Most Affordable Online Master’s in Cybersecurity Degree Programs

Carrollton, GA · MS Cybersecurity Management

Columbus, GA · MS Cybersecurity

Columbus State boasts really impressive credentials for this price point: it has CAE-CD designation, and a curriculum that hits the key bases. You’ll even get to pick a Cyber Defense or Management concentration, depending on your career goals post-graduation.

You’ll pay an “online learning fee” on top of the total tuition cost, but added expenses like these are basically standard for most graduate programs.

On the other hand, if you’re coming from in-state, tuition is actually cheaper if you study on campus at Columbus State. The flat online rate means you’re missing out on in-state tuition, which works out as low as $6,510. But like with all the online options on this list, you’ll potentially make savings on things like accommodation costs.

Hays, KS · MPS Cybersecurity

Fort Hays is a regular entrant on our lists for all of its cybersecurity degree programs (for example, it ranks 4th for online bachelor’s degrees), and affordability is the big reason. It’s a relatively no-frills school, but you’ll get a very serviceable education at an almost unbeatable cost.

In the case of the online master’s program, you’ll be earning an MPS as opposed to an MS. This is an important difference to be aware of: the MPS is a professional degree designed specifically to teach career-focused skills, and will not command as much respect if you’re looking to advance further in academia (e.g. PhD programs).

But as long as your main goal for considering a master’s degree is professional advancement, Fort Hays ticks a lot of boxes. It is CAE-CD designated, confirming its cybersecurity credentials. The curriculum also aligns with key certifications, including CISSP, CompTIA Security+, and Certified Ethical Hacker. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis.

Williamsburg, KY · MS Information Systems Security

The University of the Cumberlands master’s program is not technically called “cybersecurity”, but it’s only a matter of terminology. Information Systems Security can be used interchangeably, and the curriculum content speaks for itself. You’ll cover access control, cryptography, security architecture and design, application security, and other fundamental cybersecurity topics.

The internship or practicum final assessment is swapped out when taking the program fully online, replaced by an Info Security Project. The relative lack of hands-on training is a weakness, but the program explicitly acknowledges that it is primarily meant for current IT and cybersecurity professionals (whose need for hands-on training may be somewhat reduced). Courses are mapped to the CISSP Common Body of Knowledge: getting your master’s at Cumberlands and then earning the certification will set you up nicely for career progression, without breaking the bank.

Athens, AL · MS Cybersecurity

Athens State is a standout affordable option if you’re hoping to complete a thesis. Not all master’s programs include this form of final assessment, but the Alabama school lets you pick between a thesis and non-thesis track. You’ll also get an unusually wide choice of electives: some programs at this level don’t include any element of choice, but here you’ll get to pick a little under half of your total courses. Electives include “Data Mining, Analysis and Visualization”, “Event Modeling and Simulation”, and “Advanced Computer Forensics”, useful if you have a desired career specialization in mind.

The Athens State program actually contains a variable number of credit hours. The final project or thesis can be anywhere from 3-6 credit hours; tuition rises to $12,870 if you end up completing the maximum number. Even then, it remains one of the most affordable online cybersecurity master’s programs in the country. However, be aware that the school has a limited national reputation, and is yet to have its CAE-CD designation renewed following its expiration in 2025.

Kennesaw, GA · MS Cybersecurity

If you’re in a hurry to get your master’s degree, the Kennesaw State program stands out. You can complete it in just 12 months, with a 7-week course structure enabling 4 courses per semester (and two classes at a time). This comes at the expense of some depth in the curriculum: courses like “Introduction to Cryptography” and “Cyber Law, Policy and Enforcement” would typically be expected at undergraduate level. If you’re coming straight from a cybersecurity bachelor’s degree or you already hold professional experience, you are likely to find yourself going over old ground.

The flip side is that Kennesaw’s master’s program is suitable for all backgrounds: you aren’t expected to have a bachelor’s degree in a related field. A 2.75 GPA in any subject will suffice, provided it is from a regionally accredited college or university. And the slightly less hands-on focus may help to set you up for executive cybersecurity positions, for which the most technical programs often give no specific training. At the very least, this program is a very efficient way of legitimately securing a potentially career-boosting credential.

Cape Girardeau, MO · MS Cybersecurity

SEMO offers another impressively budget-friendly cybersecurity master’s program. You’ll pay under $12,500 in total tuition (although “general fees” and “program fees” will add another $2,910). And if you choose to, you’ll be able to complete a thesis as part of your final assessment.

