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Key Takeaways
Best cybersecurity degree programs: Northeastern, Bentley, College of Our Lady of th...
Ranked by graduation rates, program outcomes, and institutional quality
Tuition ranges from $576 to $66,410/year
Springfield Technical Com... offers the most affordable option at $600/yr
Cybersecurity degree programs available: 9 associate's, 7 master's, 1 doctoral in Massachusetts
From community college pathways to advanced research degrees
4 online cybersecurity degree programs in Massachusetts
Flexible scheduling for working professionals
Massachusetts community college transfer can save 40-60% on total degree costs
9 associate's programs provide transfer pathways to bachelor's degrees
Education Commission of the States
Major employers: Amazon, Google, HubSpot, Wayfair
Tech hubs in Boston and Cambridge
Hakia Research 2026
Cybersecurity degree programs near 75+ cities across Massachusetts
Search by city to find programs within 200 miles of your location
Updated July 13, 2026
How we ranked Massachusetts Cybersecurity programs
We rank 22 accredited cybersecurity programs in Massachusetts 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.
Are Cybersecurity Degree Programs in Massachusetts Worth It?
Source: BLS OEWS May 2024
Cybersecurity Degree Rankings in Massachusetts
Compare the top-ranked Cybersecurity programs in Massachusetts by degree level. Tuition, graduation rate, and Hakia Score for every accredited program.
Best Associate's Cybersecurity Programs in Massachusetts
Program Landscape
Massachusetts offers 9 accredited associate's degree programs in cybersecurity, providing an affordable entry point into the technology field. The top-ranked programs include Springfield Technical Com..., Quinsigamond Community Co..., Northern Essex Community ..., which combine rigorous technical curriculum with practical skills training.
Costs & Value
Community colleges in Massachusetts offer these two-year programs at an average cost of $1,173/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 $70,752 in Massachusetts.
Career Pathways
Many programs feature guaranteed transfer agreements with Massachusetts's public universities, allowing students to complete their first two years at reduced cost before transferring to complete a bachelor's degree. The Boston, Cambridge, Worcester areas offer particularly strong job markets for associate's degree holders, with employers like Amazon, Google, HubSpot 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 Massachusetts, these associate's programs offer the best value for students beginning their cybersecurity degrees in Massachusetts.
Show all 7 ranked programs
| Rank | School | Location | Type | Tuition | Grad Rate | Hakia Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #6 | Massachusetts Bay Community College | Wellesley Hills, MA | Public | $576 | 17% | 62.5 |
| #7 | North Shore Community College | Danvers, MA | Public | $600 | 18% | 61.8 |
Best Bachelor's Cybersecurity Programs in Massachusetts
Program Landscape
Massachusetts ranks among the nation's top destinations for cybersecurity education, with 5 accredited bachelor's degree programs across 0 public and 5 private institutions. The highest-ranked programs are Northeastern, Bentley, College of Our Lady of th..., recognized for academic excellence, research opportunities, and strong industry connections.
Career Outcomes
Graduates from Massachusetts cybersecurity programs earn a median salary of $109,344, 11% above the national average. The state's robust technology sector, anchored by the Boston, Cambridge, Worcester metropolitan areas, provides abundant internship and employment opportunities with companies including Amazon, Google, HubSpot.
Costs & Value
Tuition ranges from $40,095 to $62,000 annually, with an average of $49,841/yr. Top programs maintain graduation rates above 93%, with the highest reaching 99%. 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 Massachusetts's leading technology employers. For students seeking cybersecurity degrees in Massachusetts, these top-ranked cybersecurity schools offer the strongest combination of academic rigor and career preparation.
Northeastern University
Wentworth Institute of Technology
College of Our Lady of the Elms
Show all 6 ranked programs
| Rank | School | Location | Type | Tuition | Grad Rate | Hakia Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #6 | Lasell University | Newton, MA | Private nonprofit | $27,040 | 59% | 67.4 |
Best Master's Cybersecurity Programs in Massachusetts
Program Landscape
Massachusetts offers 7 master's degree programs in cybersecurity, designed for professionals seeking to advance into senior engineering, technical leadership, and specialized roles. The top programs, Northeastern, Clark, Boston College, combine advanced technical training with research opportunities and leadership development.
