designation, curator bonuses
Data completeness proxy
Reporting completeness
Data Sources and Methodology
Official registry of NSA/DHS designated cybersecurity programs with designation types and renewal dates
Institutional characteristics, graduation rates, tuition data, and enrollment statistics from National Center for Education Statistics
Occupational employment and wage statistics for cybersecurity professionals (SOC 15-1212)
Job growth projections and annual opening estimates for information security analysts
Taylor Rupe
Full-Stack Developer (B.S. Computer Science, B.A. Psychology)
Taylor combines formal training in computer science with a background in human behavior to evaluate complex search, AI, and data-driven topics. His technical review ensures each article reflects current best practices in semantic search, AI systems, and web technology.