You’ll also have the chance to complete an internship as one of your electives. If you don’t want to, or can’t find one, then you’ll have the pick of a variety of other courses, including Computational Cryptography, Routing and Switching Essentials, and Ethical Hacking. Applying for a graduate assistantship also provides a potential opportunity to work alongside faculty, while earning a per-year stipend.

Atlanta, GA · MS Cybersecurity

If maximum school prestige for your money is your top priority, Georgia Tech is a runaway winner. It’s a top-10 US News public university, holds R1 classification, and is top of the Forbes list of “public new Ivies”. And the final diploma does not differentiate between online and on-campus study, so you won’t miss out on any of these reputational benefits by taking the cybersecurity program fully online.

Frankly, it is quite remarkable that this master’s program is available for under $12,500. Naturally, you will experience some trade-off in the ease of the admissions process: you’ll need a minimum GPA of 3.0, strong programming skills, and a good grasp of computer science fundamentals.

It’s also worth being aware that Georgia Tech is not CAE designated, unlike many of the other institutions on our list. But its curriculum is still strong, including a final 5-credit-hour practicum based on a real-world cybersecurity problem of your choice. You can also select from tracks in Information Security, Cyber-Physical Systems, and Policy. With everything else it has going for it, the program is still one of the very best around.

Springfield, MO · MS Cybersecurity

Missouri State is a solid all-rounder when it comes to budget-friendly online cybersecurity master’s programs. Like many others on this list, it’s not an institution that will necessarily stand out on a resume, but you’ll get a good grounding in graduate-level subject matter. Courses are hands-on, positioning you well to actually apply your learning to the workplace.

There is an opportunity to complete an internship for credit (at the discretion of the Department Head). Similarly, you may be able to undertake “special topics” research, which can be in a relevant area of your choice. Meanwhile, the core curriculum covers everything you would expect, from computer forensics to ethical hacking.

Pensacola, FL · MS Cybersecurity

The University of West Florida is an especially interesting and affordable option if you’re pursuing a cybersecurity master’s to further your prospects in government/defense positions. National Security is one of four available concentrations (and if you’re already in the military, you may be eligible for free tuition).

Even if that doesn’t describe you, UWF remains a solid value pick. With up to 6 transfer credits allowed, the cost could drop as low as $10,200, and you’ll be getting a well-respected cybersecurity education. The school is actually designated as the CAE Regional Resource Center for the Southeast, which is a mark of the quality of faculty. While you obviously won’t benefit from as much prestige as somewhere like Georgia Tech, the school has a solid regional reputation among cybersecurity employers, although the bachelor’s program is considered more hands-on than the master’s.

Minot, ND · MS Cybersecurity and Information Assurance

Springfield, IL · MS Cybersecurity Management

Other options will prepare you well for leadership roles (St. Paul, or the management concentrations at Columbus State and Southern Utah), but your degree from the University of Illinois at Springfield will actually show up as Cybersecurity Management on your diploma.

That’s neither a positive nor a negative: it’s simply something to consider. If you’re applying for extremely hands-on positions like security engineer or penetration tester, employers might look at a management degree with some skepticism. But if you’ve already built up plenty of practical skills, and you’re looking for a way to unlock a path to roles like CISO, then this could help you to stand out.

And to be fair to UIS, it does not try to mislead prospective students. It lists CISO, Cybersecurity Manager, Cybersecurity Management Consultant, Information Security Analyst, and GRC Officer as career opportunities, all of which would benefit from a management master’s degree. You can complete the program in as little as 12 months. Across all master’s programs at UIS, the career outcome rate (employment or further education) is 80%.

DeKalb, IL · MS Cybersecurity

Salt Lake City, UT · MS Cybersecurity and Information Assurance

As long as you go into a WGU cybersecurity master’s degree with a proper understanding of what you’re getting, it can be a genuinely elite option. It is primarily designed for current cybersecurity practitioners who want to formalize and certify their existing knowledge and skills: you need to be prepared for minimal built-in support and contact hours.

This clearly won’t be right for everyone. But if this describes your position, WGU boasts incredible value, not least because it allows you to earn 5 well-respected industry certifications as part of the program. You could graduate with Certified in Cybersecurity, CySA+, PenTest+, CASP+, and CISM at no additional cost. And with 63% of graduates finishing within 18 months, it is quicker to complete than a lot of master’s programs. It was built as an online program from the bottom up, and you’re able to take every course completely at your own pace.

If you’re able to finish more quickly, you will pay less, because WGU charges a flat rate per 6-month term. In theory, you could finish within a year and pay less than $10,000 (we used the 18-month figure for our cost estimate). Of course, the flip side is that taking longer will cost more, underlining that you’ll probably want to look elsewhere if you don’t have the requisite cybersecurity background.

