Best Value Information Security Programs 2026

Best Information Security Programs - Top 10 Best Value — Complete Program Data

1. #1. St Petersburg College

   Location: St. Petersburg, FL | Type: Public | Tuition: $1,943/year | Score: 100.0

   What makes St Petersburg College stand out: SPC is designated as a National Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense Two-Year Education (CAE2Y) by the National Security Agency and Department of Homeland Security through academic year 2029, and works closely with the local cybersecurity community to ensure curriculum relevance.

   Hakia Insight: St Petersburg College's partnerships with KnowBe4 and Raymond James translate research into real-world experience — a key differentiator for hiring managers.

   Program Overview: St. Petersburg College offers cybersecurity programs designed to prepare students for the growing demand for information security specialists who can tackle increasingly complex IT security concerns. The programs focus on technologies and practices designed to protect information and physical resources from cyber threats.

   Degree Programs: Cybersecurity Certificate; Cybersecurity A.S. (2 years); Cybersecurity B.A.S.

   Industry Partners: KnowBe4, Raymond James, Tech Data, Honeywell, Citigroup, Bayside Solutions, Vology, TirOrg Solutions, City of St. Petersburg, City of Largo

   Career Outcomes: | Top Employers: KnowBe4, Raymond James, Tech Data, Honeywell, Citigroup | Common Roles: Systems Security Analyst, Security Control Assessor, Vulnerability Assessment Analyst, Cyber Defense Analyst, Security Architect, Information Security Officer, Director Information Security, Chief Information Security Officer, Information Security Analysts, Computer Systems Analysts

   Notable Faculty: John Long (Associate Dean, College of Computer Info and Tech); Dr. Mark McKinney (Dean, College of Computer and Info Tech)

   Admissions:

   Accreditations: National Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense Two-Year Education (CAE2Y), CompTIA Security+, CompTIA A+, Cisco CCNA Cyber Operations, EC-Council Certified Ethical Hacker

2. #2. Pensacola State College

   Location: Pensacola, FL | Type: Public | Tuition: $1,871/year | Score: 99.1

   What makes Pensacola State College stand out: The program uniquely prepares graduates to earn 17 industry-standard certifications and is built specifically on the ISC² CISSP framework with specialized bachelor's tracks in both Information Security and Cyber Forensics.

   Hakia Insight: Pensacola State College's partnerships with Department of Homeland Security and U.S. Secret Service translate research into real-world experience — a key differentiator for hiring managers.

   Program Overview: Pensacola State College offers comprehensive cybersecurity and information security programs built on the eight fundamental domains of the ISC² CISSP certification. The program provides pathways from Associate in Science to Bachelor of Applied Science degrees, with specialized tracks in Information Security and Cyber Forensics. Students are prepared to earn 17 industry-standard certifications (9 at associate level, 8 at bachelor level) identified by industry partners. The curriculum includes 84 credit hours of cybersecurity coursework with hands-on learning in database security, cloud security, operating system security, risk management, ethics, and security testing. The program emphasizes real-world application through practical labs and is supported by the PSC Cybersecurity Center.

   Degree Programs: Associate in Science in Cybersecurity (2 years); Bachelor of Applied Science in Cybersecurity, Information Security (4 years); Bachelor of Applied Science in Cybersecurity, Cyber Forensics (4 years)

   Research Labs: PSC Cybersecurity Center - Cybersecurity research and education

   Industry Partners: Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Secret Service

   Career Outcomes: | Top Employers: Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Secret Service, Healthcare organizations, Financial services, Manufacturing companies | Common Roles: Computer Security Specialist, Security Analyst, Data Recovery Planner, Network Designer, Security Administrator, Software Quality Assurance Tester, Web Administrator

   Notable Faculty: Dr. Nelson Stewart (Cybersecurity and Information Security)

   Admissions:

   Accreditations: ISC² CISSP preparation, 17 industry-standard certifications available

3. #3. Miami Dade College

   Location: Miami, FL | Type: Public | Tuition: $1,987/year | Score: 93.9

   What makes Miami Dade College stand out: Miami Dade College is designated as a National Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense (CAE-CD) by the NSA, with explicit NSA validation appearing on student transcripts. The program features hands-on training with real attacks at the state-of-the-art Cybersecurity Center of the Americas.

   Hakia Insight: Miami Dade College graduates earn $89,754, driven by the program's industry connections and hands-on information security curriculum.

