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Key Takeaways
7 cybersecurity programs from 4 public and 3 private institutions
2 schools physically in Miami, plus 5 within 50 miles. Tuition ranges from $1,968 (Broward College) to $58,104 (University of Miami).
Median cybersecurity salary: $112,000, 10% below the national median
Security engineers earn up to $120,960, while cybersecurity managers command $162,400 in the Miami-Fort Lauderdale-Pompano Beach. Source: BLS OEWS Miami-Fort Lauderdale-Pompano Beach MSA, May 2024.
An estimated 620 open cybersecurity positions in the Miami-Fort Lauderdale-Pompano Beach
Florida has 23,792 total cybersecurity openings, 3% concentrated in the Miami metro. Nationally, 26% of cybersecurity roles remain unfilled.
3 NSA Center of Academic Excellence designated schools
Florida International University, Florida Atlantic University, Nova Southeastern University 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 Miami, Florida Cybersecurity programs
We rank 14 accredited cybersecurity programs in Miami, Florida 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 Miami, Florida
Compare the top-ranked Cybersecurity programs in Miami, Florida by degree level. Tuition, graduation rate, and Hakia Score for every accredited program.
Best Associate's Cybersecurity Programs in Miami, Florida
Hakia ranks 2 accredited associate's cybersecurity programs within 50 miles of Miami, 2 public institutions. 1 is physically located in Miami, with the rest accessible via short commutes. The top-ranked programs include Miami Dade College, Broward College. Tuition for associate's programs ranges from $1,968 to $1,987 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 Miami-area schools can expect starting salaries in the range of $72,800 to $87,360 in the local market, with roles such as SOC analyst, IT security technician, or network security associate. The Miami metro area has an estimated 620 open cybersecurity positions, and the BLS projects +33% job growth through 2033.
Florida State College at Jacksonville
Show all 13 ranked programs
| Rank | School | Location | Type | Tuition | Grad Rate | Hakia Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #6 | Gulf Coast State College | Panama City, FL | Public | $1,750 | 43% | 83.0 |
| #7 | Saint Leo University | Saint Leo, FL | Private nonprofit | $27,880 | 45% | 82.9 |
| #8 | Broward College | Fort Lauderdale, FL | Public | $1,968 | 39% | 82.8 |
| #9 | Pensacola State College | Pensacola, FL | Public | $1,884 | 36% | 82.3 |
| #10 | Tallahassee State College | Tallahassee, FL | Public | $2,002 | 38% | 82.3 |
| #11 | Florida SouthWestern State College | Fort Myers, FL | Public | $2,436 | 39% | 82.0 |
| #12 | Hillsborough Community College | Tampa, FL | Public | $1,926 | 34% | 82.0 |
| #13 | Northwest Florida State College | Niceville, FL | Public | $2,151 | 39% | 78.8 |
Best Bachelor's Cybersecurity Programs in Miami, Florida
Hakia ranks 4 accredited bachelor's cybersecurity programs within 50 miles of Miami, 2 public and 2 private institutions. 1 is physically located in Miami, with the rest accessible via short commutes. The top-ranked programs include University of Miami, Florida International University, Florida Atlantic University. Annual tuition ranges from $2,522 to $58,104 (average: $22,071). 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. The average graduation rate across these programs is 85%. Graduates with a bachelor's degree in cybersecurity from Miami-area schools can expect starting salaries in the range of $98,560 to $106,400 in the local market, with roles such as security analyst, penetration tester, or incident response specialist. The Miami metro area has an estimated 620 open cybersecurity positions, and the BLS projects +33% job growth through 2033. Florida International University and Florida Atlantic University hold 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 13 ranked programs
| Rank | School | Location | Type | Tuition | Grad Rate | Hakia Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #6 | Miami Dade College | Miami, FL | Public | $1,987 | 46% | 80.1 |
| #7 | Stetson University | DeLand, FL | Private nonprofit | $57,010 | 62% | 77.5 |
| #8 | St Petersburg College | St. Petersburg, FL | Public | $1,943 | 38% | 75.3 |
| #9 | Full Sail University | Winter Park, FL | Private for-profit | $26,906 | 44% | 74.6 |
| #10 | Saint Leo University | Saint Leo, FL | Private nonprofit | $27,880 | 45% | 73.3 |
| #11 | Pensacola State College | Pensacola, FL | Public | $1,884 | 36% | 71.2 |
| #12 | Rasmussen University-Florida | Ocala, FL | Private for-profit | $14,024 | 42% | 66.9 |
| #13 | Florida Memorial University | Miami Gardens, FL | Private nonprofit | $14,274 | 31% | 59.9 |
Best Master's Cybersecurity Programs in Miami, Florida
Hakia ranks 4 accredited master's cybersecurity programs within 50 miles of Miami, 2 public and 2 private institutions. 1 is physically located in Miami, with the rest accessible via short commutes. The top-ranked programs include University of Miami, Florida Atlantic University, Florida International University. Graduate tuition ranges from $2,522 to $58,104 per year. Master's programs take 18-24 months and focus on advanced topics like threat intelligence, security architecture, risk management, and leadership, designed for professionals looking to move into senior technical or management roles. Average completion rate: 73%. Graduates with a master's degree in cybersecurity from Miami-area schools can expect starting salaries in the range of $120,960 to $136,640 in the local market, with roles such as security engineer, security architect, or cybersecurity consultant. The Miami metro area has an estimated 620 open cybersecurity positions, and the BLS projects +33% job growth through 2033. Florida International University and Florida Atlantic University and Nova Southeastern University hold 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.
