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Key Takeaways
Best information security degree programs: Green River College, Columbia Basin College, Western Washington
Ranked by graduation rates, program outcomes, and institutional quality
Tuition ranges from $3,195 to $13,965/year
Green River College offers the most affordable option at $4,074/yr
Information Security degree programs available: 16 associate's, 3 master's in Washington
From community college pathways to advanced research degrees
5 online information security degree programs in Washington
Flexible scheduling for working professionals
Washington community college transfer can save 40-60% on total degree costs
16 associate's programs provide transfer pathways to bachelor's degrees
Education Commission of the States
Major employers: Microsoft, Amazon, Boeing, Expedia
Tech hubs in Seattle and Bellevue
Hakia Research 2026
Information Security degree programs near 43+ cities across Washington
Search by city to find programs within 200 miles of your location
Updated July 13, 2026
How we ranked Washington Information Security programs
We rank 30 accredited information security programs in Washington 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 Information Security Degree Programs in Washington Worth It?
Source: BLS OEWS May 2024
Information Security Degree Rankings in Washington
Compare the top-ranked Information Security programs in Washington by degree level. Tuition, graduation rate, and Hakia Score for every accredited program.
Best Associate's Information Security Programs in Washington
Program Landscape
Washington offers 16 accredited associate's degree programs in information security, providing an affordable entry point into the technology field. The top-ranked programs include Green River College, Whatcom Community College, Clover Park Technical Col..., which combine rigorous technical curriculum with practical skills training.
Costs & Value
Community colleges in Washington offer these two-year programs at an average cost of $4,171/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 $79,877 in Washington.
Career Pathways
Many programs feature guaranteed transfer agreements with Washington's public universities, allowing students to complete their first two years at reduced cost before transferring to complete a bachelor's degree. The Seattle, Bellevue, Redmond areas offer particularly strong job markets for associate's degree holders, with employers like Microsoft, Amazon, Boeing 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 information security schools in Washington, these associate's programs offer the best value for students beginning their information security degrees in Washington.
Show all 10 ranked programs
| Rank | School | Location | Type | Tuition | Grad Rate | Hakia Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #6 | Peninsula College | Port Angeles, WA | Public | $4,205 | 37% | 70.2 |
| #7 | Olympic College | Bremerton, WA | Public | $4,197 | 31% | 69.4 |
| #8 | Edmonds College | Lynnwood, WA | Public | $4,206 | 29% | 69.2 |
| #9 | Spokane Falls Community College | Spokane, WA | Public | $4,772 | 32% | 66.6 |
| #10 | Lower Columbia College | Longview, WA | Public | $4,206 | 23% | 60.6 |
Best Bachelor's Information Security Programs in Washington
Program Landscape
Washington ranks among the nation's top destinations for information security education, with 11 accredited bachelor's degree programs across 11 public and 0 private institutions. The highest-ranked programs are Green River College, Columbia Basin College, Western Washington, recognized for academic excellence, research opportunities, and strong industry connections.
Career Outcomes
Graduates from Washington information security programs earn a median salary of $123,446, 26% above the national average. The state's robust technology sector, anchored by the Seattle, Bellevue, Redmond metropolitan areas, provides abundant internship and employment opportunities with companies including Microsoft, Amazon, Boeing.
Costs & Value
Tuition ranges from $3,633 to $7,997 annually, with an average of $4,795/yr. Top programs maintain graduation rates above 82%, 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 Washington's leading technology employers. For students seeking information security degrees in Washington, these top-ranked information security schools offer the strongest combination of academic rigor and career preparation.
Show all 7 ranked programs
| Rank | School | Location | Type | Tuition | Grad Rate | Hakia Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #6 | Columbia Basin College | Pasco, WA | Public | $5,875 | 33% | 67.8 |
| #7 | Clover Park Technical College | Lakewood, WA | Public | $5,740 | 43% | 67.0 |
Best Master's Information Security Programs in Washington
Program Landscape
Washington offers 3 master's degree programs in information security, designed for professionals seeking to advance into senior engineering, technical leadership, and specialized roles. The top programs, U of Washington-Tacoma, U of Washington-Bothell, City University of Seattle, combine advanced technical training with research opportunities and leadership development.