   Program Overview: Miami Dade College's Information Security program offers comprehensive cybersecurity education through multiple pathways including a NSA-validated Bachelor of Science in Cybersecurity, an Associate in Science in Cybersecurity, and an Information Systems Technology degree with Cybersecurity concentration. The programs are distinguished by NSA designation as a National Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense (CAE-CD), featuring state-of-the-art facilities at the Cybersecurity Center of the Americas. Students gain hands-on experience with real attack simulations, ethical hacking, penetration testing, computer forensics, risk management, and network defense. The curriculum prepares students for industry certifications including Certified Ethical Hacker, CISM, CompTIA Security+, and GIAC forensic certifications, addressing the critical shortage of cybersecurity professionals in South Florida and beyond.

   Degree Programs: Bachelor of Science in Cybersecurity (4 years); Associate in Science in Cybersecurity (2 years); Bachelor of Science in Information Systems Technology - Cybersecurity Concentration (4 years); Cybersecurity Analyst College Credit Certificate (1 year)

   Research Labs: Cybersecurity Center of the Americas - Hands-on cybersecurity training with real attacks and simulations

   Career Outcomes: Placement Rate: not specified | Common Roles: Security Analyst, Information Technology (IT) Manager, Information Systems Manager, Computing Services Manager, Technical Services Manager, Information Security Analyst, Security Operations Center (SOC) Analyst, Security Manager

   Admissions: | Acceptance Rate: not specified

   Accreditations: NSA CAE-CD, Certified Ethical Hacker, Certified Information Security Manager, Certified Incident Handler, Computer Hacking Forensics Investigator, GIAC Certified Forensic Analyst, GIAC Network Forensic Analyst, CompTIA CySA+, CompTIA Security+, CompTIA Network+, CompTIA Linux+

4. #4. Dalton State College

   Location: Dalton, GA | Type: Public | Tuition: $2,563/year | Graduation Rate: 98% | Score: 72.9

   Program Overview: Your path into cybersecurity here flows directly into Dalton State's articulation agreements with regional four-year programs, meaning you complete your associate degree and step seamlessly into a bachelor's degree without losing credits or time. The program balances foundational IT skills—help desk competencies and network basics—with security-specific coursework in threat analysis and compliance. The Dalton area's manufacturing and logistics hub means employers in those sectors actively hire information security graduates for roles protecting critical infrastructure and operational technology.

   Degree Programs: Bachelors in Information Security

   Career Outcomes:

   Admissions:

5. #5. Palm Beach State College

   Location: Lake Worth, FL | Type: Public | Tuition: $3,030/year | Graduation Rate: 90% | Score: 70.8

   What makes Palm Beach State College stand out: Program is aligned with the NICE (National Initiative for Cybersecurity Education) framework and features a state-of-the-art Cybersecurity Lab for real-world simulations, plus CAE-CD designation

   Hakia Insight: Palm Beach State College graduates earn $86,170, driven by the program's industry connections and hands-on information security curriculum.

   Program Overview: The Cybersecurity AS program is meticulously crafted to instill a deep understanding and expertise in cybersecurity, aligned with the NICE framework's specialty areas. Designed to meet the increasing demand for cybersecurity professionals in Florida, the curriculum integrates technical and nontechnical skills, promoting employability and problem-solving abilities.

   Degree Programs: AS (2 years); BAS (2 years)

   Research Labs: PBSC Cybersecurity Lab - real-world simulations and cyber defense skills

   Career Outcomes: | Common Roles: software developers, network administrators, information security analysts, data analysts, IT support specialists, systems managers

   Notable Faculty: Dr. Dwight Elliott (Cybersecurity); Dr. Theo Owusu (Cybersecurity)

   Admissions:

   Accreditations: CAE-CD

6. #6. Whatcom Community College

   Location: Bellingham, WA | Type: Public | Tuition: $3,633/year | Graduation Rate: 78% | Score: 64.2

   Program Overview: Whatcom Community College's cybersecurity curriculum emphasizes both foundational certifications and practical problem-solving skills that employers in Bellingham and the wider Pacific Northwest actively seek. The program benefits from the college's strong connections to regional tech employers and non-profits, creating genuine internship and employment pathways during and after your studies. You'll complete hands-on labs in network security and system administration while building a resume that resonates with local hiring managers. The location between Seattle and Vancouver, BC, opens doors to multiple job markets. Whatcom's advantage is the combination of rigorous technical training and a supportive community-college environment where you're not just a number.

   Degree Programs: Bachelors in Information Security

   Career Outcomes:

   Admissions:

7. #7. Green River College

   Location: Auburn, WA | Type: Public | Tuition: $4,074/year | Graduation Rate: 99% | Score: 62.3

   What makes Green River College stand out: A systems-integrated cybersecurity program that teaches security through the lens of complete IT infrastructure, emphasizing how defensive measures operate within real enterprise environments.

   Hakia Insight: Green River College's partnerships with Microsoft and Amazon Web Services translate research into real-world experience — a key differentiator for hiring managers.

