The best colleges for cybersecurity in 2024 – by value for money
By value for money, the best colleges for cybersecurity are CUNY John Jay, Rochester Institute of Technology, and Kennesaw State University.
While most roles require a bachelor’s degree, some people make it into cybersecurity with only a certificate.
Computer science, computer engineering, and IT degrees all lead to higher salaries on average than cybersecurity degrees.
A cybersecurity degree can lead to a high-paying job as an information security analyst, who earns $120,360 on average according to the BLS.
Cybersecurity is an exciting, dynamic branch of computer science that puts you at the forefront of an organization’s digital defenses.
As a cybersecurity specialist, you will learn how to set up and maintain a safe network system, protect organizations from cyberattacks and hacking attempts, audit security systems, and conduct “penetration testing,” a dubiously named practice that involves testing a computer system to find vulnerabilities.
Cybersecurity is a growing field, but not all cybersecurity degree programs are worth it. Read on to discover the best colleges for cybersecurity by value for money. These degrees offer the optimal combination of high earning potential and affordability.
The 20 best cybersecurity degrees in the country – by value for money
CUNY John Jay College of Criminal Justice
New York, New York
Our economic score ranks programs based on a combination of payback and EarningsPlus. Lower scores are better. Check our methodology page for details and data sources.
The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.
Median earnings of all students 4 years after graduating.
Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (49%) are not displayed.
CUNY John Jay is a public university in New York City. It is part of the CUNY college network, which offers some of the most affordable – yet high-quality – degrees in the country. John Jay’s BS in Computer Science & Information Security is the best in the country in terms of value for money.
Students learn how to program computers, build software systems, and solve computer crimes. Students are well prepared to enter the job market as cybersecurity professionals right after graduation.
Rochester Institute of Technology
Rochester, New York
Our economic score ranks programs based on a combination of payback and EarningsPlus. Lower scores are better. Check our methodology page for details and data sources.
The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.
Median earnings of all students 4 years after graduating.
Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (49%) are not displayed.
Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) is a private research university in Upstate New York, on the banks of Lake Ontario. It offers the 4th best cybersecurity program in the country.
Its BS in Cybersecurity teaches students to protect organizations from cyberattacks by preserving assets, identifying security vulnerabilities, and designing strategies for data recovery.
Typical job titles of RIT cybersecurity alumni include reverse engineer, cyber security analyst, penetration tester, cyber threat responder, and security assurance engineer.
Kennesaw State University
Kennesaw, Georgia
Our economic score ranks programs based on a combination of payback and EarningsPlus. Lower scores are better. Check our methodology page for details and data sources.
The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.
Median earnings of all students 4 years after graduating.
Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (49%) are not displayed.
The 3rd best-value cybersecurity bachelor’s program is offered by Kennesaw State University, a public institution in the Atlanta metro area of Georgia.
Its Bachelor of Science in Cybersecurity (BS-CYBR) trains tech-savvy, business-aware cybersecurity professionals. This interdisciplinary program draws on faculty from departments of IT, criminal justice, and business administration in information security.
The flexible program is offered entirely online.
Wilmington University
New Castle, Delaware
Our economic score ranks programs based on a combination of payback and EarningsPlus. Lower scores are better. Check our methodology page for details and data sources.
The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.
Median earnings of all students 4 years after graduating.
Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (49%) are not displayed.
Wilmington University (WilmU) is a private university just outside Wilmington, Delaware.
It offers a well-regarded B.S. in Cybersecurity that can be individually tailored to fit your career goals with various concentrations, including digital forensics. Students will be prepared to take exams for industry-standard certifications like CISA, CISSP, A+, Linux+, and more.
The University of Texas at San Antonio
San Antonio, Texas
Our economic score ranks programs based on a combination of payback and EarningsPlus. Lower scores are better. Check our methodology page for details and data sources.
The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.
Median earnings of all students 4 years after graduating.
Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (49%) are not displayed.
The University of Texas at San Antonio is a large public university on the outskirts of San Antonio.
It offers a cyber security bachelor’s degree that can be taken both online and on-campus. An “Honors Experience” is also available.
The program prepares students to work as penetration testers, information security engineers, digital forensics analysts, information security analysts, compliance offers, and much more.
SUNY Polytechnic Institute
Utica, New York
Our economic score ranks programs based on a combination of payback and EarningsPlus. Lower scores are better. Check our methodology page for details and data sources.
The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.
Median earnings of all students 4 years after graduating.
Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (49%) are not displayed.
The SUNY Polytechnic Institute, usually referred to as SUNY Poly, is a public university in rural Onedia County, in Upstate New York. The college focuses on STEM degrees.
It offers a prestigious Network and Computer Security: Cybersecurity (NCS) bachelor’s degree that equips students with in-depth knowledge of the technologies that organizations use to keep modern network and computing infrastructures secure.
Ferris State University
Big Rapids, Michigan
Our economic score ranks programs based on a combination of payback and EarningsPlus. Lower scores are better. Check our methodology page for details and data sources.
The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.
Median earnings of all students 4 years after graduating.
Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (49%) are not displayed.
Rounding out our top 5 best cybersecurity programs, Ferris State University is a large public university in Michigan. Its main campus is located in Big Rapids.
It offers a highly respected information security and intelligence degree with a high rate of student satisfaction: 98.4% of graduates said they would choose the same program again if offered the choice. Students go on to become cybersecurity professionals, data analysts, digital forensic investigators, FBI agents, risk analysts, penetration testers, and much more.
SUNY College of Technology at Alfred
Alfred, New York
Our economic score ranks programs based on a combination of payback and EarningsPlus. Lower scores are better. Check our methodology page for details and data sources.
The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.
Median earnings of all students 4 years after graduating.
Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (49%) are not displayed.
Alfred State College, often called SUNY Alfred or SUNY Alfred State, is a public college in a small town in Allegheny County, New York.
Its affordable Bachelor of Technology in Cyber Security places a special emphasis on network and host security. Program participants will graduate not only with a bachelor’s degree, but also pick up certifications along the way, including Cisco-certified Network Association, CCNA Security, Security+, Microsoft Certified Technology Specialist, and Network+.
One semester is spent on an internship.
Dakota State University
Madison, South Dakota
Our economic score ranks programs based on a combination of payback and EarningsPlus. Lower scores are better. Check our methodology page for details and data sources.
The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.
Median earnings of all students 4 years after graduating.
Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (49%) are not displayed.
Dakota State University, or DSU, is a small public university in Madison, South Dakota.
It offers a 100% online Bachelor’s of Science in Cyber Operations that teaches students how to respond to attacks such as data breaches, malware infections, and software vulnerabilities. This degree can be completed in 3 years. Alternatively, students can opt for a 4+1 program and get a BS in Cyber Operations and an MS in Computer Science in just 5 years.
Brigham Young University
Provo, Utah
Our economic score ranks programs based on a combination of payback and EarningsPlus. Lower scores are better. Check our methodology page for details and data sources.
The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.
Median earnings of all students 4 years after graduating.
Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (49%) are not displayed.
Brigham Young University, or BYU, is a private religious university in Provo, Utah. It is affiliated with the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, often referred to as the Mormon Church.
While BYU offers high-quality, affordable degrees, students should be prepared to follow the university’s strict honor code requirements.
Through its Electrical and Computer Engineering Department, it offers a cybersecurity major that features several emphases: digital forensics, penetration testing, Internet of Things (IoT), and system and network administration.
Saint Cloud State University
Saint Cloud, Minnesota
Our economic score ranks programs based on a combination of payback and EarningsPlus. Lower scores are better. Check our methodology page for details and data sources.
The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.
Median earnings of all students 4 years after graduating.
Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (49%) are not displayed.
St. Cloud State University (SCSU) is a public university in St. Cloud, Minnesota. It is home to the only cybersecurity bachelor’s program in the state of Minnesota.
The cybersecurity major boasts a 100% job placement rate within 2 years. A cyber security minor is also available. Students can take advantage of lab-based learning, faculty-guided research opportunities, junior and senior internships, and the Active Information Technology and Security Club.
Metropolitan State University
Saint Paul, Minnesota
Our economic score ranks programs based on a combination of payback and EarningsPlus. Lower scores are better. Check our methodology page for details and data sources.
The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.
Median earnings of all students 4 years after graduating.
Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (49%) are not displayed.
Metropolitan State University, or Metro State, is a public university in Minnesota’s Twin-Cities metro area.
Its BS in Cybersecurity is one of the best in the Midwest, and available both on campus and online. Its hands-on curriculum leverages lab-based courses that teach students to assess the security needs of computer and network systems and recommend safeguard solutions.
Lindenwood University
Saint Charles, Missouri
Our economic score ranks programs based on a combination of payback and EarningsPlus. Lower scores are better. Check our methodology page for details and data sources.
The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.
Median earnings of all students 4 years after graduating.
Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (49%) are not displayed.
Lindenwood University is a small private university in St. Charles, Missouri, about 24 miles northwest of St. Louis. Its cybersecurity program is ideal for students who want to study in the challenging – yet nurturing – environment of a small liberal arts college.
Its B.S. in Cybersecurity trains undergraduate students to evaluate, plan, and protect organizations’ computer networks from malicious threats. Degree holders will be fully prepared for an exciting career in cybersecurity.
East Stroudsburg University of Pennsylvania
East Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania
Our economic score ranks programs based on a combination of payback and EarningsPlus. Lower scores are better. Check our methodology page for details and data sources.
The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.
Median earnings of all students 4 years after graduating.
Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (49%) are not displayed.
East Stroudsburg University (ESU) is a public university in East Stroudsburg, a small town in Eastern Pennsylvania.
Through the Computer Science Department, students can pursue a B.S. in Computer Security. Courses include data structures and algorithms, computer security, introduction to cybersecurity, computer programming, and much more. Students also complete an internship.
New England Institute of Technology
East Greenwich, Rhode Island
Our economic score ranks programs based on a combination of payback and EarningsPlus. Lower scores are better. Check our methodology page for details and data sources.
The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.
Median earnings of all students 4 years after graduating.
Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (49%) are not displayed.
New England Institute of Technology (or NEIT) is a private university based in Rhode Island.
It offers a B.S. in Cybersecurity and Network Engineering that teaches students to design secure, modern networks and protect computers and network systems. Program participants learn the ins and outs of computer systems, mobile and network forensics, Windows and Linux security, incident response, and much more.
NEIT has been designated as a National Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense by the National Security Agency.
Columbia Basin College
Pasco, Washington
Our economic score ranks programs based on a combination of payback and EarningsPlus. Lower scores are better. Check our methodology page for details and data sources.
The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.
Median earnings of all students 4 years after graduating.
Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (49%) are not displayed.
Columbia Basin College, or CBC, is a small college in Richland, Washington that offers associate degrees and some bachelor’s programs. Richland is a town in eastern Washington State on the banks of the mighty Columbia River.
It offers a Bachelor of Applied Science in Cyber Security. Major courses include programming fundamentals, database systems, cloud fundamentals, computer security, database design, network security, ethical hacking, cryptology, cyber-crime and terrorism, and many more.
George Washington University
Washington, District of Columbia
Our economic score ranks programs based on a combination of payback and EarningsPlus. Lower scores are better. Check our methodology page for details and data sources.
The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.
Median earnings of all students 4 years after graduating.
Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (49%) are not displayed.
George Washington University, or GWU, is a private, federally charted research university in our nation’s capital. It is Washington D.C.’s first university.
