Best Information Security Bachelor's Programs 2026

Best Information Security Programs - Top 10 Bachelor's — Complete Program Data

1. #1. Purdue University-Main Campus

   Location: West Lafayette, IN | Type: Public | Tuition: $9,718/year | Graduation Rate: 83% | Score: 75.5

   What makes Purdue University-Main Campus stand out: Purdue's cybersecurity program uniquely integrates criminological studies with technical training, teaching students both how to build secure systems and understand cybercriminal behavior through courses like Cyber Criminology - a perspective that most programs overlook.

   Hakia Insight: Purdue University-Main Campus's partnerships with IBM and Cisco translate research into real-world experience — a key differentiator for hiring managers.

   Program Overview: Purdue University operates one of the nation's most comprehensive cybersecurity programs through its School of Applied and Creative Computing within the Purdue Polytechnic Institute. The program offers a distinctive Bachelor of Science in Cybersecurity that uniquely combines technical depth with criminological understanding, teaching students both how to build secure systems and understand the minds behind cyber threats. Students can pursue their degree on either the historic West Lafayette campus with its advanced research labs and traditional university atmosphere, or at the Indianapolis campus, which offers expanded internship opportunities in Indiana's capital city. The program distinguishes itself through hands-on learning in specialized facilities like the Cybersecurity & Forensics Lab and Cyber Security and Networking Lab, where students gain practical experience in digital forensics, incident response, and vulnerability assessment. What sets Purdue's approach apart is its integration of courses like Cyber Criminology alongside traditional technical coursework, providing graduates with a holistic understanding of cybersecurity that spans from secure coding and cryptography to understanding cybercrime motivations and legal frameworks.

   Degree Programs: BS in Computer Science (Cybersecurity concentration) (4 years); MS in Computer Science (Cybersecurity specialization) (2 years); PhD in Computer Science (Cybersecurity focus) (5-6 years)

   Research Labs: Cybersecurity & Forensics Lab - Digital forensics and incident response training; Cyber Security and Networking Lab - Network security and infrastructure protection

   Industry Partners: IBM, Cisco, Caterpillar, National Security Agency (NSA), National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST)

   Career Outcomes: | Top Employers: Google, Microsoft, Amazon, IBM, Cisco, Lockheed Martin, Raytheon, JPMorgan Chase | Common Roles: Security Engineer, Penetration Tester, Security Analyst, Incident Response Engineer, Security Architect

   Notable Faculty: Eugene Spafford (Cybersecurity, malware analysis, security policy, research ethics)

   Admissions: GPA: 3.2 minimum for transfers

   Accreditations: ABET accredited, NSA/DHS Centers of Academic Excellence (CAE) in Cyber Defense

2. #2. Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus

   Location: University Park, PA | Type: Public | Tuition: $19,672/year | Graduation Rate: 87% | Score: 71.8

   What makes Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus stand out: Penn State's cybersecurity program stands out through its integration with the Applied Research Laboratory, a Department of Defense-designated University Affiliated Research Center established in 1945, and the newly launched National Security Institute, positioning students at the intersection of academic research and real-world defense applications.

   Hakia Insight: Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus's partnerships with U.S. Navy and Department of Defense translate research into real-world experience — a key differentiator for hiring managers.

   Program Overview: Penn State's College of Information Sciences and Technology offers a comprehensive suite of cybersecurity programs anchored by its flagship B.S. in Cybersecurity Analytics and Operations and Master of Professional Studies in Cybersecurity Analytics and Operations. The undergraduate program uniquely combines cyber-defense technologies with risk analysis and management, requiring students to complete courses spanning from malware analytics to legal frameworks. Students must maintain a grade of C or better in all major courses and complete a mandatory internship. The 33-credit online master's program, delivered entirely through Penn State World Campus, focuses on incident response, strategic planning, and crisis management with interactive coursework taught by experienced practitioners and researchers.

   Degree Programs: B.S. in Cybersecurity Analytics and Operations (4 years); Master of Professional Studies in Cybersecurity Analytics and Operations (Variable)

   Research Labs: Applied Research Laboratory - University Affiliated Research Center supporting Navy and DoD with cybersecurity, communications, and information systems research

   Industry Partners: U.S. Navy, Department of Defense

   Career Outcomes: | Common Roles: cybersecurity professionals, cyber analysts

   Admissions: GPA: 2.90 minimum cumulative GPA for undergraduate entrance to major

   Accreditations: National Security Agency Certificate

3. #3. University of South Florida

   Location: Tampa, FL | Type: Public | Tuition: $4,559/year | Graduation Rate: 85% | Score: 68.8

   What makes University of South Florida stand out: USF's cybersecurity program operates within Tampa Bay's rapidly growing tech corridor, which has expanded 28.5% over five years, providing direct access to major employers like Apple, Lockheed Martin, Meta, and cybersecurity firms like ReliaQuest and Rapid7 for internships and recruiting.