Career Outcomes
Master's graduates in Washington earn a median salary of $145,230, approximately 20-30% higher than bachelor's degree holders. The concentration of technology companies in Seattle, Bellevue, Redmond creates strong demand for graduate-level talent, with Microsoft, Amazon, Boeing 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 $12,338/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 Washington's information security schools at the graduate level, these programs stand out for both academic quality and career outcomes.
University of Washington-Bothell Campus
Information Security Degree Costs & Tuition in Washington
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Average in-state tuition | $5,400/year |
| Average out-of-state tuition | $13,500/year |
| Community college tuition | $1,350/year |
| 4-year savings for residents | $32,400 |
| 2+2 transfer pathway savings | $8,100 |
Source: IPEDS 2024
Financial Aid & Scholarships for Information Security Students in Washington
State Aid Programs
Washington offers substantial financial aid for Information Security students, from state grants covering significant tuition costs to specialized cybersecurity scholarships and federal programs. The Washington College Grant (WCG) provides up to $10,868 annually for eligible residents attending public four-year universities, based on family income and financial need (WSAC).
Key Programs & Amounts
The WCG covers tuition for families earning up to $100,000 annually at reduced rates, making it one of America's most generous state grant programs. Students at community colleges receive proportionally scaled awards. Cybersecurity-specific scholarships enhance affordability. The CyberCorps Scholarship for Service (SFS) program provides full tuition plus stipends of $27,000-$34,000 annually for students at CAE-designated institutions in exchange for federal government service commitment equal to scholarship duration.
Institutional Scholarships
The NSA Stokes Educational Scholarship Program supports students pursuing degrees relevant to national security. (ISC)2 Foundation scholarships support cybersecurity students. The SANS Institute offers scholarships for security training and certification. Women in Cybersecurity (WiCyS) provides scholarships supporting women entering security careers.
Federal financial aid supplements state and specialty programs.
Pell Grants provide up to $7,395 annually for undergraduate students demonstrating financial need. Federal Direct Loans offer $5,500-$7,500 annually for dependent undergraduates. Graduate students can borrow up to $20,500 annually through federal loans.
Veterans can apply GI Bill benefits covering full tuition plus housing allowances. Many employers provide tuition assistance, with Microsoft, Amazon, and Boeing offering $5,250-$12,000 annual education benefits. Defense contractors often provide additional security certification reimbursement for Security+, CISSP, and specialized credentials.
Information Security Degree ROI Calculator, Washington
Use our interactive ROI calculator to estimate your return on investment for a information security degree in Washington. 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.
Information Security Degree ROI Calculator
Estimate your return on investment for a information security degree
Leave blank to use average cost for selected program type
+1168%
Net gain divided by total investment. ROI above 200% is considered excellent for education investments.
$2,161,658
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.
$110,000
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
Information Security Salaries by Metro Area
Median annual salary in Washington metro areas
View data table
| Category | Value |
|---|---|
| Seattle | $160K |
| Bellevue | $152K |
| Redmond | $145K |
Source: BLS OEWS May 2024
Hakia.com
Top Employers Hiring Information Security Graduates in Washington
Find information security jobs in Washington. These major employers across Washington metro areas are actively hiring information security degree holders. Click employer names to view current job openings.
Information Security Jobs in Seattle
WASeattle is home to Amazon and Microsoft headquarters, plus major engineering offices for Google, Meta, and other tech giants.
Nearby cities: Bellevue, Redmond, Kirkland, Tacoma, Renton
Information Security Jobs in Bellevue/Eastside
WAThe Eastside corridor houses Microsoft's main campus in Redmond, Nintendo of America, and T-Mobile's headquarters.
