Deciding which schools to go to, for any program, can be a stressful situation. You have to consider a lot of things before finally deciding on the best school for your course. When it comes to cyber security, it can be a bit challenging because cyber security is a tough program that requires you to be trained by experts and professionals.
Not every school offers this, which is why you have to do thorough research on all the schools, particularly if you want to study in the US. Fortunately, this article has listed some of the best institutions that provide Cyber security program. This should help you decide where you want to study.
Considerations for Cyber Security Schools
Before diving into the best higher learning institutions offering courses in cyber security in the United States, you should first know all the key considerations. Some of these considerations include:
The Price
Though cheaper is always enticing, remember it could be expensive in the long run. When choosing a program in cyber security, make sure that it is of high quality. This doesn’t mean that in the event that you don’t have the finances, you can’t enroll in the program. The rule of the thumb is that as long as the price is reasonable and is of high quality, it is right for you. Check the reviews and other online resources to determine whether the price is reasonable.
Reputation
The reputation of the school matters a lot when considering where you wish to study. Does the program guarantee that the students will succeed after college? Also, consider if the course covers all the exam fees?
Career Goals
You need to consider whether you will gain something after the duration of the course. Is this your first major, or are you looking to get a promotion in your place of work? If you intend to be a Certified hacker, then the course should be certified ethical hacker(CEH).
Qualified Staff
Consider whether the academic staff is qualified for the programs they will be teaching you. When the staff are professionals, you are assured that you will gain the necessary knowledge and skill for the course.
Guaranteed Success
Though no school can guarantee whether you will succeed in life, the school you choose should guarantee that you will pass the exams. Your money, time, and energy should not go to waste. Some companies have a pass guarantee policy, which you should keep in mind when making your choice.
Now that you know what you need to consider before choosing the right school, here are the best higher learning institutions and cyber security schools in the United States.
1. Washington University in St Louis
If you wish to go to a private university, then you should consider Washington University in St. Louis. The University offers cyber security at the James McKelvey School of Engineering at Washington University. If you are new or have an already established career in IT as a professional, you are sure to benefit from this Course at this University. The school offers foundational concepts in risk assessment, security architecture, and also access control. From there, the students proceed to learn more about incident response and security applications. As a student, you will gain useful skills to eliminate security threats and respond to engineering concepts.
If you have zero or up to two years of experience, you will start with the foundation concepts. From there, you will proceed to intermediate and finally expert levels. For you to graduate, you need a minimum of a 30 credit score.
2. George Mason University
George Mason University is among the most recognized schools offering information security in the US. The school has deep roots in cyber security, beginning with the Centre for Secure Information Systems that was established in 1990 as the first security center in a US university. Many government institutions and corporate sponsors have alliances with . The schools have different campuses in Virginia. For you to be enrolled in the school, you have to provide these requirements SAT/ACT, Transcript, High School GPA. It has 81% acceptance rate.
Cyber security is offered at the Secure Information Systems Center, which consists of experts and researchers in cyber security. If you want to take an undergraduate certificate, you can take a Bachelor’s of Science degree in Cyber Security Engineering with specializations in Systems Engineering. The master’s degree available in the institutions includes information systems, Secure Information Systems Management, etc.
The school offers these programs and has partnered with different agencies that include Google and Amazon. The Center has also partnered with different government agencies.
3. Johns Hopkins University
Forbes describes John Hopkins University as one of the most admired higher learning institutions on the globe, The university was founded in 1876 as a private institution. The school can enroll up to 24,000 students at once. It has a student to faculty ratio of 1:7. The university is among the best, thanks to its tailored programs and a close-knit community.
If you intend to go to John Hopkins, then understand that the Whiting School of Engineering provides its students a course work in computer science, IT, Computer Forensics, Cryptography, Computer Engineering, cloud security, and intrusion detection among others. You will benefit from its vast professional network that includes federal agencies and different industrial sectors.
