What will I learn in an online bachelor’s degree in cybersecurity program–

With an online bachelor’s degree in cybersecurity program, you’ll learn specific subjects like software development and systems administration while also strengthening your math and computer science skills. You will learn important but complicated topics like: Cryptography Software Programming Data Analytics Network Security Information Security Systems Administration National Security Policy. Key learning skills for your online bachelor’s degree in cybersecurity include: Mathematics Computer Science Organization Time Management Self-Pacing. As an online cybersecurity bachelor, you’ll learn to: Analyze network components including software and hardware. Identify system vulnerabilities through a combination of technological and analytical insight. Create solutions for system vulnerabilities. Navigate the ethical and policy issues related to the cybersecurity profession. Provide both short-term and long-term organizational strategies for managing cybersecurity challenges.

Best Online Bachelor’s in Cybersecurity Programs in North Carolina

By James Barham

Published: Jun 20, 2022
Updated: Mar 13, 2023

The online bachelor’s in cybersecurity is an increasingly valuable degree that can lead to an excellent career with competitive pay in North Carolina. Check out the top-ranked cybersecurity degree programs for 2022 and learn more about the cost of tuition, admission requirements, cybersecurity courses, jobs in cybersecurity, and more.

North Carolina's Best Online Bachelor's in Cybersecurity Programs

38%

28%

23%

90%

87%

79%

15 to 1

10 to 1

8 to 1

$38,160

$36,960

$29,462

$38,428

$14,041

$9,342

23%

28%

38%

79%

87%

90%

8 to 1

10 to 1

15 to 1

$29,462

$36,960

$38,160

$9,342

$14,041

$38,428

Key Takeaways

In North Carolina, cybersecurity graduates get the best career opportunities in Charlotte, Raleigh, and Durham.
The government of North Carolina partners with the state’s most prestigious schools to offer top-quality cybersecurity degree programs.
Computer ccience lays the groundwork for a comprehensive cyber defense education in North Carolina.

Featured Programs

Cybersecurity: A Top Degree for the Next Decade

Cybersecurity is definitely growing in demand in North Carolina, just as it is around the world. Information security jobs are expected to grow by 33% over the next 10 years, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. That’s much faster than average career growth. With current median salaries around $100,000 a year, it’s a good time to prepare yourself to compete in the cybersecurity job market in North Carolina. That’s why we’ve ranked cybersecurity degrees as the best degree for jobs over the next decade.

Cybersecurity is also new and its need is very widespread. In our interview with world-leading cyber security expert Isaac Ben-Israel, Ben-Israel says Because we understand that nowadays everyone is dependent on computers, not only military organizations, defense organizations. and therefore, the citizen, the simple citizen, needs a protection as well as the big organization. and we decided to make it legitimate for education and industry. ...At that time, 2011, it’s hard to believe but this is true, there was not even one university in the world, neither in Israel nor in the States, in which you could go and study cybersecurity. Only 10 years ago. It’s hard to believe but this was the situation 10 years ago. Today ... you can learn cyber security in every university.

If you are still wondering if a cybersecurity bachelor’s degree is worth it, we answer that, and we can give you the playbook for how to become a cybersecurity analyst.

North Carolina Colleges Answering the Demand for Cybersecurity Degrees Online

We’ve identified 3 colleges with online cybersecurity bachelor’s degrees in North Carolina. Online degrees offer students in North Carolina maximum flexibility and convenience so they can study while working. And you don’t have to sacrifice quality. These programs are offered by some of North Carolina’s top ranked colleges like Campbell University and Montreat College. For more about North Carolina colleges visit The Best Colleges in North Carolina.

Jump to Ranking

Online Bachelor’s Degrees in Cybersecurity: Exploring the Best of North Carolina

Aspiring professionals pursuing an online bachelor’s in cybersecurity in North Carolina will enjoy the rich pickings of cybersecurity jobs in The Tar Heel State. According to Cyberseek, North Carolina ranks #6 in the US for cybersecurity job openings—and that’s twice the national average, too.

More than 17,000 cybersecurity job openings are available in the state with the highest concentrations in Charlotte, Raleigh, and Durham.

Indeed, there’s a high demand for cybersecurity professionals in North Carolina. The cybersecurity industry is also seen as an emerging economic development tool and, thus, the public and private sectors are implementing several initiatives.

