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Central Georgia Technical College
Warner Robins, GAPublic
$2,568
Tuition/yr
47%
Grad rate
89.9
Hakia Score
On this page
Reviewed by Taylor Rupe, Founder & EditorSee methodology
Key Takeaways
Best cybersecurity degree programs: U of North Georgia, Georgia College & State, Augusta
Ranked by graduation rates, program outcomes, and institutional quality
Tuition ranges from $2,400 to $40,095/year
Gwinnett Technical College offers the most affordable option at $2,400/yr
Cybersecurity degree programs available: 27 associate's, 6 master's in Georgia
From community college pathways to advanced research degrees
15 online cybersecurity degree programs in Georgia
Flexible scheduling for working professionals
Georgia community college transfer can save 40-60% on total degree costs
27 associate's programs provide transfer pathways to bachelor's degrees
Education Commission of the States
Major employers: NCR, Mailchimp, SalesLoft, Calendly
Tech hubs in Atlanta and Savannah
Hakia Research 2026
Cybersecurity degree programs near 64+ cities across Georgia
Search by city to find programs within 200 miles of your location
Updated June 26, 2026
How we ranked Georgia Cybersecurity programs
We rank 42 accredited cybersecurity programs in Georgia 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.
Program completions (35%)Graduation rate (25%)Selectivity (20%)Career outcomes (20%)
See full methodology$107,450
Are Cybersecurity Degree Programs in Georgia Worth It?
Yes. The best cybersecurity degree programs in Georgia deliver strong ROI, graduates earn $107,450 median salary with +22% job growth through 2032. In-state tuition averages $6,482/year.
Source: BLS OEWS May 2024
Cybersecurity Degree Rankings in Georgia
Compare the top-ranked Cybersecurity programs in Georgia by degree level. Tuition, graduation rate, and Hakia Score for every accredited program.
Best Associate's Cybersecurity Programs in Georgia
22
Programs ranked
$3,002
Avg tuition/yr
43%
Avg grad rate
Program Landscape
Georgia offers 27 accredited associate's degree programs in cybersecurity, providing an affordable entry point into the technology field. The top-ranked programs include Gwinnett Technical College, Chattahoochee Technical C..., Augusta Technical College, which combine rigorous technical curriculum with practical skills training.
Costs & Value
Community colleges in Georgia offer these two-year programs at an average cost of $3,212/yr, significantly less than four-year university tuition. Students completing associate's degrees can pursue entry-level technical positions and transfer opportunities, with entry-level salaries averaging $59,098 in Georgia.
Career Pathways
Many programs feature guaranteed transfer agreements with Georgia's public universities, allowing students to complete their first two years at reduced cost before transferring to complete a bachelor's degree. The Atlanta, Savannah, Augusta areas offer particularly strong job markets for associate's degree holders, with employers like NCR, Mailchimp, SalesLoft hiring for technical support, junior development, and IT specialist positions.
Curriculum & Specializations
Programs typically include coursework in programming fundamentals, database management, networking basics, and software development. Among cybersecurity schools in Georgia, these associate's programs offer the best value for students beginning their cybersecurity degrees in Georgia.
