Complete List of Cybersecurity Programs In Pennsylvania

About the Program

Harrisburg Area Community College offers an Associate in Applied Science (A.A.S.) in Computer Information Security. This program is for anyone who wants to learn the foundations of cybersecurity, earn an associate degree, or transfer to a four-year university.

Students follow a set coursework schedule with limited electives, including an optional Introduction to Cybersecurity class. The program offers flexibility with a mix of in-person and online classes.

• Delivery method: Campus or online
• Total tuition cost: $20,877.25 in-state | $29,722.25 out-of-state
• 2026 cost per credit: $342.25 in-state | $487.25 out-of-state
• Credits: 61

What Stands Out

Harrisburg Area Community College is a great choice if you live in Pennsylvania and want the cheapest route to an associate degree from a CAE-designated school. Tuition is $342.25 per credit for in-state residents vs. $417 at Bucks Community College and $510 at the Community College of Beaver County. If you graduated from high school in a qualifying school district, your rate drops to $237 per credit.

The tradeoff is that this program is not focused specifically on cybersecurity. The curriculum leans towards practical skills needed for IT support jobs, with courses like Technical Support and Intermediate Spreadsheet Application. HACC’s solution to this is its new Associate in Science (A.S.) in Cybersecurity program, started in Fall 2026.

About the Program

This CCBC program stands out as a dedicated cybersecurity applied associate degree. Coursework is clearly defined, with choices only available for some general education requirements. You will take three different cybersecurity classes plus Cloud Security, Computer Forensics and Investigation, and Ethical Hacking.

Residents of Beaver County and Washington County pay lower tuition at CCBC than other PA residents. Beaver County residents pay $267 per credit while Washington County residents pay $410 per credit. PA residents outside of those two counties pay $510 per credit.

• Delivery method: Campus
• Total tuition cost: $31,110 in-state | $44,896 out-of-state
• 2026 cost per credit: $510 in-state | $736 out-of-state
• Credits: 61

What Stands Out

A dedicated degree in cybersecurity means focused coursework. You won’t waste money on generic computer science classes. The applied degree signals career-readiness to potential employers. While this is the most expensive community college on our list, you can apply for a CCBC STEM scholarship as a cybersecurity major to help offset tuition costs.

Through the Cybersecurity Center, you can compete, network, and participate in cutting-edge research with faculty and visiting researchers. Their students placed in the top 8% of teams at the National Cyber League competition.

About the Program

If you are interested in cybersecurity and forensics, this may be your ideal associate degree program. Mount Aloysius is a private college that also offers bachelor’s degrees. It is not a community college. This means you could easily continue your studies to earn a B.S. in IT or transfer to another institution that offers a bachelor’s degree in cybersecurity.

This program stands out because it encourages all students to complete an internship in their final semester. Graduates of the A.S. in Cybersecurity & Digital Forensics have gotten jobs and internships at the FBI, the IRS, and Google.

• Delivery method: Campus or online
• Total tuition cost: $54,436 (full-time, four semesters)
• 2026 cost per credit: $1,025 (part-time rate)
• Credits: 60

What Stands Out

While Mount Aloysius has a higher tuition than the community colleges on this list ($54,436 vs. $20,877 at HACC), you will have access to cutting-edge equipment in the school’s cybersecurity lab. As the chair of the IT department, Justin Williams, explained, new equipment in a larger space gives students more room to do more with digital forensics and cybersecurity and provides a unique hands-on experience that few colleges can provide.

Mount Aloysius is the only other school, besides HACC, in our top five associate degrees with a CAE designation. It is also a member of the DoW Cyber Service Academy. Through this program, you can apply for scholarships and gain workforce experience, further increasing the value of your degree.

About the Program

Bucks County’s A.S. in Cybersecurity follows a similar course schedule as the first two years of a B.S. in Cybersecurity at a four-year institution. This makes it easy for you to transfer to a four-year school after graduation.

The curriculum for this program includes 39 credits of defined computer science and cybersecurity-related courses. It also requires two math courses in addition to other general education courses. According to their website, the program can be completed up to 74% online. The rest requires in-person classes.

