Best Online Master’s in Cybersecurity

By Dr. Winston Ewert and Dr. James Barham

Published: Jun 23, 2021
Updated: Nov 22, 2023

Find top-ranked online master’s in cybersecurity degree programs to prepare students to hold supervisory positions, such as chief information security officer, computer information systems manager, IT auditor, and cybercrime investigator.

University of Southern California
University of Arizona
Syracuse University
Arizona State University
Southern Methodist University
University of Delaware
Baylor University
Saint Louis University
DePaul University
Florida International University

Marshall University 97%
University of Texas at Tyler 94%
University of New Haven 91%
Roger Williams University 91%
Arizona State University 90%
New Jersey City University 90%
University of Arizona 87%
Mercy College 86%
University of Massachusetts Lowell 86%
University of Texas at Dallas 85%

University of Texas at Dallas 27 to 1
Florida International University 24 to 1
Arizona State University 19 to 1
University of New Haven 19 to 1
DePaul University 17 to 1
Nova Southeastern University 17 to 1
University of Rhode Island 17 to 1
University of Massachusetts Lowell 17 to 1
University of Arizona 17 to 1
Marshall University 16 to 1

University of Southern California $64,726
Southern Methodist University $61,980
Syracuse University $60,135
Quinnipiac University $51,790
Baylor University $51,738
Saint Louis University $50,644
University of New Haven $44,184
DePaul University $42,840
Roger Williams University $40,962
Nova Southeastern University $36,300

University of Southern California $63,468
Syracuse University $43,428
Baylor University $38,772
Southern Methodist University $31,590
Saint Louis University $22,500
Nova Southeastern University $22,062
DePaul University $21,719
Quinnipiac University $19,710
Roger Williams University $18,565
University of New Haven $18,360

Quinnipiac University
Mercy College
Mississippi College
New Jersey City University
DePaul University
National University
University of Missouri–St. Louis
University of Rhode Island
University of Texas at Dallas
Nova Southeastern University

New Jersey City University
University of Texas at Tyler
Mercy College
University of Missouri–St. Louis
Roger Williams University
National University
University of Southern Maine
Mississippi College
University of New Haven
Quinnipiac University

University of Southern California 12%
Mississippi College 40%
Baylor University 46%
University of Missouri–St. Louis 51%
Syracuse University 52%
Southern Methodist University 52%
Florida International University 64%
DePaul University 70%
University of Delaware 74%
Nova Southeastern University 76%

University of Southern California 9 to 1
Saint Louis University 9 to 1
Southern Methodist University 11 to 1
Quinnipiac University 11 to 1
Mississippi College 13 to 1
University of Missouri–St. Louis 13 to 1
University of Southern Maine 14 to 1
Roger Williams University 14 to 1
Syracuse University 15 to 1
Baylor University 15 to 1

Florida International University $4,721
University of Texas at Tyler $7,020
Marshall University $7,190
University of Southern Maine $8,064
Arizona State University $10,978
University of Arizona $11,210
University of Missouri–St. Louis $12,528
National University $13,320
University of Delaware $13,370
New Jersey City University $13,384

University of Texas at Tyler $6,264
Marshall University $7,520
University of Southern Maine $7,776
Florida International University $9,119
Arizona State University $12,014
University of Arizona $12,348
Mississippi College $12,510
University of Missouri–St. Louis $13,154
New Jersey City University $14,346
University of Rhode Island $14,822

Table of Contents

Featured Programs

Frequently Asked Questions About Online Cybersecurity Master’s Degrees

The master’s in cybersecurity offers specialized studies in computer and network security, including computer engineering, digital forensics, systems engineering, information security, and cyber-physical systems.

Students can study online or on campus, taking courses like Cyber Intelligence, Cyber Psychology, Offensive and Defensive Strategies, and Practical Applications in Security.

Most programs are about 30 credit hours, though some universities also provide opportunities for accelerated degrees.

Upon graduation, students can hold supervisory positions, such as chief information security officer, computer information systems manager, IT auditor, and cybercrime investigator.

Learn more about what you can do with a master’s in computer science.

