Most Affordable Online Cybersecurity Degrees
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Earning your degree in cybersecurity doesn’t have to break the bank. Explore the many affordable undergraduate and graduate degree options available today from top online cybersecurity programs. Learn about the factors that affect program costs and the funding resources available to help you pay for your education.
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In today’s world, with our growing dependence on technology and online platforms for communication, purchases, and sensitive data storage, it’s not surprising that cyberattacks are becoming more frequent and risky. To address and prevent these attacks, companies, governments, and other organizations require well-trained cybersecurity experts. To meet this demand, many institutions now provide convenient and affordable online degrees in cybersecurity.
If you’re interested in becoming a cybersecurity expert, but are concerned about what it might cost, you’ve come to the right place. This guide will help you explore accredited universities that offer the most affordable online cybersecurity programs and find other ways to lower the cost of your college education.
Programs that might interest you:
Dakota State University
Madison, South Dakota
Public
- AccreditationHLC
- Avg. Grant Aid
- Graduation Rate49%
- Retention Rate74%
- Student/Faculty Ratio18/1
- Tuition$$
- % Excl. Online55%
- % Part. Online20%
University of Arizona
Tucson, Arizona
Public
- AccreditationHLC
- Avg. Grant Aid
- Graduation Rate68%
- Retention Rate86%
- Student/Faculty Ratio17/1
- Tuition$$
- % Excl. Online18%
- % Part. Online38%
University of Nebraska at Omaha
Omaha, Nebraska
Public
- AccreditationHLC
- Avg. Grant Aid
- Graduation Rate49%
- Retention Rate74%
- Student/Faculty Ratio15/1
- Tuition$$
- % Excl. Online22%
- % Part. Online53%
University of Illinois Springfield
Springfield, Illinois
Public
- AccreditationHLC
- Avg. Grant Aid
- Graduation Rate53%
- Retention Rate76%
- Student/Faculty Ratio12/1
- Tuition$$
- % Excl. Online57%
- % Part. Online35%
University of Maine at Augusta
Augusta, Maine
Public
- AccreditationNECHE
- Avg. Grant Aid
- Graduation Rate23%
- Retention Rate66%
- Student/Faculty Ratio16/1
- Tuition$$
- % Excl. Online65%
- % Part. Online14%
Old Dominion University
Norfolk, Virginia
Public
- AccreditationSACSCOC
- Avg. Grant Aid
- Graduation Rate48%
- Retention Rate74%
- Student/Faculty Ratio16/1
- Tuition$$
- % Excl. Online40%
- % Part. Online36%
University of North Carolina at Greensboro
Greensboro, North Carolina
Public
- AccreditationSACSCOC
- Avg. Grant Aid
- Graduation Rate58%
- Retention Rate73%
- Student/Faculty Ratio17/1
- Tuition$$
- % Excl. Online26%
- % Part. Online56%
Liberty University
Lynchburg, Virginia
Private
- AccreditationSACSCOC
- Avg. Grant Aid
- Graduation Rate66%
- Retention Rate79%
- Student/Faculty Ratio17/1
- Tuition$$$$
- % Excl. Online84%
- % Part. Online7%
Davenport University
Grand Rapids, Michigan
Private
- AccreditationHLC
- Avg. Grant Aid
- Graduation Rate50%
- Retention Rate74%
- Student/Faculty Ratio15/1
- Tuition$$$$
- % Excl. Online46%
- % Part. Online35%
University of Delaware
Newark, Delaware
Public
- AccreditationMSCHE
- Avg. Grant Aid
- Graduation Rate80%
- Retention Rate91%
- Student/Faculty Ratio15/1
- Tuition$$$
- % Excl. Online9%
- % Part. Online57%
Kennesaw State University
Kennesaw, Georgia
Public
- AccreditationSACSCOC
- Avg. Grant Aid
- Graduation Rate46%
- Retention Rate75%
- Student/Faculty Ratio22/1
