The online Bachelor of Science in Cybersecurity from Champlain College focuses on hands-on problem solving to give students a fundamental understanding of data theft, piracy, hacking, and information technology security. The 120-credit hour degree emphasises both technical skills — including 31 platforms and programming languages — and critical-thinking skills needed for real-world
Best Online Cybersecurity Bachelor's Degrees
By the OnlineU team | Updated 2/22/2021
Learn about career options in cybersecurity, or peruse the 7 best schools, ranked based on tuition costs and salaries of alumni reported by PayScale. Students interested in pursuing cybersecurity degrees should ensure their degrees are accredited.
Online Bachelor's in Cybersecurity with the Highest Return on Investment
These are the top online bachelor's degrees in cybersecurity according to their return on investment (ROI). To calculate ROI, we took the median alumni salaries and debt one year after graduation and factored in salary growth and loan interest over the course of 10 years. Because ROI evaluates income and debt over time, it indicates whether the upfront expense of an online program might be worth it in the long run. The top four schools on this list have ROIs higher than $367,756, which is the average for all cybersecurity bachelor's degrees in the U.S. (both online and on campus). The top-ranked school, Champlain College, has relatively low tuition and the highest average starting salary at $58,673.
ROI amounts are based on data reported by the U.S. Department of Education. Tuitions are manually researched in order to determine tuition amounts specific to online degrees. Read our methodology for more details.
| Rank | School | Annual Tuition | Median Starting Salary | Median Debt | 10-year ROI |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Champlain College | $9,540 | $58,673 | $28,250 | $568,900 | |
| George Mason University | $34,020 | $43,798 | $26,000 | $418,500 | |
| University of Maryland Global Campus | $14,970 | $41,689 | $21,460 | $402,500 | |
| American Public University System | $8,550 | $43,000 | $33,632 | $400,800 | |
| Bay Path University | $12,000 | $34,847 | $27,000 | $325,100 | |
| Syracuse University | $20,850 | $33,138 | $27,000 | $307,500 | |
| Keiser University eCampus | $19,808 | $31,690 | $40,609 | $275,700 |
Best Bachelor's Degrees in Cybersecurity Rankings Details
#1
Champlain College
Burlington (VT)
- 10-Year ROI: $568,900
- Median Salary: $58,673
- Annual Tuition: $9,540
- Median Debt: $28,250
#2
George Mason University
Fairfax (VA)
- 10-Year ROI: $418,500
- Median Salary: $43,798
- Annual Tuition: $34,020
- Median Debt: $26,000
George Mason University (GMU) offers an online Bachelor of Applied Science in Cybersecurity degree-completion program. This degree is only available for students who hold an associate degree in a computer science discipline from select community colleges in northern Virginia. Students in this 120-credit program take courses in architecture fundamentals, information security, project
#3
University of Maryland Global Campus
Adelphi (MD)
- 10-Year ROI: $402,500
- Median Salary: $41,689
- Annual Tuition: $14,970
- Median Debt: $21,460
The online Bachelor of Science in Computer Networks and Cybersecurity from the University of Maryland Global Campus (UMGC) gives students the operational knowledge for jobs in digital security design, implementation, administration, and threat analysis. The 120-credit degree includes classes in fundamentals of troubleshooting, network security, ethical hacking, cloud technologies,
#4
American Public University System
Charles Town (WV)
- 10-Year ROI: $400,800
- Median Salary: $43,000
- Annual Tuition: $8,550
- Median Debt: $33,632
The online Bachelor of Science in Cybersecurity degree from the American Public University System (APUS) provides students with the fundamental knowledge needed to develop strategic plans for implementing and maintaining a digital defense against cyber criminals, hackers, and data thieves. The 120-credit degree includes classes in critical infrastructure, digital forensics, privacy
#5
Bay Path University
Longmeadow (MA) (and 1 other)
- 10-Year ROI: $325,100
- Median Salary: $34,847
- Annual Tuition: $12,000
- Median Debt: $27,000
The online Bachelor of Science in Cybersecurity - Digital Forensics and Incident Response from Bay Path University (BPU) provides students with the practical and professional tools needed to prevent cybercrime, hacking, and data theft. Students will learn processes of computer science forensics, cyber law, incident management, policy compliance, and handling identity theft. Classes
#6
Syracuse University
Syracuse (NY)
- 10-Year ROI: $307,500
- Median Salary: $33,138
- Annual Tuition: $20,850
- Median Debt: $27,000
The online Bachelor of Professional Studies in Cybersecurity Administration from Syracuse University provides students with the knowledge and skills needed for work in data protection for business, government, and international organizations. This 120-credit hour degree includes courses in the foundations of project management, interpersonal communications, computer networking,
#7
Keiser University eCampus
Daytona Beach (FL) (and 3 others)
- 10-Year ROI: $275,700
- Median Salary: $31,690
- Annual Tuition: $19,808
- Median Debt: $40,609
The online Bachelor of Science in Cyber Forensics and Information Security from Keiser University eCampus is a degree-completion program for students who have an associate degree in a computer-related field. The program focuses on the technical, practical, and protective strategies needed to prevent a cyberattack. Students take classes on system weaknesses, solutions analysis, data
Online Cybersecurity Degree Overview & Career Information
Online cybersecurity degrees may open the doors to a plethora of career options for those interested in the field. A two-year associate degree in cybersecurity will prepare graduates for entry-level positions such as security specialist and applications security specialist. Holding an associate degree is also a base for pursuing industry certifications.
