List of The Most Affordable And Free Online Cyber Security Degree Programs. Detailed Review & Comparison of The Best CyberSecurity Courses Available Online:
Cyber Security degree programs are in great demand these days due to an exponential growth of cyber threats and an acute shortage of trained Cyber Security professionals. If you are interested in topics such as network security, cybercrime, digital forensics, etc. then you are in the right place.
In this informative article, we have compared online Cybersecurity degree programs offered by top universities. We have also listed some free Online Cyber Security courses.
With a drastic rise in the number of cybercrimes such as cyber-attacks, data frauds, stolen identities, etc. CyberSecurity has become one of the fastest-growing industries in the world. Therefore, there is a great demand for trained cybersecurity professionals.
A recent report on the Cyber Security skill gap by ISACA states that
- 69% of respondents reported that their cybersecurity teams are understaffed.
- 58% admitted they have unfilled/open cybersecurity positions.
- 32% said it takes six months or more to fill empty cybersecurity positions in their company.
This is a great time for those who are trying to make a career in the Cyber Security industry.
What You Will Learn:
- How To Become A Cyber Security Professional?
- Top Online Cyber Security Degree Programs
- Comparison Of The Best Cyber Security Degree Courses
- #1) Bellevue University
- #2) Purdue University
- #3) Maryland University College
- #4) Arizona State University
- #5) Utica College
- #6) Pennsylvania State University
- #7) University Of Illinois
- #8) Saint Louis University
- #9) Franklin University
- #10) Florida Institute Of technology
- Free Online Cyber Security Courses
- Conclusion
How To Become A Cyber Security Professional?
It is easier for someone with a technical and analytically sound mind to get into the profession of CyberSecurity. As discussed the profession is currently experiencing huge demand. Firstly, you need to understand the areas that CyberSecurity consists of.
A CyberSecurity expert is someone who is hired by an enterprise to protect its data. As such there are many specializations that cater to protecting a firm from security risks.
The specialties to choose from are as follows:
- Cyber Security Analysts: They are the firewall and encryption experts who defend data and monitor them for potential breaches.
- Ethical Hackers: These are hackers that are permitted by their employers to breach their system to recover lost data, or to test the existing security measures.
- Computer Forensic Analysts: These experts perform tasks such as recovering lost data, interpreting criminal data, pursuing data trails and checking mobile phone records.
Thorough research and accurate information, you can pursue a specialty of your liking. Many universities provide courses, certificates and placement services to sharpen your skills and turn you into a CyberSecurity expert.
What is the Cost For An Online Cyber Security Degree?
The cost for the Cyber Security degrees depends on the course taken and the university that provides the course. Normally you can opt for courses with annual tuition fees starting from the most affordable $3900 by Middle Georgia State University to $100000.
What is the Salary For an Entry-Level Cyber Security Expert?
The average starting salary for a Cyber Security expert in the US is around $40000 and it can go up to $105000.
Are There Any Free Online Cyber Security Courses?
In addition to the paid courses mentioned above, there are several free Online Cyber Security courses as well. Of course, you will need to verify them for legitimacy, but we can name a few that can turn you into a CyberSecurity professional at no cost.
We will take a brief look at these towards the end of this article.
- Sans Cyber Aces Online
- Cybrary
- US Department of Homeland Security
- Udemy
- Future Learn
Top Online Cyber Security Degree Programs
Students today have several options to choose from when it comes to online CyberSecurity courses. We have reviewed some of the most reputed universities in the country based on the courses offered, tuition fees, job placement percentages, etc.
We hope this will make the decision-making process easier and help you choose the best course based on your requirements.
Comparison Of The Best Cyber Security Degree Courses
| University Name | Bachelors Course Credit Requirement | Masters Course Credit Requirement | Fees (Full Course) | URL |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bellevue University | 127 | 36 | $19000-$54000 | Bellevue |
| Purdue University | 180 | 60 | $25000-$67000 | Purdue |
| MaryLand University College | 120 | 36 | $25000-$70000 | MLU |
| Arizona State University | 120 | 30 | $47000-$87000 | ASU |
| Utica College | 160 | 30 | $26000-29000 | Utica |
Let’s explore!
#1) Bellevue University
Bellevue University has earned itself a reputation for providing the most affordable CyberSecurity courses in America. It is a regionally accredited service that mostly caters to the adult students.