Show all 22 ranked programs
| Rank | School | Location | Type | Tuition | Grad Rate | Hakia Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #6 | Oconee Fall Line Technical College | Sandersville, GA | Public | $2,568 | 65% | 83.9 |
| #7 | Coastal Pines Technical College | Waycross, GA | Public | $2,568 | 48% | 83.4 |
| #8 | Wiregrass Georgia Technical College | Valdosta, GA | Public | $2,568 | 50% | 83.1 |
| #9 | South Georgia Technical College | Americus, GA | Public | $3,210 | 61% | 82.0 |
| #10 | Savannah Technical College | Savannah, GA | Public | $2,568 | 42% | 81.9 |
| #11 | Georgia Piedmont Technical College | Clarkston, GA | Public | $2,586 | 44% | 81.4 |
| #12 | Albany Technical College | Albany, GA | Public | $2,568 | 42% | 79.3 |
| #13 | Ogeechee Technical College | Statesboro, GA | Public | $2,568 | 43% | 79.0 |
| #14 | Gwinnett Technical College | Lawrenceville, GA | Public | $2,568 | 32% | 78.7 |
| #15 | Georgia Military College | Milledgeville, GA | Public | $7,605 | 38% | 78.0 |
| #16 | West Georgia Technical College | Waco, GA | Public | $2,568 | 35% | 76.7 |
| #17 | Lanier Technical College | Gainesville, GA | Public | $3,210 | 34% | 74.9 |
| #18 | Augusta Technical College | Augusta, GA | Public | $3,210 | 31% | 72.7 |
| #19 | Southeastern Technical College | Vidalia, GA | Public | $2,568 | 38% | 71.6 |
| #20 | Southern Regional Technical College | Thomasville, GA | Public | $2,568 | 31% | 70.3 |
| #21 | Columbus State University | Columbus, GA | Public | $4,488 | 42% | 67.8 |
| #22 | Columbus Technical College | Columbus, GA | Public | $3,210 | 27% | 64.1 |
Best Bachelor's Cybersecurity Programs in Georgia
5
Programs ranked
$10,350
Avg tuition/yr
50%
Avg grad rate
Program Landscape
Georgia ranks among the nation's top destinations for cybersecurity education, with 9 accredited bachelor's degree programs across 6 public and 3 private institutions. The highest-ranked programs are U of North Georgia, Georgia College & State, Augusta, recognized for academic excellence, research opportunities, and strong industry connections.
Career Outcomes
Graduates from Georgia cybersecurity programs earn a median salary of $91,333, 7% below the national average. The state's robust technology sector, anchored by the Atlanta, Savannah, Augusta metropolitan areas, provides abundant internship and employment opportunities with companies including NCR, Mailchimp, SalesLoft.
Costs & Value
Tuition ranges from $2,563 to $33,080 annually, with an average of $10,734/yr. Top programs maintain graduation rates above 85%, with the highest reaching 100%. Many programs hold ABET accreditation, the gold standard for computing education, ensuring curriculum meets rigorous industry standards.
Curriculum & Specializations
Students can choose from specializations including software engineering, cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, data science, and systems architecture. Strong industry partnerships provide access to co-op programs, capstone projects with real companies, and direct recruiting pipelines to Georgia's leading technology employers. For students seeking cybersecurity degrees in Georgia, these top-ranked cybersecurity schools offer the strongest combination of academic rigor and career preparation.
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$4,560
Tuition/yr
52%
Grad rate
80.5
Hakia Score
Best Master's Cybersecurity Programs in Georgia
7
Programs ranked
$11,619
Avg tuition/yr
59%
Avg grad rate
Program Landscape
Georgia offers 6 master's degree programs in cybersecurity, designed for professionals seeking to advance into senior engineering, technical leadership, and specialized roles. The top programs, Georgia Institute of Tech..., Savannah College of Art a..., U of Georgia, combine advanced technical training with research opportunities and leadership development.
Career Outcomes
Master's graduates in Georgia earn a median salary of $107,450, approximately 20-30% higher than bachelor's degree holders. The concentration of technology companies in Atlanta, Savannah, Augusta creates strong demand for graduate-level talent, with NCR, Mailchimp, SalesLoft actively recruiting from these programs.
Costs & Value
Program formats include traditional full-time study (typically 2 years), part-time options for working professionals (2-3 years), and accelerated tracks. Tuition averages $14,653/yr, with many employers offering tuition reimbursement for graduate education. Some programs offer thesis and non-thesis tracks, allowing students to focus on research or professional development based on their career goals.
Curriculum & Specializations
Curriculum covers advanced topics including machine learning, distributed systems, software architecture, and technical management. Many programs include practicum experiences, industry capstone projects, or consulting engagements that provide real-world application of advanced concepts. Among Georgia's cybersecurity schools at the graduate level, these programs stand out for both academic quality and career outcomes.
