With an expected boost of 18 percent between 2014 and 2024 in the job sector and the annual median salary being around $90,000, cybersecurity is now a great field to study at the graduate level. And these days, you can earn such a degree without having to travel to a university campus. If you are interested in pursuing an online Master’s degree in Cybersecurity, you will find this post helpful as it lists your ten best options.
Top Universities for Online Cybersecurity Master’s Degree
1. Purdue University Global
Purdue University Global, or simply Purdue Global, is an online university operating as part of the prestigious Purdue University system. It was known as Kaplan University until 2018 when the Purdue University acquired it. It currently offers more than 175 online programs to a student population of about 29,000.
Purdue Global’s graduate program in the field of cybersecurity is known as the Online Master of Science in Cybersecurity Management. The program consisting of 60 credits can be completed entirely online. It is designed to prepare students with the knowledge and skills required in cybersecurity’s leadership roles.
2. Maryville University
Maryville University of St. Louis has been around since 1872. It is a small private university situated in Town and Country, Missouri, with a total enrolment of nearly 6,500. Through its six colleges and schools, the university facilitates 90-plus academic programs.
At Maryville, the Master’s in Cyber Security (MCS) program is delivered in fully online mode, with no campus visits needed. It is possible to graduate in just one year. The 30-credit program falls under the John E. Simon School of Business.
3. University of California, Berkeley
The University of California, Berkeley (UC Berkeley) is the flagship of the ten University of California campuses, ranking fifth globally in the Academic Ranking of World Universities 2019. Founded in 1868, the Berkeley-based public university currently offers higher education to more than 42,500 students. It has over 350 academic programs.
The UC Berkeley School of Information (I School) offers an online graduate program in the field of cybersecurity known as Master of Information and Cybersecurity (MICS). It consists of nine courses that make up a total of 27 credits. The program can take 20 months to complete.
4. New York University
The New York University (NYU) is a Manhattan-based university with over 60,500 students, representing almost every US state and 133 countries. It came into being in 1831. The private university consists of 19 schools and colleges that offer more than 400 academic programs.
At NYU, the online Master of Science in Cybersecurity program is administered by the Tandon School of Engineering. The 30-credit program includes seven core courses – three in computer science and four in security – and three electives. Additionally, students can pursue a research project, a master’s thesis, or a cyber ops specialization. The length of the program is usually between two to three years.
5. University of Southern California
Established in 1880, the University of Southern California (USC) is currently home to around 47,500 students. The private university primarily has two campuses, the University Park Campus and the Health Sciences Campus, both located in Los Angeles, California. It consists of 21 colleges and schools.
USC, through its Viterbi School of Engineering, offers an online graduate program called Master of Science in Cyber Security Engineering. The program’s 28 credits can be completed as fast as 18 months in full-time study mode. For part-time students, it may take two to four years to complete.
6. University of Delaware
The University of Delaware (UD) is a public university with a student population north of 24,000. It offers a total of 427 academic programs through its eight colleges. The university situated in Newark, Delaware, was founded in the year 1743.
An online Master of Science in Cybersecurity program is available at UD, which has been designated as a National Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense Education by NSA and Homeland Security. Nine faculty members are tasked with the responsibility of teaching this program. To earn the MS in Cybersecurity degree, students take 10 courses that make up a total of 30 credits. The minimum duration is two years.
7. Drexel University
Drexel University is a Philadelphia-based private university that began its journey in 1891. It offers more than 200 academic programs through its 15 colleges and schools. Its total enrolment currently stands at nearly 24,200, including about 4,700 online students.
At Drexel, the online Master’s degree in Cybersecurity can be earned at the completion of 45 credits. 12 of those credits come from core courses, while 24 credits are earned from cybersecurity elective courses, and nine from non-track elective courses. The program was designed jointly by two colleges at the university: the College of Computing and Informatics, and the College of Engineering.
8. Johns Hopkins University
Johns Hopkins University (JHU) is the world’s 12th best university, according to the Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2020. Founded in 1876, the private university currently has over 24,000 students throughout its nine academic divisions. It offers more than 260 academic programs. It consists of six campuses, four of which are located in Baltimore, one in Montgomery County, and one in Washington, D.C.
JHU’s Whiting School of Engineering is in charge of the Master of Science in Cybersecurity program. The program is offered in on-campus, online, and hybrid delivery modes. To earn the degree, students have to complete three foundational courses, five-track courses, and two elective courses, making up a total of ten courses.
9. Syracuse University
Syracuse University is a private university that came into being 1870. Its main campus is sited in the University Hill neighborhood of Syracuse, New York. The university has a student population of nearly 22,500, which includes students from all 50 US states and as many as 126 nations. It offers more than 400 academic programs through its 13 schools and colleges.
At Syracuse, the online MS in Cybersecurity program is run by the College of Engineering and Computer Science. The 30-credit program consists of core courses worth 15 credits, and electives worth 15 credits. The electives include nine credits of required technical electives. Although the delivery mode is online, the program requires at least one on-campus immersion.
10. University of Arizona
Established in 1885, the University of Arizona is a public university with nearly 45,000 students. Its main campus encompasses 380 acres of land in Tucson, Arizona. It is organized into 21 colleges that house 23 specialized schools. The university offers more than 450 undergraduate and graduate programs.
At Arizona, the Master of Science in Cybersecurity is a joint online program administered by three departments from the Eller College of Management and the College of Engineering. Students earn the degree by completing 33 credits, following either of two different tracks: Information Systems and Physical Systems. The university itself has been designated by NSA and Homeland Security as a Center for Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense.
We hope that this article on online Master’s degree in Cybersecurity was helpful! Make sure to also check out the Available Computer Science Programs for International Students!