- Tuition$
- % Excl. Online20%
- % Part. Online38%
East Carolina University
Greenville, North Carolina
Public
- AccreditationSACSCOC
- Avg. Grant Aid
- Graduation Rate65%
- Retention Rate80%
- Student/Faculty Ratio18/1
- Tuition$$
- % Excl. Online29%
- % Part. Online45%
Norfolk State University
Norfolk, Virginia
Public
- AccreditationSACSCOC
- Avg. Grant Aid
- Graduation Rate40%
- Retention Rate70%
- Student/Faculty Ratio15/1
- Tuition$$
- % Excl. Online11%
- % Part. Online86%
Auburn University
Auburn, Alabama
Public
- AccreditationSACSCOC
- Avg. Grant Aid
- Graduation Rate81%
- Retention Rate93%
- Student/Faculty Ratio20/1
- Tuition$$
- % Excl. Online9%
- % Part. Online37%
University of Cincinnati
Cincinnati, Ohio
Public
- AccreditationHLC
- Avg. Grant Aid
- Graduation Rate72%
- Retention Rate86%
- Student/Faculty Ratio19/1
- Tuition$$
- % Excl. Online22%
- % Part. Online43%
Oklahoma State University
Stillwater, Oklahoma
Public
- AccreditationHLC
- Avg. Grant Aid
- Graduation Rate65%
- Retention Rate83%
- Student/Faculty Ratio18/1
- Tuition$$
- % Excl. Online11%
- % Part. Online41%
University of Michigan-Dearborn
Dearborn, Michigan
Public
- AccreditationHLC
- Avg. Grant Aid
- Graduation Rate56%
- Retention Rate82%
- Student/Faculty Ratio16/1
- Tuition$$
- % Excl. Online21%
- % Part. Online57%
California State University-San Marcos
San Marcos, California
Public
- AccreditationWASC
- Avg. Grant Aid
- Graduation Rate57%
- Retention Rate72%
- Student/Faculty Ratio25/1
- Tuition$$
- % Excl. Online34%
- % Part. Online52%
St Petersburg College
St. Petersburg, Florida
Public
- AccreditationSACSCOC
- Avg. Grant Aid
- Graduation Rate38%
- Retention RateN/A
- Student/Faculty Ratio22/1
- Tuition$
- % Excl. Online54%
- % Part. Online22%
Sam Houston State University
Huntsville, Texas
Public
- AccreditationSACSCOC
- Avg. Grant Aid
- Graduation Rate56%
- Retention Rate74%
- Student/Faculty Ratio20/1
- Tuition$$
- % Excl. Online24%
- % Part. Online41%
Central Washington University
Ellensburg, Washington
Public
- AccreditationNWCCU
- Avg. Grant Aid
- Graduation Rate52%
- Retention Rate68%
- Student/Faculty Ratio15/1
- Tuition$$
- % Excl. Online29%
- % Part. Online43%
University of Houston
Houston, Texas
Public
- AccreditationSACSCOC
- Avg. Grant Aid
- Graduation Rate63%
- Retention Rate85%
- Student/Faculty Ratio21/1
- Tuition$$
- % Excl. Online13%
- % Part. Online56%
Lindenwood University
Saint Charles, Missouri
Private
- AccreditationHLC
- Avg. Grant Aid
- Graduation Rate54%
- Retention Rate77%
- Student/Faculty Ratio13/1
- Tuition$$$
- % Excl. Online35%
- % Part. Online43%
Capitol Technology University
Laurel, Maryland
Private
- AccreditationMSCHE
- Avg. Grant Aid
- Graduation Rate55%
- Retention Rate73%
- Student/Faculty Ratio15/1
- Tuition$$$$
- % Excl. Online69%
- % Part. Online30%
The University of Texas at San Antonio
San Antonio, Texas
Public
- AccreditationSACSCOC
- Avg. Grant Aid
- Graduation Rate54%
- Retention Rate80%
- Student/Faculty Ratio26/1
- Tuition$$
- % Excl. Online27%
- % Part. Online60%
Virginia Tech
Blacksburg, Virginia
Public
- AccreditationSACSCOC
- Avg. Grant Aid
- Graduation Rate86%
- Retention Rate91%
- Student/Faculty Ratio14/1
- Tuition$$$
- % Excl. Online4%
- % Part. Online53%
Zane State College
Zanesville, Ohio
Public
- AccreditationHLC
- Avg. Grant Aid
- Graduation Rate54%
- Retention RateN/A
- Student/Faculty Ratio17/1
- Tuition$
- % Excl. Online17%
- % Part. Online41%
Purdue University Global
West Lafayette, Indiana
Public
- AccreditationHLC
- Avg. Grant Aid
- Graduation Rate20%
