West Virginia, often referred to as the Mountain State, boasts a diverse and rugged mountainous terrain. Those seeking to live in a place with stunning natural landscapes may want to consider calling West Virginia home.

While the state’s general economic landscape is also booming with excellent technical college options available, it may not be the ideal place for cybersecurity professionals. West Virginia may have some job openings in cyber security, but the number of opportunities is relatively small compared to its neighboring states, like Virginia, Ohio, and Pennsylvania.

West Virginia only has 887 data security and cyber security job openings, according to CyberSeek.

However, it might be possible for cyber security specialists to work for companies outside the state while residing in West Virginia, given the rising popularity of remote work in the tech sector.

Featured Programs

Cyber Security: A Top Degree for the Next Decade

Cyber security is a relatively new but very widespread degree. It may be hard to believe, but in 2011, not a single college or university in Israel or the United States offered a formal cyber security education.

But because of society’s dependence on technology and computers, cyber security is now offered in nearly every university. That’s why we’ve ranked the cybersecurity degrees as the best degree for jobs over the next decade.

Cyber attacks have grown in popularity and sophistication as the world becomes more technologically intertwined, storing and exchanging critical information online. To prevent hackers from inflicting billions of dollars in cyber damage, government agencies like Homeland Security and the National Security Agency are doubling their efforts in attracting the best cybersecurity professionals by promising more job benefits.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, Information Security jobs are expected to grow by 33% over the next ten years. Professionals in this industry have a yearly average salary of $112,000.

While the demand and career outlook for cyber security experts promise stable job growth and high salaries, employers still have difficulty pinning down qualified applicants to fill vacant positions.

According to Cyber Crime Magazine, global cybersecurity job vacancies grew by 350%. This growth rate is much higher than the growth rate of all employment, even those in demanding healthcare sectors. In the United States alone, there are 572,392 vacant cyber security jobs.

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

West Virginia Colleges Answering the Demand for Cybersecurity Degrees Online

West Virginia is one of the states with the slowest technological development, which makes it less appealing to hackers or other bad actors as a target. However, it shouldn’t be viewed as a guarantee of security from cyber threats. Regardless of the degree of technological adoption in a particular location, cyber security is still a major worry; therefore, being proactive and cautious in protecting digital assets is crucial.

Cybersecurity programs in West Virginia are offered in several colleges and universities. However, there’s currently one college with an online cybersecurity degree in West Virginia.

This online degree is offered by the University of Charleston, one of West Virginia’s top-ranked colleges. Online degrees offer students in West Virginia maximum flexibility and convenience so they can study while working—without sacrificing the quality of their degree. For more about West Virginia colleges, visit The Best Colleges in West Virginia.

If you’re residing in West Virginia and want to pursue an online bachelor’s degree in a nearby area, visit our rankings for the Best Online Bachelor’s in Cyber Security degree programs in Virginia, Ohio, and Pennsylvania with designation as Centers of Academic Excellence - Cyber Defense Education from the DHS or Department of Homeland Security and NSA or National Security Agency.

For more about West Virginia colleges visit The Best Colleges in West Virginia.

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Frequently Asked Questions About Online Cybersecurity Bachelor’s Degree Programs in West Virginia

What will I learn in an online bachelor’s degree in cybersecurity program in West Virginia?

With an online bachelor’s degree in cybersecurity program in West Virginia, 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
Digital Forensics
Cybersecurity Risk Management
Cyber Operations
Ethical Hacking

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

Incident Response
Mathematics
Computer Science
Organization
Time Management
Self-Pacing

As an online cybersecurity bachelor’s student, 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 cyber security profession.
Provide both short-term and long-term organizational strategies for managing cyber security challenges.

If an online bachelor’s in cybersecurity degree in West Virginia 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 cyber security online, check out these 5 Ways Online Education Can Be More Effective Than Traditional Classroom Education.

What jobs can I do with an online bachelor’s in cybersecurity degree in West Virginia?