Career Outcomes
Master's graduates in Massachusetts earn a median salary of $128,640, approximately 20-30% higher than bachelor's degree holders. The concentration of technology companies in Boston, Cambridge, Worcester creates strong demand for graduate-level talent, with Amazon, Google, HubSpot 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 $62,233/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 Massachusetts's cybersecurity schools at the graduate level, these programs stand out for both academic quality and career outcomes.
Northeastern University
Show all 6 ranked programs
| Rank | School | Location | Type | Tuition | Grad Rate | Hakia Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #6 | Worcester Polytechnic Institute | Worcester, MA | Private nonprofit | $59,700 | 90% | 83.6 |
Best Doctoral Cybersecurity Programs in Massachusetts
Program Landscape
Massachusetts is home to 1 doctoral programs in cybersecurity, preparing students for research positions, faculty appointments, and executive technical roles. Leading programs at Northeastern are recognized for cutting-edge research, strong faculty publications, and competitive funding packages.
Career Outcomes
Doctoral graduates command premium salaries, with Massachusetts PhD holders earning a median of $160,800, reflecting the advanced expertise required for research and executive positions. The Boston, Cambridge, Worcester region's research universities and corporate R&D centers provide extensive collaboration opportunities with industry leaders like Amazon, Google, HubSpot.
Costs & Value
PhD programs typically require 4-6 years of full-time study, including coursework, qualifying examinations, and original dissertation research. Many programs offer full funding through teaching or research assistantships, covering tuition and providing stipends of $25,000–$40,000 annually.
Curriculum & Specializations
Research strengths across Massachusetts programs include artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, human-computer interaction, systems, and theoretical computer science. For aspiring researchers pursuing cybersecurity degrees in Massachusetts, graduates go on to careers as university faculty, industry research scientists, or technical executives, contributing to advances in technology that impact millions of users worldwide.
Cybersecurity Degree Costs & Tuition in Massachusetts
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Average in-state tuition | $31,670/year |
| Average out-of-state tuition | $79,175/year |
| Community college tuition | $7,918/year |
| 4-year savings for residents | $190,020 |
| 2+2 transfer pathway savings | $47,504 |
Source: IPEDS 2024
Financial Aid & Scholarships for Cybersecurity Students in Massachusetts
State Aid Programs
Massachusetts offers substantial state-funded financial aid programs that complement federal assistance, making cybersecurity education accessible to students from diverse economic backgrounds. The MASSGrant program provides need-based aid exclusively for Massachusetts residents attending public or private institutions, with awards varying by student need and institution type (MASSGrant).
Key Programs & Amounts
Students must complete the FAFSA annually by June 30 and maintain satisfactory academic progress to receive continuing awards. The Massachusetts High Demand Scholarship provides up to $10,000 per year for full-time students pursuing STEM degrees, including cybersecurity and computer science programs (High Demand Scholarship).
Institutional Scholarships
Part-time students receive up to $5,000 annually. Eligibility requires Massachusetts residency for at least one year, enrollment in an eligible program, maintenance of a 3.0 GPA, and FAFSA completion. The 2025-2026 application period runs June 2 through July 18. The John and Abigail Adams Scholarship provides tuition waivers at Massachusetts public institutions for high-achieving high school graduates who score in the top 25% on MCAS exams.
This merit-based scholarship significantly reduces costs for qualifying students attending UMass, state universities, or community colleges. Federal Pell Grants provide up to $7,395 for the 2024-25 academic year for students demonstrating financial need. The CyberCorps Scholarship for Service program provides full scholarships plus stipends for cybersecurity students who commit to federal government service after graduation, a particularly valuable option given Massachusetts' concentration of defense contractors and government agencies.
MEFA (Massachusetts Educational Financing Authority) provides additional resources for college planning and financing.
Cybersecurity Degree ROI Calculator, Massachusetts
Use our interactive ROI calculator to estimate your return on investment for a cybersecurity degree in Massachusetts. 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
+906%
Net gain divided by total investment. ROI above 200% is considered excellent for education investments.
