On this page
Key Takeaways
3 cybersecurity programs from 2 public and 1 private institutions
3 schools physically in Colorado Springs, plus 0 within 50 miles. Tuition ranges from $3,941 (Pikes Peak State College) to $12,100 (Colorado Technical University-Colorado Springs).
Median cybersecurity salary: $128,000, 2% above the national median
Security engineers earn up to $138,240, while cybersecurity managers command $185,600 in the Colorado Springs. Source: BLS OEWS Colorado Springs MSA, May 2024.
An estimated 950 open cybersecurity positions in the Colorado Springs
Colorado has 19,603 total cybersecurity openings, 5% concentrated in the Colorado Springs metro. Nationally, 26% of cybersecurity roles remain unfilled.
3 NSA Center of Academic Excellence designated schools
Pikes Peak State College, University of Colorado Colorado Springs, Colorado Technical University-Colorado Springs hold NSA/DHS CAE designation, the federal benchmark for cybersecurity education. CAE students may qualify for CyberCorps: Scholarship for Service (full tuition + stipend).
Updated June 28, 2026
How we ranked Colorado Springs, Colorado Cybersecurity programs
We rank 3 accredited cybersecurity programs in Colorado Springs, Colorado using IPEDS 2024 institutional data, BLS OEWS 2024 state salary data, and College Scorecard outcomes. A 4-factor weighted composite is normalized to a 0–100 score. Schools cannot pay for placement; rankings are produced algorithmically.
Cybersecurity Degree Rankings in Colorado Springs, Colorado
Compare the top-ranked Cybersecurity programs in Colorado Springs, Colorado by degree level. Tuition, graduation rate, and Hakia Score for every accredited program.
Best Associate's Cybersecurity Programs in Colorado Springs, Colorado
Hakia ranks 1 accredited associate's cybersecurity program within 50 miles of Colorado Springs, 1 public institution. 1 is physically located in Colorado Springs, with the rest accessible via short commutes. The top-ranked programs include Pikes Peak State College. Tuition for associate's programs ranges from $3,941 to $3,941 per year. Community colleges offer the most affordable entry into cybersecurity, and many have articulation agreements with nearby four-year universities for seamless credit transfer. Students can complete foundational coursework in networking, operating systems, and security fundamentals while earning industry certifications like CompTIA Security+ or CySA+. Graduates with a associate's degree in cybersecurity from Colorado Springs-area schools can expect starting salaries in the range of $83,200 to $99,840 in the local market, with roles such as SOC analyst, IT security technician, or network security associate. The Colorado Springs metro area has an estimated 950 open cybersecurity positions, and the BLS projects +33% job growth through 2033. Pikes Peak State College holds NSA Center of Academic Excellence (CAE) designation at this level, the federal benchmark for cybersecurity education. CAE students may qualify for the CyberCorps: Scholarship for Service program, covering full tuition plus a stipend.
Show all 8 ranked programs
| Rank | School | Location | Type | Tuition | Grad Rate | Hakia Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #6 | Pueblo Community College | Pueblo, CO | Public | $4,058 | 31% | 67.8 |
| #7 | Colorado Northwestern Community College | Rangely, CO | Public | $4,058 | 34% | 66.5 |
| #8 | Community College of Denver | Denver, CO | Public | $4,058 | 20% | 60.8 |
Best Bachelor's Cybersecurity Programs in Colorado Springs, Colorado
Hakia ranks 1 accredited bachelor's cybersecurity program within 50 miles of Colorado Springs, 1 public institution. 1 is physically located in Colorado Springs, with the rest accessible via short commutes. The top-ranked programs include University of Colorado Colorado Springs. Annual tuition ranges from $8,738 to $8,738 (average: $8,738). A four-year cybersecurity degree covers core topics including network defense, ethical hacking, digital forensics, and security policy, preparing graduates for roles as security analyst, penetration tester, or incident response specialist. Graduates with a bachelor's degree in cybersecurity from Colorado Springs-area schools can expect starting salaries in the range of $112,640 to $121,600 in the local market, with roles such as security analyst, penetration tester, or incident response specialist. The Colorado Springs metro area has an estimated 950 open cybersecurity positions, and the BLS projects +33% job growth through 2033. University of Colorado Colorado Springs holds NSA Center of Academic Excellence (CAE) designation at this level, the federal benchmark for cybersecurity education. CAE students may qualify for the CyberCorps: Scholarship for Service program, covering full tuition plus a stipend.