Its Bachelor of Professional Studies with a Major in Cybersecurity is designed especially for students with an associate degree or non-technical bachelor’s degree who want to further their career. The curriculum includes experience in labs and virtual environments, and students collaborate with government agencies, private companies, and the military.
SUNY at Albany
Albany, New York
Our economic score ranks programs based on a combination of payback and EarningsPlus. Lower scores are better. Check our methodology page for details and data sources.
The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.
Median earnings of all students 4 years after graduating.
Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (49%) are not displayed.
The State University of New York at Albany, also referred to simply as the University at Albany, is a public research university with several campuses throughout the Albany metro area.
It offers a Bachelor of Science in Cybersecurity that is offered both on campus and fully online. Students are taught the fundamentals of safeguarding systems and privacy through a combination of coursework, research, and experiential learning.
Bellevue University
Bellevue, Nebraska
Our economic score ranks programs based on a combination of payback and EarningsPlus. Lower scores are better. Check our methodology page for details and data sources.
The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.
Median earnings of all students 4 years after graduating.
Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (49%) are not displayed.
Bellevue University is a small private university just outside Omaha, Nebraska focused on adult education.
It offers a Cybersecurity bachelor’s degree whose mission is to train students to protect organizations from cyber threats. The program can be taken on campus or 100% online. Students learn Python, the foundations of governance, risk, and compliance, applying security controls, penetration testing, forensics, and more.
Champlain College
Burlington, Vermont
Our economic score ranks programs based on a combination of payback and EarningsPlus. Lower scores are better. Check our methodology page for details and data sources.
The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.
Median earnings of all students 4 years after graduating.
Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (49%) are not displayed.
Champlain is a small private college in Burlington, Vermont.
Champlain’s online Bachelor’s Degree in Cybersecurity is recognized nationally as a top program for cybersecurity and digital forensics. It is home to the Senator Patrick Leahy Center for Digital Investigation & Cybersecurity, and it has been designated a National Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense Education by the U.S. National Security Agency and the Department of Homeland Security.
Graduates go on to become incident responders, penetration testers, security administrators, security analysts, and more.
How we made this list
We looked at programs registered with the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) under CIP Code 11.1003 (Computer and Information Systems Security/Auditing/Information Assurance). 88 bachelor’s programs are registered with the government under this code.
To rank bachelor’s programs by value for money, we used our signature economic score metric, which determines which programs offer the optimal combination of high earning potential and affordability (in average net cost).
Net cost refers to the average yearly cost of college after financial aid. It includes cost factors like room, board, and fees.
Earnings data represents average annual earnings, 4 years after graduation, regardless of what field you end up working in.
All data on cost and earnings comes from the NCES’ IPEDS tool and College Scorecard. It represents students who received at least $1 in federal financial aid (over 80% of all students).
Read more about our our methodology here.
What kind of degree do you need for cyber security?
If you want to work in cyber security, multiple types of degrees can help you reach your goal.
1. A bachelor’s degree in cyber security
These are bachelor’s programs that focus more or less exclusively on cybersecurity, in addition to the fundamentals of computer science and programming.
These programs may prepare you to take certification exams in line with industry standards, saving you time and effort after graduation.
2. A degree in computer science, IT, or computer engineering
Many employers in the cybersecurity field are more than happy to hire grads with a general computer science, computer engineering, or IT degree. In fact, this is a very common route to a career in cybersecurity.
Some universities offer a computer science/IT degree with a cybersecurity track, focus, or minor. People enrolled in these programs take cybersecurity courses as electives. This can be a great choice if you want to keep your options open after graduation while still learning about cybersecurity.
Note that if you get a general computer science degree, you may have to commit to some independent study to pass cybersecurity certification exams.
3. A cyber security certificate or bootcamp
A certificate program is like a mini degree. You won’t emerge with a bachelor’s, but you’ll spend a lot less time and money on school. Certificate programs are great for people who want to earn career-specific qualifications without committing to 4 (more) years of college.