$1,675,825
Your additional lifetime earnings with this degree vs. working without one, minus the total investment.
5 years
Years until your cumulative earnings exceed total investment. Shorter programs often break even faster due to lower opportunity cost.
$90,323
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
Tuition plus opportunity cost (earnings you miss while in school)
Direct cost of the degree program
4 years × $35K/year foregone salary while studying full-time
Projected career earnings starting after graduation, with salary growth
What you'd earn working at $35K/year with 2% annual growth
Median salary for this role in your selected location (BLS 2024)
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 Massachusetts metro areas
View data table
| Category | Value |
|---|---|
| Boston | $142K |
| Cambridge | $135K |
| Worcester | $129K |
Source: BLS OEWS May 2024
Hakia.com
Top Employers Hiring Cybersecurity Graduates in Massachusetts
Find cybersecurity jobs in Massachusetts. These major employers across Massachusetts metro areas are actively hiring cybersecurity degree holders. Click employer names to view current job openings.
Cybersecurity Jobs in Boston/Cambridge
MABoston/Cambridge is a biotech and AI research hub, anchored by MIT, Harvard, and major tech company R&D centers.
Nearby cities: Cambridge, Somerville, Waltham, Burlington, Quincy
Transfer Pathways for Cybersecurity Degrees in Massachusetts
State Transfer System
Massachusetts offers one of the nation's most comprehensive transfer systems, enabling students to begin cybersecurity education at community colleges and seamlessly transfer to four-year institutions. MassTransfer serves as the statewide framework connecting 15 community colleges with state universities and UMass campuses, providing guaranteed admission, credit transfer, and tuition benefits for qualifying students (MassTransfer).
How Transfers Work
The A2B (Associate to Bachelor's) Mapped Pathways lay out specific freshman and sophomore courses so that credits earned at community colleges are guaranteed to transfer and count toward bachelor's degrees at participating institutions. Students completing A2B pathways with at least a 3.0 GPA receive guaranteed admission to state universities or UMass campuses with no application fees or essays required.
Transfer Planning Tips
The Gen Ed Foundation, a set of 34 transferable general education credits, can be completed at any Massachusetts community college and transfers to all public four-year institutions. The Commonwealth Commitment provides additional savings for full-time students following A2B pathways while maintaining a 3.0+ GPA.
Benefits include a 10% rebate on tuition and fees, frozen tuition rates for four years, and guaranteed transfer admission. Students completing their first two years at community college save 40% or more on total degree costs while maintaining clear pathways to competitive programs. Bristol Community College, Bunker Hill Community College, and Middlesex Community College offer cybersecurity-related associate degrees and certificates designed for transfer.
Students should meet with academic advisors at both sending and receiving institutions to ensure courses align with cybersecurity program requirements. Many four-year institutions maintain specific articulation agreements detailing exact course equivalencies.
Why Pursue a Cybersecurity Degree in Massachusetts?
Industry & Workforce
Massachusetts stands as one of the premier destinations for cybersecurity education in the United States, combining academic institutions with a thriving technology ecosystem along the Route 128 corridor and in Greater Boston. The Commonwealth hosts over 450 cybersecurity companies including industry leaders Rapid7, Cybereason, and Recorded Future, providing students access to internships and career opportunities (Mass Cyber Center).
Salary Outlook
Information security analysts in Massachusetts earn a median annual wage of $127,610, exceeding the national median of $124,910 by 2%, while benefiting from the state's concentration of healthcare, financial services, and defense contractors who require strong security expertise (BLS OEWS May 2024). The Boston-Cambridge-Quincy metropolitan area serves as the epicenter of Massachusetts cybersecurity employment, hosting Fortune 500 companies like Fidelity Investments, State Street Corporation, and Liberty Mutual alongside major healthcare systems including Mass General Brigham and Beth Israel Deaconess.
Regional Tech Hubs
The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects employment of information security analysts to grow 29 percent from 2024 to 2034, much faster than average for all occupations (BLS OOH). Massachusetts employs approximately 4,770 information security analysts, with 1.4 analysts per 1,000 workers statewide and forecasted job growth of 28.5% over the coming decade.