You can do a lot of jobs in computer and network security with an online bachelor’s degree in cybersecurity. The online cybersecurity bachelor’s degree 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 $164,070 in 2022. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects a 15% rate of growth by 2032, with 46,900 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 $126,900 in 2022. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects a 4% rate of growth by 2032, with 10,200 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 $112,120 in 2022. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects an 8% rate of growth by 2032, with 10,200 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. It includes maintenance, updates, data management, security, and more.

Network and Computer Systems Administrators earned a median pay of $90,520 in 2022. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects a 2% rate of growth by 2032, with 19,800 new jobs added.

How long does it take to earn an online bachelor’s degree in cybersecurity in West Virginia?

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

Is it cheaper to get a cybersecurity degree online than through a traditional program?

It can be cheaper to get a cybersecurity degree online if you go to a public school in your state with tuition discounts for in-state students. 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. For more, check out our Guide to the Cost of Online College vs. On-Campus College.

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 cybersecurity bachelor's degree in West Virginia?

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.

Best Online Bachelor’s in Cybersecurity Programs in West Virginia

#1
University of Charleston
Charleston , WV
#2 Best Small Colleges in West Virginia 2024 #2 Best Private Colleges in West Virginia 2024 #3 Best Research Universities in West Virginia 2024 #5 Best Colleges in West Virginia 2024
Other Rankings
Tuition + fees
$32K
Acceptance
68%
Graduation
42%
Student body
4K
Career Outlook for Cybersecurity degree at University of Charleston
Cost of Degree: $21,500
Expenses: $14,600
Starting Salary: $52,910
Salary after 4 years: $63,124
Cost Recoup Time: 11 years
Paid back at 15% of annual salary
The University of Charleston West Virginia is one of the best and most affordable cybersecurity schools in the United States, with four-year degrees in cybersecurity. UCWV is currently the only higher education institution in the state that offers an Online Bachelor’s in Cybersecurity. This online program is for those who have earned their associate degree from an accredited institution.
The program prepares students for career and graduate degrees in the cybersecurity field. It offers a curriculum that adheres to The National Cybersecurity Workforce Framework, concentrating on seven essential areas of cyber operations, and includes advanced material on risk management, systems analysis, network security, and digital forensics.
Advanced courses in the program include Cryptology and Ethical Hacking.
In addition to online courses, students enrolled have the opportunity to visit the campus for a few practical, hands-on learning opportunities. On-campus intensives allow students to showcase what they’ve learned in the classroom. This also serves as a way for students to network with their peers and the faculty.
Graduates are equipped to handle the constantly evolving problems of the digital age. They’ll be ready to pursue advanced degrees that open more advanced roles, such as chief information security officer and cybersecurity manager.
Online Cybersecurity Degrees
BS in Cybersecurity

Required Credits: 125
Completion time: 2 years
Format: Online
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Career Outlook for Students with Cybersecurity Degree

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Computer And Information Systems Security/Auditing/Information Assurance

Degree Level: Bachelor's

Location: Virginia (Private Schools)
Avg. Cost of Degree*: $11,266
Avg. Expenses*: $16,464
Avg. Cost Recoup Time**: 11 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
Database Architects	10.00%	No data
Computer and Information Systems Managers	15.41%	$172,760
Managers, All Other	3.35%	$143,060
Computer Network Architects	3.55%	$130,350
Information Security Analysts	31.56%	$130,130
Computer Occupations, All Other	9.72%	$120,330
Network and Computer Systems Administrators	2.44%	$103,860
Project Management Specialists	6.21%	$102,800
Web Developers	16.90%	$101,060
Database Administrators	7.04%	$99,220

Average Career Salaries

Bottom 10%	Median	Top 10%
$69,048	$117,193	$160,089

Promising Job Markets

State	Cost of Living	Avg. Salary
#2 Virginia	5% higher than average	$117,193
#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	$172,760
Managers, All Other	$143,060
Computer Network Architects	$130,350
Information Security Analysts	$130,130
Computer Occupations, All Other	$120,330
Network and Computer Systems Administrators	$103,860
Project Management Specialists	$102,800
Web Developers	$101,060
Database Administrators	$99,220
Computer Network Support Specialists	$78,010

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.

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Best Online Bachelor’s in Cybersecurity in West Virginia

West Virginia's Best Online Bachelor's in Cybersecurity Programs