The best thing about the University is that it hosts Cyber security Conference for Executives each year. The University also provides scholarships in conjunction with National Science Foundation Cyber Corps and the DOD Information Assurance.
4. University of Southern California(USC)
University of Southern California is ranked as the best university offering cyber security in the US. USC is a private university that has a student enrolment of 44,000. The university, which is considered a research institution, has a 9:1 student to faculty ratio. USC offers various benefits, including online education, employment services and career counseling.
The center for Digital Systems Security at the USC provides students with undergraduate and graduate program options in software engineering, computer science, electrical engineering, Information technology, and information science. The programs are taught by distinguished experts and professionals nationally recognized for their exceptional cyber security skills.
5. Georgetown University
Georgetown University was founded in 1789 in Washington DC. Being one of the most revered and prestigious higher learning institutions, the university is ranked as an ideal institution for studying Cyber Security. The faculty to student ratio is 1:11. The school also offers placement services, online learning, and both evening and weekend classes. The school also provide financial support to their students. Georgetown’s Law Institute, Science and Security hosts a Cyber Security project that covers different intersectional disciplines and specializations. These include Cyber Deterrence, Cyberwarfare, Supply Chain Security, Cyber security Law, and Policy, among others.
The schools host a cyber-security conference annually, which brings together infosec experts from around the world. The conference provides experts with an opportunity to discuss current and future cyber security issues from a perspective of international relation.
The cyber-security program at the university is offered both online and on campus.
6. United States Military Academy
The United States Military Academy is a first service academy in the US. The Academy is known by many as West Point and is known to be among the best public schools in the US. The school has a student to faculty ratio of 7:1 with an exceptional environment for students to study. As a student, you will receive a well-tailored education from experts. The schools also provide collaborative learning, thanks to the presence of world-class resources. The US Army supports the school with medical and dental care, tuition, and different rooms.
The cyber security programs are offered at the Cyber Research Center in the Department of Computer Science and Electrical Engineering. The courses offered include Software Systems Design, Networked Systems Administration, Computing and Information Technology, and Cryptography.
The schools receive various sponsorship from different government and private agencies. These agencies include the National Security Agency, FBI, NRO, Army IA Directorate, and also the Air Force Labs.
7. The United States Air Force Academy
The Academy is different from the United States Military Academy. The institution was formed in 1954 as a public institution. The school has an enrollment capacity of 4,300. With a faculty to student ratio of 1:9. The school provides well-tailored academic training founded on both military and athletic excellence. The classrooms have not more than 2 students, which is great because you can gain so much when the lecturers pay attention to each of the students.
Cyber security is offered at the Center for Cyberspace Research in the institution. The institution supports computer security research to help combat security issues in support of the Air force, DoD including all other relevant government institutions. The research focuses on areas in security systems analysis, AI & Autonomy, and Immersive Environments.
If you choose to study at the institution, you are assured of benefiting from a list of various world-class resources such as round the clock access to experts in cyber security, resources worth $300-400K for projects per year and virtual reality technology.
8. Stevens Institute of Technology
The Stevens Institute of Technology is a privately owned research school that was founded in 1870 in New York. The schools have an enrollment capacity of 6,000. This includes both undergraduate and graduate students. It has a student to faculty ratio of 9:1, which means that the students receives an intimate level of education training. About 40% of the classes in the school have 20 students per each class. Cybersecurity in the school is offered at the Center for the Information Assurance and Advancement of Secure Systems. The center focuses on both applied and basic research in computing and communications systems that is secure and sustainable. The school also offers research in information assurance and cyber security, innovative technologies, and the goal of public-private partnerships in the security sector. The institution has master’s programs in cyber security, Networked Information Systems, and computer science.
The school recently launched various research programs in mobile apps, cyber security in Innovation Advances Wireless Networks, a post-quantum world among others.