Northeastern University has earned designation as a National Security Agency (NSA) and Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense, Cyber Operations, and Research, placing it among an elite group of institutions meeting rigorous federal standards (Northeastern Cybersecurity). Students complete capstone projects with companies including Rapid7, MITRE, Mass General Brigham, Fidelity, and Raytheon, while the university's cooperative education program, ranked #1 nationally by U.S.
News, integrates six-month professional experiences into degree programs. Compare cybersecurity programs in California, Texas, or explore our national rankings.
Cybersecurity Job Growth in Massachusetts
Source: BLS Occupational Outlook
Cybersecurity Job Market & Salary Data in Massachusetts
Employment Outlook
Massachusetts cybersecurity professionals enjoy one of the strongest job markets in the nation, driven by the concentration of financial services, healthcare, defense contractors, and technology companies throughout Greater Boston and the Route 128 corridor. The median annual wage for information security analysts in Massachusetts is $127,610 ($61/hour), positioning the state among the highest-paying for cybersecurity careers (BLS OEWS May 2024).
Salaries by Metro
Entry-level cybersecurity analysts in Boston earn $120,000-$170,000 annually, while senior security architects and CISOs command salaries exceeding $200,000. The Boston metropolitan area hosts an exceptional concentration of cybersecurity employers spanning multiple sectors. Major financial institutions including Fidelity Investments, State Street Corporation, and Liberty Mutual maintain substantial security operations protecting trillions of dollars in assets.
High-Growth Sectors
Healthcare systems including Mass General Brigham, Beth Israel Deaconess, and Boston Children's Hospital employ security teams protecting sensitive patient data under HIPAA regulations. Defense contractors Raytheon, MITRE, and MIT Lincoln Laboratory provide opportunities in classified government security work (Cambridge Top 25 Employers).
The Commonwealth hosts over 450 dedicated cybersecurity companies, establishing it as a national hub for security innovation. Rapid7, headquartered in Boston, protects 11,000+ customers globally and regularly hires security engineers, analysts, and researchers (Rapid7 Careers).
Cybereason, founded in Boston in 2012 with 1,300 employees, provides enterprise endpoint protection and proactive threat hunting services (Cybereason Boston). Other notable employers include Recorded Future in Somerville, Carbon Black (now VMware), RSA Security in Bedford, and SimSpace.
MassTech's Intern Partnership program provides up to $3,200 in reimbursement for companies hiring cybersecurity interns, with priority focus areas including cybersecurity (MassTech Intern Partnership).
Entry-Level (0-2 yrs)
New graduates and career changers
Senior (8+ yrs)
Technical leads and architects
Online vs On-Campus Cybersecurity Programs in Massachusetts
Online Programs
4 available in Massachusetts
On-Campus Programs
Traditional classroom experience
Compare Cybersecurity Programs in Other States
- Total Programs
- 9
- Median Tuition
- $15,500
- Total Programs
- 65
- Median Tuition
- $18,600
- Total Programs
- 7
- Median Tuition
- $44,100
- Total Programs
- 9
- Median Tuition
- $33,200
- Total Programs
- 27
- Median Tuition
- $5,700
- Total Programs
- 32
- Median Tuition
- $4,300
- Total Programs
- 50
- Median Tuition
- $6,200
Cybersecurity Degree Programs in Massachusetts: FAQ
What are the best cybersecurity degree programs in Massachusetts?
How much do cybersecurity degree programs cost in Massachusetts?
What salary can cybersecurity degree graduates earn in Massachusetts?
Are there online cybersecurity degree programs in Massachusetts?
What companies hire cybersecurity degree graduates in Massachusetts?
Is a cybersecurity degree program worth it in Massachusetts?
How long do cybersecurity degree programs take in Massachusetts?
What financial aid is available for cybersecurity degree students in Massachusetts?
Data Sources
Institutional characteristics, completions, graduation rates
Massachusetts salary and employment data
Program details and admissions information
Last Updated: June 26, 2026. Rankings based on IPEDS 2024 data. Salary data from BLS OEWS May 2024.

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.