- Retention Rate17%
- Student/Faculty Ratio27/1
- Tuition$$
- % Excl. Online100%
- % Part. OnlineN/A
University of Missouri-St Louis
Saint Louis, Missouri
Public
- AccreditationHLC
- Avg. Grant Aid
- Graduation Rate52%
- Retention Rate75%
- Student/Faculty Ratio14/1
- Tuition$$
- % Excl. Online23%
- % Part. Online28%
Maryville University of Saint Louis
Saint Louis, Missouri
Private
- AccreditationHLC
- Avg. Grant Aid
- Graduation Rate67%
- Retention Rate83%
- Student/Faculty Ratio13/1
- Tuition$$$$
- % Excl. Online68%
- % Part. Online16%
Northern Kentucky University
Highland Heights, Kentucky
Public
- AccreditationSACSCOC
- Avg. Grant Aid
- Graduation Rate50%
- Retention Rate77%
- Student/Faculty Ratio17/1
- Tuition$$
- % Excl. Online41%
- % Part. Online34%
Peninsula College
Port Angeles, Washington
Public
- AccreditationNWCCU
- Avg. Grant Aid
- Graduation Rate42%
- Retention RateN/A
- Student/Faculty Ratio16/1
- Tuition$
- % Excl. Online45%
- % Part. Online24%
West Virginia University
Morgantown, West Virginia
Public
- AccreditationHLC
- Avg. Grant Aid
- Graduation Rate62%
- Retention Rate79%
- Student/Faculty Ratio18/1
- Tuition$$
- % Excl. Online10%
- % Part. Online44%
Johns Hopkins University
Baltimore, Maryland
Private
- AccreditationMSCHE
- Avg. Grant Aid
- Graduation Rate94%
- Retention Rate97%
- Student/Faculty Ratio6/1
- Tuition$$$$$
- % Excl. Online46%
- % Part. Online34%
Eastern Michigan University
Ypsilanti, Michigan
Public
- AccreditationHLC
- Avg. Grant Aid
- Graduation Rate45%
- Retention Rate66%
- Student/Faculty Ratio15/1
- Tuition$$$
- % Excl. Online26%
- % Part. Online54%
Southern Utah University
Cedar City, Utah
Public
- AccreditationNWCCU
- Avg. Grant Aid
- Graduation Rate58%
- Retention Rate71%
- Student/Faculty Ratio23/1
- Tuition$
- % Excl. Online23%
- % Part. Online34%
Saint Leo University
Saint Leo, Florida
Private
- AccreditationSACSCOC
- Avg. Grant Aid
- Graduation Rate49%
- Retention Rate54%
- Student/Faculty Ratio16/1
- Tuition$$$$
- % Excl. Online67%
- % Part. Online17%
University of Rhode Island
Kingston, Rhode Island
Public
- AccreditationNECHE
- Avg. Grant Aid
- Graduation Rate72%
- Retention Rate85%
- Student/Faculty Ratio17/1
- Tuition$$$
- % Excl. Online6%
- % Part. Online31%
Temple University
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Public
- AccreditationMSCHE
- Avg. Grant Aid
- Graduation Rate78%
- Retention Rate84%
- Student/Faculty Ratio13/1
- Tuition$$$
- % Excl. Online11%
- % Part. Online57%
University of North Dakota
Grand Forks, North Dakota
Public
- AccreditationHLC
- Avg. Grant Aid
- Graduation Rate63%
- Retention Rate79%
- Student/Faculty Ratio17/1
- Tuition$$
- % Excl. Online30%
- % Part. Online40%
Baker College
Owosso, Michigan
Private
- AccreditationHLC
- Avg. Grant Aid
- Graduation Rate20%
- Retention Rate63%
- Student/Faculty Ratio8/1
- Tuition$$
- % Excl. Online59%
- % Part. Online13%
Mercy University
Dobbs Ferry, New York
Private
- AccreditationMSCHE
- Avg. Grant Aid
- Graduation Rate47%
- Retention Rate74%
- Student/Faculty Ratio15/1
- Tuition$$$$
- % Excl. Online30%
- % Part. Online43%
Indiana Wesleyan University-National & Global
Marion, Indiana
Private
- AccreditationHLC
- Avg. Grant Aid
- Graduation Rate40%
- Retention RateN/A
- Student/Faculty Ratio17/1
- Tuition$$
- % Excl. Online91%
- % Part. Online2%
Missouri State University-Springfield
Springfield, Missouri
Public
- AccreditationHLC
- Avg. Grant Aid
- Graduation Rate58%
- Retention Rate76%
- Student/Faculty Ratio19/1
- Tuition$$
- % Excl. Online17%
- % Part. Online37%
Regent University