We recently interviewed one of the world’s most influential cyber security experts, Dr. Isaac Ben-Israel. Dr. Ben-Israel says that cyber security is one of the most important fields of study today, and one of the newest. In 2011 cyber security programs in colleges and universities were scarce. Today, they are offered at colleges and universities around the world, and in some cases cyber security is making its way into core curriculum. Why? Dr. Ben-Israel’s answer is simple: As long as computers are the dominant technology of our time, this is the anticipation, the need for cyber security will only grow.

How do we determine the best online cybersecurity master's degree programs?

Methodology

Pursuing your degree online doesn’t mean you need to settle for an inferior school. Today, most universities and colleges offer online degrees, and many respected schools are seeing significant growth in their numbers of online students.

The people affiliated with a school are ultimately what make it great. This is why influence — i.e., the academic impact of faculty and alumni associated with a school — gets at the heart of what is truly best in education. The combined influence score of a college or university’s top academic influencers is the best indicator of academic excellence. For our online degree rankings, we focus on the academic influence of faculty and alumni in the specific disciplines we’re ranking.

If you are serious about finding the best online colleges, you should be asking where the most influential professors are teaching, and whether their graduates themselves are advancing the school’s reputation for academic excellence. Most ranking sites rely on an opaque combination of reputation surveys and arbitrary performance metrics. Influence, as measured by our InfluenceRanking engine, provides a ranking that is free from bias, insulated from manipulation, and reflective of real-world educational outcomes.

25 Best Online Master’s in Cybersecurity Degree Programs

Career Outlook for Students with Cybersecurity Degree

Go to Degree Finder tool

Computer And Information Systems Security/Auditing/Information Assurance

Degree Level: Master's

Location: The U.S. (Private Schools)
Avg. Cost of Degree*: $11,371
Avg. Expenses*: $16,685
Avg. Starting Salary*: $83,808
Avg. Cost Recoup Time**: 3 years
Job Growth: 11.36%
Number of Jobs: 1,573,500
* denotes ‘annually’
** denotes ‘at 15% of annual salary’

Career Salaries

Career	Job Growth	Avg. Salary
Computer and Information Systems Managers	15.41%	$134,192
Database Architects	10.00%	$120,910
Computer Network Architects	3.55%	$111,162
Managers, All Other	3.35%	$106,040
Information Security Analysts	31.55%	$102,130
Database Administrators	7.04%	$90,551
Project Management Specialists	6.21%	$83,516
Network and Computer Systems Administrators	2.44%	$82,905
Computer Occupations, All Other	9.72%	$79,886
Web Developers	16.90%	$72,340

Average Career Salaries

Bottom 10%	Median	Top 10%
$61,034	$98,954	$146,290

Promising Job Markets

State	Cost of Living	Avg. Salary
#2 Georgia	13% higher than average	$108,150
#3 Virginia	5% higher than average	$117,193
#4 North Carolina	11% higher than average	$105,853
#5 Texas	10% higher than average	$105,429
#6 Washington	7% higher than average	$124,389
#7 New York	5% higher than average	$121,625
#8 Delaware	2% higher than average	$118,825
#9 Ohio	14% higher than average	$97,668
#10 Illinois	7% higher than average	$104,714
#11 Minnesota	4% higher than average	$106,067
#12 Colorado	3% higher than average	$113,445
#13 Michigan	15% higher than average	$93,068
#14 Alabama	13% higher than average	$93,644
#15 Missouri	16% higher than average	$90,354
#16 New Jersey	13% higher than average	$120,978
#17 Arizona	5% higher than average	$100,039
#18 New Mexico	7% higher than average	$97,539
#19 Florida	6% higher than average	$98,353
#20 Tennessee	14% higher than average	$88,420
#21 Pennsylvania	5% higher than average	$97,685
#22 South Dakota	7% higher than average	$94,668
#23 Iowa	9% higher than average	$92,793
#24 Oklahoma	13% higher than average	$88,555
#25 South Carolina	8% higher than average	$93,780
#26 Utah	4% higher than average	$97,483
#27 Wisconsin	7% higher than average	$94,777
#28 Maryland	18% higher than average	$118,732
#29 California	26% higher than average	$126,026
#30 Kansas	9% higher than average	$90,746
#31 Kentucky	14% higher than average	$85,084
#32 West Virginia	11% higher than average	$86,006
#33 Massachusetts	24% higher than average	$119,614
#34 Connecticut	18% higher than average	$113,007
#35 Mississippi	18% higher than average	$78,418
#36 New Hampshire	13% higher than average	$106,211
#37 Rhode Island	20% higher than average	$112,099
#38 Indiana	11% higher than average	$82,896
#39 Nebraska	6% higher than average	$87,308
#40 Idaho	7% higher than average	$86,194
#41 Louisiana	9% higher than average	$83,197
#42 Arkansas	16% higher than average	$77,359
#43 Oregon	11% higher than average	$100,934
#44 North Dakota	average	$85,440
#45 Nevada	5% higher than average	$87,162
#46 Wyoming	2% higher than average	$80,980
#47 District of Columbia	49% higher than average	$122,905
#48 Montana	3% higher than average	$79,120
#49 Maine	9% higher than average	$88,864
#50 Alaska	23% higher than average	$97,396
#51 Vermont	13% higher than average	$88,412
#52 Hawaii	40% higher than average	$96,358

