A master's in cybersecurity is a graduate degree program for students looking to build specialized skills in securing networks and software systems. These programs mainly appeal to tech professionals looking to enhance their abilities and pursue advanced academic credentials. Some employers prefer candidates with advanced degrees, especially with roles offering growth potential.
Now is an excellent time to study cybersecurity, as the tech industry struggles with a historic talent skills gap. In October 2023, ISACA reported that 59% of cybersecurity teams polled by the organization were operating at understaffed levels. That trend has extended into 2024, with some industry analysts reporting that the shortage continues to grow.
This degree profile explains what to expect from a cybersecurity master's program, including career benefits after graduation. Explore a ranked list of the best cybersecurity schools for graduate students. Use this research to launch and guide your education and career advancement search.
Popular Online Programs
Learn about start dates, transferring credits, availability of financial aid, and more by contacting the universities below.
Top Schools With Master's in Cybersecurity Programs
#1 Best Schools for Graduate Degrees in Cybersecurity
Georgetown University
- Washington, DC
- 4 years
- Online + Campus
Founded in 1789, Georgetown is the oldest Catholic and Jesuit university in the United States. This globally renowned academic institution generated $212.3 million in research and development expenditures in 2017.
Master's in Cybersecurity Risk Management
Students can enroll part time or full time in Georgetown's master's in cybersecurity risk management degree to complete the program completely online or in person in 2-5 years. Distance learners should expect to devote about 6-9 hours to coursework outside of class each week. The program suits working professionals and admits new candidates in fall, spring, and summer sessions.
The 33-credit curriculum requires courses like system architecture and design, disruptive technology and organizational change, and information security laws and regulatory compliance. Cybersecurity risk management majors must complete capstone projects. Students develop critical thinking, ethical reasoning, information literacy, and applied problem-solving skills.
Applying to Georgetown
Admission requirements include a completed online application, a statement of purpose, two letters of recommendation, and college transcripts from previously attended schools. The school does not require GRE or GMAT test scores.
Program at a Glance
- Accreditation: Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE)
- Tuition: 1,483/credit for Summer; $1,527 for Fall and Spring
- Program Length: 2-5 years
- Delivery Format: 100% online (synchronous and asynchronous)
- Percentage Awarded Loans: 25%
Percent Online Enrollment
38%
Percentage of all students who are enrolled online.
Accreditation
Yes
Middle States Commission on Higher Education
#2 Best Schools for Graduate Degrees in Cybersecurity
University of Southern California
- Los Angeles, CA
- 4 years
- Online + Campus
This private research university in Los Angeles enrolls nearly 50,000 undergraduate and graduate students. The school featured 221 National Merit Scholars in its 2021 class of first-year students.
Master of Science in Cyber Security Engineering
USC's Viterbi School of Engineering offers a 28-credit, fully online master of science in cybersecurity engineering degree designed for working professionals. The program covers secure networking, key management, secure operating systems, and the challenges of secure applications. Students learn to develop, engineer, and operate secure information systems.
U.S.-based and international students admitted to the Viterbi School can apply for merit-based funding opportunities. The curriculum includes classes like security and privacy, foundations and policy for information security, computer systems assurance, and applied cryptography. The cybersecurity engineering program requires a minimum cumulative 3.0 GPA to graduate.
Applying to USC
Each applicant must hold a bachelor's degree from an accredited university in an engineering or engineering-related subject. The program requires transcripts, a resume/CV, and a personal statement. Letters of recommendation are optional.
Program at a Glance
- Accreditation: WASC Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC)
- Tuition: $2,199/credit
- Required Credits: 28 credits
- Delivery Format: 100% online
- Percentage Awarded Loans: 26%
Percent Online Enrollment
46%
Percentage of all students who are enrolled online.
Accreditation
Yes
Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior Colleges and University Commission
#3 Best Schools for Graduate Degrees in Cybersecurity
Florida State University
- Tallahassee, FL
- 4 years
- Online + Campus
Founded in 1861, FSU is the oldest continuous site of higher education in Florida. The school offers 276 degree programs and serves more than 43,000 students from 130 countries.
Master of Science in Cybersecurity
FSU's department of computer science offers an MS in computer science cybersecurity major that also confers information security specialist certificates. The computer science department awards financial support to master's students each semester, including research assistantships, teaching assistantships, and fellowships.
Cybersecurity majors take data and computer communications, offensive computer security, cryptography, and software reverse engineering and malware analytics courses. They also complete general computer science coursework in software, systems, and theory.