Remember that a certificate program is not the same as certification!
4. No degree at all
Cybersecurity is a field that places a lot of importance on passing certification exams – of which there are several hundred (don’t worry, you won’t have to take them all). While many employers are willing to pay for these, you may need to take 1 or 2 on your own to kick-start your career.
Some employers may overlook your lack of a degree if you are able to pass a certification exam on your own. This is a challenging route that requires more diligence and self-discipline than many can muster.
Computer science vs cyber security
While a cybersecurity degree offers a direct path to a cybersecurity job after graduation, computer science degree holders go on to earn a lot more 4 years after leaving school.
The graduates of the 88 cybersecurity degree programs we analyzed earn an average of $73,240 four years after graduating; however, people with a bachelor’s in computer science earn $100,386: this is a 37% higher salary.
While you can get a cybersecurity job with a comp sci degree, people with a cybersecurity degree may have a harder time landing other computer science roles.
The typical “should I get a computer science or cybersecurity degree” Reddit post reveals an overwhelming consensus that computer science is a better degree.
This is because a computer science degree offers higher earning potential and versatility than a degree in cybersecurity.
“A computer science degree offers higher earning potential and versatility than a degree in cyber security.”
In the chart below, we compare the average earnings of people with a bachelor’s in cybersecurity, 4 years after leaving school, to those of people with similar degrees.
| Bachelor’s degree | Average earnings, 4 years after graduation |
|---|---|
| Cybersecurity | $73,240 |
| Computer science | $100,386 |
| Computer engineering | $90,829 |
| IT | $82,668 |
| Computer networking | $65,909 |
| Computer systems analysis | $64,310 |
Source: IPEDS
Is a master’s in cybersecurity worth it?
According to IPEDS data, the weighted average earnings for people with a master’s degree in cybersecurity, 4 years after graduation, is $124,827.
This is a significant salary boost compared to bachelor’s-level earnings, indicating that a master’s in cybersecurity is definitely worth the money.
Do you need a degree for cyber security?
While you don’t technically need a bachelor’s degree to work in cybersecurity, the majority of people in the field have one.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, 42.3% of information security analysts have a bachelor’s degree and 25% have a master’s degree. Meanwhile, 30.8% have less than a bachelor’s degree (e.g., an associate degree, a certificate, or no degree at all).
Below, we show some common roles associated with cybersecurity alongside typical educational attainment.
| Role | Percent with less than a bachelor’s | Percent with a bachelor’s | Percent with more than a bachelor’s |
|---|---|---|---|
| Information security analyst | 30.8% | 42.3% | 26.8% |
| Computer network support specialist | 50.7% | 37.6% | 11.7% |
| Computer network architect | 44.1% | 41.5% | 15.1% |
| Database administrator | 26.7% | 45.4% | 27.9% |
| Network/computer systems administrator | 45.2% | 40.7% | 14.2% |
| Computer/information systems manager | 25.8% | 45.3% | 28.9% |
What can you do with a cybersecurity degree?
The most typical cybersecurity role is information security analyst. Information security analysts may be referred to as cybersecurity analysts, IT security analysts, cybersecurity consultants, data security analysts, or other names.
However, a number of different careers are available to people with a bachelor’s in cybersecurity.
Information security analyst
Information security analysts design and implement measures to safeguard an organization’s computer networks and systems.
National
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Ohio
Pennsylvania
Rhode Island
South Carolina
South Dakota
Tennessee
Utah
Vermont
Texas
Virginia
Washington
West Virginia
Wyoming
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United States
Total employment
175,350
Projected growth (2018-2028)
33.4%
Degree required
Bachelor’s
Computer network support specialist
Computer support specialists take care of computer networks and help users with technical issues.