Nearby cities: Redmond, Kirkland, Issaquah, Sammamish
Washington Tech Industry & Infrastructure
Washington's tech economy is essentially defined by Microsoft and Amazon. The Seattle metro hosts the headquarters of both, plus major engineering offices for Google, Meta, Apple, and a dense second-tier of cloud, AI, and enterprise tech employers. With no state income tax and University of Washington's CS program at the top of the western US, Washington consistently posts the highest tech-job concentration per capita of any US state.
Seattle / Bellevue / Redmond
Seattle metropolitan area
Headquarters of Microsoft (Redmond) and Amazon (Seattle); major engineering offices for Google, Meta, Apple, Tableau, Tableau, Expedia, Zillow, Costco IT. UW is the dominant CS feeder; total-comp at named employers regularly clears $200K for new bachelor's grads.
Spokane / Eastern Washington
Spokane metro
Smaller tech market focused on healthcare-IT (Providence), defense (Fairchild AFB-adjacent), and growing remote-work tech employment. Whitworth and WSU-Spokane feed the local market.
No state income tax. Washington levies a Business and Occupation tax on gross receipts that tech employers factor into compensation structures.
Washington Regulation Affecting Information Security Graduates
Washington has emerged as one of the more active state legislatures on AI, biometric privacy, and consumer health data. The 2024 My Health My Data Act in particular is among the strictest US consumer health-data laws and shapes engineering practice at any company touching health-adjacent data.
Washington My Health My Data Act (MHMD)
Effective March 2024. Imposes strict requirements on collection, use, and sharing of consumer health data — broadly defined to include data inferring health status. Provides a private right of action.
Engineers at any company processing wellness, fitness, mental-health, or biometric data of WA users must implement consent, geofencing, and data-sharing restrictions. The law's broad scope of 'health data' makes it relevant for surprising amounts of consumer-tech work.
Read moreWashington Biometric Identifiers Act
Requires notice and consent before enrolling biometric identifiers in a database for commercial purposes.
Similar in shape to Illinois BIPA though narrower; engineers building biometric features for WA users must implement consent flows.
Read moreWashington AI legislation (HB 1394 et al.)
Washington has passed and continues to develop AI-specific legislation around government use, deepfake elections content, and consumer disclosure.
AI/ML engineers building products serving WA users should monitor evolving disclosure and bias-audit requirements.
Read moreProfessional Engineer Licensure in Washington
Washington does not currently administer a separate Software Engineering PE license. Standard engineering disciplines require ABET-EAC accreditation for PE eligibility; software engineering is not a Washington-recognized PE discipline.
Washington licensing boardWashington Financial Aid Programs
Washington College Grant (WA Grant)
State grantUp to $11,840/yr at public 4-year, up to $4,180/yr at community college
WA residents with family income up to ~70% of state median income (~$70,000)
College Bound Scholarship
State scholarship (early commitment)Covers tuition and fees at participating WA institutions
WA students who sign up in 7th-8th grade with family income at or below 65% state median income; must maintain 2.0+ GPA and stay crime-free
Washington Application for State Financial Aid (WASFA)
Application portalN/A — application channel
WA students ineligible for federal FAFSA (e.g., undocumented) — opens access to state aid programs
Opportunity Scholarship (STEM-specific)
STEM merit-need scholarshipUp to $22,500 total (across 5 years)
WA students pursuing STEM or healthcare bachelor's at participating WA institutions with family income at or below 125% state median
Transfer Pathways for Information Security Degrees in Washington
State Transfer System
Washington's statewide articulation system provides excellent transfer pathways for Information Security students, enabling seamless progression from community colleges to four-year universities. The Direct Transfer Agreement (DTA) guarantees admission to Washington public universities for students completing designated associate degrees with satisfactory academic performance (SBCTC Transfer).