The 30-credit cybersecurity program requires students to complete six undergraduate prerequisites before graduating, including introduction to computer security, computer organization, and theory of computation.
Applying to FSU
An applicant must hold a bachelor's degree in computer science or a related field from an accredited university. Admission requirements also include a minimum 3.0 GPA and minimum GRE scores.
Program at a Glance
- Accreditation: Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC)
- Tuition: Varies
- Required Credits: 30 credits
- Percentage Awarded Loans: 35%
Percent Online Enrollment
58%
Percentage of all students who are enrolled online.
Accreditation
Yes
Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges
#4 Best Schools for Graduate Degrees in Cybersecurity
Georgia Institute of Technology
- Atlanta, GA
- 4 years
- Online + Campus
Georgia Tech, a public research university headquartered in Atlanta, serves almost 40,000 students. The school houses highly regarded engineering and computing schools that rank among the top in the U.S.
Master of Science in Cybersecurity
Georgia Tech's fully online master of science in cybersecurity program offers tracks in information security, cyber-physical systems, and policy. The part-time program takes 2-3 years to complete and requires 32 credits.
All tracks require classes like introduction to information security, information security policies and strategies, and a five-credit practicum.
The information security track focuses on practical skills for protecting networks and computers. The cyber-physical systems track covers smart grids, cyber-physical electric energy systems, and embedded systems. The policy track explores privacy issues related to computing, the internet and public policy, and data analytics.
Applying to Georgia Tech
Admission requirements vary by track but include a bachelor's degree from an accredited institution and a minimum 3.0 GPA. Each candidate must submit official transcripts, a personal statement, a professional resume, and references.
Program at a Glance
- Accreditation: Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC)
- Tuition: $310/credit
- Program Length: 2-3 years
- Delivery Format: 100% online
- Percentage Awarded Loans: 24%
Percent Online Enrollment
62%
Percentage of all students who are enrolled online.
Accreditation
Yes
Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges
#5 Best Schools for Graduate Degrees in Cybersecurity
Johns Hopkins University
- Baltimore, MD
- 4 years
- Online + Campus
Established in 1876, Johns Hopkins in Baltimore, Maryland, is the oldest research university in the United States. The school boasts 29 past and present Nobel laureates.
Master of Science in Cybersecurity
Johns Hopkins's Whiting School of Engineering offers a part-time online master of science in cybersecurity degree designed for working engineering professionals. The program combines theory and practice and helps students develop technical skills to stop cyberattacks. The cybersecurity MS offers five tracks, including assured autonomy, systems, and independent study.
Enrollees complete courses like foundations of information assurance, security engineering, public key infrastructure and managing e-security, and intrusion detection. Other topics include cryptology, ethical hacking, and digital forensics. Successful program applicants typically possess a minimum 3.0 GPA in the second half of their undergraduate studies.
Applying to Johns Hopkins
Candidates must hold bachelor's degrees from regionally accredited institutions and submit transcripts from all previously attended universities. The program requires prerequisites like calculus, data structures, and Java.
Program at a Glance
- Accreditation: Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE)
- Tuition: $58,720/year
- Delivery Format: Hybrid, on-site, or 100% online (synchronous and asynchronous)
- Percentage Awarded Loans: 29%
Percent Online Enrollment
80%
Percentage of all students who are enrolled online.
Accreditation
Yes
Middle States Commission on Higher Education
Why Go to School for a Master's Degree in Cybersecurity?
With a master's degree in cybersecurity, you can position yourself to advance in this critically important field. While building experience in lower-level roles can also lead to higher-paying jobs with more responsibility, advanced degrees offer an efficient, reliable pathway.
Entry-level cybersecurity jobs include penetration tester and incident responder positions. While these professionals play important roles in cybersecurity departments, they tend to have limited growth prospects beyond team leadership. The best cybersecurity schools can help you unlock more career options through advanced training at the graduate level.
Cybersecurity experts continue to grapple with an evolving threat landscape, which has reached a historic peak, according to some analysts. At the same time, employers around the world have struggled to meet their needs amid a lack of qualified talent.
In its State of Cybersecurity 2023 report, ISACA found that 65% of surveyed employers had unfilled cybersecurity job openings. Half of those respondents indicated that persisting vacancies were in positions beyond the entry level.