Madison, SD · MS Cyber Defense

Cedar City, UT · MS Cybersecurity with Information Assurance

Southern Utah’s online cybersecurity master’s program has a number of standout features. Perhaps most striking of all is that it can be completed in as little as 11 months, thanks to accelerated seven-week sessions.

The choice of concentrations also sets Southern Utah apart. You’ll pick from 4 options, 3 of which are relatively standard: you can choose an emphasis in strategy, operations, or management. But the fourth concentration is healthcare administration. With this emphasis, while you’ll still complete courses in areas like network security and cybersecurity compliance, you’ll also have the chance to study topics such as ethics in nursing leadership.

Admittedly, the amount of cybersecurity content looks a little light when opting for the healthcare concentration. But if that’s an industry you know you’d like to target, then it’s a way of differentiating yourself. And all 4 concentrations offer the option of an internship as your final project, providing some hands-on experience.

Warrensburg, MO · MS Cybersecurity and Information Assurance

The University of Central Missouri master’s program has excellent hands-on credentials. You can apply for a graduate assistantship, which will see you run research projects and labs alongside members of faculty (as well as receiving a stipend). You’ll also be assisted in securing an internship, and you’ll get 24/7 access to the online NDG NetLab system. This allows you to practice ethical hacking and computer forensics in a realistic but isolated environment.

An advisory board meets annually with industry partners to discuss and update the curriculum. That’s clear from an impressive list of courses, including Machine Learning, Artificial Intelligence, and Neural Network and Deep Learning.

In terms of downsides, you won’t get much in the way of national name recognition, but that’s often the case with the most affordable programs. The only other thing to note is that this is a synchronous online program, so you will need to follow the defined class schedule.

St. Paul, MN · MS Cybersecurity

Concordia is a strong pick if you’re seeking a master’s in order to climb the cybersecurity management ladder. The curriculum is fully aligned to the Certified Information Security Manager (CISM) certification, and you’ll take courses in leadership-focused areas like risk management and project management.

The program also deserves credit for including an AI, High Performance Compute, and Ethical Considerations course. As well as being a surefire sign that the curriculum is kept up to date, education on AI is clearly important for the cybersecurity leaders of tomorrow.

Given that the entire program is effectively a cybersecurity management concentration, it’s not particularly surprising that there are no electives. You’ll take the 10 pre-defined courses, and leave with a degree that has genuinely prepared you for industry. However, lack of CAE designation is a drawback, especially given that Concordia does not have any particular national reputation on which it can fall back.

Charleston, WV · MS Cybersecurity

If you’re hoping to pursue a cybersecurity master’s program but haven’t secured the best grades in your bachelor’s degree, the University of Charleston could be for you. You’ll require a cumulative college GPA of just 2.0 (2.75-3 is far more standard), with no additional entrance exams. However, you will need to have completed your bachelor’s in a related field of study.

Charleston is also beginning to implement AI into its cybersecurity curriculum. As mentioned, that’s always a useful indicator of an up-to-date, relevant program. The exact courses you take will depend on your choice of concentration, with Cybersecurity Strategy, Cyber Intelligence, and Information Assurance all on offer. At the price point, there is a lot to like.

Portland / Augusta, ME · MS Cybersecurity

This program is offered jointly by the University of Southern Maine and the University of Maine at Augusta. Where it really stands out is its thesis option, which is specifically described as being “designed to train students as researchers”. So if you’re eventually looking to go down the PhD route, the academic rigor here may suit you. You’ll either be contributing to a faculty member’s research program, or designing your own original research on a topic of particular interest.

The alternative capstone project is also worth a mention: it tests your practical skills, setting you up to pursue a career in cybersecurity. And you’ll be getting a good standard of teaching, with both USM and UMA being CAE-CD designated. Faculty have cybersecurity experience at the White House and the Pentagon.

Huntington, WV · MS Cybersecurity

Interestingly, only 9 out of 30 credits in Marshall’s online cybersecurity master’s program are classified as “core”. You’ll study Introduction to Cybersecurity, Cybersecurity of IoT (a slightly unorthodox core inclusion), and Cyber Threat Intelligence, but the rest of the program will be dictated by your electives and concentrations.

If you pick the cyber defense concentration, you’ll be taking courses based around genuine workplace skills (incident response, secure design etc). Cyber forensics is a standout concentration: you won’t find many other master’s programs that go into such depth on forensics, which could set you up for a career in law enforcement and criminal justice. There’s also a concentration in cyber management, if you intend to target that side of the industry.