How Transfers Work
Students earning DTA associate degrees receive guaranteed admission to a state university, though competitive programs may require additional prerequisites. Transfer pathways reduce total bachelor's degree costs by $20,000-$40,000 compared to four-year enrollment from freshman year. Security-focused transfer pathways require strategic planning. Students targeting UW Tacoma's Information Assurance specialization should complete programming prerequisites (TCSS 142 equivalent) at community college.
Transfer Planning Tips
The Computer Science Major Related Program (MRP) provides structured transfer preparation for technology majors. The Associate in Science Transfer (AS-T) Track 2 emphasizes mathematics, science, and computing prerequisites aligned with IT program requirements. Washington's Statewide Course Numbering System ensures equivalent courses transfer seamlessly among all public institutions.
Articulation agreements help specific pathways.
Edmonds College's Cyber Defense program articulates to four-year security programs at regional universities. Green River College maintains cybersecurity pathway agreements. Bellevue College's computing programs transfer to UW Bothell. Community college cybersecurity certificates provide immediate career entry pathways while students complete degrees part-time.
Many security professionals begin careers with Security+ certification and associate degrees, then complete bachelor's degrees while working. Running Start enables high school students to earn college credits tuition-free at community colleges, providing affordable pathways into security careers. Students can complete general education and introductory security coursework at community college (average tuition ~$4,200/year) before transferring to specialized programs.
Washington Take-Home Pay Advantage
Source: Washington Department of Revenue
Information Security Job Market & Salary Data in Washington
Employment Outlook
Washington's Information Security job market benefits from unprecedented demand driven by escalating cyber threats, cloud computing security requirements, and defense sector needs. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects 29% employment growth for information security analysts from 2024-2034, far exceeding the 3% average for all occupations, with approximately 16,000 annual openings nationally (BLS InfoSec Analysts).
Salaries by Metro
Washington's concentration of major tech employers and defense contractors creates even stronger local demand. CyberSeek data indicates persistent cybersecurity workforce gaps across the Pacific Northwest, with employers struggling to fill security positions at all experience levels (CyberSeek).
High-Growth Sectors
Salary data demonstrates exceptional earning potential.
Information security analysts earned median wages of $124,910 nationally in May 2024, with the information industry paying $136,390 and management companies at $127,840. Washington employers pay 15-25% above national medians, translating to typical compensation of $140,000-$175,000 for experienced security analysts in the Seattle metro.
Security architects and security directors command $180,000-$250,000 at major tech employers. Entry-level positions including security analyst and SOC analyst start at $85,000-$105,000 in the Puget Sound region. Microsoft and Amazon drive massive security hiring. Microsoft's security organization protects billions of users across Windows, Azure, Microsoft 365, and gaming platforms.
Amazon's AWS security team safeguards the world's largest cloud infrastructure. Both companies employ thousands of security professionals across threat intelligence, incident response, security engineering, and compliance roles. Boeing's defense programs require security-cleared professionals for classified systems.
Defense contractors including Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, and Raytheon hire for positions supporting military and intelligence agency contracts. For related career paths, explore our cybersecurity programs, network security degrees, or IT programs.
Entry-Level (0-2 yrs)
New graduates and career changers
Senior (8+ yrs)
Technical leads and architects
Online vs On-Campus Information Security Programs in Washington
Online Programs
5 available in Washington
On-Campus Programs
Traditional classroom experience
Compare Information Security Programs in Other States
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Information Security Degree Programs in Washington: FAQ
What are the best information security degree programs in Washington?
How much do information security degree programs cost in Washington?
What salary can information security degree graduates earn in Washington?
Are there online information security degree programs in Washington?
What companies hire information security degree graduates in Washington?
Is an information security degree program worth it in Washington?
How long do information security degree programs take in Washington?
What financial aid is available for information security degree students in Washington?
Data Sources
Institutional characteristics, completions, graduation rates
Washington 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.