Best Online Master’s in Cybersecurity Programs

WGU, founded in Utah in the late 1990s, was designed by the governors of several Western U.S. states to offer education online through competency-based learning.Distance learners can earn a master's of science in cybersecurity and information assurance from Western Governors.

WGU's online master's in cyber-security program is for current professionals in the information technology sector. The 30-unit program prepares students for leadership roles, ethical hacking, forensic work, and even government cyber-security work. Students must have a foundational education in computer science. Learners will complete a capstone project as part of the master's program. WGU's program is designed to take about 20-hours of work per week. Classes are delivered in six-month terms, and students are not charged for taking extra classes. All WGU students have the opportunity to work with a designated mentor to establish their education plan. Tuition is paid on a time-basis, not per credit.

Dallas is a small, private, Catholic university located in Irving, Texas. The school offers a master's of science in cybersecurity completely online. Students are required to earn at least 30-credits to complete the online cybersecurity master's program. Graduates are prepared for jobs in network defense, cyber threat analysis, digital forensics, and more. Dallas is designated as one of the few National Centers of Academic Excellence in Information Assurance and Cybersecurity by the National Security Agency and the Department of Homeland Security. Students take courses in digital forensics and network security along with business and leadership courses. UD also offers a 42-credit online MBA program with a concentration in cybersecurity and an 18-credit cybersecurity certificate. Students have access to class materials, study aids, and resources to help prepare them for the CISSP certification exam. There are multiple starting points each term, and students choose either a 12 or six-week course format.

The University of Colorado Boulder boasts a retention rate of 87%, and 91% of its graduates obtain jobs or go on to pursue additional schooling within six months of graduation. In addition to traditional degree options, CU Boulder also offers remote programming, including an online professional master’s program in cybersecurity. This degree provides a comprehensive, management-focused education and skill training, enabling students to pursue work in information technology and network administration without having prior engineering or related technical experience. Totaling 30 credits, the curriculum includes courses such as cyber-economics, applied network security, and large-scale network analysis.

Admissions criteria include a minimum 3.0 GPA and GRE scores. Students interested in earning their master of science in cybersecurity online at CU Boulder should know that the program does not offer remote classes during the second summer term and there is a residency requirement for lab work during a student’s final last semester.

Syracuse University has offered student-centered academic opportunities for over 150 years. Today, Syracuse teaches approximately 5,000 graduate students through traditional and remote programming, the latter of which includes an online master of science degree in cybersecurity. This 30-credit program centers on five major objectives, including analysis of and detection of malware, data mining and anomaly detection, and the design and maintenance of secure systems. The degree plan also contains technical and non-technical electives. Students typically complete the program in 15 months, and distance learners may transfer up to nine credits into the program.

Online learning at Syracuse combines asynchronous coursework with live classes and "immersions," where students work collaboratively with peers, instructors, and industry experts. Distance learners enjoy personalized academic advising and career development support. Individuals with an undergraduate GPA above 3.0 can apply to be exempted from the GRE requirement.

Excelsior shares its name with the state motto of New York. The private, nonprofit school is located in Albany and focuses on online learning. One of Excelsior's online programs is the dual-degree online master's in cybersecurity. The dual-degree combines a bachelor's and master's degree into one program, allowing students to earn a graduate degree at an accelerated pace. The program requires students to earn 151 credits, 27 of which are graduate credits. Because the program includes a complete undergraduate degree, the application requirements are less than most master's programs. Students can enroll with no to little experience in computer science. Students are taught cyber security issues including law, ethics, information management, IT risk, communication, and information assurance. Excelsior's program allows for a maximum transfer of credits and is regionally accredited. Students have the option to earn an undergraduate cybersecurity certificate and graduate cybersecurity management certificate.

Detroit Mercy's master of science in information assurance with a major in cybersecurity helps students learn about every aspect of cybersecurity. Students at UDM learn the necessary skills to protect against cyber threats and basic principles of cyber defense, cyber law, and new technology, including government, business, and industry ethics. The program can be taken completely online. Graduates are prepared for careers in the financial sector, IT management, the military, and law enforcement positions. UDM has been declared a Center for Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense Education by the NSA, DOD, and DHS. The 30-credit program was created for quick completion with most students finishing in one-year. Courses include ethical hacking, information audit, access technologies, and homeland security studies. UDM's online master's in cybersecurity is taught by faculty with connections to government security agencies.

