That’s why we’ve created a new ranking of the best online cybersecurity master’s degree programmes based on the total expected tuition cost. However, cost-effectiveness should not come at the expense of receiving the greatest possible job preparation. Each institution must be recognised a Center for Academic Excellence in Cybersecurity in order to be included in our most inexpensive online cybersecurity master’s degree programmes for 2020 rankings (CAE-C). The National Security Agency and the Department of Homeland Security created the CAE designation to assist cybersecurity programmes at premier educational and research institutions in preparing tomorrow’s cybersecurity specialists. The goal of the initiative is to assist the US maintain a competitive edge in digital security and develop a strong pipeline of cybersecurity specialists. To discover more, see our comprehensive guide to the Centers for Academic Excellence in Cybersecurity. The most inexpensive online cybersecurity master’s programmes in 2020 contain a mix of well-known cybersecurity programmes. However, the list also includes new, rising programmes that offer cutting-edge cybersecurity training. In addition to a variety of chances for students and professional preparation, the online cybersecurity master’s degree programmes included in this year’s affordability rankings offer a variety of options. There are lots of possibilities to meet a wide array of professional routes, with specialties ranging from improving technical abilities and abilities to management and administration.

Top Affordable Online Cybersecurity Master’s Programs

ILLINOIS INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY

Tuition: $12,000 — or $400/credit for the 30-credit degree Program: Master of Cyber Forensics and Security CAE designation: CAE-CD — Cyber Defense Location: Chicago, Illinois GRE requirements: Waiver due to COVID-19 Details: The Information and Technology Management Department at Illinois Tech houses this professional master’s degree programme. The programme is meant to equip seasoned IT professionals for the next stage in their careers. Students who complete the programme will be prepared to work as cybersecurity practitioners and managers. Learn more: Program website

UNIVERSITY OF WEST FLORIDA

Tuition: $12,750 — or $425/credit for the 30-credit degree Program: Master of Science in Cybersecurity CAE designation: CAE-CE — Cyber Defense Location: Pensacola, Florida GRE requirements: Waiver due to COVID-19 Details: The University of West Florida’s cybersecurity programme serves as a CAE resource hub for the Southeast. The Master of Science in Cybersecurity degree at the institution can be customised to match a variety of professional pathways, including data security, national security, security management/software, and systems security. The hands-on capstone project distinguishes the master’s degree, and students get access to the university’s cyber-range to gain real-world experience. Learn more: Program website

AMERICAN PUBLIC UNIVERSITY SYSTEM

Tuition: $13,320 — or $370/credit for the 36-credit degree Program: Online Master of Science in Cybersecurity Studies CAE designation: CAE-CD — Cyber Defense Location: Charles Town, West Virginia GRE requirements: Not required Details: The American Public University System’s Online Master of Science in Cybersecurity Studies is housed in the School of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math and prepares students for a variety of cybersecurity vocations. The curriculum of the programme is centred on preventing and detecting cyber threats and attacks. Network security, information assurance, risk management, information security, cybercrime, and digital forensics are all common job paths. Learn more: Program website

WILMINGTON UNIVERSITY

Tuition: $17,568 — or $488/credit for 36-credit degree Program: Master of Science in Cybersecurity CAE designation: CAE-CD — Cyber Defense Location: Newcastle, Delaware GRE requirements: Not required Details: The Master of Science in Cybersecurity at Wilmington University has two specific concentrations. The cyber terrorism concentration prepares students in intelligence, risk assessment, and planning for homeland security. The supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) cybersecurity concentration is designed for students preparing for careers in industrial control settings. Learn more: Program website

OLD DOMINION UNIVERSITY

Tuition: $17,850 or $595/credit for the 30-credit degree Program: Cybersecurity Master’s Degree Online CAE Designation: CAE-CO — Cyber Operations CAE Designation: CAE-CO — Cyber Operations GRE requirements: Waiver due to COVID-19 Details: Students in Old Dominion’s cybersecurity master’s degree online have access to the tools and resources of the university’s Center for Cybersecurity Education and Research: Students in the program specialize in cyber defense and team management by taking courses in cyber policy and law, and specialized technical courses such as digital forensics. Learn more: Program website

DAKOTA STATE UNIVERSITY

Tuition: $18,480 or $616.00/credit for the 30-credit degree Program: Master of Science in Cyber Defense CAE Designation: CAE-R — Cyber Research Location: Madison, South Dakota GRE requirements: Not required Details: The Master of Cyber Defense program at Dakota State teaches students how to prevent and respond to cyber incidents. Focusing on both offensive and defensive security, the program teaches students about network attacks, risk management, vulnerability assessment, and cryptography. Learn more: Program website

GRAND CANYON UNIVERSITY

Tuition: $18,700 or $534/credit for the 34-credit degree Program: Master’s in Cybersecurity CAE Designation: CAE-CD — Cyber Defense Location: Phoenix, Arizona GRE requirements: Not required Details: The Master’s of Cybersecurity at Grand Canyon University is part of the College of Science, Engineering, and Technology. The program teaches students about cyber warfare and cyber defense. Program courses usually last eight weeks and are offered in digital forensics, penetration testing, vulnerability assessment, and exploitation techniques. Learn more: Program website

EXCELSIOR COLLEGE

Tuition: $19,350 or $645/credit for the 30-credit degree Program: Master of Science in Cybersecurity CAE designation: CAE-CD — Cyber Defense Location: Albany, New York GRE requirements: Not required Details: The Master of Science in Cybersecurity at Excelsior College offers courses in data communication, ethics and ethical hacking, cyber legal and compliance issues. Technical courses cover issues such as software security and risk management best practices. Learn more: Program website