   Hakia Insight: University of South Florida's partnerships with Apple and Lockheed Martin translate research into real-world experience — a key differentiator for hiring managers.

   Program Overview: The University of South Florida offers a comprehensive Bachelor of Science in Cybersecurity (B.S.C.Y.S.) through the newly established Bellini College of Artificial Intelligence, Cybersecurity and Computing. This 120-credit hour program combines technical computing foundations with specialized cybersecurity knowledge, covering everything from penetration testing and network security to human factors and policy considerations. Students gain hands-on experience through required courses like CIS 4622 (Hands-on Cybersecurity), CIS 4200 (Penetration Testing), and CNT 4403 (Network Security and Firewalls), while also exploring the ethical and organizational dimensions through courses on information policy and risk management. The program requires 59 credit hours of major core courses plus 21 credit hours of electives, allowing students to specialize in areas like malware analysis, cyber forensics, cloud computing, or health information security through partnerships across multiple USF colleges.

   Degree Programs: BS Cybersecurity (4 years); MS Cybersecurity Intelligence and Information Security (2 years); MS Cybersecurity; PhD Computer Science and Engineering

   Research Labs: Florida Center for Cybersecurity (Cyber Florida) - Statewide cybersecurity research center hosted at USF, collaborating with industry, government, and military

   Industry Partners: Apple, Lockheed Martin, Meta, ReliaQuest, Rapid7

   Career Outcomes:

   Admissions: GPA: 2.0 minimum USF and overall GPA to maintain enrollment

4. #4. Rochester Institute of Technology

   Location: Rochester, NY | Type: Private | Tuition: $55,784/year | Graduation Rate: 90% | Score: 67.5

   Hakia Insight: Rochester Institute of Technology's partnerships with Microsoft and Tesla translate research into real-world experience — a key differentiator for hiring managers.

   Program Overview: RIT's cybersecurity program features a state-of-the-art 52,000-square-foot Global Cybersecurity Institute and advanced Cyber Range facility, with students recognized as powerhouse competitors who have won national cybersecurity competitions. The program is NSA-designated as a National Center of Academic Excellence and offers STEM-OPT visa eligibility for international students.

   Degree Programs: Bachelors in Information Security

   Research Labs: Artificial Intelligence Research Lab - Computer vision, robotics, virtual theatre, sensor networks, data mining; Computer Graphics and Visualization Lab - Advanced graphics programming, image synthesis, computer animation, virtual reality; Security Research Lab - Networking security, cryptography, secure databases

   Industry Partners: Microsoft, Tesla, Boeing, Lockheed Martin, IBM, JPMorgan Chase & Co., U.S. Department of Defense, Alion Science and Technology, Bose, Collins Aerospace

   Career Outcomes:

   Admissions: GPA: not specified | Acceptance Rate: not specified

   Accreditations: National Center of Academic Excellence in Cybersecurity Research and Education by the National Security Agency

5. #5. University of Maryland Global Campus

   Location: Adelphi, MD | Type: Public | Tuition: $7,632/year | Graduation Rate: 74% | Score: 67.2

   What makes University of Maryland Global Campus stand out: UMGC operates the award-winning Cybersecurity Competition Team that ranks among the top 5 globally and was named 2023 Academic Partner of the Year by EC-Council, while utilizing the groundbreaking MARS AI-driven virtual learning platform for immersive cybersecurity training.

   Hakia Insight: University of Maryland Global Campus's partnerships with NSA and DC3 translate research into real-world experience — a key differentiator for hiring managers.

   Program Overview: University of Maryland Global Campus offers a comprehensive Master of Science in Cybersecurity Technology designed specifically for working professionals seeking to advance their careers in the rapidly evolving cybersecurity field. This 30-credit online program combines core cybersecurity foundations with flexible specialization tracks, allowing students to earn graduate certificates in areas like cloud computing, cyber operations, digital forensics, or cybersecurity management. What sets UMGC apart is its innovative use of the Multi-Dimensional Applied Relevant System (MARS), an AI-driven virtual learning platform that provides hands-on, immersive cybersecurity training experiences. The program is taught by practicing cybersecurity professionals who bring real-world expertise directly into the virtual classroom, ensuring students learn cutting-edge skills with industry-relevant tools like Microsoft Windows, Kali Linux, Red Hat Linux, and Cisco routers.