Strayer University-Florida
Show all 11 ranked programs
| Rank | School | Location | Type | Tuition | Grad Rate | Hakia Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #6 | Florida Institute of Technology | Melbourne, FL | Private nonprofit | $44,620 | 64% | 79.1 |
| #7 | Florida Institute of Technology-Online | Melbourne, FL | Private nonprofit | $12,480 | — | 78.5 |
| #8 | Nova Southeastern University | Fort Lauderdale, FL | Private nonprofit | $37,500 | 63% | 78.2 |
| #9 | Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Worldwide | Daytona Beach, FL | Private nonprofit | $12,072 | 21% | 72.7 |
| #10 | Saint Leo University | Saint Leo, FL | Private nonprofit | $27,880 | 45% | 70.1 |
| #11 | Keiser University-Ft Lauderdale | Fort Lauderdale, FL | Private nonprofit | $23,856 | 61% | 66.6 |
Best Doctoral Cybersecurity Programs in Miami, Florida
Hakia ranks 4 accredited doctoral cybersecurity programs within 50 miles of Miami, 2 public and 2 private institutions. 1 is physically located in Miami, with the rest accessible via short commutes. The top-ranked programs include University of Miami, Florida International University, Florida Atlantic University. Doctoral program tuition ranges from $2,522 to $58,104 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 Miami-area schools can expect starting salaries in the range of $136,640 to $162,400 in the local market, with roles such as chief information security officer, research scientist, or university professor. The Miami metro area has an estimated 620 open cybersecurity positions, and the BLS projects +33% job growth through 2033. Florida International University and Florida Atlantic University and Nova Southeastern University hold 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.
Nova Southeastern University
Why Study Cybersecurity in Miami, Florida
Miami is home to a growing cybersecurity education ecosystem with 7 accredited programs across 2 associate's, 4 bachelor's, 4 master's, 4 doctoral degree levels within 50 miles. 2 of these institutions are physically located in Miami, with the remaining schools accessible via short commutes from surrounding communities in the Miami-Fort Lauderdale-Pompano Beach.
3 schools near Miami hold NSA Center of Academic Excellence (CAE) designation: Florida International University, Florida Atlantic University, Nova Southeastern University. 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 Miami-Fort Lauderdale-Pompano Beach cybersecurity job market is substantial, with an estimated 620 open positions and a median salary of $112,000 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 Miami, this translates to strong local hiring prospects upon graduation.
Among the top-ranked programs, University of Miami (93.9% graduation rate) leads the bachelor's rankings. See our complete rankings below for detailed program comparisons across all degree levels.
Median Cybersecurity Salary in Miami
Source: BLS OEWS Miami-Fort Lauderdale-Pompano Beach MSA, May 2024
Cybersecurity Salaries by Role: Miami vs. National Average
| Role | Miami Metro | National Median | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Security Analyst | $98,560 | $109,921 | -10% |
| Penetration Tester | $106,400 | $118,665 | -10% |
| Security Engineer | $120,960 | $134,903 | -10% |
| Security Architect | $136,640 | $152,390 | -10% |
| Cybersecurity Manager / CISO | $162,400 | $181,120 | -10% |
Source: BLS OEWS Miami-Fort Lauderdale-Pompano Beach MSA, May 2024. Role estimates derived from BLS SOC 15-1212 median.
Cybersecurity Salaries in Miami: What to Expect by Role
Cybersecurity professionals in the Miami-Fort Lauderdale-Pompano Beach earn a median salary of $112,000, which is 10% below the national median of $124,910 (BLS OEWS May 2024, SOC 15-1212: Information Security Analysts). This positions Miami as a market where cybersecurity salaries are offset by Miami's lower cost of living compared to coastal tech hubs.