University of Colorado Colorado Springs
Colorado Technical University-Colorado Springs
Show all 6 ranked programs
| Rank | School | Location | Type | Tuition | Grad Rate | Hakia Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #6 | Metropolitan State University of Denver | Denver, CO | Public | $9,135 | 32% | 61.3 |
Best Master's Cybersecurity Programs in Colorado Springs, Colorado
Colorado Christian University
Colorado Technical University-Colorado Springs
Metropolitan State University of Denver
Best Doctoral Cybersecurity Programs in Colorado Springs, Colorado
Hakia ranks 1 accredited doctoral cybersecurity program within 50 miles of Colorado Springs, 1 private institution. 1 is physically located in Colorado Springs, with the rest accessible via short commutes. The top-ranked programs include Colorado Technical University-Colorad.. Doctoral program tuition ranges from $12,100 to $12,100 per year, though many programs offer research assistantships, teaching fellowships, or full-tuition waivers. Ph.D. programs in cybersecurity take 4-6 years and focus on original research in areas like cryptography, AI-driven threat detection, or privacy engineering. Graduates with a doctoral degree in cybersecurity from Colorado Springs-area schools can expect starting salaries in the range of $156,160 to $185,600 in the local market, with roles such as chief information security officer, research scientist, or university professor. The Colorado Springs metro area has an estimated 950 open cybersecurity positions, and the BLS projects +33% job growth through 2033. Colorado Technical University-Colorado Springs holds NSA Center of Academic Excellence (CAE) designation at this level, the federal benchmark for cybersecurity education. CAE students may qualify for the CyberCorps: Scholarship for Service program, covering full tuition plus a stipend.
University of Colorado Colorado Springs
Why Study Cybersecurity in Colorado Springs, Colorado
Colorado Springs is home to a growing cybersecurity education ecosystem with 3 accredited programs across 1 associate's, 1 bachelor's, 1 doctoral degree levels within 50 miles. 3 of these institutions are physically located in Colorado Springs, with the remaining schools accessible via short commutes from surrounding communities in the Colorado Springs.
3 schools near Colorado Springs hold NSA Center of Academic Excellence (CAE) designation: Pikes Peak State College, University of Colorado Colorado Springs, Colorado Technical University-Colorado Springs. The CAE program, jointly sponsored by the NSA and DHS, certifies schools whose cybersecurity curricula meet rigorous federal standards aligned with the NICE Cybersecurity Workforce Framework. Students at CAE-designated schools may qualify for the CyberCorps: Scholarship for Service program, which covers full tuition plus a $25,000-$34,000 annual stipend in exchange for government service after graduation.
The Colorado Springs cybersecurity job market is substantial, with an estimated 950 open positions and a median salary of $128,000 for information security analysts (BLS OEWS May 2024). The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects +33% job growth for cybersecurity roles through 2033, making it one of the fastest-growing occupations in the U.S. economy. For students in Colorado Springs, this translates to strong local hiring prospects upon graduation.
Among the top-ranked programs, University of Colorado Colorado Springs leads the bachelor's rankings. See our complete rankings below for detailed program comparisons across all degree levels.
