Best Cybersecurity Degree Programs in Nampa, Idaho — 2026 Rankings

Nampa is home to a growing cybersecurity education ecosystem with 3 accredited programs across 1 associate's, 2 bachelor's, 1 master's, 1 doctoral degree levels within 50 miles. 2 of these institutions are physically located in Nampa, with the remaining schools accessible via short commutes from surrounding communities in the Nampa metro area.

2 schools near Nampa hold NSA Center of Academic Excellence (CAE) designation: College of Western Idaho, Boise State 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 Nampa metro area cybersecurity job market is substantial, with an estimated 215 open positions and a median salary of $105,000 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 Nampa, this translates to strong local hiring prospects upon graduation.

Among the top-ranked programs, Boise State University (89.2% graduation rate) leads the bachelor's rankings. See our complete rankings below for detailed program comparisons across all degree levels.

Cybersecurity professionals in the Nampa metro area earn a median salary of $105,000, which is 16% below the national median of $124,910 (BLS OEWS May 2024, SOC 15-1212: Information Security Analysts). This positions Nampa as a market where cybersecurity salaries are offset by Nampa's generally lower cost of living compared to coastal tech hubs.

Entry-level security analysts in Nampa can expect starting salaries around $92,400, 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 $99,750. Senior technical roles like security engineers command $113,400, while security architects who design enterprise defense systems earn up to $128,100.

At the management level, cybersecurity managers and CISOs in the Nampa metro area can earn $152,250 or more — a 65% premium over entry-level positions. This career trajectory from analyst to manager typically 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 Nampa. 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.

The Nampa 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:

Healthcare

St. Luke's Health System — Regional healthcare provider with extensive medical device security and patient data protection systems.

Technology

Micron Technology — Major semiconductor manufacturer with critical infrastructure security and supply chain protection operations.

Government

Boise State University — University with cybersecurity research programs and institutional security operations.

These employers represent a cross-section of the Nampa metro area area's cybersecurity hiring market. Many maintain partnerships with local universities for internships, co-ops, and direct hiring pipelines — making a degree from a Nampa-area school particularly valuable for breaking into the field.

Cyber threats are not abstract risks for Nampa — they have directly impacted local organizations, underscoring the urgent need for trained cybersecurity professionals in the Nampa metro area:

Micron Technology (2020) — data breach. Trade secret information and technical data accessed through targeted attack on corporate systems.

St. Luke's Health System (2021) — phishing. Employee credentials compromised leading to unauthorized access to patient records.

These incidents represent just a fraction of the cyber threats facing Nampa-area organizations. According to CyberSeek data, the Nampa metro area has an estimated 215 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 Nampa directly translate to preventing and responding to threats that affect their own community.

The cybersecurity job market in the Nampa metro area reflects a broader national talent crisis. Idaho has approximately 2,400 open cybersecurity positions (CyberSeek, January 2026), with an estimated 215 concentrated in the Nampa 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 Nampa 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 Idaho, the combination of growing digital transformation across industries is driving sustained demand for cybersecurity talent.

Most in-demand certifications that complement a cybersecurity degree from Nampa 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 Nampa 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 Idaho Cybersecurity Rankings.

Cybersecurity degree programs near Nampa range from $3,400/year at College of Western Idaho to $40,095/year at Northwest Nazarene University. Public institutions average $4,671/year (in-state), while private schools average $40,095/year.

Return on investment is compelling: with a median cybersecurity salary of $105,000 in the Nampa area versus a high school diploma median of $42,000 (BLS 2024), a four-year bachelor's degree at a typical tuition rate (approximately $160,380 total) can be recouped in roughly 2.5 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 $6,800 provides foundational credentials for entry-level SOC analyst or IT security roles paying $78,750+.

Ways to reduce costs: Federal financial aid (FAFSA), Idaho 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 Nampa area also offer tuition reimbursement for employees pursuing cybersecurity degrees — check with local employers listed in our employer section above.

Last Updated: February 18, 2026. Rankings based on IPEDS 2023 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.