National, located in La Jolla, California, allows amateur coders and professional information technology experts to earn a master's of science in cybersecurity and information assurance online. The 58.5-credit online cybersecurity master's program includes courses in cyber threats, network defense, and the ethical concerns surrounding cybersecurity. Students pursue one of two specializations: ethical hacking and pen testing or information assurance and security policy; a specialization must be chosen, and both require students to take four-courses. The ethical hacking specialization has students develop rules of engagement, prepare tool kits, prepare penetration test documentation, and more. The information assurance specialization has students assess the demands of internet-openness, legislation and law enforcement, and individual right-to-privacy. The program is open to students from different educational and professional backgrounds. Students may pursue a career in traditional IT security or focus more on the management and ethical considerations of cybercrimes.

Located in Lynchburg, Virginia, Liberty University is the largest higher education institution in the state and provides 289 distance education programs, including a master of science in cybersecurity online degree program. Through a 36-credit degree plan, students learn the analytical framework necessary to guard sensitive information. Classes include ethical hacking; applied network security; and issues in security, privacy, and anonymity. Degree candidates also complete a capstone project, which tasks them with synthesizing their newfound knowledge to tackle a pertinent issue in cyber defense. Liberty graduates can pursue work as information security specialists, digital forensic analysts, and penetration testers.

All required classes can be taken online in the form of asynchronous, eight-week sessions. Liberty also boasts a generous transfer policy, allowing students to fulfil up to half of their degree requirements from credits earned through prior college work, examinations, military training, and professional experience. All distance learners pay the same tuition, regardless of where they live.

Founded in 1932 as a small technical school in Romeoville, Illinois, Lewis University now offers a variety of academic programs, including distance education options like its online master of science in computer science with a cybersecurity concentration. Students in this program learn to investigate and resolve organizational cyber threats. The curriculum consists of 30 credits and features courses like programming for penetration testing, large-scale data storage systems, and cloud and virtualization security. All courses can be completed online in an asynchronous format.

Applicants interested in earning this online master of science degree in cybersecurity must have a minimum 3.0 GPA and submit two letters of recommendation. All distance learners pay the same tuition and financial aid is available. Distance learners enjoy the same institutional support as their on-campus peers, including professional development opportunities and individual support from a student services coordinator.

Drexel's cybersecurity master's degree online is for IT professional and computer science enthusiasts. The program focuses on threats facing modern technology. The Philadelphia-based institution offers its master's in cybersecurity through its College of Engineering and College of Computing and Informatics. The program is designated as a Center of Academic Excellence by the NSA and DHS. All courses can be completed online. The application process requires a bachelor's degree, letters of recommendation, and a personal essay; providing GRE scores is recommended. Students are free to pursue specializations through electives, with core classes focusing on information security and threats. Students must take at least 18 credits of technical electives. Courses include principles of cybersecurity, information policy, data structures and algorithms, and computer networks. Graduates are prepared for work in e-commerce, government, and finance. It's recommended that students pursuing a Ph.D. or research-intensive career participate in the master's thesis.

Mercy, named as one of the few National Centers of Academic Excellence in Information Assurance Education by the NSA and the Department of Homeland Security, offers an online cybersecurity master's program for IT professionals. Students at Mercy can earn an online master's in cybersecurity two ways: the 18-month MS program and the five-Year combined BS/MS program. There is an accelerated option available for associate degree holders as well. These options allow students at any level to earn a degree in network and information security. The 18-month MS program requires 30 credits and features courses such as wireless network security and IT audit and compliance. Admittance requires prerequisites in courses including statistics and local area networks; GRE scores aren't required. Students have the opportunity to participate in academic study, a master's thesis, a research project, and a capstone project. Cybersecurity master's online learners receive services like student advising.

A leader in distance education, Pennsylvania State University launched its World Campus in 1998. Today, it offers more than 150 certificate and degree programs online. This catalog includes an online master of professional studies in information sciences with a focus on cybersecurity and information assurance. This online master of science degree in cybersecurity utilizes a multidisciplinary approach, allowing students of all academic and professional backgrounds to develop skills through simulations and the analysis of practical business issues. The 33-credit degree plan consists of courses that include enterprise modeling, information security management, and multisensor data fusion. Degree candidates also undertake a capstone experience, choosing to complete either a project or research paper related to a pertinent issue/challenge in the field.

Distance learners enroll in flexible, asynchronous classes, while discussion boards, chats, and video conferencing enable them to collaborate with their peers and faculty. Part-time students pay tuition on a per-credit basis, while full-time students (12+ credits) pay a flat rate.

Founded in 1872 as a private school for women and underprivileged youths, Maryville University of Saint Louis is dedicated to accessible and student-centered education. This includes opportunities for distance learners, such as the school’s online master of science in cybersecurity, which integrates advanced business concepts with information technology skills to prepares students for work as enterprise architects, systems integration analysts, and IT consulting managers. The degree plan totals 33 credits in courses like advanced penetration testing, designing and implementing cloud security, and legal aspects of privacy and compliance.

