Online Cybersecurity Degrees

Cybersecurity protects hardware, software, and data that are connected to the internet from attacks, damage, and unauthorized access. It involves making technologies, processes, and rules to protect networks, devices, and data from cyber threats. Cybersecurity is an increasingly important field as the number and severity of cyberattacks continue to rise.

Cybersecurity Degrees

A degree in cybersecurity is a course of study that prepares students for jobs in the field of cybersecurity. These programs teach about computer science, network security, and cybersecurity law. Internships and final projects are often a part of these programs so that students can get real-world experience. You can get an associate’s, bachelor’s, master’s, or doctoral degree in cybersecurity.

Cybersecurity jobs and salaries are in high demand because businesses and organizations want to keep cyber threats from harming their networks and data. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics says that the number of jobs for information security analysts will grow by 31% from 2019 to 2029. This is much faster than the average for all jobs. The median annual wage for these professionals was $98,350 in May 2019. Other cybersecurity jobs, such as security managers and chief security officers, tend to have even higher salaries.

Cybersecurity Degree Statistics

1. In 2021, over 250 cybersecurity degree programs were available in the United States (source: Cybersecurity Ventures).
2. The demand for cybersecurity professionals is expected to increase by 28% from 2019 to 2021 (source: Cybersecurity Ventures).
3. In 2020, the median annual salary for a cybersecurity professional was $98,350 (source: Cybersecurity Ventures).
4. In 2020, 22% of cybersecurity professionals had a bachelor’s degree, 35% had a master’s degree, and 43% had a professional certification (source: Cybersecurity Ventures).
5. In 2020, the most prevalent cybersecurity certifications were the Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP), followed by the Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH) and the Certified Information Security Manager (CISM) (source: Cybersecurity Ventures).
6. In 2020, the highest-paying industries for cybersecurity professionals were the financial services and healthcare industries, with average salaries of $122,000 and $115,000, respectively (source: Cybersecurity Ventures).

Source: https://cybersecurityventures.com/

Best Online Cybersecurity Degree Programs

Stanford University: Stanford’s online Master of Science in Cybersecurity is a comprehensive program covering computer system security, network security, and applied cryptography. The program is made for people who work in computer science or a related field, and it can be finished in two years.

Carnegie Mellon University: Carnegie Mellon’s online Master of Science in Information Technology—Cybersecurity Track is a highly regarded program focusing on cybersecurity’s technical aspects. The program is for IT professionals with a lot of experience and can be finished in as little as 18 months.

University of Maryland: The online Master of Professional Studies in Cybersecurity program at the University of Maryland lets students choose electives in areas like cyber policy, cyber operations, and digital forensics. The program can be completed in two years.

University of Washington: The University of Washington’s online Master of Science in Cybersecurity and Leadership is a unique program that combines technical coursework with leadership development. The program is made for people who work in IT or a related field, and it takes two years to finish.

New York University: New York University’s online Master of Science in Cybersecurity is a comprehensive program that covers topics such as network security, secure software development, and cybersecurity law. The program is made for people who work in computer science or a related field and can be finished in as little as 18 months.

Affordable Online Cybersecurity Degrees

1. University of South Dakota: The University of South Dakota’s online Bachelor of Science in Cyber Operations is an affordable program that covers topics such as network security, cybercrime, and digital forensics. The program is designed for students with an associate degree in a related field and can be completed in as little as two years. According to the University of South Dakota’s website, the program has a total tuition cost of $19,008 for in-state students and $23,808 for out-of-state students.
2. Dakota State University: Dakota State University’s online Bachelor of Science in Cybersecurity is an affordable program that covers topics such as network security, cybercrime, and digital forensics. The program is designed for students with an associate degree in a related field and can be completed in as little as two years. According to Dakota State University’s website, the program has a total tuition cost of $18,864 for in-state students and $22,544 for out-of-state students.
3. Western Governors University: Western Governors University’s online Bachelor of Science in Cybersecurity is an affordable program that covers topics such as network security, cybercrime, and digital forensics. The program is designed for students with an associate degree in a related field and can be completed in as little as two years. According to Western Governors University’s website, the program has a total tuition cost of $16,000. The net price for the program is $9,966 per year.
4. Eastern Kentucky University: Eastern Kentucky University’s online Bachelor of Science in Computer and Information Technology – Cybersecurity Concentration is an affordable program that covers topics such as network security, cybercrime, and digital forensics. The program is designed for students with an associate degree in a related field and can be completed in as little as two years. According to Eastern Kentucky University’s website, the program has a total tuition cost of $15,120 for in-state students and $22,272 for out-of-state students.
5. University of North Dakota: The University of North Dakota’s online Bachelor of Science in Cyber Security is an affordable program that covers topics such as network security, cybercrime, and digital forensics. The program is designed for students with an associate degree in a related field and can be completed in as little as two years. According to the University of North Dakota’s website, the program has a total tuition cost of $14,400 for in-state students and $23,040 for out-of-state students.
6. Western Illinois University: Western Illinois University’s online Bachelor of Science in Computer Science – Cybersecurity Concentration is an affordable program that covers topics such as network security, cybercrime, and digital forensics. The program is designed for students with an associate degree in a related field and can be completed in as little as two years. According to Western Illinois University’s website, the program has a total tuition cost of $13,200 for in-state students and $20,160 for out-of-state students.
7. Brigham Young University-Idaho: Brigham Young University-Idaho’s online Bachelor of Science in Cybersecurity is an affordable program that covers network security, cybercrime, and digital forensics topics. The program is designed for students with an associate degree in a related field and can be completed in as little as two years. According to Brigham Young University-Idaho’s website, the program has a total tuition cost of $12,480.
8. Champlain College: Champlain College offers a Bachelor of Science in Cybersecurity degree program that can be completed online. The program is designed to provide students with the skills and knowledge needed to protect organizations from cyber threats. Tuition for the program is $540 per credit hour, and the program’s net price (the cost of attendance minus grant and scholarship aid) is $20,917 per year.
9. Trident University International: Trident University International offers an online Bachelor of Science in Cybersecurity degree program to provide students with the skills and knowledge needed to protect organizations from cyber threats. The Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC) accredited the program. Tuition for the program is $500 per credit hour, and the net price for the program is $17,504 per year.
10. National University – National University offers an online Bachelor of Science in Cybersecurity degree program to provide students with the skills and knowledge needed to protect organizations from cyber threats. The Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC) accredits the program. Tuition for the program is $400 per credit hour, and the net price for the program is $16,080 per year.