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$10,512
Tuition/yr
94%
Grad rate
95.9
Hakia Score
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$10,034
Tuition/yr
90%
Grad rate
90.8
Hakia Score
Show all 7 ranked programs
| Rank | School | Location | Type | Tuition | Grad Rate | Hakia Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #6 | Augusta University | Augusta, GA | Public | $7,064 | 49% | 67.1 |
| #7 | Strayer University-Georgia | Chamblee, GA | Private for-profit | $13,725 | 21% | 57.3 |
Cybersecurity Degree Costs & Tuition in Georgia
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Average in-state tuition | $6,482/year |
| Average out-of-state tuition | $16,205/year |
| Community college tuition | $1,621/year |
| 4-year savings for residents | $38,892 |
| 2+2 transfer pathway savings | $9,722 |
Source: IPEDS 2024
Financial Aid for Georgia Cybersecurity Students
Verdict: Georgia cybersecurity students benefit from the most generous merit-based state aid system in the US (HOPE Scholarship and Zell Miller Scholarship for 3.7+ GPA students cover 100% of in-state public tuition) plus a cybersecurity-specific layer from federal-supported CyberCorps SFS at multiple CAE-CD-designated Georgia institutions. For Georgia residents with strong academic records pursuing cybersecurity at Georgia Tech, Augusta University, or KSU, the combination produces some of the lowest-cost paths to a cybersecurity bachelor's in the US.
Zell Miller Scholarship covers full standard undergraduate tuition at Georgia public universities for in-state students with 3.7+ GPA and 1200+ SAT or 26+ ACT. For Georgia Tech cybersecurity-track students, this drops in-state tuition cost to essentially zero. HOPE Scholarship provides partial coverage (~75-90% of standard tuition) for 3.0+ GPA students.
CyberCorps Scholarship for Service (SFS) is funded at multiple Georgia institutions: Augusta University (one of the strongest US undergraduate cybersecurity programs, embedded with the Army Cyber Center of Excellence), Georgia Tech, Kennesaw State University, Georgia Southern University, and others. CyberCorps provides full tuition + ~$25,000/year stipend in exchange for a 2-4 year federal cybersecurity service commitment.
Georgia's particular cyber-funding strength is Augusta University, its cybersecurity programs are directly aligned with the Army Cyber Center of Excellence and Fort Eisenhower. For students committing to federal cyber careers, the AU pathway provides combined HOPE/Zell Miller + CyberCorps SFS + federal employment placement directly into the largest cleared cyber workforce concentration outside Northern Virginia. Georgia Tech's School of Cybersecurity and Privacy (relatively new, established 2020) is the research-oriented option, particularly strong for students targeting industry cyber research or graduate study. REACH Georgia provides early-commitment scholarships for low-income students; stacking with HOPE often produces zero-loan cybersecurity bachelor's degrees.
Cybersecurity Degree ROI Calculator, Georgia
Use our interactive ROI calculator to estimate your return on investment for a cybersecurity degree in Georgia. Enter your expected tuition costs, financial aid, and career goals to see projected payback periods and lifetime earnings. The calculator uses current salary data from BLS and tuition data from IPEDS to provide accurate estimates.
Cybersecurity Degree ROI Calculator
Estimate your return on investment for a cybersecurity degree
Leave blank to use average cost for selected program type
20 years
10 years20 years30 years
20-Year ROI
+696%
Net gain divided by total investment. ROI above 200% is considered excellent for education investments.
Net Gain
$1,288,506
Your additional lifetime earnings with this degree vs. working without one, minus the total investment.
Break-Even
6 years
Years until your cumulative earnings exceed total investment. Shorter programs often break even faster due to lower opportunity cost.
COL-Adjusted Salary
$120,000
Your starting salary adjusted for local cost of living. This shows real purchasing power compared to a $100K national baseline.
Why does break-even change with program type? Your "total investment" includes both tuition AND opportunity cost (foregone earnings while in school). A 4-year full-time public university (in-state) means 4 years of not earning a salary ($140,000 in opportunity cost). Shorter full-time programs may have higher tuition but lower total investment because you return to the workforce sooner.