Top Industries

Industry	Avg. Salary
Computer and Information Systems Managers	$134,192
Database Architects	$120,910
Computer Network Architects	$111,162
Managers, All Other	$106,040
Information Security Analysts	$102,130
Database Administrators	$90,551
Project Management Specialists	$83,516
Network and Computer Systems Administrators	$82,905
Computer Occupations, All Other	$79,886
Web Developers	$72,340

Data from The Bureau of Labor Statistics, The Department of Education College Scorecard, The Department of Education NCES, and The Council for Community and Economic Research.

Online Degree Frequently Asked Questions

If this is your first time taking an online course, the experience may require some adjustment. While you’ll generally learn the same content and take the same exams as your on-campus peers, the medium will likely require you to manage much of this experience independently. You’ll be accountable for your own time management, your ability to harness the technology at your fingertips, and your ability to focus on the lectures, lessons, and assignments at hand. This means you’ll need to create a suitable workspace for yourself, maintain a realistic schedule, and take it upon yourself to build relationships with your instructors and classmates. With online college, your goal is to find a balance between independence and engagement.

No. The only part of online education that’s easier is actually getting there. Taking the commute out of the equation means getting to class should be a lot more manageable. But that’s where it ends. In general, your online courses will incorporate the very same materials, concepts, and testing methods as would a traditional classroom.

And in many cases, you’ll even have the same instructors as your on-campus counterparts. In fact, if you are adjusting to the experience of independent learning or working with remote learning technology for the first time, online college may even be a little more challenging for you. For a few insights on how to manage this new experience, check out our 10 Tips for Adjusting to School Online.

Accreditation is especially important when it comes to online college. This is because the online education landscape is a mix of highly-reputable institutions and less-than-reputable for-profit schools. Accreditation gives you the power to differentiate between the two. Accreditation is a stamp of approval from an independent accrediting agency which indicates that a college or university is meeting standards of quality, credibility, and currency. School-wide accreditation falls into two major categories: regional and national accreditation. Regional accreditors generally hold jurisdiction only over schools in the states comprising their region, whereas national accreditors hold jurisdiction over schools in all states. Regional accreditation is widely regarded as a more rigorous standard of quality and credibility than national accreditation.

Attending a college or university which is not regionally accredited could limit your opportunities. When seeking an online education, we strongly recommend that students opt for regionally accredited schools. Regional accreditation ensures eligibility for federal loans and grants, ensures your college credits can be transferred between schools, and ensures that your degree credits can be accepted if you wish to earn an advanced degree.

As long as your online college degree is regionally accredited, you should have little difficulty transferring most of your credits or credentials to another regionally accredited undergraduate school. Every school carries its own standards and procedures for granting a transfer. In many cases, you will be required to navigate a bureaucracy in which some of your credits will be transferred and others will be jettisoned. However, provided that you have attended an online school with the proper regional accreditation, you should have plenty of options for transfer.

In most cases, as long you graduate from a well-regarded, regionally-accredited online college, prospective employers won’t look sideways at your degree. In fact, unless you attend an exclusively online college or university, there will likely be no specific indicator on your degree, transcript or resume differentiating your school from its brick-and-mortar counterpart. This means that your employer will likely only differentiate between an online and in-person degree if you mention this distinction.

While some employers may express concern about making the adjustment from online education to in-person workplace collaboration, many other employers will view your online degree as evidence of valuable 21st Century professional skills such as independence, self-motivation, time management, and tech savvy.