Virginia Beach, Virginia
Private
- AccreditationSACSCOC
- Avg. Grant Aid
- Graduation Rate55%
- Retention Rate70%
- Student/Faculty Ratio21/1
- Tuition$$$
- % Excl. Online82%
- % Part. Online10%
Missouri University of Science and Technology
Rolla, Missouri
Public
- AccreditationHLC
- Avg. Grant Aid
- Graduation Rate62%
- Retention Rate86%
- Student/Faculty Ratio19/1
- Tuition$$
- % Excl. Online2%
- % Part. Online38%
Harvard University
Cambridge, Massachusetts
Private
- AccreditationNECHE
- Avg. Grant Aid
- Graduation Rate98%
- Retention Rate98%
- Student/Faculty Ratio7/1
- Tuition$$$$$
- % Excl. Online33%
- % Part. Online5%
Metropolitan State University of Denver
Denver, Colorado
Public
- AccreditationHLC
- Avg. Grant Aid
- Graduation Rate29%
- Retention Rate63%
- Student/Faculty Ratio19/1
- Tuition$$
- % Excl. Online22%
- % Part. Online46%
Webster University
Saint Louis, Missouri
Private
- AccreditationHLC
- Avg. Grant Aid
- Graduation Rate59%
- Retention Rate79%
- Student/Faculty Ratio11/1
- Tuition$$$$
- % Excl. Online36%
- % Part. Online26%
University of Detroit Mercy
Detroit, Michigan
Private
- AccreditationHLC
- Avg. Grant Aid
- Graduation Rate73%
- Retention Rate85%
- Student/Faculty Ratio11/1
- Tuition$$$$
- % Excl. Online18%
- % Part. Online60%
Base Methodology for STEP’s “Most Affordable Online College Rankings”
Generate List of Eligible Schools and Programs
To be eligible for this ranking, schools were required to meet the following criteria based on government data provided by The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS).
- Institutional accreditation from an organization recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.
- At least one program in the subject area offered partially or fully online.
- Career placement and academic counseling services.
Assign Weightings
After generating the list of eligible schools, the STEPS data team then assigned weights and ranked schools based on their performance in a variety of key categories. Affordability metrics received the heaviest weightings, followed by online learning and student outcomes/academic quality metrics.
Affordability
- Average amount of federal, state, local, or institutional grant aid awarded
- Tuition and fess
Online Learning
- Number of online programs
- Percent of total students enrolled exclusively in distance education courses
- Percent of total students enrolled in some but not all distance education courses
Student Outcomes
- Full-time retention rate
- Student-to-faculty ratio
- Graduation rate
About Our Data
All STEPS rankings use the latest official data available from The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS). Most recent data pull: August 2024.
Oconee Fall Line Technical College
Sandersville, Georgia
Public
- AccreditationSACSCOC
- Avg. Grant Aid
- Graduation Rate61%
- Retention Rate75%
- Student/Faculty Ratio11/1
- Tuition$$$
- % Excl. Online30%
- % Part. Online26%
Albany Technical College
Albany, Georgia
Public
- AccreditationSACSCOC
- Avg. Grant Aid
- Graduation Rate45%
- Retention Rate52%
- Student/Faculty Ratio11/1
- Tuition$$$
- % Excl. Online68%
- % Part. Online15%
Atlanta Technical College
Atlanta, Georgia
Public
- AccreditationSACSCOC
- Avg. Grant Aid
- Graduation Rate37%
- Retention Rate55%
- Student/Faculty Ratio14/1
- Tuition$$$
- % Excl. Online52%
- % Part. Online28%
Texas State Technical College
Waco, Texas
Public
- AccreditationSACSCOC
- Avg. Grant Aid
- Graduation Rate37%
- Retention Rate55%
- Student/Faculty Ratio13/1
- Tuition$$$$$
- % Excl. Online41%