This level of choice and customization is where Marshall truly stands out. The icing on the cake is that you’ll also get to pick whether or not you’d like to do a thesis. For a little over $16,000, it looks like decent value. And if you complete it full-time over 3 semesters, you’ll actually pay slightly less ($14,796), because tuition is capped at 9 credit hours per semester.

Boise, ID · MS Cyber Operations and Resilience

Boise State earned its research designation in 2025. That’s clearly a good sign for a graduate program, although it is important to note that the school’s online program is entirely separate from its main cybersecurity master’s program; you’ll be studying “cyber operations and resilience”, not cybersecurity, and courses do not overlap.

However, the online program is sufficiently cybersecurity-related to make our list. The degree plan lists classes including Cyber Digital and Signal Intelligence, Cyber Resilience Systems Design, Zero Trust Architecture, and Cyber Security Operations Center. You’ll even be able to take a Cyber Operations Challenge and Competition class, providing a truly hands-on education.

And crucially, cybersecurity employers take the program seriously. 79% of graduates are employed or in further education, and 85% say their work is related to their degree.

Highland Heights, KY · MS Cybersecurity

The Northern Kentucky online cybersecurity master’s program is a good all-rounder. It’s made up of 10 courses: 8 required, 2 electives. The core material takes you through everything you would expect (cloud security, data privacy, security architecture, incident response etc.), while the electives let you specialize toward either the operational or management side of things.

As with a couple of other entries on our list, NKU doesn’t require any prior technology experience, which does mean you run the risk of covering old ground if you’ve already got a cybersecurity background. But the teaching is CAE-CD designated, and you can earn your degree in as little as 12 months. The 2.5 GPA admission standard is generous, too.

It’s also only fair to point out that Northern Kentucky’s tuition figure includes all fees. So while it’s 23rd here, it might be slightly higher up for bottom-line affordability, when you factor in any extras that other programs may charge (e.g. the “online learning fee” at Columbus State).

Charles Town, WV · MS Cybersecurity Studies

American Public University comes with a significant warning attached: you are likely to find that not everywhere will recognize its legitimacy. However, the online-only platform is an accredited school. Its cybersecurity-specific credentials are pretty good, too, with CAE-CD designation and faculty made up of former CISOs, Security Directors, and Chief Technology Officers.

And the advantage of an online-only platform is that it has been specifically built for online learning. You’ll benefit from rolling admissions and monthly course start dates, and you can sign in at any time to complete weekly assessments. The actual subject matter is fairly standard for a cybersecurity master’s program, albeit prescriptive. Core units are worth 33 credits, and your only choice will be whether to undertake a practical or theoretical final capstone project.

Across all master’s programs, 83% of APU graduates were employed full-time within 6 months (as of the last reported data). That provides some reassurance that it can be a genuine option.

Saratoga Springs, NY · MS Cybersecurity

California, PA · PSM Cybersecurity

Marshall, MN · MS Cybersecurity

Southwest Minnesota State University stands out from the crowd by pitching at people without a bachelor’s degree in computer science or a related field. The school does advise that students will need to use “readily available online educational resources” to get up to speed with fundamental programming and networking concepts, but otherwise assumes no prior knowledge.

Naturally, this does raise questions about the depth of the cybersecurity teaching, especially when combined with the lack of CAE designation. And the curriculum does read a little like the core content of a bachelor’s degree. Although to be fair, that could be ideal for those without a cybersecurity background: you’ll get good coverage of the fundamentals, like malware analysis, penetration testing, system forensics, and risk management. There’s even an elective in AI in Cybersecurity.

Entry requirements are on the lower side of normal, with a 2.75 GPA required for admission. The program is available either fully online or in hybrid format, so you can take some classes in person if you so wish. And you’ll be able to progress entirely at your own pace, making this a good option for working professionals to consider.

Ypsilanti, MI · MS Cybersecurity

You can complete the EMU cybersecurity master’s program in as little as 12 months. So it stands out as a good option if you’re in a rush to advance. Content-wise, it is reasonably standard, although dedicated “Defensive Security” and “Offensive Security” courses deserve a mention: they provide hands-on teaching that will equip you well for the workplace.

There is also a Data Analytics for Cybersecurity course. Data analytics is often a major part of cybersecurity roles, and yet it does not often seem to get specific treatment in graduate programs. Course outcomes include being able to leverage state-of-the-art data mining, big data, and data science tools and techniques in the cybersecurity context.

Despite its reasonably hands-on emphasis, EMU does offer a thesis track. This will give you the chance to work under experienced faculty, completing a research problem that will help to set you up for further postgraduate studies. If that’s not of interest, you can take the project-based track.