   Degree Programs: BS in Cybersecurity (4 years); Graduate Certificate in Cybersecurity (1 year)

   Research Labs: Center for Security Studies - Applied research, advisory services, and specialized cybersecurity education

   Industry Partners: NSA, DC3, EC-Council, Department of Defense

   Career Outcomes:

   Admissions: GPA: 3.0 minimum GPA must be maintained

6. #6. Syracuse University

   Location: Syracuse, NY | Type: Private | Tuition: $61,310/year | Graduation Rate: 99% | Score: 66.6

   What makes Syracuse University stand out: Syracuse's cybersecurity program stands out for its interdisciplinary curriculum that draws courses from the College of Law, iSchool, and Maxwell School, offering a uniquely holistic approach to cybersecurity education that combines technical expertise with legal, policy, and management perspectives.

   Hakia Insight: Syracuse University's partnerships with Lockheed Martin and KPMG translate research into real-world experience — a key differentiator for hiring managers.

   Program Overview: Syracuse University's College of Engineering and Computer Science offers both on-campus and fully online Master of Science in Cybersecurity programs that emphasize hands-on experience over theoretical study alone. The 30-credit curriculum combines 12 credits of core courses with specialized technical electives and interdisciplinary options drawn from the College of Law, iSchool, and Maxwell School. Students learn from cybersecurity specialists and practitioners, gaining real-world experience in identifying, preventing, and counteracting cybercrime through cutting-edge research and curricular innovations. The program's strength lies in its multidisciplinary approach and practical focus, preparing graduates to design secure systems, apply mathematical logic for systems assurance, analyze malware and data breaches, and detect suspicious cyber behavior through data mining and anomaly detection. Faculty like Associate Professor Yuzhe Tang bring cutting-edge research in blockchain security, decentralized systems, and formal methods, with recent work on Ethereum mempool security gaining recognition in the blockchain developer community.

   Degree Programs: MS in Cybersecurity (2 years); Online MS in Cybersecurity (15 months minimum)

   Research Labs: Full Stack Security Lab (FSSL) - Cybersecurity and privacy, systems security, decentralized systems and blockchains

   Industry Partners: Lockheed Martin, KPMG, Accenture

   Career Outcomes: | Top Employers: Amazon, Intel, Microsoft, Tesla, Lockheed Martin, IBM, Qualcomm, Nvidia, Bank of America, Capital One, Deloitte, Ernst & Young

   Notable Faculty: null

   Admissions: GPA: 3.0 minimum

   Accreditations: NSA CAE-R, Department of Homeland Security CAE-R

7. #7. CUNY John Jay College of Criminal Justice

   Location: New York, NY | Type: Public | Tuition: $6,930/year | Graduation Rate: 90% | Score: 66.1

   What makes CUNY John Jay College of Criminal Justice stand out: John Jay uniquely integrates cybersecurity with digital forensics and criminal investigation, creating a distinctive pipeline into law enforcement and federal cyber investigative roles.

   Hakia Insight: CUNY John Jay College of Criminal Justice's partnerships with Federal Bureau of Investigation and Secret Service translate research into real-world experience — a key differentiator for hiring managers.

   Program Overview: John Jay's cybersecurity program emerges from the college's unique mission to educate criminal justice and public safety professionals—meaning its information security curriculum is intrinsically woven into forensics, digital investigation, and crime prevention frameworks that most computer science departments never touch. Students learn incident response and threat analysis not in isolation but alongside digital forensics, evidence handling, and legal frameworks governing cybercrime investigation. This positions graduates distinctly for careers in law enforcement cybercrime units, federal agencies (FBI, Secret Service, DHS), and corporate security operations focused on fraud and data breach investigation. The program's faculty include active practitioners from law enforcement and government, creating internship pipelines into agencies with perpetually high security hiring needs. For students interested in the investigative and forensic side of cybersecurity rather than just technical defense, John Jay offers a differentiated pathway that competitors overlook.

   Degree Programs: Bachelors in Information Security

   Industry Partners: Federal Bureau of Investigation, Secret Service

   Career Outcomes:

   Admissions:

8. #8. University at Albany

   Location: Albany, NY | Type: Public | Tuition: $7,070/year | Graduation Rate: 99% | Score: 64.7

   What makes University at Albany stand out: Albany combines rigorous formal methods and cryptographic foundations with active federal research partnerships, ideal for students pursuing security research or advanced technical roles.

   Hakia Insight: University at Albany's High Performance Computing Center creates a direct research-to-career pipeline with Brookhaven National Laboratory, bridging academic research and industry practice.

