Best Cybersecurity Degree Programs in Milwaukee, Wisconsin — 2026 Rankings

Milwaukee is home to a growing cybersecurity education ecosystem with 5 accredited programs across 2 associate's, 2 bachelor's, 3 master's, 1 doctoral degree levels within 50 miles. 3 of these institutions are physically located in Milwaukee, with the remaining schools accessible via short commutes from surrounding communities in the Milwaukee-Waukesha-West Allis.

The Milwaukee-Waukesha-West Allis cybersecurity job market is substantial, with an estimated 380 open positions and a median salary of $112,000 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 Milwaukee, this translates to strong local hiring prospects upon graduation.

Among the top-ranked programs, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee (96.5% graduation rate) leads the bachelor's rankings. See our complete rankings below for detailed program comparisons across all degree levels.

Cybersecurity professionals in the Milwaukee-Waukesha-West Allis earn a median salary of $112,000, which is 10% below the national median of $124,910 (BLS OEWS May 2024, SOC 15-1212: Information Security Analysts). This positions Milwaukee as a market where cybersecurity salaries are offset by Milwaukee's generally lower cost of living compared to coastal tech hubs.

Entry-level security analysts in Milwaukee can expect starting salaries around $98,560, 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 $106,400. Senior technical roles like security engineers command $120,960, while security architects who design enterprise defense systems earn up to $136,640.

At the management level, cybersecurity managers and CISOs in the Milwaukee-Waukesha-West Allis can earn $162,400 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 Milwaukee. 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 Milwaukee cybersecurity job market spans 5 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

Advocate Aurora Health — Large regional health system with significant cybersecurity operations protecting patient data across multiple Wisconsin locations.

UW Health — Academic health system operating SOCs and managing cybersecurity across hospital networks and patient information systems.

Finance

Northwestern Mutual — Major financial services company headquartered in Milwaukee with dedicated cybersecurity and fraud prevention teams.

Technology

Epic Systems — Healthcare software giant based in nearby Madison with growing cybersecurity infrastructure for enterprise cloud deployments.

Generac Holdings — Power generation equipment manufacturer in Waukesha with industrial control systems and OT cybersecurity requirements.

Retail

Kohl's — National retailer headquartered in Menomonee Falls with cybersecurity focus on point-of-sale and e-commerce protection.

Government

U.S. Army Garrison Fort McCoy — Regional military installation near Sparta, Wisconsin with cybersecurity and IT security operations.

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

Cyber threats are not abstract risks for Milwaukee — they have directly impacted local organizations, underscoring the urgent need for trained cybersecurity professionals in the Milwaukee-Waukesha-West Allis:

Advocate Aurora Health (2022) — data breach. Ransomware attack affecting approximately 3.5 million patients across Wisconsin; patient data including names, addresses, and medical information compromised.

Epic Systems (2024) — data breach. Vulnerabilities in EHR software affected healthcare organizations nationwide, prompting major patching and security reviews across Epic client base.

Kohl's (2021) — data breach. Customer payment card data exposed through third-party vendor compromise, affecting e-commerce operations and customer trust.

These incidents represent just a fraction of the cyber threats facing Milwaukee-area organizations. According to CyberSeek data, the Milwaukee metro area has an estimated 380 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 Milwaukee directly translate to preventing and responding to threats that affect their own community.

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

- Waukesha → Milwaukee Area Technical College (16 mi), University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee (18 mi), Marquette University (15 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 Milwaukee. Several programs also offer fully online options — see our rankings with online filter above.

The cybersecurity job market in the Milwaukee-Waukesha-West Allis reflects a broader national talent crisis. Wisconsin has approximately 5,000 open cybersecurity positions (CyberSeek, January 2026), with an estimated 380 concentrated in the Milwaukee 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 Milwaukee 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 Wisconsin, 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 Milwaukee 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 Milwaukee 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 Wisconsin Cybersecurity Rankings.

Cybersecurity degree programs near Milwaukee range from $4,386/year at Milwaukee Area Technical College to $47,690/year at Marquette University. Public institutions average $6,010/year (in-state), while private schools average $47,690/year.

Return on investment is compelling: with a median cybersecurity salary of $112,000 in the Milwaukee area versus a high school diploma median of $42,000 (BLS 2024), a four-year bachelor's degree at a typical tuition rate (approximately $112,292 total) can be recouped in roughly 1.6 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 $8,772 provides foundational credentials for entry-level SOC analyst or IT security roles paying $84,000+.

Ways to reduce costs: Federal financial aid (FAFSA), Wisconsin 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 Milwaukee 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).