Detailed Breakdown
How we calculate your degree ROI using real salary data
Total Investment$185,000
Tuition plus opportunity cost (earnings you miss while in school)
Program Cost (Tuition)$45,000
Direct cost of the degree program
Opportunity Cost$140,000
4 years × $35K/year foregone salary while studying full-time
20-Year Earnings (with degree)$2,323,914
Projected career earnings starting after graduation, with salary growth
20-Year Earnings (without degree)$850,408
What you'd earn working at $35K/year with 2% annual growth
Starting Salary (Atlanta, GA)$120,000
Median salary for this role in your selected location (BLS 2024)
Annualized Return4.1%
Your investment's compound annual growth rate (similar to stock market returns)
Data sources: BLS OEWS May 2024, IPEDS 2024. Calculations use median salaries, 3% discount rate, and assume salary growth declines from 6% to 2% over career. Individual results will vary. | Powered by Hakia.com
Cybersecurity Salaries by Metro Area
Median annual salary in Georgia metro areas
Atlanta$118K
Savannah$113K
Augusta$107K
View data table
| Category | Value |
|---|---|
| Atlanta | $118K |
| Savannah | $113K |
| Augusta | $107K |
Source: BLS OEWS May 2024
Hakia.com
Top Employers Hiring Cybersecurity Graduates in Georgia
Find cybersecurity jobs in Georgia. These major employers across Georgia metro areas are actively hiring cybersecurity degree holders. Click employer names to view current job openings.
Cybersecurity Jobs in Atlanta
GAAtlanta is a major tech hub anchored by Georgia Tech, with strong fintech, retail tech, and enterprise software sectors.
Nearby cities: Alpharetta, Sandy Springs, Marietta, Buckhead, Midtown
Microsoft
Enterprise Software/Cloud
Google
Search/Cloud/AI
Salesforce
Enterprise CRM
NCR Corporation
Financial Tech/POS
The Home Depot
Retail Tech
Delta Air Lines
Aviation Tech
Mailchimp (Intuit)
Marketing Tech
Cox Enterprises
Media/Telecom
Equifax
Data/Financial Services
Cardlytics
Fintech
Georgia Tech Industry & Infrastructure
Georgia's tech market is anchored by Atlanta — one of the strongest US tech metros outside Silicon Valley and the East Coast core. Augusta hosts a globally significant cybersecurity cluster around Fort Eisenhower (formerly Fort Gordon) and the Army Cyber Center of Excellence. The state combines no-state-income-tax for tech expansion, the HOPE Scholarship pipeline filling Georgia Tech, and a deep enterprise-IT employer base.
Atlanta
Atlanta metro
Headquarters for Coca-Cola, Home Depot, UPS, Delta, NCR Voyix, Mailchimp (Intuit), Square/Block, and dozens of Fortune 500 IT operations. Strong fintech (Atlanta has been called 'Transaction Alley' for payments), e-commerce, and enterprise-software markets. Georgia Tech is the principal feeder for senior tech roles.
Augusta / Fort Eisenhower
Augusta metro
Home to the Army Cyber Center of Excellence and U.S. Cyber Command operations. Largest US concentration of military cybersecurity professionals outside DC. Cyber-cleared engineering roles dominate the local market, with substantial private-sector cybersecurity employment around the base.
Savannah
Savannah metro
Logistics-tech (Port of Savannah is the 3rd-largest US container port), defense (Gulfstream Aerospace), and an emerging consumer/startup tech scene. Smaller market but growing.
Georgia has a flat state income tax (5.39% in 2026, declining). The Georgia Investment Tax Credit and Quality Jobs Tax Credit are the principal state-level tech-employer incentives.
Georgia Regulation Affecting Cybersecurity Graduates
Georgia has not enacted a comprehensive consumer privacy law in the CCPA/VCDPA mold, but the state's cybercrime statutes, identity-theft protections, and active legislation around AI in state government shape the engineering compliance environment.
Georgia Personal Identity Protection Act
Requires businesses to notify Georgia residents of data breaches involving personal information; sets minimum standards for data security practices.
Standard breach-notification compliance for any GA-resident-serving business.
Read moreGeorgia Computer Systems Protection Act (O.C.G.A. § 16-9-90 et seq.)
State-level cybercrime statute covering unauthorized computer access, computer trespass, computer theft, and identity theft. Establishes Georgia jurisdiction over cyber offenses.
Particularly relevant for cybersecurity, incident response, and ethical-hacking work performed within Georgia.
Read moreGeorgia consumer privacy legislation (proposed)
Multiple sessions have seen bills introduced to create CCPA-style privacy rights; none has passed as of 2026.