Those who wish to continue in their cybersecurity studies have many options above an associate degree, including bachelor’s, master's, and doctoral options. Bachelor's degrees typically require four years and 120-credits to complete. Students will gain skills in computer forensics, vulnerability assessment, software assurance, and security compliance. These skills are necessary to obtain a career working as a security software engineer, computer forensics analyst, information security analyst, or an information systems security administrator.
A master's degree will allow graduates to apply for senior-level positions such as security application programmers, penetration testers, security architects, and vulnerability analysts. Studies take two years on average and include a focus on biometrics, cryptology, and digital forensics. Completing a three-year doctoral program will advance graduates' knowledge in reverse engineering, data collection, malicious code analysis, and wireless security. This type of degree will prepare industry professionals for roles in the military, government agencies, intelligence, and law enforcement.
Lastly, undergraduate and graduate certificate programs are available and take between two and three years to complete. These programs are specifically designed for working industry professionals who would like to further their education on a part-time basis in order to receive promotions or higher pay.
Online Bachelor's Degrees in Cybersecurity
Students enrolled in cybersecurity bachelor's degree programs will gain industry relevant knowledge and skills in computer forensics, security compliance, software assurance, and vulnerability assessment. Graduates may go on to jobs as security software engineers, information security analysts, information systems security administrators, and security policy analysts.
Bachelor's programs take four years to complete and are comprised of 120 credit hours. Core courses include Introduction to Computer Security, Computer Forensics I & II, Security Compliance, Security Risk Management, Security Capstone, Software Assurance, and Scripting with Perl. Within the program, students also have the option to learn about specific topics such as ethical hacking, cryptology, and artificial intelligence. Students will also prepare to sit for CompTIA and Network+ certification exams.
The Importance of Accreditation
Accreditation is the process used to evaluate higher education institutions on their quality, standards, and efforts towards continuous improvement. These evaluations are conducted by private, non-profit organizations centered on conducting external quality reviews. There are six different regional accrediting organizations operating in the U.S. where they evaluate two-year and four-year schools within their regions. Accreditation comes into play when students are interested in transferring their credits to another institution or apply for graduate programs later on. It is also important to keep in mind that federal financial aid programs are only available to institutions that have been accredited by federally recognized agencies.
The National Security Agency (NSA) and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) jointly sponsor the National Centers of Academic Excellence (CA) program. By promoting higher education in cyber defense and producing professional experts in cyber defense, the program aims to reduce vulnerability in the US national information infrastructure. CA is the major accrediting source for cybersecurity programs and centers on demonstration of outreach and collaboration, student development, cyber defense faculty, and cyber defense multidisciplinary efforts. Accreditation is important within the cybersecurity industry because, for many employers, having a degree from an accredited school can be a hiring criterion.
Careers in Cybersecurity
For aspiring industry professionals, a cybersecurity degree will present opportunities for a variety of careers. Two key job titles include cybersecurity specialist and cybersecurity architect. Cybersecurity specialists work with both public and private organizations to build and maintain a high level of security for their computer information systems. They identify complex issues that may arise with sensitive data and work to keep business running as usual. They will build firewalls, monitor data files, and regulate access to safeguard information to mitigate the risk of cyber crime.
Cybersecurity architects build and oversee the implementation of network security for an organization. Responsibilities include designing and maintaining corporate security procedures, performing vulnerability testing and security assessments, preparing cost estimates, and upgrading system security as needed. Security architects will also be in charge of a programing team and will oversee their work and progression. Employers of cybersecurity architects tend to look for applicants with advanced certifications gained from accredited programs. Some key certifications include CISSP: Certified Information Systems Security Professional, CISM: Certified Information Security Manager, CEH: Certified Ethical Hacker, and CSSA: Certified SCADA Security Architect.
This website offers school details to prospective students as an informational resource. The appearance of a school listing on this website should not be interpreted as an endorsement of the school by this site.
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