The best cybersecurity master's programs put you in an excellent position to pursue opportunities in this fast-growing, lucrative field. Additional key benefits of a graduate cybersecurity degree include:
- Specialization Opportunities: Master's programs offer specialization options that may not be available to undergraduates. Examples of these concentrations include digital forensics, cloud security architecture, and information assurance. These tracks may help you qualify for well-paid niche careers.
- Excellent Preparation for Professional Certification: Advancement-focused cybersecurity professionals often elect to earn professional certifications from respected organizations like CompTIA, GIAC, and ISACA. The knowledge you gain from a graduate-level program may help you succeed on your certification exams and compete in the job market.
- Enhanced Earning Potential: According to Payscale data from May 2024, professionals with master's degrees in cybersecurity earn nearly 25% more on average than their counterparts with bachelor's degrees.
What to Expect From Schools With Cybersecurity Programs
The best cybersecurity schools typically cover 30-36 credits. If you study full-time, you can usually complete your degree in two academic years.
Schools offer generalist and concentrated programs. Generalist paths build transferable, broadly relevant skills. Concentrated programs develop many of the same proficiencies but also include advanced coverage of the specialization area.
Regardless of the program's structure or focus, the best universities for a master's in cybersecurity focus on similar learning objectives. These generally include:
- Building an adaptable knowledge base that positions graduates for continued success in a fast-changing threat landscape
- Fostering the ability to perform a comprehensive assessment of an employer or client's cybersecurity risk profile
- Creating a holistic understanding of cyberdefense strategy before, during, and after breaches
Programs often build toward capstone or thesis projects, allowing faculty to assess the sum of your gained knowledge.
Admission Requirements
Admission standards vary by school. Some open their programs to learners without professional computer science backgrounds. Others prefer or require that applicants have 1-3 years of experience in cybersecurity-related roles.
In either case, you will need a bachelor's degree in cybersecurity, computer science, information technology, or another related field. In some cases, you may qualify for entry with an unrelated bachelor's degree if you can demonstrate your mastery of foundational cybersecurity skills.
The best cybersecurity master's programs tend to look for high levels of undergraduate academic achievement, especially in computing coursework. You may need college-level credits in calculus, linear algebra, discrete mathematics, and/or computer programming.
Even the best cybersecurity schools have begun to adopt test-optional policies. If test requirements apply, they likely refer to the GMAT or GRE.
Degree and Specialization Options
Due to their versatility, generalist programs remain highly popular with students. However, many schools offer concentrations and specializations.
Common options include:
- Cloud security
- Cyberdefense operations
- Industrial cybersecurity
- Information systems or information security
If you opt for an information security (infosec) track, it is important to understand this field's differences from cybersecurity. While cybersecurity focuses specifically on networked computerized, digital, and electronic systems, infosec extends to security procedures for offline, physical, and analog data.
Master's degrees in cybersecurity usually lead to MS designations.
Popular Cybersecurity Courses
Curricular details differ, depending on the program's learning objectives, underlying philosophy, and focus. Despite differences, many of the best universities for a master's in cybersecurity share common instructional goals.
Examples of courses commonly featured in cybersecurity master's programs include:
- Cybersecurity Systems Engineering: This course explores the foundational security concepts in designing and developing large-scale networked systems. It primarily focuses on identifying and addressing potential vulnerabilities at the conceptual level, along with building effective countermeasures.
- Network Security: Students build core proficiencies in safeguarding internet-accessible networked computer systems. Specific competencies may extend to network defenses, privacy issues, cloud security, and distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attacks.
- Software Security: Internally developed and third-party software applications often contain vulnerabilities that malicious actors may exploit. This course introduces and develops best practices for minimizing vulnerabilities and responding to attacks that target software as an entry point.
- Threat Intelligence: In cybersecurity, threat intelligence describes the practice of actively monitoring and tracking known, emerging, and potential attack vectors and techniques. This course, which may be required or elective, covers the tactical, operational, strategic, and technical methods cybersecurity professionals apply in the threat intelligence arena.
- Practicum in Cybersecurity: This course places students in field settings to apply and build on existing skills alongside established cybersecurity professionals. It may take the form of an internship or work-study program.
How Much Will a Master's in Cybersecurity Cost?
For the 2021-2022 school year, the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) reported average graduate school tuition fees of $20,513 per year. Public institutions charged a mean average of $12,596 per year, while tuition and required fees at private nonprofit schools reached an annual average of $29,931.