Engineers should watch this — Georgia passing comprehensive privacy would materially change tech compliance overhead in Atlanta-headquartered businesses.
Read moreProfessional Engineer Licensure in Georgia
Georgia does not currently administer a separate Software Engineering PE license. ABET-EAC accreditation is recognized for traditional engineering PE tracks; software engineering is not a recognized Georgia PE discipline. For cybersecurity professionals, federal clearance requirements (Secret, Top Secret, TS/SCI) are far more relevant in the Augusta market than PE licensure.
Georgia licensing boardGeorgia Financial Aid Programs
HOPE Scholarship
State merit scholarshipCovers a portion of tuition at GA public schools; varies
Georgia high school graduates with 3.0+ GPA attending eligible GA colleges/universities
Zell Miller Scholarship
State merit scholarship (top tier)Full standard undergraduate tuition at GA public schools
Georgia HS grads with 3.7+ GPA + qualifying SAT/ACT scores at eligible GA institutions
HOPE Grant
State grantCovers tuition at GA technical colleges
GA residents pursuing certificates or diplomas at GA technical colleges (no GPA requirement)
Georgia Tuition Equalization Grant (TEG)
State grantUp to ~$900/yr
GA residents attending eligible private GA institutions
REACH Georgia Scholarship
State mentorship + scholarship$2,500-$10,000 toward college, often paired with HOPE
Selected low-income Georgia students starting in 8th grade who maintain academic standing
Transfer Pathways for Georgia Cybersecurity Students
Verdict: Georgia's University System of Georgia (USG) and Technical College System of Georgia (TCSG) have well-developed transfer pathways into the state's CAE-CD-designated cybersecurity programs. Augusta Technical College's direct articulation with Augusta University's cybersecurity program is one of the strongest US 2-year-to-4-year cybersecurity pipelines, particularly aligned with Fort Eisenhower's federal cyber workforce needs.
Best Georgia community/technical college cybersecurity feeder schools: Augusta Technical College (geographically and programmatically aligned with Augusta University and Fort Eisenhower), Georgia Perimeter College / Georgia State University Perimeter College (Atlanta metro feeders to Georgia State and Georgia Tech), Gwinnett Technical College (Atlanta suburbs, strong KSU pipeline), Atlanta Metropolitan State College, and Chattahoochee Technical College. Each has refined cybersecurity AAS sequences aligned to USG transfer pathways.
The Augusta Technical → Augusta University cybersecurity progression is unusually distinctive: Augusta Technical College's cybersecurity AAS feeds directly into Augusta University's bachelor's program in cybersecurity, and Augusta University's proximity to Fort Eisenhower (literally adjacent) plus its CAE-CD designation, CyberCorps SFS funding, and Army Cyber Center of Excellence affiliations creates one of the most integrated US 2-year-to-4-year-to-employment cyber pipelines.
Georgia Tech cybersecurity transfer admission through the new School of Cybersecurity and Privacy follows Georgia Tech's standard competitive CS transfer admission process, under 15% admit rate for qualified applicants. KSU (Kennesaw State University) cybersecurity has the largest CAE-CD-designated cybersecurity enrollment in Georgia and substantially more open transfer admission than Georgia Tech. Georgia Southern University, Georgia State University, and Albany State University all have CAE-CD-designated cybersecurity programs with accessible transfer admission. For Georgia cyber-track students, the Augusta pathway is the federal-cyber career optimization; the KSU/GSU pathway is the broader cybersecurity-career optimization; Georgia Tech is the research-track optimization.
15%
Cybersecurity Job Growth in Georgia
The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects 15% growth for cybersecurity occupations in Georgia through 2024-2034. The median salary stands at $107,450 with 39 accredited programs statewide.
Source: BLS Occupational Outlook
Georgia Cybersecurity Job Market & Salary
Verdict: Georgia has two cybersecurity job markets that are both unusually significant: Atlanta's growing private-sector cyber base (financial services cyber, fintech, healthcare cyber) and Augusta's federally distinctive cyber cluster, home to the Army Cyber Center of Excellence, U.S. Army Cyber Command, and Fort Eisenhower's substantial cleared cyber workforce. For cyber graduates targeting federal employment, Augusta is one of the few US destinations comparable to NoVA in scale and clearance-driven hiring, and notably more accessible from a cost-of-living standpoint.