If you are a student who thrives on the dynamic energy of in-person discussion, who requires the physical surroundings of a classroom to feel engaged, or who considers the social aspects of education to be of equal importance to the actual content of your courses, online education will require some adjustment.

While there is much that can be supplanted or simulated through the online medium, some students may find that there is nothing which can replace the conversation, collaboration, and motivation that occur in an actual classroom setting. As you make the adjustment to online education, one of the biggest challenges you will likely face is overcoming this difference in order to the get the most out of your classes. Fortunately, we’ve got some great Tips for Online Education Beginners.

The advantages of online classes are many. First and foremost, online courses give you the freedom and flexibility to attend class from anywhere that works for you, whether you’re at home, in a coffee shop, or in a quiet conference room at work. In many cases, you’ll also enjoy the convenience of asynchronous learning opportunities-educational experiences that you can complete on your own schedule. This may include pre-taped lectures, ongoing chat-board discussions, and 24/7 access to digital materials. And of course, just as there are some learners who prefer the energy of a live classroom, there are those who learn best when working in their own personal space, free from distractions. If this sounds like you, you might find the solitude of online learning to be a major advantage.

Whether you’re just getting started on your college search, you’re looking for survival tips on your way to a bachelor’s degree, or you’re preparing for the transition into grad school, we’ve got guides, how to’s and tons of other valuable resources to keep you moving forward in your educational journey.

Do you have a question about this topic? Ask it here

Best Online Master’s in Cybersecurity

Top 10 Online Master's in Cybersecurity

Featured Programs

Frequently Asked Questions About Online Cybersecurity Master’s Degrees

Why get a master’s in cybersecurity?

What courses will I be taking while getting a master’s in cybersecurity?

How long does it take to get a master’s in cybersecurity?

What can I do with a master’s in cybersecurity?

25 Best Online Master’s in Cybersecurity Degree Programs

Career Outlook for Cybersecurity degree at University of Southern California

Online Degrees

Career Outlook for Cybersecurity degree at University of New Haven

Online Degrees

Career Outlook for Cybersecurity degree at University of Arizona

Online Degrees

Career Outlook for Cybersecurity degree at Arizona State University

Online Degrees

Concentrations

Career Outlook for Cybersecurity degree at Baylor University

Online Degrees

Concentrations

Career Outlook for Cybersecurity degree at Syracuse University

Online Degrees

Career Outlook for Cybersecurity degree at Marshall University

Online Degrees

Career Outlook for Cybersecurity degree at Florida International University

Online Degrees

Concentrations

Career Outlook for Cybersecurity degree at Southern Methodist University

Online Degrees

Career Outlook for Cybersecurity degree at University of Massachusetts Lowell

Online Degrees

Concentrations

Career Outlook for Cybersecurity degree at Roger Williams University

Online Degrees

Career Outlook for Cybersecurity degree at University of Delaware

Online Degrees

Career Outlook for Cybersecurity degree at University of Southern Maine

Online Degrees

Career Outlook for Cybersecurity degree at Saint Louis University

Online Degrees

Concentrations

Career Outlook for Cybersecurity degree at University of Texas at Tyler

Online Degrees

Concentrations

Career Outlook for Cybersecurity degree at Nova Southeastern University

Online Degrees

Concentrations

Concentrations

Concentrations

Concentrations

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Concentrations

Career Outlook for Cybersecurity degree at University of Texas at Dallas

Online Degrees

Concentrations

Career Outlook for Cybersecurity degree at University of Rhode Island

Online Degrees

Career Outlook for Cybersecurity degree at University of Missouri–St. Louis

Online Degrees

Concentrations

Career Outlook for Cybersecurity degree at National University

Online Degrees

Career Outlook for Cybersecurity degree at DePaul University

Online Degrees

Concentrations

Career Outlook for Cybersecurity degree at New Jersey City University

Online Degrees

Concentrations

Career Outlook for Cybersecurity degree at Mississippi College

Online Degrees

Career Outlook for Cybersecurity degree at Mercy College

Online Degrees

Career Outlook for Cybersecurity degree at Quinnipiac University

Online Degrees

Career Outlook for Students with Cybersecurity Degree

Computer And Information Systems Security/Auditing/Information Assurance

Degree Level: Master's

Career Salaries