• Delivery method: Campus or hybrid
• Total tuition cost: $14,931 in-county | $26,271 in-state | $21,231 out-of-state
• 2026 cost per credit: $237 in-county | $417 in-state | $337 out-of-state
• Credits: 63

What Stands Out

If your goal is to earn a bachelor’s degree, starting at a public community college like Bucks can make your degree cheaper in the long run. The curriculum for this program ensures you are on track to graduate in four years after transferring. As a more transfer-focused program, it may not be the best option if your goal is to start working as soon as possible.

Bucks’ tuition rates are unique in that out-of-state students pay less than in-state students not from Bucks County. This makes it the most affordable associate degree in our top five for out-of-state residents.

About the Program

The Community College of Philadelphia has three campuses spread around the city. You will take most courses for the Associate in Applied Science (A.A.S.) Cybersecurity degree at its main campus, located a short walk from Center City.

Notable courses include Network Routing and Switching and Cyber Investigation. While students can choose from a variety of science courses to meet the general education requirement, the school recommends cybersecurity majors take Survey of Physics. For the math requirement, you will have a choice between Computer Mathematics and Logic and Introductory Data Analysis.

• Delivery method: Campus or hybrid
• Total tuition cost: $12,688 in-city | $23,912 in-state | $35,136 out-of-state
• 2026 cost per credit: $208 in-city | $392 in-state | $576 out-of-state
• Credits: 61

What Stands Out

CCP’s location is one of its advantages. You can go to school in the city where most of the state’s tech employers are, potentially giving you an edge when it’s time to job search. This is also the cheapest associate degree in cybersecurity for Philadelphia residents in our rankings.

The college has a dual admissions agreement with Chestnut Hill College. The agreement streamlines the transfer process for graduates with an A.A.S. in cybersecurity from CCP to enroll in the B.S. in Cybersecurity degree program at Chestnut Hill.

About the Program

A Bachelor of Science in Cybersecurity Analytics and Operations from Penn State prepares you for a career with a focus in either analytics or operations. Each focus comes with its own suggested course schedule.

In both pathways, you will choose a context for your work in cybersecurity. Popular options include economics, entrepreneurship, healthcare, and law. All students must complete at least one internship before graduation.

• Delivery method: Campus or online
• Annual tuition: $20,878 in-state | $44,574 out-of-state
• 2026 cost per credit: $870 in-state | $1,857 out-of-state
• Credits: 120

What Stands Out

84% of program graduates receive a job offer from an internship provider. A degree from Penn State can open doors. The school is a top research institution with R1 designation and a top cybersecurity learning destination with a CAE-CD designation.

Through the Integrated Undergraduate-Graduate degree program, you may be able to earn both a bachelor’s and a master’s in cybersecurity within five years. You may also be eligible for the CyberCorps® Scholarship for Service, which helps cover tuition costs and gives you a job working for the government after graduation.

About the Program

Drexel’s B.S. in Computing and Security Technology is a great option for students interested in research and development. It’s an R1 institution, denoting high-level research. The program is offered on-campus or online as a part-time program for working students. Choose the Computing Security concentration for a focus on cybersecurity.

Drexel was previously the only school in our top cybersecurity degrees to use a quarter system instead of semesters. Four terms a year gives you the opportunity to take more courses, but each course was shorter. For the 2027-2028 school year, all programs will transition to a semester model. Longer terms mean the high-quality curriculum that Drexel is known for will offer even deeper learning.

• Delivery method: Campus or online
• Annual tuition: $63,078 (full-time, three quarters)
• 2026 cost per credit: $1,419 (in-person, part-time rate)
• Credits: 120 (starting in 2027)

What Stands Out

Drexel University has held continuous CAE-CD designation since 2001. All students participate in a year-long senior project with the opportunity to work with mentors in the industry. The school also hosts Philly Codefest, an annual hackathon with corporate sponsors. These core elements of the cybersecurity program give you the chance to connect with potential employers before you graduate.

Drexel offers private school education, which comes with a certain level of prestige but also a higher price point than public universities. To offset costs, the school provides more scholarships than many other institutions. In 2025, 100% of incoming first-year students received financial aid, with the average amount totaling $40,814.

About the Program

This bachelor’s degree program combines computer science and digital forensics for a unique take on cybersecurity. Students in the program can get involved in research at the Center for Digital Forensics and Cybersecurity Studies.