Median Cybersecurity Salary in Colorado Springs
Cybersecurity Salaries by Role: Colorado Springs vs. National Average
| Role | Colorado Springs Metro | National Median | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Security Analyst | $112,640 | $109,921 | +2% |
| Penetration Tester | $121,600 | $118,665 | +2% |
| Security Engineer | $138,240 | $134,903 | +2% |
| Security Architect | $156,160 | $152,390 | +2% |
| Cybersecurity Manager / CISO | $185,600 | $181,120 | +2% |
Source: BLS OEWS Colorado Springs MSA, May 2024. Role estimates derived from BLS SOC 15-1212 median.
Cybersecurity Salaries in Colorado Springs: What to Expect by Role
Cybersecurity professionals in the Colorado Springs earn a median salary of $128,000, which is 2% above the national median of $124,910 (BLS OEWS May 2024, SOC 15-1212: Information Security Analysts). This positions Colorado Springs as a competitive market for cybersecurity professionals.
Entry-level security analysts in Colorado Springs can expect starting salaries around $112,640, making cybersecurity one of the highest-paying entry points in the tech sector. With 2-5 years of experience, penetration testers, who simulate cyberattacks to identify vulnerabilities, earn approximately $121,600. Senior technical roles like security engineers command $138,240, while security architects who design enterprise defense systems earn up to $156,160.
At the management level, cybersecurity managers and CISOs in the Colorado Springs can earn $185,600 or more, a 65% premium over entry-level positions. This career trajectory from analyst to manager spans 8-12 years, with certifications like CISSP (82,494 openings nationally), CompTIA Security+ (70,019 openings), and CISA (52,337 openings) significantly accelerating advancement and salary growth.
Security clearances provide an additional salary boost of approximately $25,000 per year. Professionals with Top Secret/SCI clearances can earn between $104,000 and $185,000 nationally, making this a particularly lucrative path for graduates near Colorado Springs. For a deeper dive into cybersecurity compensation trends, see our Cybersecurity Analyst Salary Guide. You can also explore related fields like Information Security and Network Administration for adjacent career paths.
Top Cybersecurity Employers in Colorado Springs
The Colorado Springs cybersecurity job market spans 3 major sectors, with employers actively recruiting for roles ranging from entry-level SOC analysts to senior security architects. Here are the key employers driving cybersecurity hiring locally:
Defense
Lockheed Martin. Major space and defense operations center with extensive cybersecurity and classified systems.
Government
U.S. Space Force Academy. Military institution protecting critical defense and training infrastructure.
Schriever Space Force Base. Military installation managing satellite command and control system security.
University of Colorado. Educational institution with cybersecurity research and training programs.
Healthcare
UCHealth. Regional health system providing patient data security services.
These employers represent a cross-section of the Colorado Springs area's cybersecurity hiring market. Many maintain partnerships with local universities for internships, co-ops, and direct hiring pipelines, making a degree from a Colorado Springs-area school particularly valuable for breaking into the field.
Notable Cyber Incidents Affecting Colorado Springs Organizations
Notable Cyber Incidents in the Colorado Springs Area
Cyber threats aren't abstract risks for Colorado Springs, they have directly impacted local organizations, showing the urgent need for trained cybersecurity professionals in the Colorado Springs:
Colorado Springs Utilities (2022), ransomware. Utility operations experienced temporary disruptions affecting billing and customer services.
These incidents represent just a fraction of the cyber threats facing Colorado Springs-area organizations. According to CyberSeek data, the Colorado Springs metro area has an estimated 950 open cybersecurity positions, and the nationwide supply-to-demand ratio stands at just 74%, meaning roughly one in four cybersecurity roles goes unfilled. For students considering a cybersecurity degree, these real-world incidents demonstrate that the skills learned in programs near Colorado Springs directly translate to preventing and responding to threats that affect their own community.
Cybersecurity Job Market in the Colorado Springs
The cybersecurity job market in the Colorado Springs reflects a broader national talent crisis. Colorado has approximately 19,603 open cybersecurity positions (CyberSeek, January 2026), with an estimated 950 concentrated in the Colorado Springs metro area. Nationally, there are 514,359 unfilled cybersecurity roles across the United States, and the workforce gap continues to widen, the global shortfall reached 4.8 million positions in 2024, a 41% increase since 2022.