Entry-level security analysts in Miami can expect starting salaries around $98,560, 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 $106,400. Senior technical roles like security engineers command $120,960, while security architects who design enterprise defense systems earn up to $136,640.
At the management level, cybersecurity managers and CISOs in the Miami-Fort Lauderdale-Pompano Beach can earn $162,400 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 Miami. 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 Miami
The Miami cybersecurity job market spans 5 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:
Healthcare
HCA Healthcare. Major regional healthcare provider with multiple Florida facilities requiring strong cybersecurity and compliance infrastructure.
Baptist Health South Florida. Large healthcare system with clinical IT security operations and patient data protection across multiple hospitals.
Consulting
Publix Super Market Co.. Regional retail operations with payment card industry compliance and e-commerce security requirements.
Technology
Citrix Systems. Software company with significant operations in South Florida providing remote access and virtualization security solutions.
Wyle Electronics. Technology distributor with supply chain security and vendor risk management programs.
Government
Miami-Dade County Government. County government operations with cybersecurity programs protecting citizen data and municipal infrastructure.
Finance
Carnival Corporation. Cruise line headquarters with payment processing, customer data, and maritime security cybersecurity requirements.
These employers represent a cross-section of the Miami-Fort Lauderdale-Pompano Beach area's cybersecurity hiring market. Many maintain partnerships with local universities for internships, co-ops, and direct hiring pipelines, making a degree from a Miami-area school particularly valuable for breaking into the field.
Notable Cyber Incidents Affecting Miami Organizations
Notable Cyber Incidents in the Miami Area
Cyber threats aren't abstract risks for Miami, they have directly impacted local organizations, showing the urgent need for trained cybersecurity professionals in the Miami-Fort Lauderdale-Pompano Beach:
HCA Healthcare (Florida facilities) (2023), ransomware. Multiple Florida hospitals disrupted, with estimated millions in recovery costs and patient care delays.
Miami-Dade County (2022), ransomware. Municipal government services impacted by ransomware attack affecting property appraiser and court systems.
These incidents represent just a fraction of the cyber threats facing Miami-area organizations. According to CyberSeek data, the Miami metro area has an estimated 620 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 Miami directly translate to preventing and responding to threats that affect their own community.
Cybersecurity Programs Accessible from Nearby Communities
If you live in a community near Miami, you can access the same cybersecurity programs without relocating. The greater Miami area is well-connected, and many students commute from surrounding cities to attend programs locally. Here's how Miami's cybersecurity schools are accessible from nearby areas:
- Fort Lauderdale → Miami Dade College (26 mi), Florida International University (30 mi)
All of these schools are within commuting distance, and many offer evening, weekend, or hybrid class schedules designed for students who travel from outside Miami. Several programs also offer fully online options, see our rankings with online filter above.
Cybersecurity Job Market in the Miami-Fort Lauderdale-Pompano Beach
The cybersecurity job market in the Miami-Fort Lauderdale-Pompano Beach reflects a broader national talent crisis. Florida has approximately 23,792 open cybersecurity positions (CyberSeek, January 2026), with an estimated 620 concentrated in the Miami 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 Miami 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 Florida, 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 Miami 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 Miami 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 Florida Cybersecurity Rankings.
Cybersecurity Degree Costs in Miami
Cybersecurity degree programs near Miami range from $1,968/year at Broward College to $58,104/year at University of Miami. Public institutions average $2,800/year (in-state), while private schools average $38,973/year.
Return on investment is compelling: with a median cybersecurity salary of $112,000 in the Miami area versus a high school diploma median of $42,000 (BLS 2024), a four-year bachelor's degree at a typical tuition rate (approximately $155,892 total) can be recouped in roughly 2.2 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 $3,936 provides foundational credentials for entry-level SOC analyst or IT security roles paying $84,000+.
Ways to reduce costs: Federal financial aid (FAFSA), Florida 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 Miami area also offer tuition reimbursement for employees pursuing cybersecurity degrees, check with local employers listed in our employer section above.
Cybersecurity Degree Programs in Miami: Frequently Asked Questions
How many cybersecurity degree programs are available in Miami, Florida?
What's the average cybersecurity salary in Miami?
How many cybersecurity jobs are available in Miami?
Which Miami schools have NSA Center of Academic Excellence (CAE) designation?
Can I earn a cybersecurity degree online from Miami 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. Florida: 23,792 openings. National: 514,359 openings, 26% vacancy rate.
National Centers of Academic Excellence in Cybersecurity program designations. 3 designated schools near Miami.
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.