Coursework is heavy on the digital forensics side. Students will take two required computer science classes, three math classes, and eight required digital forensics classes. The program includes a choice of at least three of ten elective digital forensics classes.

• Delivery method: Campus
• Annual tuition: $8,338 in-state | $20,846 out-of-state
• 2026 cost per credit: $347 in-state | $868 out-of-state
• Credits: 120

What Stands Out

The Commonwealth University of Pennsylvania (formerly Bloomsburg University, Lock Haven University, and Mansfield University) is part of PASSHE, a collection of colleges and universities in the state dedicated to affordable higher education. It’s the most affordable bachelor’s degree in our top five for in-state students, tied with the other PASSHE school, Slippery Rock, covered below. The school holds a CAE-CD designation and is a member of the DoW Cyber Service Academy, which provides scholarships to select students in the program.

About the Program

Slippery Rock offers a dedicated Bachelor of Science degree in cybersecurity. You can choose from two concentrations: secure software development and security governance.

Both start with the same core ten classes in computer science and cybersecurity. Then, secure software development students take courses like Algorithms and Data Structures and Software Security Analysis. Security governance students take courses like Introduction to Private Security and Security Management.

• Delivery method: Campus
• Annual tuition: $8,338 in-state | $16,676 out-of-state
• 2026 cost per credit: $472.62 in-state | $832.62 out-of-state
• Credits: 120

What Stands Out

Slippery Rock earned its CAE-CD designation in 2025, and its computing programs are ABET-accredited. This tells you that the program has a high-quality curriculum aligned with the skills you actually need to get a cybersecurity job after graduation.

The school is a member of PASSHE, which means in-state tuition is low, tied with Commonwealth University of Pennsylvania (listed above). If you don’t live in Pennsylvania, Slippery Rock offers the lowest tuition of the schools on our top five list.

About the Program

Carnegie Mellon University is a world-class institution known for its rigorous academics. The school does not have a dedicated cybersecurity degree. Instead, you can enroll in either the computer science degree or the electrical and computer engineering degree and choose the Concentration in Security & Privacy. Students are also supported by CyLab, the university’s Security and Privacy Institute.

• Delivery method: Campus
• Annual tuition: $69,702
• 2026 cost per credit: $969
• Credits: 120

What Stands Out

Carnegie Mellon is the only school in the state to hold all three CAE designations: Cyber Defense (CAE-CD), Cyber Operations (CAE-CO), and Cyber Research (CAE-R). It was ranked the number one best college in the country for cybersecurity by US News & World Report.

CMU is not for everyone. It’s the most expensive bachelor’s degree on our top five list. It’s also one of the most selective, accepting only 11% of applicants. But as a student in the cybersecurity program, you’ll have access to Scholarship for Service (SFS) funding. CMU students have received over $26 million in SFS scholarships since 2001.

About the Program

As a student in this Master of Science in Information Security (MSIS) program, you can choose from three specializations: defense, operations, or forensics and incident response. The interdisciplinary curriculum includes a lot of options for classes that meet the networking, systems, security, and business/management core requirements.

To apply, you must have some work experience or undergraduate coursework in cybersecurity and know how to code. There are two options for enrollment. The standard study option is three semesters and 123 units. The advanced study option is four semesters and 159 units. The additional 36 units can be used for a research thesis or project.

• STEM designation: Yes
• Delivery method: Campus
• Total tuition: $105,165
• 2026 cost per credit: $855 per unit
• Credits: 123 units
• GRE requirement: Not required

What Stands Out

Carnegie Mellon’s program was one of the first information security graduate degrees in the country. It’s offered through the school’s Information Networking Institute (INI), which was founded in 1989 and boasts a powerful alumni network.

Over 250 Scholarship for Service Program (SFS) scholarship recipients have graduated from the INI. Two INI alumni were even inducted into the SFS Hall of Fame in 2024-2025. As a CMU graduate student, you will have access to the school’s vast alumni network and industry connections. These benefits add value to this degree, which costs significantly more than a master’s degree from a public university ($44,325 more than Penn State for out-of-state students).

About the Program

The curriculum for Penn State’s M.S. in Cybersecurity Analytics and Operations offers a lot of choice. You complete five core cybersecurity courses and then choose from 14 electives to complete your remaining credits.

