20 Best Online Bachelor’s Degrees in Cybersecurity

Updated December 5, 2022

Cybercrime is as rampant today as ever, and cybersecurity is especially vital. The following 20 Best Online Bachelors' Degrees in Cybersecurity train students as cyber crime-fighters. 

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Do your passwords look like jumbled combinations of numbers, letters, and special characters? Are you hoping to crack the code on your career path? The following 20 Best Online Bachelor's in Cybersecurity train students to lead the counterattack on cybercrime. Each of the programs listed can be completed entirely or partially online. 

Many of the following programs listed are designed as degree completion programs for students who already have relevant certifications or associate degrees. In any case, online education allows busy students to complete their education with flexibility and affordability. And since cybersecurity students will be exploring the mechanisms of a virtual world, virtual learning seems an excellent place to start.

Cybersecurity students learn to assess vulnerability, hack ethically, and take protective measures against cyberattacks. Individuals with bachelors' degrees in cybersecurity may go on to work as information security analysts. They may work for computer companies, consulting firms, government agencies, and beyond. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, information security analysts made a median salary of $98,350 in 2018. The demand for cybersecurity experts is growing speedily, at a rate of 28%. Analysts will need to find and implement innovative solutions for increasingly frequent and sophisticated attacks.

Featured Online Programs

Figuring out where to apply? These top, accredited schools offer a variety of online degrees. Consider one of these accredited programs, and discover their value today.

Top 20 Online Bachelors' Degrees in Cybersecurity

  1. Kennesaw State University
    Location

    Kennesaw, GA

    Tuition

    $17929

    Kennesaw State University is home toBest Value Schools' top-ranked online bachelor's program in Cybersecurity. The Bachelor of Science in Cybersecurity is a new, fully online program offered through the university's Cyber Institute. Course requirements include Hardware and Software Concepts, Incident Response and Contingency Planning, and Perimeter Defense. The curriculum culminates in a Cyber Defense capstone. Cybersecurity students will automatically earn a minor in Information Technology. Students may choose to pursue additional minors in Criminal Justice and Crisis Preparedness.

    KSU is a public university with campuses in Kennesaw and Marietta, Georgia. It was initially founded in 1963 as a junior college. Today, it is the third-largest university in Georgia by student enrollment. It is also within the top 50 largest universities in the United States. KSU is also a member of the University System of Georgia, which the Carnegie Foundation classifies as a doctoral research institution with high research activity.

  2. Bellevue University
    Location

    Bellevue, NE

    Tuition

    $11359

    Bellevue University offers a Bachelor of Science in Cybersecurity. The degree program can be completed entirely online. Students may choose an accelerated cohort option, which involves six nine-week course sessions. Required courses include Assessments and Audits; Cyber Investigations and Forensics; and Web, Commerce and Application Security. All Bellevue undergraduates must also complete the Kirkpatrick Signature Series of courses: American Vision and Values, Freedom and Responsibility, and Tradition and Change. The degree requires a total of 127 credits of study.

    Bellevue University is a private, nonprofit university in Bellevue, Nebraska. Established in 1966, the university has always focused on adult education. Students can complete specific courses at learning locations on air force bases and community colleges across Nebraska and in Washington and Iowa. The university is a National Center of Academic Excellence in Information Assurance and Cybersecurity.

  3. Excelsior College
    Location

    Albany, NY

    Excelsior College provides an online Bachelor of Science in Cybersecurity. Students can transfer credits for prior coursework or relevant professional or military experience. Students can follow a general concentration or concentrate in Cyber Operations. Core cybersecurity courses include Cyber Attacks and Defense, Data Communications and Networking, and Security-Focused Risk Management. The curriculum culminates in a capstone course and research project. The degree program prepares students for a variety of industry certification exams.

    Excelsior is a private, nonprofit online college. Founded in 1971, it got its name from the state motto of New York. The college is headquartered in Albany, but it serves working adults worldwide through distance learning. It is particularly noted for its liberal acceptance of transfer credits. Excelsior is a Center for Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense.

  4. Old Dominion University
    Location

    Norfolk, VA

    Tuition

    $15213

    Old Dominion University offers a Bachelor of Science in Cybersecurity. It is designed for transfer students as an online degree completion program. Some courses are held live online regularly. The program offers courses in areas such as criminal justice, modeling and simulation engineering, and philosophy. All students must complete a cybersecurity internship or a course in Entrepreneurship in Cybersecurity. The curriculum culminates in an electronic portfolio project.

    ODU is a public sea- and space-grant research university. It was established in 1930 as a division of the College of William & Mary. Located in Norfolk, Virginia, it has since grown into one of the largest universities in the state, measured by enrollment. The university operates the multidisciplinary Virginia Modeling, Analysis & Simulation Center. ODU is a National Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Operations.

  5. George Mason University
    Location

    Fairfax, VA

    Tuition

    $18629

    George Mason University offers a Bachelor of Applied Science with a concentration in Cybersecurity. The degree program is only available to students graduating from select community colleges near the university with a cybersecurity degree or certificate. The BAS degree is designed to be completed entirely online. Courses are offered asynchronously so students can move through the material at their own pace. The BAS has three core requirements: Building Professional Competencies, Introduction to Research Methods, and an Applied Sciences capstone. Cybersecurity requirements include IT Architecture Fundamentals and IT in the Global Economy.