The students here are mostly in their mid-20’s. To get in, you at least need a GPA above 3.0 and have a bachelor’s or master’s degree in IT from an accredited university. It is recognized by reputed US security organizations like NSA, DHS, and NSS.
| Courses Offered | Credit Required | Cost Per Credit |
|---|---|---|
| B.SC in Security | 127 | $415 |
| M.SC in Security | 36 | $575 |
URL: Bellevue University
#2) Purdue University
Purdue University provides great online courses that are rigorous and pragmatic. The university provides robust graduate and undergraduate courses that teach students to evaluate security trends, measure & analyze risk, and design secure information systems.
Students can enter the university through a minimum grade of 2.5 to 3.0 GPA. They also offer shorter duration courses for students with relevant work experience in the IT industry.
| Courses Offered | Credit Required | Cost Per Credit |
|---|---|---|
| B.SC in Security | 180 | $371 |
| M.SC in Security | 60 | $420 |
URL: Purdue University
#3) Maryland University College
This is the first university on the list with a wide variety of courses to boast. Maryland is a favorite one among the aspiring CyberSecurity professionals. It is also recognized by the DHS, DC3, and NSA.
The University benefits from being located between the Department of Defense Cyber Security Command in Maryland and the Cyber Corridor in Virginia. You can presume that the vast majority of the university curriculum is influenced by the employees and supervisors of these organizations.
Maryland University provides its students with a Virtual Lab to get hands-on experience in the field of CyberSecurity.
| Courses Offered | Credit Required | Cost Per Credit |
|---|---|---|
| B.SC in Computer network and CyberSecurity | 120 | $294-$499 |
| M.SC in CyberSecurity management and policy | 120 | $294-$499 |
| B.SC in Software development and security | 120 | $294-$499 |
| M.SC in CyberSecurity Management and Policy | 36 | $694 |
| M.SC in CyberSecurity Technology | 36 | $694 |
| M.SC in Digital Forensics and Cyber Investigation | 36 | $694 |
URL: Maryland University College
Recommended Reading => The Ultimate Guide on Digital Forensics
#4) Arizona State University
Arizona State University is one of the largest state universities in the country. They provide classes on cyber terrorism, and network & security management.
What makes the course even more challenging is the fact that during the last 2 years of the course, the students are required to undertake and submit a project to decipher relevant modern IT security challenges.
The university offers its students an internship program, which is a product of the partnership between the Arizona State and Coursera. Other subjects taught in the university include blockchains, big data, software engineering, etc.
| Courses Offered | Credit Required | Cost Per Credit |
|---|---|---|
| B.SC in Information Technology | 120 | $520- $728 |
| M.SC in Information Technology | 30 | $522- $1397 |
| Maters of Computer Science | 30 | $500 |
#5) Utica College
Utica has a wide range of online certification courses that explore fundamental CyberSecurity topics such as Computer Forensics, Intelligence assurance, Cyber operations assessment, etc. It is recognized by the Department of Homeland Security, Defense Cyber Crime Center, and NSA.
To enter this prestigious organization, one must have an associate’s degree or hold at least 57 credits from a prior four-year university. The college has successfully partnered with many reputed security organizations in the country.
They all have a substantial influence on the college’s curriculum. This ensures that the students have real-world insight into modern security threats that the world faces today.
| Courses Offered | Credit Required | Cost Per Credit |
|---|---|---|
| B.SC in CyberSecurity | 61 | $475 |
| M.SC in CyberSecurity | 30 | $895 |
| Masters of Professional studies in cyber policy and risk analysis | 30 | $775 |
URL: Utica College
#6) Pennsylvania State University
Pennsylvania State University has created a comprehensive online degree program that is recognized by the NSA, DHS, the U.S News, and World Report. The university is focused on providing its students with risk analysis degrees that make them proficient in using advanced tools and techniques to tackle the CyberSecurity threats.
Pennsylvania State University’s science and technology department offers robust courses in diverse aspects of CyberSecurity such as Computer Science, Engineering, Psychology, Chemistry, and Artificial Intelligence.
Its courses prepare the students to face real-world challenges when it comes to CyberSecurity.
| Courses Offered | Credit Required | Cost Per Credit |
|---|---|---|
| B.SC in Security and Risk Analysis | 120 | $555-$596 |
| Masters of Professional Studies in Information Sciences | 33 | $886 |
URL: Pennsylvania State University
#7) University Of Illinois
The University of Illinois is famous for being the home to one of the fastest computers in the world. This supercomputer protects a lot of valuable data from a variety of organizations in the United States. It is recognized by the NSA, DHS and the National Science Foundation’s Center for CyberSecurity threat analysis.