All students are assigned a graduate faculty member, and you are expected to begin working with them immediately in your first semester to determine your research focus. Privacy and cybersecurity informatics is one of the focuses that graduate students can choose.

• STEM designation: Yes
• Delivery method: Campus
• Total tuition: $33,120 in-state | $60,840 out-of-state
• 2026 cost per credit: $1,104 in-state | $2,028 out-of-state
• Credits: 30
• GRE requirement: Not required

What Stands Out

This is the number one public university in Pennsylvania. It’s also a top choice for cybersecurity specifically. It has held its CAE-CD designation since 2003 and houses the Center for Cyber-Security, Information Privacy, and Trust and the National Security Institute. These centers provide opportunities for graduate students to participate in cutting-edge research. If you want to study cybersecurity at a leading university without the private school price tag, Penn State may be the right place for you.

About the Program

The Master of Professional Studies in Cybersecurity Analytics and Operations program is completed 100% online. In-state and out-of-state students pay the same rate for this program, and it’s significantly cheaper if you’re out-of-state than an in-person degree at Penn State.

Students take six required core courses in cybersecurity. Then, you can choose from 13 electives, including classes on enterprise architecture, modeling, and integration. Because this program is multidisciplinary, a related bachelor’s degree is not required for admission. But you must demonstrate a basic level of competency in statistics, computer science, and information technology.

• STEM designation: Yes
• Delivery method: Online
• Total tuition: $34,584
• 2026 cost per credit: $1,048
• Credits: 33
• GRE requirement: Not required

What Stands Out

This program is the only one in the top five master’s degrees that is completely online. If you work full-time and need a flexible degree program, this may be a good fit for you. Even though classes are online, the program is held to the same high level of expectations as Penn State’s in-person degrees. Students also still have access to Penn State’s expert faculty, research centers, and industry connections.

All students complete a research paper, project, or lab-based capstone in their last semester. This culminating experience provides real-world practice, emphasizing the professional studies part of this degree.

About the Program

Unlike the other two CMU master’s degrees on this list, the Master of Science in Information Security Policy and Management (MSISPM) program is part of the Heinz College of Information Systems and Public Policy. Heinz College has different admissions requirements, including a quantitative analysis background or completion of CMU’s free Quantitative Skills Summer Program.

Instead of focusing mainly on engineering, you’ll focus on the legal and business sides of cybersecurity. All students in the program must complete a summer internship and a capstone project or research thesis.

• STEM designation: Yes
• Delivery method: Campus
• Total tuition: $118,280 (full-time, four semesters)
• 2026 cost per credit: $825 per unit (part-time rate)
• Credits: 192 units
• GRE requirement: Required unless you earned a B or higher in a College Algebra class or a higher level of math

What Stands Out

This program is interdisciplinary and includes faculty from the school’s Software Engineering Institute (SEI). SEI houses the university’s CERT Division, the first of its kind in the world. It’s Pittsburgh’s cybersecurity hub with strong connections to government, industry, law enforcement, and academia. The MSISPM is the most costly master’s program on this list, but its prestige pays off. 92% of graduates between 2022 and 2025 were employed or received job offers in their field.

About the Program

For the Artificial Intelligence Engineering – Information Security master’s degree program, you will study in the school’s Information Networking Institute (INI). This program is unique in its focus on AI and cybersecurity specifically.

Because of this narrowed focus, you’ll have fewer elective course options in this program than in the INI’s other information security master’s degree. Classes fall into the following core areas: AI, information security, networking, and business and management.

• STEM designation: Yes
• Delivery method: Campus
• Total tuition: $105,165
• 2026 cost per credit: $855 per unit
• Credits: 123 units
• GRE requirement: Not required

What Stands Out

The M.S. in AI Engineering – Information Security degree is a first-of-its-kind program that aims to use AI in innovative solutions to the most pressing cybersecurity concerns. Students can choose a standard degree pathway or an advanced pathway with an additional 36 units and a culminating thesis or project.

As part of the INI, this program has the same tuition rates as the MSIS degree listed above. Students may also be eligible for the Scholarship for Service Program (SFS), offering full scholarships in exchange for two years working for the government.