- % Part. Online52%
Northwood Technical College
Shell Lake, Wisconsin
Public
- AccreditationHLC
- Avg. Grant Aid
- Graduation Rate60%
- Retention Rate77%
- Student/Faculty Ratio7/1
- Tuition$$$$
- % Excl. Online27%
- % Part. Online46%
Cowley County Community College
Arkansas City, Kansas
Public
- AccreditationHLC
- Avg. Grant Aid
- Graduation Rate47%
- Retention Rate61%
- Student/Faculty Ratio18/1
- Tuition$$$$
- % Excl. Online36%
- % Part. Online31%
Sacramento City College
Sacramento, California
Public
- AccreditationACCJC
- Avg. Grant Aid
- Graduation Rate26%
- Retention Rate70%
- Student/Faculty Ratio25/1
- Tuition$
- % Excl. Online85%
- % Part. Online9%
Iowa Western Community College
Council Bluffs, Iowa
Public
- AccreditationHLC
- Avg. Grant Aid
- Graduation Rate36%
- Retention Rate66%
- Student/Faculty Ratio19/1
- Tuition$$$$$
- % Excl. Online27%
- % Part. Online36%
Fayetteville Technical Community College
Fayetteville, North Carolina
Public
- AccreditationSACSCOC
- Avg. Grant Aid
- Graduation Rate16%
- Retention Rate59%
- Student/Faculty Ratio15/1
- Tuition$$
- % Excl. Online56%
- % Part. Online26%
Mesa Community College
Mesa, Arizona
Public
- AccreditationHLC
- Avg. Grant Aid
- Graduation Rate13%
- Retention Rate64%
- Student/Faculty Ratio15/1
- Tuition$$
- % Excl. Online29%
- % Part. Online31%
East Mississippi Community College
Scooba, Mississippi
Public
- AccreditationSACSCOC
- Avg. Grant Aid
- Graduation Rate39%
- Retention Rate54%
- Student/Faculty Ratio19/1
- Tuition$$$$
- % Excl. Online36%
- % Part. Online28%
Cosumnes River College
Sacramento, California
Public
- AccreditationACCJC
- Avg. Grant Aid
- Graduation Rate31%
- Retention Rate72%
- Student/Faculty Ratio27/1
- Tuition$
- % Excl. Online87%
- % Part. Online10%
Trident Technical College
Charleston, South Carolina
Public
- AccreditationSACSCOC
- Avg. Grant Aid
- Graduation Rate24%
- Retention Rate60%
- Student/Faculty Ratio19/1
- Tuition$$$$
- % Excl. Online51%
- % Part. Online24%
Copiah-Lincoln Community College
Wesson, Mississippi
Public
- AccreditationSACSCOC
- Avg. Grant Aid
- Graduation Rate46%
- Retention Rate69%
- Student/Faculty Ratio20/1
- Tuition$$$$
- % Excl. Online27%
- % Part. Online39%
Horry-Georgetown Technical College
Conway, South Carolina
Public
- AccreditationSACSCOC
- Avg. Grant Aid
- Graduation Rate26%
- Retention Rate63%
- Student/Faculty Ratio20/1
- Tuition$$$$
- % Excl. Online46%
- % Part. Online26%
Savannah Technical College
Savannah, Georgia
Public
- AccreditationSACSCOC
- Avg. Grant Aid
- Graduation Rate46%
- Retention Rate55%
- Student/Faculty Ratio15/1
- Tuition$$$
- % Excl. Online32%
- % Part. Online28%
Bristol Community College
Fall River, Massachusetts
Public
- AccreditationNECHE
- Avg. Grant Aid
- Graduation Rate22%
- Retention Rate59%
- Student/Faculty Ratio15/1
- Tuition$$$$$
- % Excl. Online98%
- % Part. OnlineN/A
National Park College
Hot Springs, Arkansas
Public
- AccreditationHLC
- Avg. Grant Aid
- Graduation Rate26%
- Retention Rate54%
- Student/Faculty Ratio15/1
- Tuition$$$$
- % Excl. Online29%
- % Part. Online39%
GateWay Community College
Phoenix, Arizona
Public
- AccreditationHLC
- Avg. Grant Aid
- Graduation Rate19%
- Retention Rate55%
- Student/Faculty Ratio11/1
- Tuition$$
- % Excl. Online31%
- % Part. Online25%
Cecil College
North East, Maryland
Public
- AccreditationMSCHE
- Avg. Grant Aid
- Graduation Rate28%
- Retention Rate69%
- Student/Faculty Ratio11/1
- Tuition$$$$
- % Excl. Online27%
- % Part. Online52%
University of Arkansas-Pulaski Technical College
North Little Rock, Arkansas
Public