The North Carolina Partnership for Cybersecurity Excellence (NC-PaCE) is foremost, and it brings together several of the state’s universities and community colleges with public and private organizations. Among its goals is to provide North Carolina businesses the skilled cybersecurity professionals they need.

The North Carolina state government is also at the forefront of the cybersecurity industry with its laws and institutions. The Tar Heel State has established a cybersecurity task force and prohibited ransom payments to people behind cybercrimes.

The best programs offering online bachelor’s in cybersecurity in North Carolina have the distinction of being CAE-CD or Centers of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense, Cyber Operations (CAE-CO), or Cyber Research (CAE-R). The distinction is granted as a joint designation by the National Security Agency (NSA) and Department of Homeland Security (DHS). The programs granted this distinction are known for their academic rigor, extensive hands-on learning opportunities, and real-world applications emphasis.

The University of North Carolina Charlotte’s undergraduate cybersecurity program is one such Center of Academic Excellence; both for Cyber Defense Education and Research. The bachelor’s degree in cybersecurity program at Montreat College is a Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense Education.

Both cybersecurity programs emphasize computer science as the foundation for cyber defense education. Graduates can apply their bachelor’s degree in cybersecurity toward gainful employment and/or pursue a master’s degree in cybersecurity or information assurance.

Cybersecurity employers in North Carolina prefer graduates of these Centers of Academic Excellence. This is because students gain world-class entry-level knowledge and skills in contemporary cybersecurity technologies. Graduates also have transferable skills that make them professional and productive employees.

Admission into the best programs offering online bachelor’s in cybersecurity in North Carolina is among the most selective in the country! Due to the strong computer science emphasis of these programs, applicants must have satisfactory SAT/ACT scores in math. Other admission requirements are:

A high school diploma (i.e., freshman students) or associate degree (i.e., transfer students or degree completion programs)
Proof of eligible DSST and CLEP exams and other transfer credits
Letters of recommendation
Personal statements
Current resume

Once admitted, students should meet the academic requirements for general education, major, and elective courses. Most online cybersecurity programs have a minimum 120-credit hours curriculum with a four-year completion period, on average.

Transferred credits, part-time enrollment and leaves of absence will affect actual time-to-completion. Degree completion programs usually have a two-year completion period but only accept applicants with a relevant associate degree.

The best online bachelor’s degree in cybersecurity programs feature courses in:

Database Programming
Principles of Cyber Defense
Advanced Cyber Defense (Computer systems protection and network security administration are covered)
Incident Response and Contingency Planning
Digital Forensics

World-class cyber defense education also includes explorations of data structures, algorithms, and human-computer interaction.

The best online degree programs also provide students with experiential learning opportunities that allow them to translate theory into practice. Popular opportunities include:

Internships with local companies including businesses and nonprofits, even with government agencies
Capstone projects with a research component that demonstrate practical applications of cybersecurity theory
Seminars and workshops
Research project participation

Financial aid is available for online students in need or with academic merit. Federal financial aid is recommended since an online cybersecurity degree can be fairly expensive.

Frequently Asked Questions About Online Bachelor’s in Cybersecurity

With an online bachelor’s degree in cybersecurity program, you’ll learn specific subjects like software development and systems administration while also strengthening your math and computer science skills.

You will learn important but complicated topics like:

Cryptography
Software Programming
Data Analytics
Network Security
Information Security
Systems Administration
National Security Policy

Key learning skills for your online bachelor’s degree in cybersecurity include:

Mathematics
Computer Science
Organization
Time Management
Self-Pacing

As an online cybersecurity bachelor, you’ll learn to:

Analyze network components including software and hardware.
Identify system vulnerabilities through a combination of technological and analytical insight.
Create solutions for system vulnerabilities.
Navigate the ethical and policy issues related to the cybersecurity profession.
Provide both short-term and long-term organizational strategies for managing cybersecurity challenges.

As an online bachelor’s in cybersecurity student, you’ll take courses in areas like network security, risk assessment, and digital surveillance. Popular online courses in cybersecurity include:

Cyber Threat Intelligence

Learn to identify cybersecurity threats and the techniques used by bad actors to attack secure networks. Study ethical hacking methodologies, permissions management, threat assessment reporting, and more.