   Program Overview: Green River College's cybersecurity pathway is built on a systems-thinking approach that integrates security across network administration, systems management, and IT infrastructure—preparing students to understand how security operates within complete IT ecosystems rather than in isolation. The program emphasizes hands-on lab work with virtualized environments, network simulators, and security appliances, ensuring graduates can troubleshoot and defend actual enterprise infrastructure. Students progress through a sequenced curriculum starting with IT fundamentals and network concepts before advancing to specialized security topics including cryptography, access control, and intrusion detection. The college's proximity to the Seattle-Tacoma technology corridor provides internship and placement opportunities with regional employers; graduates commonly transition into junior security analyst and systems security administrator roles. Faculty maintain active involvement in security operations practice, bringing current incident response and threat intelligence into classroom discussions. For students seeking a two-year entry point into security operations or infrastructure defense, Green River's integrated approach offers clearer understanding of how security layers across enterprise systems.

   Degree Programs: Bachelors in Information Security

   Industry Partners: Microsoft, Amazon Web Services

   Career Outcomes:

   Admissions:

   Accreditations: CompTIA Security+, CompTIA Network+

8. #8. Highline College

   Location: Des Moines, WA | Type: Public | Tuition: $3,633/year | Score: 59.7

   What makes Highline College stand out: A two-year, competency-based cybersecurity program designed for rapid entry into SOC analyst and security operations roles with stackable industry certifications.

   Hakia Insight: Highline College's partnerships with Microsoft and Amazon Web Services translate research into real-world experience — a key differentiator for hiring managers.

   Program Overview: Highline College's information security program emphasizes practical, hands-on cybersecurity training grounded in real-world threat scenarios and defensive operations. The curriculum is built around industry-standard tools and frameworks, with particular strength in network security, system administration fundamentals, and incident response protocols that prepare students for immediate entry into SOC and security operations roles. What distinguishes this offering is its focus on accessible, competency-based learning—students progress through stackable credentials in network defense and security fundamentals before pursuing broader cybersecurity certifications. The program maintains strong partnerships with regional tech employers in the Seattle metropolitan area, creating direct pathways into entry-level security analyst positions. Faculty bring operational security experience from previous IT and systems administration roles, ensuring curriculum relevance to current job market demands. For students seeking to launch a security career without the time or cost of a four-year degree, Highline's two-year pathway offers accelerated credentialing and demonstrated employer recognition in the Pacific Northwest.

   Degree Programs: Bachelors in Information Security

   Industry Partners: Microsoft, Amazon Web Services

   Career Outcomes:

   Admissions:

   Accreditations: CompTIA Security+, CompTIA Network+

9. #9. Clark College

   Location: Vancouver, WA | Type: Public | Tuition: $4,306/year | Score: 50.0

   What makes Clark College stand out: An accessibility-focused, competency-based cybersecurity program emphasizing hands-on SIEM and network defense training with direct pathways into security operations roles.

   Hakia Insight: Clark College's partnerships with Intel and IBM translate research into real-world experience — a key differentiator for hiring managers.

   Program Overview: Clark College's information security program prioritizes accessibility and workforce readiness through a competency-driven curriculum that builds security skills from foundational IT concepts upward, making it particularly welcoming to students without technical backgrounds. The two-year pathway emphasizes security operations, network defense, and hands-on lab work with industry-standard tools—students practice on actual firewalls, intrusion detection systems, and security information and event management (SIEM) platforms rather than simulations alone. The program's strength lies in its focus on employability: curriculum design is informed by regional employers in the Portland-Vancouver corridor, and many students enter entry-level security roles immediately upon graduation. Faculty bring direct security operations and IT administration experience, ensuring course content reflects current threats and defensive practices rather than outdated security theory. Clark's location in Washington places it near both Portland's growing tech scene and Vancouver's developing cybersecurity job market, creating diverse internship and employment pathways. For students seeking a practical, accelerated route into security operations analyst or junior security engineer roles, Clark's applied approach delivers concrete, job-ready skills.

   Degree Programs: Bachelors in Information Security

   Industry Partners: Intel, IBM

   Career Outcomes:

   Admissions:

   Accreditations: CompTIA Security+, CompTIA Network+

10. #10. University of South Florida

    Location: Tampa, FL | Type: Public | Tuition: $4,559/year | Graduation Rate: 85% | Score: 48.9

    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 graduates earn $124,910, driven by the program's industry connections and hands-on information security curriculum.

    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: | Common Roles: Information Security Analyst, Cybersecurity Consultant, Cybersecurity Risk Analyst, Information Technology Security Specialist

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

    Accreditations: ABET Computing Accreditation Commission accredited