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Alabama
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Idaho
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Illinois
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Maryland
Louisiana
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Missouri
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Montana
Nebraska
Nevada
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New Jersey
North Carolina
North Dakota
New Mexico
New York
Oklahoma
Oregon
Ohio
Pennsylvania
Rhode Island
South Carolina
South Dakota
Tennessee
Utah
Vermont
Texas
Virginia
Washington
West Virginia
Wyoming
Wisconsin
United States
Total employment
158,720
Projected growth (2018-2028)
7.5%
Degree required
Bachelor’s
Computer network architect
Computer network architects create and set up data communication networks like LANs, WANs, and intranets.
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Nebraska
Nevada
New Hampshire
New Jersey
North Carolina
North Dakota
New Mexico
New York
Oklahoma
Oregon
Ohio
Pennsylvania
Rhode Island
South Carolina
South Dakota
Tennessee
Utah
Vermont
Texas
Virginia
Washington
West Virginia
Wyoming
Wisconsin
United States
Total employment
174,100
Projected growth (2018-2028)
5.4%
Degree required
Bachelor’s
Database administrator/architect
Database administrators and architects build and manage systems to store and protect data.
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Alabama
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California
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Illinois
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Maryland
Louisiana
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Missouri
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Montana
Nebraska
Nevada
New Hampshire
New Jersey
North Carolina
North Dakota
New Mexico
New York
Oklahoma
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Ohio
Pennsylvania
Rhode Island
South Carolina
South Dakota
Tennessee
Utah
Vermont
Texas
Virginia
Washington
West Virginia
Wyoming
Wisconsin
United States
Total employment
76,140
Projected growth (2018-2028)
N/A
Degree required
Bachelor’s
Network/computer systems administrator
Network and computer systems administrators set up, manage, and maintain computer networks and systems for organizations.
National
Alabama
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Arizona
California
Colorado
District of Columbia
Connecticut
Delaware
Florida
Georgia
Idaho
Indiana
Hawaii
Illinois
Iowa
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Kansas
Maryland
Louisiana
Maine
Massachusetts
Michigan
Minnesota
Missouri
Mississippi
Montana
Nebraska
Nevada
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New Jersey
New York
North Carolina
North Dakota
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Ohio
Pennsylvania
Rhode Island
South Carolina
South Dakota
Tennessee
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Vermont
Texas
Virginia
Washington
West Virginia
Wyoming
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United States
Total employment
323,020
Projected growth (2018-2028)
5.4%
Degree required
Bachelor’s
Computer/information systems manager
Computer and information systems managers oversee and manage computer-related activities in an organization.
National
Alabama
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California
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Colorado
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Delaware
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Georgia
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Idaho
Illinois
Indiana
Iowa
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Maryland
Louisiana
Maine
Massachusetts
Michigan
Minnesota
Missouri
Mississippi
Montana
Nebraska
Nevada
New Hampshire
New Jersey
New Mexico
North Carolina
North Dakota
New York
Oregon
Ohio
Oklahoma
Pennsylvania
Rhode Island
South Carolina
South Dakota
Tennessee
Utah
Vermont
Texas
Virginia
Washington
West Virginia
Wisconsin
Wyoming
United States
Total employment
592,600
Projected growth (2018-2028)
10.9%
Degree required
Bachelor’s
How much do cybersecurity analysts make?
The average cybersecurity salary for information security analysts is $120,360 per year according to the BLS.
Final thoughts
A cybersecurity degree can lead to a lucrative, stable career working with computers. It’s perfect for people who want to combine their tech skills with a bit of cyber-sleuthing.
While studying computer science may be a better decision economically, CS programs tend to be highly competitive. Cybersecurity degrees, on the other hand, may be easier to get into and less intensive.
As you chose your degree, remember that you don’t need to overpay for college. Prioritize public universities and programs that offer you financial aid over “prestigious” private institutions. Use the free tools on our site to determine which universities are offering the best-value degrees in the country.
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