Best Associate's Cybersecurity Degree Programs in Honolulu, Hawaii
Leeward Community College — Near Honolulu, HI
If you want hands-on experience with real security tools before committing to a four-year degree, Leeward's cybersecurity program emphasizes lab-based learning in network security, system administration, and threat detection. You'll work with industry-standard platforms and gain practical skills that employers actually look for. Most graduates either land entry-level IT security roles at local government agencies, military contractors, or private firms in Hawaii, or they transfer to UH Mānoa or UH Hilo to complete a bachelor's degree while keeping tuition costs manageable. The program's strength lies in its connections to Hawaii's significant federal and defense sector, which actively recruits community college graduates for security support positions.
Programs Offered
- AAS in Cybersecurity — 2 years, on-campus
- AS in Information Technology with Security focus — 2 years, on-campus
Career Outcomes
Top Employers: Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard, Hickam Air Force Base, State of Hawaii IT departments, Local healthcare systems, Private managed IT service providers.
Top Transfer Destinations
- University of Hawaii at Mānoa
- University of Hawaii at Hilo
Entry-Level Career Paths
- Help Desk Technician
- IT Support Specialist
- Junior Network Administrator
- Security Operations Center (SOC) Analyst
- System Administrator
Included Certifications
- CompTIA A+
- CompTIA Network+
- CompTIA Security+
Location Advantages:
Honolulu Community College — Honolulu, HI
With Honolulu's central location and strong ties to the state's largest employers, the cybersecurity program focuses on building troubleshooting and defensive skills that matter immediately in the job market. You'll study network fundamentals, cybersecurity principles, and information assurance in a blend of classroom instruction and lab work designed to get you job-ready fast. Graduates commonly start as help desk specialists or junior IT support roles at major Honolulu-area employers—hospitals, government offices, financial institutions—and many use the degree as a springboard to transfer to a four-year program at UH Mānoa. The program's practical orientation means you're learning what you'll actually do on day one of work.
Programs Offered
- AAS in Cybersecurity — 2 years, on-campus
- AS in Information Technology — 2 years, on-campus
Career Outcomes
Top Employers: Queen's Medical Center, Straub Health Services, State of Hawaii departments, City & County of Honolulu, Local banks and financial institutions, Private IT service providers in Honolulu metro.
Top Transfer Destinations
- University of Hawaii at Mānoa
- University of Hawaii at Hilo
Entry-Level Career Paths
- Help Desk Technician
- IT Support Specialist
- Junior System Administrator
- IT Technician
- Security Analyst (entry-level)
Included Certifications
- CompTIA A+
- CompTIA Network+
- CompTIA Security+
Location Advantages:
Hawaii Pacific University — Honolulu, HI
Key Distinction: HPU combines cybersecurity technical training with business strategy integration, preparing graduates to lead security initiatives rather than solely execute technical tasks.
HPU's cybersecurity program emphasizes practical, hands-on learning within a business-focused curriculum that prepares students for immediate industry application. The program integrates threat modeling, vulnerability assessment, and incident response into a sequence that mirrors real-world security operations, rather than dwelling extensively on theoretical foundations. What distinguishes HPU's approach is its integration of cybersecurity across business contexts—students examine how security decisions affect organizational strategy, compliance, and risk management. The smaller class sizes enable direct mentorship from faculty with active industry experience, and the program leverages Hawaii's growing tech ecosystem and military presence to facilitate internships and networking opportunities. Graduates emerge with both technical depth and business acumen, making them competitive for roles that bridge security operations and management. The curriculum includes electives in cloud security, secure software development, and security governance, allowing students to tailor their path toward either technical specialization or leadership tracks. HPU's location creates unique opportunities for engagement with federal contractors and defense-adjacent organizations operating in the Pacific region.
Programs Offered
- BS in Cybersecurity — 4 years, on-campus
Location Advantages: Access to federal contractors and defense organizations in HawaiiGrowing regional tech and innovation ecosystem
Best Bachelor's Cybersecurity Degree Programs in Honolulu, Hawaii
University of Hawaii at Manoa — Honolulu, HI
Key Distinction: UH Manoa prioritizes research-informed cybersecurity education, preparing graduates to innovate in security rather than simply implement existing solutions.
The cybersecurity curriculum at UH Manoa is built on a research-forward foundation, leveraging the institution's broader computer science and information technology infrastructure to produce graduates capable of both immediate professional contribution and advanced scholarship. Students benefit from faculty actively engaged in security research spanning network defense, cryptography, and secure systems design—work that directly informs course content and capstone projects. The program's distinction lies in its emphasis on understanding adversarial thinking and attack surface analysis at a theoretical level before specializing in defensive technologies. UH Manoa's location and connections enable partnerships with federal cybersecurity initiatives and international collaborations, exposing students to global threat landscapes and policy frameworks. The program accommodates both undergraduate and graduate pathways, with the graduate track attracting professionals pursuing specialized credentials in areas like cloud infrastructure security or threat intelligence. Internship placements frequently involve Hawaii-based government agencies, national laboratories, and critical infrastructure operators, providing real-world context for coursework. Strong peer institutions in the UH system create opportunities for cross-campus research and specialized electives.
Programs Offered
- BS in Information Technology with Cybersecurity concentration — 4 years, on-campus
- MS in Computer Science with Cybersecurity focus — 2 years, on-campus
Location Advantages: Federal cybersecurity initiatives and national laboratory connectionsCritical infrastructure and government agency proximityInternational security policy and global threat intelligence networks
Brigham Young University-Hawaii — Near Honolulu, HI
Key Distinction: BYU-Hawaii uniquely integrates ethical leadership and values-based security thinking with technical cybersecurity training, preparing graduates to lead with integrity in security roles.