What many don’t know, however, is that the university is also a reputed provider of some of the most reputed courses in the field of CyberSecurity. To get in, you need a GPA of 2.0 for 30 credit hours from freshman or sophomore classes.
Masters students are provided with courses on security, trust, ethics, and privacy.
| Courses Offered | Credit Required | Cost Per Credit |
|---|---|---|
| B.SC in Information Systems Security | 36 | $304 - $358 |
| M.SC in Information Management | 40 | $403 |
#8) Saint Louis University
Saint Louis University is one of the oldest universities in this list. The university has a remarkable placement rate with 95 % of its students already working in good CyberSecurity positions.
It provides six agile, eight-week terms every year to its students. This allows the students to choose a time that is flexible and does not invade their time as workers. The topics that SLU covers include applications of designing, deploying, and upgrading enterprise-level infrastructure that follows the best CyberSecurity practices.
By the end of the course, the students are highly trained on how to perform computer forensics and protect vital information.
| Courses Offered | Credit Required | Cost Per Credit |
|---|---|---|
| B.SC in Computer Information Systems | 120 | $640 |
| M.SC in CyberSecurity | 36 | $780 |
#9) Franklin University
Franklin University is perfect for those who want to transfer their previous credits from another university and continue their studies. Franklin allows for the transfer of up to 95 credits, which is more than three quarters that is required to successfully graduate with a degree.
The university usually caters only to adult students with an average age of 34. It features variable courses, multiple start dates and classes for one day per week. It is perfect for working adults who want flexible time for accomplishing their goals.
The curriculum includes true to life simulations to provide real-world experience to CyberSecurity solutions.
Students are mostly required to choose between non- profit organizations and local businesses and provide them with solutions to their CyberSecurity issues, mainly for building secure infrastructure to protect their data.
| Courses Offered | Credit Required | Cost Per Credit |
|---|---|---|
| B.SC in Cyber Security | 124 | $526 |
URL: Franklin University
Further Reading => Top Rated Cyber Insurance Companies of the Year
#10) Florida Institute Of technology
Florida Institute of Technology is the only institute that provides its students with an MBA in CyberSecurity. This allows the students to possess the skill that is required to enter the job market.
It is partnered with Harris Corporation in providing students with the most comprehensive CyberSecurity curriculum in America.
FIT provides its students with a course that gives them real-world experience in dealing with issues of security failures. It also makes the students well versed in security management, host-based security management, and access controls.
The MBA program mainly focuses on the business aspect of CyberSecurity, such as oversight and analysis of security trends in the market.
| Courses Offered | Credit Required | Cost Per Credit |
|---|---|---|
| B.SC in Information Assurance and Security | 33 | $777 |
| M.SC in Information Assurance and Security | 33 | $777 |
| M.B.A in Cyber Security | 36 | $876 |
URL: Florida Institute Of Technology
Free Online Cyber Security Courses
#1) Sans Cyber Aces
Sans Cyber Aces provides the best basic online courses in CyberSecurity for free. You will get free lectures on operating systems, networking, and systems administration with a test to assess what you have learned so far.
#2) Cybrary
Cybrary is a library for CyberSecurity, IT and other security-related study material. When you create a free account with Cybrary, you get access to a list of over 500-course material, each ranked by their difficulty. You can choose your desired difficulty level and get started.
#3) US Department of Homeland Security
This is a no-brainer as they are the best source for online security expertise. It has an entire portal dedicated to the online course, which you can take for free. However, it is only available to those involved in the security of industrial control systems.
Further reading =>> Best IT Security Certifications for Beginners
Conclusion
Getting into the Cyber Security industry is a wonderful opportunity today when jobs are plentiful and the market is competitive. The demand for CyberSecurity experts is increasing at an exponential rate, and you need to seize the opportunity while it is hot.
Each of the free and paid online Cyber Security Degree programs listed above has something unique to offer. You can choose the one that best suits you to start your journey to become the best CyberSecurity expert.
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Based on our research, we would nominate Purdue, Bellevue and Utica colleges as the best Online Cyber Security Degree providers due to their reputation and affordability.