By metro: Augusta averages ~$110,000-$140,000 for cleared cyber roles per BLS and industry surveys, with substantial premiums for TS/SCI clearance with polygraph (similar dynamics to NoVA but at lower cost of living). Major Augusta cyber employers: U.S. Army Cyber Command (Fort Eisenhower), U.S. Army Cyber Center of Excellence, plus federal contractors operating in support: Booz Allen Hamilton, SAIC, Leidos, Northrop Grumman, ManTech, CACI, and a growing constellation of smaller cyber firms supporting Army Cyber Command. Augusta's cost of living is roughly 30-40% below NoVA, making cleared cyber compensation purchasing power often equivalent or superior to NoVA equivalents.
Atlanta averages ~$120,000-$150,000 for security engineer roles, anchored by financial-services cyber (Truist Bank tech, Coca-Cola IT security, Delta IT security, NCR Voyix), payments-industry cyber (FIS, Global Payments, Atlanta's 'Transaction Alley' creates substantial payments security demand), healthcare-IT cyber (Kaiser Permanente, Northside Hospital, Emory Healthcare), and a growing private cybersecurity vendor cluster. Atlanta's private-sector cyber market is less clearance-driven than Augusta's.
Two distinctive Georgia cyber dynamics: (1) Augusta is one of the few US federal cyber destinations accessible from a cost-of-living standpoint, for cleared cyber professionals optimizing for purchasing power rather than nominal compensation, Augusta exceeds NoVA on take-home value. (2) Georgia's Computer Systems Protection Act (O.C.G.A. § 16-9-90 et seq.) creates state-level cybercrime jurisdiction supporting Atlanta's commercial cybersecurity work. The combination of HOPE/Zell Miller financial aid + Augusta University CyberCorps + Fort Eisenhower direct employment is one of the strongest US state-level integrated cyber career pipelines. See Cybersecurity Career Guide, Cybersecurity Certifications Guide, and Security Certifications Guide 2026.
Entry-Level (0-2 yrs)
New graduates and career changers
Senior (8+ yrs)
Technical leads and architects
Median Salary in Georgia$69,843$155,803
Typical RolesJunior Developer, AnalystStaff Engineer, Architect
Remote Work AccessLimitedCommon
Degree ExpectationBachelor's sufficientMaster's preferred
Online vs On-Campus Cybersecurity Programs in Georgia
Online Programs
15 available in Georgia
On-Campus Programs
Traditional classroom experience
Typical Tuition$5,834/yr$6,482/yr
Schedule FlexibilitySelf-paced or asyncFixed schedule
NetworkingVirtual cohortsIn-person, career fairs
Best ForWorking professionalsTraditional students
Completion Time2-4 years (flexible)4 years (standard)
Compare Cybersecurity Programs in Other States
Best Cybersecurity Degree Programs in Florida
- Total Programs
- 54
- Median Tuition
- $3,700
Best Cybersecurity Degree Programs in Alabama
- Total Programs
- 11
- Median Tuition
- $10,700
Best Cybersecurity Degree Programs in Tennessee
- Total Programs
- 10
- Median Tuition
- $16,500
Best Cybersecurity Degree Programs in North Carolina
- Total Programs
- 11
- Median Tuition
- $13,700
Best Cybersecurity Degree Programs in South Carolina
- Total Programs
- 10
- Median Tuition
- $12,600
Best Cybersecurity Degree Programs in California
- Total Programs
- 27
- Median Tuition
- $5,700
Best Cybersecurity Degree Programs in Washington
- Total Programs
- 32
- Median Tuition
- $4,300
Best Cybersecurity Degree Programs in Texas
- Total Programs
- 50
- Median Tuition
- $6,200
Cybersecurity Degree Programs in Georgia: FAQ
What are the best cybersecurity degree programs in Georgia?
The best cybersecurity degree programs in Georgia based on our methodology are: 1) University of North Georgia (100% graduation rate), 2) Georgia College & State University, and 3) Augusta University. Our rankings weight graduation rates (25%), program completions (35%), selectivity (20%), and career outcomes (20%). Georgia offers 39 total accredited programs across 32 public and 4 private institutions. See our complete rankings for all 9 bachelor's programs.