   Program Overview: Albany's information security offerings emerge from its strong computer science and engineering programs, with a particular emphasis on cryptography, secure software development, and formal verification methods. What sets this program apart is its research-forward approach—graduate students engage in publishable work on emerging threats and defense mechanisms, making the program attractive to those considering doctoral studies or research-focused careers. The university maintains active collaborations with federal laboratories and sponsors research in areas like blockchain security and zero-trust architecture. Faculty bring credentials from both academia and the national lab system, creating an environment where cutting-edge theory directly informs hands-on coursework. Students have access to sophisticated lab environments for penetration testing, network simulation, and malware analysis, and the program's relatively intimate cohort sizes foster mentoring relationships that accelerate technical growth.

   Degree Programs: Bachelors in Information Security

   Research Labs: High Performance Computing Center - Scientific computing and AI workloads; AI Supercomputer Lab - Machine learning and deep learning workloads using NVIDIA DGX systems

   Industry Partners: Brookhaven National Laboratory

   Career Outcomes:

   Admissions:

   Accreditations: AACSB Accredited

9. #9. Western Governors University

   Location: Salt Lake City, UT | Type: Private | Tuition: $7,710/year | Score: 62.8

   What makes Western Governors University stand out: WGU's competency-based, online-only model allows working professionals to earn an information security degree with embedded industry certifications in as little as 2–3 years while maintaining full-time employment.

   Hakia Insight: Western Governors University's partnerships with CompTIA and (ISC)² translate research into real-world experience — a key differentiator for hiring managers.

   Program Overview: WGU's information security degree is architected around competency-based progression rather than traditional semester schedules, allowing students to accelerate through material they master quickly while investing more time in genuinely challenging concepts. This flexibility has created a distinctive student profile: working professionals and career-switchers dominate enrollment, and the program's asynchronous format means students can maintain full-time employment while completing a degree in 2–3 years rather than the traditional four. The curriculum integrates industry-recognized certifications (Security+, CISSP prerequisites, CEH pathways) as embedded milestones within degree requirements, so certification exam readiness isn't an afterthought but a program design principle. WGU's scale—thousands of information security students across the U.S.—generates a robust alumni network in nearly every major tech hub and government agency. Student success coaches and industry mentors provide guidance tailored to individual career goals, whether students aim for compliance, penetration testing, governance, or threat analysis. The online-only model also attracts geographically distributed talent, creating a program where peer collaboration happens across time zones and professional contexts, often enriching discussions with diverse industry perspectives.

   Degree Programs: BS in Information Security (2-3 years); MS in Information Security (1-2 years)

   Industry Partners: CompTIA, (ISC)²

   Career Outcomes:

   Admissions:

   Accreditations: Aligned with CompTIA Security+, CISSP prerequisites embedded, CEH pathway integration

10. #10. Northeastern University

    Location: Boston, MA | Type: Private | Tuition: $62,000/year | Score: 61.1

    What makes Northeastern University stand out: Northeastern's co-op model embeds 6–12 months of paid, professional security work directly into the degree pathway, creating exceptional job readiness and industry connections.

    Hakia Insight: Northeastern University graduates earn $8,500,095,000, driven by the program's industry connections and hands-on information security curriculum.

    Program Overview: Northeastern's information security and cybersecurity programs leverage the university's signature cooperative education model, where students alternate between classroom semesters and paid, full-time work terms at leading tech companies, financial institutions, and government agencies. This approach means students gain 6–12 months of real-world security experience before graduation—a competitive advantage that translates directly to job readiness and professional networks. The curriculum spans cryptography, network security, secure software development, cloud security, and incident handling, with options to specialize in areas like mobile security or enterprise risk management. Research opportunities connect undergraduates and graduate students to faculty working on cutting-edge problems in security analytics, privacy-preserving technologies, and defensive systems. Northeastern's location in Boston and proximity to major tech hubs (Cambridge, MIT corridor) creates a pipeline to internship placements and post-graduation recruitment from companies like Microsoft, Google, Amazon, and dozens of specialized cybersecurity firms. Graduate programs (MS in Cybersecurity) attract professionals seeking advanced credentials while maintaining work flexibility. Alumni consistently report high starting salaries and rapid advancement into mid-level roles such as security engineer, threat analyst, and architect within 2–3 years of graduation.

    Degree Programs: BS in Information Security or Cybersecurity (4 years); MS in Cybersecurity (1–2 years)

    Research Labs: Cybersecurity and Privacy Institute - Applied cybersecurity research and threat analysis

    Industry Partners: Microsoft, Google, Amazon, U.S. Department of Defense, Rapid7

    Career Outcomes: | Top Employers: Microsoft, Google, Amazon, Rapid7, Oracle, JPMorgan Chase | Common Roles: Security Engineer, Threat Analyst, Penetration Tester, Security Operations Analyst

    Notable Faculty: David Kaplan (Cybersecurity and privacy systems); Cristina Nita-Rotaru (Secure and trustworthy systems)

    Admissions:

    Accreditations: ABET accredited