SAINT LEO UNIVERSITY

Tuition: $20,520 or $570/credit for the 36-credit degree Program: Master of Science in Cybersecurity CAE designation: CAE-CD — Cyber Defense Location: Saint Leo, Florida GRE requirements: Not required Description: The Master of Science in Cybersecurity program at Saint Leo University is designed around developing expertise in operating systems and networks. The curriculum covers a wide array of cybersecurity topics including information security, security protocols, operating system security, information processing security, cryptography, and more. Learn more: Program website

BELLEVUE UNIVERSITY

Tuition: $21,420 or $595/credit for the 36-credit degree Program: Master of Science in Cybersecurity CAE designation: CAE-CD — Cyber Defense Location: Bellevue, Nebraska GRE Requirements: Not required Description: The Master of Science in Cybersecurity program at Bellevue University trains students in digital protection techniques including detecting and protecting cyber attacks. The curriculum focuses on risk assessment, vulnerability analysis, and digital forensics. There is an accelerated cohort option available for professionals with IT or information security experience. Learn more: Program website

PENNSYLVANIA STATE WORLD CAMPUS

Tuition: $22,186 or $924/credit for the 33-credit degree Program: Master of Professional Studies in Cybersecurity Analytics and Operations CAE designation: CAE-CD — Cyber Defense Location: University Park, Pennsylvania GRE requirements: Not required Description: Offered by the College of Information Sciences and Technology the professional masters in cybersecurity trains students in cyber operations and cyber defense through a wide-ranging curriculum. Students will take courses in incident response, strategic planning, crisis management. Students also have the flexibility to take electives as part of the degree program. Learn more: Program website

LIBERTY UNIVERSITY

Tuition: $22,504 or $625 for the 36-credit degree Program: Master of Science in Cybersecurity CAE designation: CAE-CD — Cyber Defense Location: Lynchburg, Virginia GRE requirements: Not required Description: Students in Liberty University’s Master of Cybersecurity program can transfer up to 50 percent of their credits into the program. Courses are taught in eight-week intervals and feature topics such as digital forensics, applied cryptography, issues in security, privacy, anonymity, and ethical hacking. As part of the program, students complete a hands-on project ranging from research to developing new security software. Learn more: Program website

CAPITOL TECHNOLOGY UNIVERSITY

Tuition: $22,680 or $630/credit for the 36-credit degree Program: Master of Science in Cybersecurity CAE designation: CAE-CD — Cyber Defense Location: Laurel, Maryland GRE requirements: Not required Description: Capitol University’s Master in Cybersecurity program features hands-on labs in technical topics such as malware analysis, vulnerability assessments, penetration testing, and more. Learn more: Program website

FLORIDA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY

Tuition: $23,310 or $777/credit for the 30-credit degree Program: Information Assurance and Cybersecurity, M.S. CAE designation: CAE-R — research Location: Melbourne, Florida GRE requirements: Required Description: The information assurance and cybersecurity master’s program at Florida Tech focuses on security fundamentals. Course topics include threat and vulnerability assessment, attack models and forensics, communication networks and encryption, and data mining and machine learning. Learn more: Program website

COLORADO TECHNICAL UNIVERSITY

Tuition: $23,520 or $490/credit for the 48-credit degree Program: Master of Science in Computer Science — Cybersecurity Engineering CAE designation: CAE-CD — Cyber Defense Location: Colorado Springs GRE requirements: Not required Description: The Master of Science in Computer Science — Cybersecurity Engineering degree at Colorado Tech allows students to take courses from a core curriculum and then also take courses in a concentration. Core curriculum courses include topics such as networking security, operating systems security, and database security to name a few. Students will also complete a large research or hands-on project as a capstone. Concentration areas include digital forensics, security management, and software information assurance. Learn more: Program website

UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA IN HUNTSVILLE

Tuition: $24,430 or $814/credit for the 30-credit degree Program: Master of Science in Cybersecurity Management CAE designation: CAE-R — Cyber Research Location: Huntsville, Alabama GRE requirements: Waiver due to COVID-19 Description: The Master of Science in Cybersecurity Management at the University of Alabama in Huntsville is the business school. The degree is broken into three main parts including core curriculum with courses such as cybersecurity principles and computer and digital forensics. Students are also required to complete nine credit hours of management courses with offerings such as cybersecurity management and business contingency planning. The elective component of the degree program focuses on specific issues of technical skills such as business analytics and AI, or network security. Learn more: Program website

WEST VIRGINIA UNIVERSITY

Tuition: $24,600 or $820/credit for the 30-credit degree Program: Business Cybersecurity Management, M.S. CAE designation: CAE-R — Cybersecurity Research Location: Morgantown, West Virginia GRE requirements: Waiver due to COVID-19 Description: The Master of Science in Business Cybersecurity Management is housed in the John Chambers College of Business and Economics at West Virginia University. The program’s focus is to prepare the next generation of cybersecurity management and leaders to make critical decisions. Potential career tracks include security analyst, information security manager, and security administrator. Learn more: Program website

UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND GLOBAL CAMPUS

Tuition: $24,984 or $694/credit for the 36-credit degree Program: Online Master’s Degree: Cybertechnology CAE designation: CAE-CD — Cyber Defense Location: Adelphi, Maryland GRE requirements: Not required Description: The Online Master’s Degree: Cybertechnology from the University of Maryland Global Campus prepares students in both the technical understanding of cybersecurity fundamentals, as well as prepares them for leadership positions within the field. Courses are offered in topics such as digital strategy, cybersecurity technology leadership, analytics, and intelligence — as well as in technical topics such as ethical hacking and digital forensics. Learn more: Program website