Fast Cybersecurity Degrees

1. Western Governors University: Western Governors University’s online Bachelor of Science in Cybersecurity is a fast program that can be completed in as little as 36 months. The program covers topics such as network security, cybercrime, and digital forensics and is designed for students with an associate degree in a related field. According to Western Governors University’s website, the program has a total tuition cost of $16,000. The net price for the program is $9,966 per year.
2. Capella University: Capella University’s online Bachelor of Science in Cybersecurity is a fast program that can be completed in as little as 36 months. The program covers topics such as network security, cybercrime, and digital forensics and is designed for students with an associate degree in a related field. According to Capella University’s website, the program has a total tuition cost of $15,540.
3. Southern New Hampshire University: Southern New Hampshire University’s online Bachelor of Science in Cybersecurity is a fast program that can be completed in as little as 36 months. The program covers topics such as network security, cybercrime, and digital forensics and is designed for students with an associate degree in a related field. According to Southern New Hampshire University’s website, the program has a total tuition cost of $14,500.
4. American Public University: American Public University’s online Bachelor of Science in Cybersecurity is a fast program that can be completed in as little as 36 months. The program covers topics such as network security, cybercrime, and digital forensics and is designed for students with an associate degree in a related field. According to American Public University’s website, the program has a total tuition cost of $11,880.
5. Norwich University: Norwich University’s online Bachelor of Science in Cybersecurity is a fast program that can be completed in as little as 36 months. The program covers topics such as network security, cybercrime, and digital forensics and is designed for students with an associate degree in a related field. According to Norwich University’s website, the program has a total tuition cost of $11,800.

*Note: Information for these programs was gathered from the universities’ websites and may be subject to change. It is recommended that you verify the information and any requirements directly with the universities. Net price information is based on National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) data.

Cybersecurity Statistics

In 2020, the global cost of cybercrime was estimated to be $3 trillion, up from $2 trillion in 2019 (source: Cybersecurity Ventures).

In 2020, 44% of small businesses experienced a cyber attack, and 60% of small businesses that experienced a cyber attack went out of business within six months (source: National Cyber Security Alliance).

In 2020, the average cost of a data breach was $3.86 million (source: Ponemon Institute).

In 2020, the healthcare industry had the highest data breach cost at $7.13 million, followed by the financial services industry at $5.86 million (source: Ponemon Institute).

In 2020, the most common types of cyber attacks were phishing (65%), followed by ransomware (34%) and malware (27%) (source: Cybersecurity Ventures).

In 2020, the average time to contain a data breach was 46 days (source: Ponemon Institute).

In 2020, the average cost of a ransomware attack was $11.5 million (source: Cybersecurity Ventures).

In 2020, the average cost of a cyber attack on a small business was $200,000 (source: National Cyber Security Alliance).

5 of the Biggest Cybersecurity Crimes from 2017-2020

SolarWinds Hack – In December 2020, it was discovered that a supply chain attack targeting software company SolarWinds had compromised the networks of multiple government agencies and companies in the United States. The attack, believed to have been carried out by Russian state-sponsored hackers, was one of the most sophisticated and widespread cyber espionage campaigns ever.

Marriott Data Breach – In 2018, hotel chain Marriott International announced that the reservation system for its Starwood Hotels and Resorts brand had been hacked, potentially exposing the personal data of up to 500 million guests. The data breach is believed to have begun in 2014 and was not discovered until 2018.

Equifax Data Breach – In 2017, credit reporting agency Equifax announced that it had suffered a data breach that exposed the personal data of 143 million customers. The data breach was caused by a vulnerability in the company’s website software, which the attackers exploited to gain access to sensitive customer information.

Yahoo Data Breaches – In 2013 and 2014, Yahoo suffered two separate data breaches that exposed the personal data of all 3 billion company users. The breaches were not discovered until 2016, and the company later admitted that it had not encrypted the affected data.

WannaCry Ransomware Attack – In May 2017, the WannaCry ransomware attack affected more than 200,000 computers in 150 countries, encrypting users’ data and demanding a ransom payment to restore access. The attack spread rapidly through a worm and affected various organizations, including hospitals, schools, and government agencies.

All the above information was sourced from news articles and reports on the respective cyber attacks.