Fort Wayne, IN · MS Cybersecurity

Indiana Tech deserves credit for its highly practical learning outcomes. By the time you graduate, you should have skills in industry-standard software including Burp Suite, Metasploit and Wireshark (you’ll see these in live job listings). Most programs talk about learning workplace-ready skills, but this program really backs it up.

And once the core curriculum has given you a strong overall grounding, your 4 electives will allow you to start specializing. Options include AI for Cybersecurity (always a positive), Cloud Security, and Digital Forensics. The final capstone project involves identifying a problem from either academia or real-world enterprise, and either researching or implementing a solution.

Clinton, MS · MS Cybersecurity and Information Assurance

Louisville, KY · MS Cybersecurity

Burlington, VT · MS Cybersecurity Operations

Murray, KY · MS Cybersecurity Management

Murray State is another cybersecurity management program. As long as you know what you’re signing up for, it’s not necessarily a bad option, but practical cybersecurity skills are undeniably somewhat limited.

Instead, you’ll focus on topics like law and policy, risk management, and business continuity in the wake of a cybersecurity incident. If you already have practical cybersecurity experience, this could be a really helpful emphasis, as you’ll be learning genuinely new things that may help target management positions (and ultimately roles like CISO). As a bonus, you’ll qualify for membership of ISACA, which lets you sit certifications like CISM at a discounted rate.

Somewhat curiously, you’ll also choose 2 distinctly hands-on electives, with Certified Ethical Hacker and Security Operation Center Analyst the only available fields of study. Although that seems a little incongruous with the rest of the program, it is important for managers to have hands-on cybersecurity skills of their own, and it makes Murray State a slightly more well-rounded overall proposition.

Houston, TX · MS Cybersecurity

Utica, NY · MS Cybersecurity

Mississippi State, MS · MS Cyber Security and Operations

You would not expect one of the most impressively credentialed cybersecurity schools in the country to also feature among the cheapest master’s programs. And yet here is Mississippi State, triple CAE-designated and costing well under $20,000 in total tuition. You can count on both hands the number of institutions to have CAE-CD, CAE-R, and CAE-CO status, so you can take it to the bank as a marker of genuine cybersecurity quality.

Unsurprisingly, the master’s program looks really impressive. It was selected by the US Navy as a model curriculum, and you can see why. Cryptography, secure software engineering, network security, reverse engineering, advanced cyber operations, and wireless networks are all covered as part of the core material. There’s no “fluff” there, just a series of practical and relevant skills that will make you a better practitioner and/or academic. You then still get to choose an elective, and you’ll also have a choice between a thesis and non-thesis track.

One potential drawback to note is that while GRE is not required, MSU says that it can be helpful for admissions decisions. That’s alongside a 3.0 undergraduate GPA requirement, which is on the higher side of average.

Lakewood, CO · MS Cyber Security

Atlanta, GA · MS Cybersecurity

Georgia Tech featuring among the least expensive online cybersecurity master’s programs stands out as a major anomaly. It is exceptionally rare for such a prestigious, well-respected school to also offer one of the lowest tuition rates in the country. It is even more unusual for that rate to apply nationwide. The only real drawback is competitive admissions. But once you’re in, you’ll benefit from incredible graduate outcomes, with a median salary of $150,000.

Mississippi State, MS · MS Cyber Security and Operations

The only place to start with Mississippi State is its triple CAE designation. This classification may come from the NSA/Department of Homeland Security, but it means something to almost every cybersecurity employer, public or private. With its hands-on focus, a master’s in Cyber Security and Operations from MSU will both develop and prove your operational readiness.

Adelphi, MD · MS Cybersecurity Technology

The UMGC online cybersecurity master’s program narrowly missed out on our list of the most affordable programs overall. But it remains an excellent-value proposition. With its AI-powered virtual learning platform, it is genuinely built for online students. You’ll be getting CAE-CD designated teaching, and the curriculum prepares you for CEH and CISSP certifications. The dual MBA program may also be of interest.

Norfolk, VA · MS Cybersecurity

Old Dominion is another one of the select institutions to hold triple CAE designation. That alone is enough to make its master’s program worthy of consideration. But there are other stand-out features as well: you can complete it in as little as a year, and you’ll get to choose 5 electives. These include some highly specific courses, such as Introduction to Homeland Security Logistics and Cyber Risk FedRAMP/Audit. So if you have a particular career direction in mind, you can really personalize the ODU program.

Burlington, VT · MS Cybersecurity Operations

Champlain definitely deserves a place on your shortlist: it holds CAE-CD designation, and it boasts a really practical curriculum. You’ll graduate with skills in secure architecture design, threat and vulnerability analysis, incident response planning, malware analysis techniques, and more. Additionally, you can complete the program in as little as 10 months.