Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Online Master's in Cybersecurity
Best Online Master's in Cybersecurity in Detail
Forbes Advisor Best Online Master's in Cybersecurity Comparison
The following table highlights each school's strengths and compares the estimated full program tuition cost for each of the master's programs in cybersecurity.
Our Analysis of the Best Online Cybersecurity Master's Degree Programs
The table below compares the affordability of each online cybersecurity master's degree. University of the Cumberlands offers the most affordable program at $11,005, with Georgia Institute of Technology a close second at $11,808. The most expensive program is found at New York University and costs an estimated $75,750.
Percentage of Online Learners by School for Best Online Cybersecurity Master's Degree Programs
The table below compares the percentage of online learners among our top 10 online master's in cybersecurity programs.
Compare Socioeconomic Mobility Outcomes for Online Master's in Cybersecurity Programs
The following table shows the overall mobility index score for each school. This metric considers admissions accessibility and graduate earnings to project the likelihood that a student will move up at least two income quintiles.
Best Online Master's in Cybersecurity Degrees Carnegie Classification
The table below compares each school's Carnegie research activity designation, which shows the level of research activity. It also compares the Carnegie student access and earnings classification for each school.
How To Find the Right Online Master's in Cybersecurity for You
Consider Your Future Goals
If you want to advance in the field, develop your skills and stand out in the job market, you might consider pursuing an online master's in cybersecurity. While many jobs only require a bachelor's degree and relevant experience, a master's degree demonstrates an additional level of expertise. You may also be able to get certain jobs after completing a cybersecurity bootcamp or professional certification.
While many master's-level curriculums in cybersecurity cover similar topics, a major differentiating factor is the culminating experience. You may want to seek out a program with a capstone experience or project that allows you to confront real-world information security challenges. Doing so can help you get a taste of what the job is really like and allow you to hone your problem-solving skills.
If you want to work in defense or for the government, look for programs with designation from the National Centers for Academic Excellence in Cybersecurity (NCAE-C), which is managed by the National Cryptologic School at the National Security Agency.
Understand Your Expenses and Financing Options
Excluding one outlier (Johns Hopkins, which has a per-course rate), per-credit tuition rates for the programs ranked here range from $355 to $2,525. Over the course of an entire master's program, these rates can range from around $11,005 to more than $75,000 in total tuition expenses. Tuition can also change from year to year, and students typically must pay distance learning fees or other additional expenses.
According to the National Center for Education Statistics, as of the 2021-22 academic year, annual tuition for a graduate program in the U.S. averaged $20,513. This translates to around $41,000 for a two-year program.
To lower the cost of your education, make sure you fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). The FAFSA can help you access grants, loans and work-study opportunities through the federal government. You may be able to find graduate assistantships through universities, but these are often reserved for on-campus students. Some employers offer tuition reimbursement for employees pursuing relevant degrees, so check with your workplace to see if this is an option for you.
Accreditation for Online Master's in Cybersecurity
There are two key types of accreditation colleges can have: institutional and programmatic.
Institutional accreditation applies to entire schools and serves as a quality indicator signaling that a college or university as a whole meets quality standards. You should only enroll at accredited institutions; otherwise, you can't receive federal financial aid, and some prospective employers may not recognize your diploma. To verify a school's accreditation status, visit its website or use the directory on the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) website.
Programmatic accreditation provides quality assurance in specific fields and is more important in some areas than others. You can keep an eye out for programmatic accreditation from the Computing Accreditation Commission of ABET, which currently applies to a limited number of schools, but a lack of programmatic accreditation for a cybersecurity degree is not a deal-breaker.
Should You Enroll in an Online Master's in Cybersecurity Program?
Earning your master's in cybersecurity online might seem like the easy choice, but the reality is more complicated, as distance learning isn't necessarily the right fit for every student. To determine if it might be right for you, ask yourself the following questions:
- What's your budget? Studying online is often more affordable than studying on campus, as distance learners generally save on campus housing and transportation costs. Some public universities also extend in-state or otherwise discounted tuition rates to online students, so studying online may allow you to enroll in a degree program through a school outside of your home state for less money than if you earned that same degree on campus.
- What's your learning style? Online learning requires a great deal of inherent focus, time management, organization and drive. If external structure or regular interaction with a group of peers helps you excel, consider an on-campus program or an online cybersecurity program with live, synchronous course sessions.
- How much flexibility do you need? Flexibility is the main appeal of distance learning. If you are a parent or plan to work while pursuing your master's degree, consider enrolling in an asynchronous online program, which eliminates scheduled class times and lets you complete assignments around your schedule -- as long as you meet established deadlines.
What To Expect From an Online Master's in Cybersecurity
While curricular offerings for many of the best cybersecurity master's programs are similar, some allow students to select a focus area in the field.
Admission Requirements
Each school and program sets its own admission requirements, but they tend to be relatively similar. Some things you'll likely need for acceptance into a master's in cybersecurity program include:
- Bachelor's degree (often in a relevant field such as computer science)
- Minimum undergraduate GPA
- Letters of recommendation
- Programming or coding skills
- Prerequisite coursework in math or computer science
Common Courses
Course titles can vary among online master's in cybersecurity programs, but most curriculums cover similar territory. Courses in these programs typically cover topics such as:
- Principles of cybersecurity
- Foundations of information assurance
- Cybersecurity threat intelligence
- Network security
- Secure protocols
- Applied cryptography
- Application security
- Digital forensics
- Secure cloud computing
What Can You Do With a Master's in Cybersecurity?
Job titles in cybersecurity may vary. Cybersecurity data analyst, information security analyst, threat intelligence specialist, risk assessment manager and cybercrime investigator are all possibilities. But no matter the title, jobs for master's degree holders in cybersecurity typically serve a crucial function: protecting data, computer networks and systems.
Information security analysts may work for government agencies, private companies or consulting firms. In many cases, you can find work in the field with a bachelor's degree and relevant experience; however, a master's degree can help you stand out from the crowd.
Demand is high for cybersecurity professionals. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) projects 29% job growth for information security analysts between 2024 and 2034.
Master's in Cybersecurity Salary Outlook
According to the BLS, as of May 2024, information security analysts earned a median annual wage of $124,910. The top 10% of earners in the field make more than $186,420 annually, while the bottom 10% make less than $69,660.