- AccreditationHLC
- Avg. Grant Aid
- Graduation Rate23%
- Retention Rate60%
- Student/Faculty Ratio15/1
- Tuition$$$$$
- % Excl. Online43%
- % Part. Online32%
Cerritos College
Norwalk, California
Public
- AccreditationACCJC
- Avg. Grant Aid
- Graduation Rate29%
- Retention Rate66%
- Student/Faculty Ratio26/1
- Tuition$$
- % Excl. Online40%
- % Part. Online38%
Northcentral Technical College
Wausau, Wisconsin
Public
- AccreditationHLC
- Avg. Grant Aid
- Graduation Rate32%
- Retention Rate63%
- Student/Faculty Ratio11/1
- Tuition$$$$
- % Excl. Online38%
- % Part. Online15%
Central Texas College
Killeen, Texas
Public
- AccreditationSACSCOC
- Avg. Grant Aid
- Graduation Rate17%
- Retention Rate49%
- Student/Faculty Ratio13/1
- Tuition$$$
- % Excl. Online54%
- % Part. Online17%
American River College
Sacramento, California
Public
- AccreditationACCJC
- Avg. Grant Aid
- Graduation Rate27%
- Retention Rate69%
- Student/Faculty Ratio26/1
- Tuition$
- % Excl. Online74%
- % Part. Online8%
Portland Community College
Portland, Oregon
Public
- AccreditationNWCCU
- Avg. Grant Aid
- Graduation Rate18%
- Retention Rate56%
- Student/Faculty Ratio19/1
- Tuition$$$$
- % Excl. Online59%
- % Part. Online22%
Tarrant County College District
Fort Worth, Texas
Public
- AccreditationSACSCOC
- Avg. Grant Aid
- Graduation Rate21%
- Retention Rate72%
- Student/Faculty Ratio17/1
- Tuition$$
- % Excl. Online18%
- % Part. Online26%
Hinds Community College
Raymond, Mississippi
Public
- AccreditationSACSCOC
- Avg. Grant Aid
- Graduation Rate32%
- Retention Rate53%
- Student/Faculty Ratio17/1
- Tuition$$$$
- % Excl. Online24%
- % Part. Online20%
Ridgewater College
Willmar, Minnesota
Public
- AccreditationHLC
- Avg. Grant Aid
- Graduation Rate45%
- Retention Rate62%
- Student/Faculty Ratio19/1
- Tuition$$$$$
- % Excl. Online38%
- % Part. Online33%
Blue Ridge Community and Technical College
Martinsburg, West Virginia
Public
- AccreditationHLC
- Avg. Grant Aid
- Graduation Rate35%
- Retention Rate61%
- Student/Faculty Ratio14/1
- Tuition$$$$
- % Excl. Online21%
- % Part. Online16%
Klamath Community College
Klamath Falls, Oregon
Public
- AccreditationNWCCU
- Avg. Grant Aid
- Graduation Rate28%
- Retention Rate64%
- Student/Faculty Ratio13/1
- Tuition$$$$
- % Excl. Online36%
- % Part. Online28%
Columbus Technical College
Columbus, Georgia
Public
- AccreditationSACSCOC
- Avg. Grant Aid
- Graduation Rate23%
- Retention Rate42%
- Student/Faculty Ratio13/1
- Tuition$$$
- % Excl. Online30%
- % Part. Online39%
Arkansas State University-Mountain Home
Mountain Home, Arkansas
Public
- AccreditationHLC
- Avg. Grant Aid
- Graduation Rate28%
- Retention Rate63%
- Student/Faculty Ratio14/1
- Tuition$$$
- % Excl. Online27%
- % Part. Online33%
Central Georgia Technical College
Warner Robins, Georgia
Public
- AccreditationSACSCOC
- Avg. Grant Aid
- Graduation Rate44%
- Retention Rate59%
- Student/Faculty Ratio14/1
- Tuition$$$
- % Excl. Online30%
- % Part. Online15%
Community College of Baltimore County
Baltimore, Maryland
Public
- AccreditationMSCHE
- Avg. Grant Aid
- Graduation Rate16%
- Retention Rate52%
- Student/Faculty Ratio15/1
- Tuition$$$$
- % Excl. Online40%
- % Part. Online28%
Moraine Park Technical College
Fond du Lac, Wisconsin
Public
- AccreditationHLC
- Avg. Grant Aid
- Graduation Rate45%
- Retention Rate79%
- Student/Faculty Ratio11/1
- Tuition$$$$
- % Excl. Online21%
- % Part. Online21%
Minnesota West Community and Technical College
Granite Falls, Minnesota
Public
- AccreditationHLC
- Avg. Grant Aid
- Graduation Rate37%
- Retention Rate67%