This master of science in cybersecurity online program can be completed without ever visiting campus. Coursework is hosted by the Maryville Virtual Lab, and students can earn their degree in as few as 18 months. All distance learners pay the same tuition rate. Students can also transfer some credits from regionally accredited colleges and universities.

Bellevue is a private, nonprofit university located in Nebraska. The school's online master's degree in cybersecurity is designated as a National Center of Academic Excellence in Information Assurance/Cybersecurity by the Department of Homeland Security and the NSA. Bellevue's master of science in cybersecurity prepares students to thrive in government or private business computer and network security work. Admission to the program requires a bachelor's degree, a GPA above 2.5 for the past 60 undergraduate credits, and some supplemental materials. Students can complete the program online. The 36-credit program has a traditional and accelerated cohort track available for experienced IT students who hold security certifications. Courses include information security management, ethical hacking, and human aspects of cyber security. Bellevue will work with students to achieve certain certification or professional development goals. Graduates will be able to recommend control strategies for risks to the IT assets and effectively respond to security breaches.

Based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, La Salle University enrolls approximately 6,000 students every year in a range of academic programs, including distance education options like its online master of science in cybersecurity. This program is well-suited for professionals with some experience in the information security field who want to advance in their careers by gaining additional theoretical knowledge and developing practical skills. Students pursuing this master of science in cybersecurity online take 30 credits of classes by engaging in asynchronous coursework. The curriculum includes topics like network theory; computer digital forensics; and cybercrime, cyber warfare, and cyber espionage. Students take one eight-week course at a time, allowing them to earn their degree in two years while still working and/or attending to other personal responsibilities.

Online tuition is priced on a per-credit rate. Financial aid is also available. Additionally, as a designated military-friendly school, La Salle provides active personnel and veterans exclusive discounts and funding support. Applicants must have a minimum 3.0 GPA to be eligible for admission.

Founded in 1885, the University of Arizona was the state’s first institution of higher education. Today, UA provides a comprehensive catalog of academic programs for distance learners, including an online master of science degree in cybersecurity

Located in the city of Kingston, the University of Rhode Island offers 70 graduate degree programs; distance learners can access many of these degree tracks. This includes the school’s online professional science master's degree in cybersecurity. This 36-credit program is suited for professionals seeking to advance in their careers while maintaining the flexibility to keep working. Students take required coursework in areas like incident response, penetration testing, and intrusion detection and defense. Unlike many other master of science in cybersecurity online programs, URI’s option does not require students to complete a capstone project. Instead, distance learners round out their education by completing an internship, which may be completed at their current workplace.

URI offers three degree schedules, enabling students to earn their diploma at their own pace; one of the options allows students to finish in as few as 12 months. Distance learners pay the same tuition rate regardless of where they live.

Robert Morris, a small, private university near Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, offers its master's of science in cybersecurity and information assurance to students all around the U.S. through online instruction. As one of the school's data technology programs, the online cybersecurity master's is designed to teach students how to recognize, defend, and avoid the cyber threats that have become common in the business and political world. The program features faculty with real-world cybersecurity experience. Robert Morris has several related programs including data analytics, internet information technology, and information technology project management. The university offers dozens of graduate and undergraduate degrees online through its two-team management system. Online students work with the Online Student Services Team for everything from class selection to advising while the Instructional Design Team helps faculty translate their lesson plans into the optimal online product.

The University College is located in Adelphi, Maryland, and teaches nearly 100,000 online students around the world. The school has embraced distance learning with a number of campuses in the District of Columbia, Europe, and the Middle East. The school has an open acceptance policy for qualified students. The master of science in cybersecurity technology is a fully online program with an interdisciplinary approach to cybersecurity. Online master's degree cyber security students take courses where they ethically hack and use cutting edge tools to test network and password security. Students must earn a "B" or higher in their core classes and complete a capstone project at the end of the program. University College also offers related courses for inexperienced computer science and coding students. The 36-credit program is popular with active-military personnel and veterans. Up to 6-credits can be transferred into UMUC's program.

The University of Charleston enrolls over 2,400 students annually in traditional and distance education programs. Among its distance offerings is an online master of science degree in cybersecurity. Due to the rapidly expanding nature of information technology, cyber defense professionals, tasked with protecting the digital privacy of individuals and organizations, are in high-demand. UCWV’s cybersecurity program consists of 30 credits and helps students develop leadership and technology skills. Coursework covers topics such as cyberpsychology, security and information data analytics, and enterprise infrastructure planning and safeguarding. Degree candidates also complete a practical applications in security capstone experience.

Courses follow an asynchronous format, and most students earn a degree in five terms. Admission requirements include a bachelor’s degree in business or an information sciences field from a regionally accredited institution. UCWV boasts one of the most affordable online graduate tuition rates in the U.S, with an even lower price for military students.