    GMU began as a branch of the University of Virginia. It was established in 1949 and named after founding father George Mason. In addition to its four Virginia campus, GMU has an international school in South Korea. The research university has security experts who examine cyber, domestic, and global security.

  6. Norwich University
    Location

    Northfield, VT

    Tuition

    $23801

    Norwich University offers a Bachelor of Science in Cybersecurity. Designed for working adults, the online program provides skills-based learning in a flexible virtual classroom. Students must transfer in at least 30 credits to enter the program. The curriculum includes foundational cybersecurity principles, electives, and project-based courses. Students can concentrate in Computer Forensics and Vulnerability Management or Information Warfare and Security Management. Students typically complete the degree program in 18 months.

    Founded in 1819, Norwich University is the oldest private military college in the United States. Located in Northfield, Vermont, the college is recognized as the "Birthplace of ROTC" by the U.S. Department of Defense. While residency is not required of online students, Norwich offers students the opportunity to attend a culminating on-campus Residency Conference. The university is a Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense Education.

  7. University of Maryland University College
    Location

    Adelphi, MD

    Tuition

    $15256

    The University of Maryland University College provides a Bachelor of Science in Computer Networks and Cybersecurity. The online degree program allows students to focus on Cisco, digital forensics, Microsoft, or general network security. The curriculum begins with foundational information technology skills before focusing on network security. Students can expect to write a network design proposal and learn how to implement advanced server infrastructure and to troubleshoot IT problems. The program includes certifications for ethical hacking, Cisco network services, and more.

    UMUC is a public university that focuses on online education. Established in 1947, the university evolved from a University of Maryland evening adult learning program. The University College is headquartered in Adelphi, Maryland. It also has a center in Largo, Maryland, and satellite campuses across the Baltimore-Washington Metropolitan Area. UMUC is a National Center of Academic Excellence in Information Assurance and Cyber Defense Education.

  8. American Public University System
    Location

    Charles Town, WV

    Tuition

    $10658

    American Public University System offers a Bachelor of Science in Cybersecurity. The online program requires 120 credits of study and provides monthly course start times. Students may follow a general Cybersecurity program or concentrate in Wireless and Mobile Security. Major required courses include Biometrics, Ethics in Information Technology, and Scripting Languages for the Administrator.

    APUS is a private, for-profit, online institution composed of American Military University and American Public University. It was founded in 1991 to educate military personnel in specialized areas such as counterterrorism and military intelligence. The school is not directly affiliated with the U.S. government or military. APUS is a National Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense Education.

  9. Western Governors University
    Location

    Salt Lake City, UT

    Western Governors University offers a Bachelor of Science in Cybersecurity and Information Assurance. The online degree program was designed with input from industry professionals. The core curriculum explores topics such as Applied Algebra and Ethics in Technology. Key subject areas include Business of IT — Project Management and Information Systems Security. Students can expect to earn several relevant certifications before earning a BS degree, such as Certified Cloud Security Professional and Certified Internet Webmaster.

    WGU is a private online university headquartered in Salt Lake City, Utah. It was first proposed by a former Utah governor and was officially established in 1997. The university uses a competency-based learning model instead of the traditional credit-based model. The United States Distance Learning Association has awarded WGU multiple 21st Century Awards for Best Practices in Distance Learning.

  10. Mercy College
    Location

    Dobbs Ferry, NY

    Tuition

    $16246

    Mercy College offers a Bachelor of Science in Cybersecurity degree program. The program requires 120 credits of study, including 15 credits in residence on campus. The curriculum includes three foundation courses: Discrete Structures, Introduction to Cybersecurity, and Linux Administration. Major courses include Penetration Testing and Ethical Hacking and System Security. Elective offerings include Artificial Intelligence and Computer Architecture. Students may choose to earn both a BS and Master of Science degree in five years.

    Mercy College is a private, nonsectarian college. Founded in 1950 by the Sisters of Mercy, the college was formerly affiliated with the Roman Catholic Church. It has a main campus in Dobbs Ferry, New York, and additional locations in the Bronx, Manhattan, and Yorktown Heights. The college is a National Center of Academic Excellence in Information Assurance Education.

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Metric Data Used Percentage
Academic Quality Full-time faculty percentage, student-to-faculty ratio, student retention and graduation rates 25%
Affordability Tuition rates, median student debt, and financial aid 35%
Reputation Admission and enrollment rates 15%
Program Offerings Number of program options 10%
Online Enrollment Score Portion of learners taking at least one online course 15%
You can read more about our comprehensive evaluation process on our methodology page.

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Best Value Schools publishes college degree rankings with the belief of how one's higher education should be, both, affordable and an investment of continued value for the students who pursue them. The staff of BVS collects data from reputable sources in order to calculate Net Price and the short and long-term value of every ranked degree. Collected data is simplified into weighted categories before scoring and then scaled through a BVS Score up to 100. The weighted categories are:

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  • Matriculation (10%) 
  • Academic Success (15%) 

No matter what degree you decide on, we hope our research and support has made the selection process easier. There are numerous resources BVS utilizes to collect information on degrees, and we encourage you to check them out for yourself! 

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