The supply-to-demand ratio for cybersecurity talent nationally is approximately 74%, meaning for every 100 cybersecurity jobs posted, only about 74 qualified candidates are available. This ratio has been declining steadily (from 116% in 2020 to 74% in 2025), which means cybersecurity graduates face increasingly favorable job prospects. For Colorado Springs students specifically, this translates to strong local hiring demand and competitive starting salaries.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects +33% growth in information security analyst employment through 2033, compared to just 4% for all occupations. This makes cybersecurity the 6th fastest-growing occupation in the United States. Within Colorado, the combination of a large technology sector, defense contracting, and growing digital transformation across industries is driving sustained demand for cybersecurity talent.
Most in-demand certifications that complement a cybersecurity degree from Colorado Springs schools include CISSP (82,494 job postings nationally), CompTIA Security+ (70,019 postings), and CISA (52,337 postings). Many of the top-ranked programs near Colorado Springs integrate certification preparation into their curricula, giving graduates a competitive edge in this seller's market. For statewide job market trends and additional programs, see our Colorado Cybersecurity Rankings.
Cybersecurity Degree Costs in Colorado Springs
Cybersecurity degree programs near Colorado Springs range from $3,941/year at Pikes Peak State College to $12,100/year at Colorado Technical University-Colorado Springs. Public institutions average $6,340/year (in-state), while private schools average $12,100/year.
Return on investment is compelling: with a median cybersecurity salary of $128,000 in the Colorado Springs area versus a high school diploma median of $42,000 (BLS 2024), a four-year bachelor's degree at a typical tuition rate (approximately $41,676 total) can be recouped in roughly 0.5 years of the annual salary premium. Community college cybersecurity programs offer an even faster path, a two-year associate's degree for as little as $7,882 provides foundational credentials for entry-level SOC analyst or IT security roles paying $96,000+.
Ways to reduce costs: Federal financial aid (FAFSA), Colorado state grants, institutional scholarships, and cybersecurity-specific funding like the CyberCorps: Scholarship for Service program (full tuition + $25,000-$34,000 annual stipend). Many employers in the Colorado Springs area also offer tuition reimbursement for employees pursuing cybersecurity degrees, check with local employers listed in our employer section above.
Cybersecurity Degree Programs in Colorado Springs: Frequently Asked Questions
How many cybersecurity degree programs are available in Colorado Springs, Colorado?
What's the average cybersecurity salary in Colorado Springs?
How many cybersecurity jobs are available in Colorado Springs?
Which Colorado Springs schools have NSA Center of Academic Excellence (CAE) designation?
Can I earn a cybersecurity degree online from Colorado Springs schools?
Data Sources
U.S. Department of Education institutional data: enrollment, completions, graduation rates, tuition, and institutional characteristics for all Title IV schools
Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics for Information Security Analysts (SOC 15-1212). National median: $124,910.
Cybersecurity workforce supply and demand data powered by CompTIA and NICE. Colorado: 19,603 openings. National: 514,359 openings, 26% vacancy rate.
National Centers of Academic Excellence in Cybersecurity program designations. 3 designated schools near Colorado Springs.
Last Updated: June 26, 2026. Rankings based on IPEDS 2024 institutional data. Salary data from BLS OEWS May 2024 release. Job market data from CyberSeek (January 2026). NSA CAE designations verified as of February 2026.
Taylor Rupe
Co-founder & Editor (B.S. Computer Science, Oregon State • B.A. Psychology, University of Washington)
Taylor combines technical expertise in computer science with a deep understanding of human behavior and learning. His dual background drives Hakia's mission: leveraging technology to build authoritative educational resources that help people make better decisions about their academic and career paths.