How much do cybersecurity degree programs cost in Georgia?
Cybersecurity degree program costs in Georgia vary significantly by institution type. In-state public tuition averages $6,482/year, while private institutions average $14,260/year. Community colleges offer the most affordable path at approximately $1,621/year for associate's degrees. The total 4-year cost ranges from $25,928 at public schools to $57,042 at private institutions before financial aid. Most students don't pay full sticker price, federal grants, state aid, and institutional scholarships can reduce costs by 30-60%.
What salary can cybersecurity degree graduates earn in Georgia?
Cybersecurity professionals in Georgia earn a median salary of $107,450, which is competitive with the national average of $115,500. Entry-level positions typically start around $69,843, while senior roles exceed $155,803. Salaries vary by metro area: Atlanta ($118,195), Savannah ($112,823) offer the highest compensation. Specialized roles like AI/ML engineers and cloud architects command premiums of 15-30% above median.
Are there online cybersecurity degree programs in Georgia?
Yes, Georgia offers 15 accredited online Cybersecurity programs from state institutions. These programs award the same degree as on-campus options and include synchronous and asynchronous formats. Top-ranked online programs include offerings from Georgia Institute of Technology-Main Campus and Augusta Technical College. Online programs typically cost the same as on-campus tuition for in-state students. Many programs offer flexible scheduling for working professionals, with some offering accelerated completion in 2-3 years. Ensure any online program holds regional accreditation and ideally ABET accreditation for engineering programs.
What companies hire cybersecurity degree graduates in Georgia?
Major Cybersecurity employers in Georgia include NCR, Mailchimp, SalesLoft, Calendly, OneTrust. The Atlanta and Savannah metro areas serve as primary tech hubs with thousands of open positions. Top employers maintain recruiting pipelines directly from Georgia universities, with many offering internship-to-hire programs. Beyond tech giants, opportunities exist in healthcare IT, financial services, defense contractors, and growing startups. Georgia's tech sector shows +22% projected job growth through 2033, outpacing most other industries.
Is a cybersecurity degree program worth it in Georgia?
A cybersecurity degree program in Georgia offers strong ROI with a $107,450 median salary and +22% projected job growth. At average in-state tuition of $6,482/year, graduates typically recoup their educational investment within 3-5 years. The degree opens doors to high-paying careers in software development ($121,418), data science, cybersecurity, and AI/ML. Beyond salary, benefits include job security, remote work flexibility, and clear advancement paths. Alternative paths like bootcamps exist for career changers, but bachelor's degrees provide broader career options and higher lifetime earnings.
How long do cybersecurity degree programs take in Georgia?
Standard completion times for cybersecurity degree programs in Georgia are: Associate's (2 years, 60 credits), Bachelor's (4 years, 120 credits), and Master's (1-2 years, 30-36 credits). However, actual timelines vary based on course load, transfer credits, and program format. Accelerated programs can compress a bachelor's to 3 years or a master's to 12 months. Part-time students typically need 5-6 years for a bachelor's degree. Georgia community colleges offer a cost-effective "2+2" path: complete your associate's in 2 years, then transfer to a Georgia university for the final 2 years of a bachelor's program.
What financial aid is available for cybersecurity degree students in Georgia?
Georgia cybersecurity degree students can access multiple financial aid sources. Federal aid includes Pell Grants (up to $7,395/year for qualifying students) and federal student loans. Georgia state grants provide additional support for residents attending in-state schools. Institutional scholarships from universities can significantly reduce costs, many schools offer merit-based awards for STEM students. Work-study programs and teaching/research assistantships (especially for graduate students) provide income while building experience. Complete the FAFSA by Georgia's priority deadline to maximize aid eligibility. Some employers also offer tuition reimbursement for employees pursuing CS degrees.
Data Sources
Institutional characteristics, completions, graduation rates
Georgia salary and employment data
Official University Websites
Program details and admissions information
Last Updated: June 26, 2026. Rankings based on IPEDS 2024 data. Salary data from BLS OEWS May 2024.
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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.