9. New York University
New York University is a private institution that was founded in 1831. The school is ranked by established newspapers such as Forbes and the Washington Monthly as among the US’s best institutions. It was listed as a number one dream institution by Princeton Review for four years. It has a student to faculty ratio of 9:1, which encourages closeness and a tight knight academic environment. You will get online education, academic and also career training, life experiences, and placement services.
The cyber-security program is offered at the Center for Cyber Security. The school also offers a master’s degree in Cyber Security Risk & Strategy. If you would like support in your studies, the school offers scholarships to its students. The scholarships include the Scholarship for Cyber Security, the NYU Cyber Scholars Program, and Latham and Watkins Technology Award. There are also Ph.D. scholarships in cyber security at the institution.
The master’s degree program is offered on campus, online and blended learning (both online and on-campus). This mean that it’s up to you to choose your preference.
10. Boston University
Boston University is a private research institute that was founded in 1839 in Massachusetts. The school has an enrollment capacity of 32,200. The University is considered among the country’s largest private institutions as it absorbs students from at least 50 states. It was ranked among the best higher learning institutions that offer information technology courses in the country. The school is ideal for students because of the financial support it offers to its students.
Cyber-security program is offered at the Center for Reliable Cyber Security and Information Security. The center provides a multidisciplinary approach in systems reliability and information security. The school offers four different master’s degree programs with a specialization in either Computer Science, Computer Engineering, or Computer Information Systems. It offers both on-campus and online programs in IT.
The Cybercrime Investigation & Cyber security Graduate Certificate at the University is offered on both a full time and part-time basis and it takes between 8 to 12 months to complete it. The certificate is offered on a joint basis by both Applied Social Sciences and . The classes have at least 20 students each. This is a good number that helps promote collaboration with the faculty who have the right expertise in the cyber security field.
The school provides various benefits, including a fee waiver, especially to members of the American Jail Association (AJA).
Online Cyber security Programs
The best thing about these institutions is that they offer to take the cybersecurity program online. This allows you to complete your studies even when you don’t have much time to take a full time program or have other commitments. Some of the institutions also provide hybrid cyber security degrees. This means that you can attend some classes online. The classes can be in person, and on campus-based. These programs allow you to enjoy both the flexibility of studying online and on campus.
The coursework is available as a certificate and also as a professional program.
If you would like a campus-based course, you will gain from the different opportunities offered by the institutions. These opportunities include internships.
Facts about Cyber Security Courses
Cyber security Program is on Demand
With the increasing risks in technology, more and more companies (both private and public) absorb cyber security professionals. Research by the U.S. Bureau of Labor and Statistics has shown that by 2026, information security analysts’ demand would have gone up by 28%. The number of employment for cyber security designers is set to grow by 56%. As you can see, this is a course that will guarantee a job opportunity once you have graduated.
A Cyber Security Degree is Ideal
Most companies are in search of a professional with a cyber-security degree. With the increase in cyber terrorist attacks, employers want professionals who have at least a minimum of a cyber-security degree. This is according to research on job posting by different companies.
So as you enroll in any of the above institutions, make sure you choose a bachelor’s degree. Also, keep in mind that the more you increase your education, the more opportunities will be available for you in cyber security.
More Salary and Benefits
The increasing demand for cyber security professionals means that employers are willing to invests and do what it takes to keep their professionals, even if it means paying them more. Another report by the U.S. Bureau of Labor and Statistics shows that in 2018, the annual salary for a cyber-security analyst was $98,350. This figure is set to increase by 2026.
Final Verdict
The demand for cyber security experts is on the rise, thanks to advancements in technology that have created an opportunity for criminals to advance their skills online. For this reason, it should come as no surprise if you have developed an interest in cyber security.
Deciding where to take your bachelor’s degree or master’s degree does not have to be hard, especially with the list that we have provided above with regards to the US’s best security schools. We hope that we have given you a clear insight regarding the best schools for cyber security degree.