- Student/Faculty Ratio17/1
- Tuition$$$$$
- % Excl. Online27%
- % Part. Online21%
West Georgia Technical College
Waco, Georgia
Public
- AccreditationSACSCOC
- Avg. Grant Aid
- Graduation Rate34%
- Retention Rate50%
- Student/Faculty Ratio20/1
- Tuition$$$
- % Excl. Online34%
- % Part. Online28%
Camden County College
Blackwood, New Jersey
Public
- AccreditationMSCHE
- Avg. Grant Aid
- Graduation Rate22%
- Retention Rate72%
- Student/Faculty Ratio21/1
- Tuition$$$$
- % Excl. Online36%
- % Part. Online28%
Mount Wachusett Community College
Gardner, Massachusetts
Public
- AccreditationNECHE
- Avg. Grant Aid
- Graduation Rate27%
- Retention Rate53%
- Student/Faculty Ratio13/1
- Tuition$$$$$
- % Excl. Online39%
- % Part. Online32%
Allegany College of Maryland
Cumberland, Maryland
Public
- AccreditationMSCHE
- Avg. Grant Aid
- Graduation Rate35%
- Retention Rate63%
- Student/Faculty Ratio11/1
- Tuition$$$$
- % Excl. Online26%
- % Part. Online24%
Mt Hood Community College
Gresham, Oregon
Public
- AccreditationNWCCU
- Avg. Grant Aid
- Graduation Rate22%
- Retention Rate59%
- Student/Faculty Ratio17/1
- Tuition$$$$
- % Excl. Online8%
- % Part. Online32%
Fox Valley Technical College
Appleton, Wisconsin
Public
- AccreditationHLC
- Avg. Grant Aid
- Graduation Rate50%
- Retention Rate74%
- Student/Faculty Ratio13/1
- Tuition$$$$
- % Excl. Online19%
- % Part. Online11%
Finger Lakes Community College
Canandaigua, New York
Public
- AccreditationMSCHE
- Avg. Grant Aid
- Graduation Rate29%
- Retention Rate50%
- Student/Faculty Ratio15/1
- Tuition$$$$$
- % Excl. Online25%
- % Part. Online21%
Pima Community College
Tucson, Arizona
Public
- AccreditationHLC
- Avg. Grant Aid
- Graduation Rate18%
- Retention Rate68%
- Student/Faculty Ratio16/1
- Tuition$$
- % Excl. Online30%
- % Part. Online20%
Minnesota State Community and Technical College
Fergus Falls, Minnesota
Public
- AccreditationHLC
- Avg. Grant Aid
- Graduation Rate42%
- Retention Rate63%
- Student/Faculty Ratio22/1
- Tuition$$$$$
- % Excl. Online18%
- % Part. Online33%
Minnesota State College Southeast
Winona, Minnesota
Public
- AccreditationHLC
- Avg. Grant Aid
- Graduation Rate34%
- Retention Rate62%
- Student/Faculty Ratio16/1
- Tuition$$$$$
- % Excl. Online36%
- % Part. Online21%
Bossier Parish Community College
Bossier City, Louisiana
Public
- AccreditationSACSCOC
- Avg. Grant Aid
- Graduation Rate17%
- Retention Rate49%
- Student/Faculty Ratio27/1
- Tuition$$$$
- % Excl. Online52%
- % Part. Online24%
Middlesex Community College
Bedford, Massachusetts
Public
- AccreditationNECHE
- Avg. Grant Aid
- Graduation Rate16%
- Retention Rate57%
- Student/Faculty Ratio18/1
- Tuition$$$$$
- % Excl. Online33%
- % Part. Online32%
Base Methodology for STEP’s “Most Affordable Online College Rankings”
Generate List of Eligible Schools and Programs
To be eligible for this ranking, schools were required to meet the following criteria based on government data provided by The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS).
- Institutional accreditation from an organization recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.
- At least one program in the subject area offered partially or fully online.
- Career placement and academic counseling services.
Assign Weightings
After generating the list of eligible schools, the STEPS data team then assigned weights and ranked schools based on their performance in a variety of key categories. Affordability metrics received the heaviest weightings, followed by online learning and student outcomes/academic quality metrics.