National Security Policy

Learn the laws, policies, and practices shaping the cybersecurity profession in the United States. Study American cybersecurity policy as well as international policy and policy approaches in other nations.

Enterprise Risk Management

Learn how to analyze security conditions for commercial enterprises to identify vulnerabilities and provide solutions. Study best practices as well as legal and ethical responsibilities in creating network security strategies.

Network Security Administration

Learn how to assess, operate and improve network security information for private, public, or non-profit organizations, including Homeland Security. Study cloud security, information security, systems auditing and more.

Digital Forensics

Learn how to investigate cybercrime and produce evidence to be used in prosecuting these crimes. Study the tools, techniques, and principles driving digital forensics investigation.

If the online bachelor’s degree in cybersecurity is your first experience with online education, check out our 10 Tips for Adjusting to School Online.

And for a look at some of the advantages of pursuing your bachelor’s degree in cybersecurity online, check out these 5 Ways Online Education Can Be More Effective Than Traditional Classroom Education

You can do a lot of jobs in computer and network security with an online bachelor’s degree in cybersecurity. The bachelor’s degree in cybersecurity is the basic qualification for students who want to become:

Computer and Information Systems Managers As a Computer and Information Systems Manager, you will plan, coordinate and lead a wide range of computer-related activities in your organization including network security, permissions management, database management, and more. Computer and Information Systems Managers earned a median pay of $159,010 in 2021. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects an 11% rate of growth by 2030, with 52,700 new jobs added.

Computer Network Architects As a Computer Network Architect, you will design and build data communication networks. This includes local area networks (LANs), wide area networks (WANs) and Intranets, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The BLS also notes that computer network architects earned a median pay of $120,520 in 2021. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects a 5% rate of growth by 2030, with 9000 new jobs added.

Database Administrators and Architects As a Database Administrator or Architect, you will work within an organization to create, organize and oversee the systems used to both store data and keep this data secure. Database Administrators and Architects earned a median pay of $98,860 in 2021. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects an 8% rate of growth by 2030, with 13,200 new jobs added.

Network and Computer Systems Administrators. As a Network and Computer Systems Administrator, you are responsible for both the daily and long-term operation and oversight of internal network and computer systems for your organization. This includes maintenance, updates, data management, security, and more. Network and Computer Systems Administrators earned a median pay of $80,600 in 2021. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects a 5% rate of growth by 2030, with 18,800 new jobs added.

It takes four to six years, or 120 credits, to earn an online bachelor’s degree in cybersecurity. Some online programs may offer accelerated or self-paced options where you can earn your online bachelor’s degree in as little as 18 to 24 months.

It can be cheaper to get a cybersecurity degree online if you go to a public school in your state. Colleges and universities have tuition discounts for in-state students. Online students get these same in-state discounts. It will be cheaper to get your online bachelor’s degree in cybersecurity from a public school in your state. Your tuition for the online degree will be the same, or slightly more, than the tuition for an in-person degree. But you will save on expenses like housing, transportation, and certain campus fees. Your online bachelor’s degree in cybersecurity will be cheaper if you get an in-state discount and save on these expenses. For more, check out our Guide to the Cost of Online College vs. On-Campus College.

If you need more answers to frequently asked questions about online degrees, we can help.

For detailed information on accreditation, financial aid, college applications and more, check out our Complete Guide to Applying for College.

How do we determine the best online bachelor's in cybersecurity in North Carolina?

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.

Ranking North Carolina’s Superior Online Bachelor’s Degrees in Cybersecurity

In a degree program as important and relevant as cybersecurity, students must pay attention to the academic coursework. In putting together North Carolina’s best online cybersecurity degrees at the undergraduate level, we considered the core courses and electives offered by each program.

The online degrees on our list feature courses that provide the basis for student preparedness, whether they choose to pursue a master’s degree in cybersecurity or grab entry-level work opportunities upon graduation. Either way, cybersecurity majors in North Carolina are expected to have what it takes, including technical and interpersonal skills!

Faculty members of the leading cybersecurity programs in North Carolina are some of the industry’s best! They demonstrate expertise in the cybersecurity field, owing to their experience as professionals and seasoned instructors.

An online college’s cybersecurity program must be accredited as proof of its commitment to academic excellence. The degree programs on this list are all recognized by academic agencies safeguarding the quality of education that students deserve!