You can reasonably expect the cost of your cybersecurity master's to generally align with NCES averages. However, many factors affect actual program costs, including:
- Program formats (face-to-face, online, or hybrid)
- In-state or out-of-state status at public institutions
- Financial aid availability
- Additional requirements, such as computer equipment, software licenses, and textbooks
Prestige can also affect costs. The best cybersecurity schools tend to have higher operating expenses. As such, they often charge higher tuition rates to generate the revenues they need to maintain their reputations.
If you need help paying for your cybersecurity degree, start by researching non-repayable forms of aid like computer science scholarships. Aim to use loans only as a last resort.
Jobs for Master's in Cybersecurity Graduates
With a master's degree in cybersecurity, you may qualify for career paths with significant growth or leadership potential. Certifications are additional validators of your experience and abilities, and they tend to attract employers' attention.
With that background in mind, here are some of the job titles and positions you may pursue:
This umbrella career title applies to multiple cybersecurity and infosec specializations. As an infosec analyst, you may work in threat detection, network engineering, and cybercrime investigation. In any case, your job duties will focus on safeguarding sensitive data and the digital and/or physical systems where it is contained or stored.
- Required Education: Master's degree or a bachelor's degree plus multiple years of professional experience
- Median Annual Salary: $120,360
- Job Outlook (2023-33): +33%
Network administrators design, build, manage, and maintain interconnected computing and telecommunication systems. By combining a generalist background in computer science or information technology with a master's in cybersecurity, you can offer deeper insights into the security-related aspects of system design and administration.
- Required Education: Master's degree or bachelor's degree plus multiple years of network administration experience
- Median Annual Salary: $95,360
- Job Outlook (2023-33): -3%
Cybersecurity and infosec architects design the safeguards that protect networks, databases, software platforms, and other digital systems. Multiple well-known organizations offer professional certifications in security architecture, which can help them enter or advance deeper into the field.
- Required Education: Master's degree or bachelor's degree plus multiple years of network administration or cybersecurity experience
- Median Annual Salary: $129,840
- Job Outlook (2023-33): +13%
Choosing the Best School for Studying Cybersecurity
As you research schools and programs, you will likely find multiple options that pique your interest and align with your goals. To help narrow down the field, apply some filters that relate to your personal preferences, career plans, and/or academic objectives.
Factors to consider include:
- School size, location, and/or cost
- Program length or competitiveness
- Concentration or specialization options, or internship/practicum opportunities
- Student or faculty diversity
Regardless, the best cybersecurity schools all share one key feature: institutional accreditation. If you are unsure about a school's accreditation status, you can check with the U.S. Department of Education or the Council for Higher Education Accreditation.
Some of the best cybersecurity master's programs also hold optional accreditation endorsements. You can look for accreditation from organizations like ABET and the National Security Agency, which operates a Centers of Academic Excellence program.
Should You Get Your Graduate Degree Online?
Like many other tech specializations, cybersecurity translates well to online learning environments. Course content emphasizes concepts that do not depend on live, interactive discussions. By pursuing an online cybersecurity master's, you could significantly reduce your costs while benefiting from scheduling flexibility.
However, there are caveats to consider. Online programs tend to work best for independent learners. If you are newer to the field, or if your foundational knowledge needs development, a traditional campus-based program might make a better match due to the more immediate availability of faculty support and learning resources.
More Paths for Learning to Fight Cybercrime
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Master's Degrees in Computer Forensics
Digital Forensics Certificate Programs
FAQ About Universities and Schools With Master's in Cybersecurity Programs
What can you do with a master's in cybersecurity?
A master's in cybersecurity may help you qualify for higher-level cybersecurity roles with advancement or management potential. An advanced degree may also help you perform better on exams that lead to valuable professional certifications, which can boost your employability and earning power.
Is going to a top school for cybersecurity worth it?
Earning a degree from one of the best universities for a master's in cybersecurity offers significant benefits. You may enjoy increased demand from employers, gain competitive advantages in the job market, and form valuable networking connections.
Are the best universities for master's degrees in cybersecurity expensive?
Tuition costs mainly depend on the school type. Public colleges tend to offer lower tuition rates than private schools, regardless of reputation. If you want to save money, study online or attend a public college as an in-state student. Some private schools also offer generous aid programs that dramatically reduce the net cost of attendance.
Which degree is best for cybersecurity?
A computer science program with a cybersecurity concentration makes an ideal match. You can also enter cybersecurity with a general computer science or information technology degree. Many schools offer specialized programs in areas of cybersecurity, which might appeal to you if you want to work in a specific area.
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