Affordability
- Average amount of federal, state, local, or institutional grant aid awarded
- Tuition and fess
Online Learning
- Number of online programs
- Percent of total students enrolled exclusively in distance education courses
- Percent of total students enrolled in some but not all distance education courses
Student Outcomes
- Full-time retention rate
- Student-to-faculty ratio
- Graduation rate
About Our Data
All STEPS rankings use the latest official data available from The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS). Most recent data pull: August 2024.
5 Ways to Lower the Cost of Your Online Cybersecurity Degree
Tuition for a degree in cybersecurity can be expensive. Fortunately, there are many ways to make earning a degree more affordable. We discuss a few of those ways below and encourage you to utilize as many as possible to make getting your degree easier and less of a drain on your bank account.
1
Apply to scholarships, grants, and fellowships created for cybersecurity students.
One of the most common ways to lower the cost of your cybersecurity degree is through scholarships, grants, and fellowships. These are popular because they don’t have to be paid back and are often awarded based on merit, financial need, or both. CyberCorps: Scholarship for Service Program is an example of these types of awards. Find out about additional grant, scholarship, and fellowship opportunities through prospective schools, our financial aid guide, and this list of cybersecurity scholarships.
2
Employer Tuition Reimbursement
Cybersecurity is a quickly evolving field, so cybersecurity employers understand the value of continuing education. That’s why many employers like the National Security Agency help their employees pay for additional training. Employers differ in how they implement these programs with some directly paying for an employee’s tuition and others offering fellowships to eligible employees. Keep in mind that some employers place certain conditions on tuition reimbursement. Most common is asking employees to continue working for them for a set period of time.
3
Public Service Loan Forgiveness
National governments play a significant role in how cyber threats and security concerns are addressed, and many graduates of cybersecurity programs find employment with government agencies. One benefit of working for the government after graduation is potential eligibility for public service loan forgiveness. Specifically, the federal Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program allows eligible students working in a public service job to enjoy forgiveness of any remaining student loan debt after 120 qualified monthly payments are made. Learn more about PSLF financial aid programs.
4
Work-Study
Work-study is an often-overlooked form of financial aid. While it doesn’t need to be paid back, students must work to earn this financial aid assistance. The primary work-study option is the Federal Work-Study program. The type of work varies, but schools try to give students jobs in fields related to their areas of study or that provide civil education.
5
Paid Internships
One of the best ways to enhance your cybersecurity educational experience is to gain real-world exposure to the cyber defense field. One way to do this is through internships. Many internships are unpaid, but a good number have a respectable income. One prominent example in the cybersecurity field is the paid internship at the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency.
What Affects the Cost of an Online Cybersecurity Degree?
Learning about a cybersecurity program’s tuition rate gives you a starting point as to how much your degree will cost. There are many other factors, however, that influence the total dollar amount of your degree. We’ve identified five notable factors below that may impact the total cost of your online degree.
Accelerated Learning Options
Although most bachelor’s degrees require approximately four years of full-time study, many online cybersecurity bachelor’s degree programs offer accelerated curriculums and generous transfer policies, allowing students to graduate much earlier. Some accelerated programs can even reduce the time required to earn a bachelor’s degree by one or two years, resulting in significant cost savings.
Type of School
Post-secondary institutions are either private or public. Private schools usually have higher tuition costs compared to public schools. Public schools, however, are generally more affordable, particularly for students who are residents of the state where the institution is located, as much of their funding comes from state-based government aid.
In-State Residency
Public schools may be less expensive than private schools, at least with respect to tuition rates, but that is usually only the case when a student is taking classes as an in-state student. Often, the cost of attending a public college or university as a non-resident is roughly equal to the tuition of private post-secondary institutions.
Financial Aid Availability
There is an abundance of financial aid options available to students pursuing a cybersecurity degree, including private scholarships, state grants, and subsidized federal student loans. Some schools are particularly noteworthy for their financial aid programs because they provide superior assistance to students in accessing available financial aid sources. Additionally, many institutions offer exclusive scholarships to their students, which can significantly reduce overall costs.
Education Fees and Added Costs
Tuition cost is typically the biggest number you see when checking the tuition and financial aid information of a potential school. It’s important to realize that there are almost always additional fees that can easily double a tuition rate. Schools use various terms to describe these fees, but they range from technology fees to health fees to books and supplies.