Best Cybersecurity Degree Programs in Seattle, Washington — 2026 Rankings

Seattle is home to a growing cybersecurity education ecosystem with 8 accredited programs across 3 associate's, 4 bachelor's, 4 master's, 1 doctoral degree levels within 50 miles. 2 of these institutions are physically located in Seattle, with the remaining schools accessible via short commutes from surrounding communities in the Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue.

1 school near Seattle holds NSA Center of Academic Excellence (CAE) designation: University of Washington-Seattle Campus. 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 Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue cybersecurity job market is substantial, with an estimated 1,840 open positions and a median salary of $152,660 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 Seattle, this translates to strong local hiring prospects upon graduation.

Among the top-ranked programs, University of Washington-Seattle Campus (96.9% graduation rate) leads the bachelor's rankings. See our complete rankings below for detailed program comparisons across all degree levels.

Cybersecurity professionals in the Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue earn a median salary of $152,660, which is 22% above the national median of $124,910 (BLS OEWS May 2024, SOC 15-1212: Information Security Analysts). This positions Seattle as one of the highest-paying metro areas for cybersecurity talent in the country.

Entry-level security analysts in Seattle can expect starting salaries around $134,341, 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 $145,027. Senior technical roles like security engineers command $164,873, while security architects who design enterprise defense systems earn up to $186,245.

At the management level, cybersecurity managers and CISOs in the Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue can earn $221,357 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 Seattle. 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 Seattle cybersecurity job market spans 4 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:

Technology

Amazon — Global technology leader with extensive AWS cloud infrastructure security, threat modeling, and SOC operations.

Microsoft — Major software company with significant Azure cloud security operations, incident response, and threat intelligence teams.

Defense

Boeing — Aerospace and defense contractor managing classified programs, supply chain security, and OT/IT integration.

Government

University of Washington — Research institution hosting cybersecurity labs, security research programs, and incident response capabilities.

Healthcare

Providence Health — Large health system managing healthcare cybersecurity, medical device protection, and patient data security across the region.

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

Cyber threats are not abstract risks for Seattle — they have directly impacted local organizations, underscoring the urgent need for trained cybersecurity professionals in the Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue:

University of Washington (2020) — data breach. Unauthorized access to student and employee personal information including names, email addresses, and phone numbers.

Washington state government (2022) — data breach. Breach of Department of Revenue systems exposed personal and financial information of Washington state residents and businesses.

These incidents represent just a fraction of the cyber threats facing Seattle-area organizations. According to CyberSeek data, the Seattle metro area has an estimated 1,840 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 Seattle directly translate to preventing and responding to threats that affect their own community.

If you live in a community near Seattle, you can access the same cybersecurity programs without relocating. The greater Seattle area is well-connected, and many students commute from surrounding cities to attend programs locally. Here is how Seattle's cybersecurity schools are accessible from nearby areas:

• Bellevue (also has 1 local program) → University of Washington-Seattle Campus (9 mi), Seattle University (8 mi)
• Tacoma (also has 2 local programs) → University of Washington-Seattle Campus (30 mi), Seattle University (27 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 Seattle. Several programs also offer fully online options — see our rankings with online filter above.

The cybersecurity job market in the Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue reflects a broader national talent crisis. Washington has approximately 12,500 open cybersecurity positions (CyberSeek, January 2026), with an estimated 1,840 concentrated in the Seattle 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 Seattle 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 Washington, 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 Seattle 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 Seattle 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 Washington Cybersecurity Rankings.

Cybersecurity degree programs near Seattle range from $4,073/year at Edmonds College to $53,235/year at Seattle University. Public institutions average $7,324/year (in-state), while private schools average $53,235/year.

Return on investment is compelling: with a median cybersecurity salary of $152,660 in the Seattle area versus a high school diploma median of $42,000 (BLS 2024), a four-year bachelor's degree at a typical tuition rate (approximately $87,808 total) can be recouped in roughly 0.8 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 $8,146 provides foundational credentials for entry-level SOC analyst or IT security roles paying $114,495+.

Ways to reduce costs: Federal financial aid (FAFSA), Washington 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 Seattle 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.