BYU-Hawaii's cybersecurity program is designed within a values-driven institutional framework that emphasizes ethical security practices, integrity in technical leadership, and responsibility in system design. The curriculum moves beyond defensive tools to cultivate professionals who think critically about security's human and organizational dimensions—privacy considerations, social engineering prevention, and ethical hacking boundaries. Students engage hands-on labs covering penetration testing, secure network architecture, and incident response while simultaneously studying security policy, regulatory compliance, and ethical decision-making frameworks. The program's distinctiveness emerges from its integration of faith-informed ethics with technical rigor, producing graduates who apply security expertise through a lens of stewardship. BYU-Hawaii's connection to the broader BYU system (including the main Provo campus with its substantial cybersecurity infrastructure and research) opens pathways for students to access specialized courses, guest lectures, and industry partnerships at larger scale. The Laie, Hawaii location attracts a globally diverse student body, creating rich team dynamics for capstone projects and internship placements. Graduates frequently move into government, defense, and corporate security roles where ethical leadership and principled decision-making are competitive advantages.
Programs Offered
- BS in Cybersecurity — 4 years, on-campus
Location Advantages: Access to broader BYU system resources and partnershipsGlobally diverse student cohorts and international security perspectivesLinks to defense and government cybersecurity sectors valuing ethical leadership
Hawaii Pacific University — Honolulu, HI
Key Distinction: HPU combines cybersecurity technical training with business strategy integration, preparing graduates to lead security initiatives rather than solely execute technical tasks.
HPU's cybersecurity program emphasizes practical, hands-on learning within a business-focused curriculum that prepares students for immediate industry application. The program integrates threat modeling, vulnerability assessment, and incident response into a sequence that mirrors real-world security operations, rather than dwelling extensively on theoretical foundations. What distinguishes HPU's approach is its integration of cybersecurity across business contexts—students examine how security decisions affect organizational strategy, compliance, and risk management. The smaller class sizes enable direct mentorship from faculty with active industry experience, and the program leverages Hawaii's growing tech ecosystem and military presence to facilitate internships and networking opportunities. Graduates emerge with both technical depth and business acumen, making them competitive for roles that bridge security operations and management. The curriculum includes electives in cloud security, secure software development, and security governance, allowing students to tailor their path toward either technical specialization or leadership tracks. HPU's location creates unique opportunities for engagement with federal contractors and defense-adjacent organizations operating in the Pacific region.
Programs Offered
- BS in Cybersecurity — 4 years, on-campus
Location Advantages: Access to federal contractors and defense organizations in HawaiiGrowing regional tech and innovation ecosystem
University of Hawaii-West Oahu — Near Honolulu, HI
Key Distinction: UH West Oahu specializes in practical, employment-focused cybersecurity education for working professionals, prioritizing industry certifications and immediate job readiness over research emphasis.
UH West Oahu delivers cybersecurity education with a pragmatic focus on working professionals and career-changers, recognizing that many students balance studies with employment and prior experience. The program's schedule and delivery format prioritize accessibility while maintaining technical rigor, offering evening and hybrid options alongside traditional courses. Rather than pursuing cutting-edge research, the curriculum concentrates on industry-validated competencies: systems hardening, access management, security operations center procedures, and compliance frameworks that directly translate to job market demand. The program benefits from UH system coordination and draws on experienced practitioners as adjunct faculty, ensuring content stays aligned with current threat landscapes and employer expectations. Students often complete security certifications (CompTIA Security+, Certified Information Systems Security Professional prep) as components of degree requirements, accelerating career advancement. West Oahu's Kaena Point location and connections to Oahu's tech and government sectors create internship opportunities in real operational environments. The cohort model—where students progress together through a sequence of courses—builds professional networks that extend beyond graduation. For learners seeking rapid, credential-focused preparation for cybersecurity careers, UH West Oahu offers a distinctly practiced, employment-oriented path.
Programs Offered
- BS in Cybersecurity — 4 years, hybrid
Accreditations and Certifications
- CompTIA Security+ preparation integrated into curriculum
- CISSP exam readiness components
Location Advantages: Access to Oahu tech ecosystem and government cybersecurity rolesProximity to established critical infrastructure and corporate security operationsStrong connections to working professionals in Hawaii cybersecurity sector
Best Master's Cybersecurity Degree Programs in Honolulu, Hawaii
University of Hawaii at Manoa — Honolulu, HI
Key Distinction: UH Manoa prioritizes research-informed cybersecurity education, preparing graduates to innovate in security rather than simply implement existing solutions.
The cybersecurity curriculum at UH Manoa is built on a research-forward foundation, leveraging the institution's broader computer science and information technology infrastructure to produce graduates capable of both immediate professional contribution and advanced scholarship. Students benefit from faculty actively engaged in security research spanning network defense, cryptography, and secure systems design—work that directly informs course content and capstone projects. The program's distinction lies in its emphasis on understanding adversarial thinking and attack surface analysis at a theoretical level before specializing in defensive technologies. UH Manoa's location and connections enable partnerships with federal cybersecurity initiatives and international collaborations, exposing students to global threat landscapes and policy frameworks. The program accommodates both undergraduate and graduate pathways, with the graduate track attracting professionals pursuing specialized credentials in areas like cloud infrastructure security or threat intelligence. Internship placements frequently involve Hawaii-based government agencies, national laboratories, and critical infrastructure operators, providing real-world context for coursework. Strong peer institutions in the UH system create opportunities for cross-campus research and specialized electives.
Programs Offered
- BS in Information Technology with Cybersecurity concentration — 4 years, on-campus
- MS in Computer Science with Cybersecurity focus — 2 years, on-campus
Location Advantages: Federal cybersecurity initiatives and national laboratory connectionsCritical infrastructure and government agency proximityInternational security policy and global threat intelligence networks
