Best Cybersecurity Schools (2024 Rankings)

Thinking about getting a cybersecurity degree? In addition to having a cool job title and getting to work on interesting projects, you'll have plenty of job prospects in a field that should continue to grow rapidly in the next several years.

After high school, you may not know which schools to consider for a cybersecurity bachelor's degree, and that's where we can help. Keep reading to learn about the best cybersecurity schools in 2024. You'll also discover which cybersecurity jobs can set you up to make the most money after you finish your cybersecurity degree program.

10 best cybersecurity schools in 2024

We dug deep to find the 10 best cybersecurity programs. These colleges and universities (listed in no particular order) will set you up for success when you're trying to land that awesome cybersecurity job in the future.

Many schools also offer flexible online programs, such as associate degrees, bachelor's degrees, and even graduate degrees (if you're already thinking about taking your studies to the next level after finishing your on-campus undergrad studies). Some schools also offer certificate programs to further enhance your skills and knowledge in specific areas. Keep reading to learn more.

Whether you prefer in-person or online or online instruction, the following schools are great places to learn all you need to know to work in the cybersecurity field. 

Carnegie Mellon University

Location: Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Admission rate: 14%

Tuition: $58,924

Carnegie Mellon University is one of only 11 colleges and state universities designated as a National Center of Academic Excellence by the National Security Agency (NSA) and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). Translation: It is awesome, and people are noticing.

Going through the school's cybersecurity program will give you a deep understanding of how to keep computer systems secure. You'll learn everything you need to know about data privacy and quickly acclimate to your coursework even if you don't have any previous tech experience.

Want to put your skills to the test while you're still in school? The part-time degree program will give you the flexibility to get hands-on working experience while wrapping up your degree.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)

Location: Cambridge, Massachusetts

Admission rate: 4%

Tuition: $55,878

Perhaps you've heard of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). It's one of the most prestigious science and tech schools in the entire country, so it was a no-brainer to include it on this list. The school is also known for cryptography (how to hide or code information to keep it private).

After you finish an undergraduate degree from the electrical engineering and computer science department, you'll walk away with a deep understanding of how to solve cybersecurity-related issues. Flexible, hands-on methodology will help you stand out when you enter the workforce.

If you want quicker exposure to cybersecurity or cryptography, consider the school's online 24-week cybersecurity program. With just 15 to 20 hours a week for six months, you can get a proper introduction to the defensive and offensive aspects of cybersecurity. You'll also get plenty of insightful feedback from world-class program leaders and mentors.

Stanford University

Location: Stanford, California

Admission rate: 4%

Tuition: $56,169

Stanford's computer science department is one of the best in the country. Although the school doesn't have a bachelor's program focused on cybersecurity, there's no doubt that a degree from Stanford is a great first step toward a successful cybersecurity career.

Once you wrap up your bachelor's degree, you might be interested in their cybersecurity graduate programs, including a cybersecurity master's degree that counts toward Information Security Forum (ISF) certification. This program will build on the concepts you studied in your undergrad coursework.

University of California, Berkeley

Location: Berkeley, California

Admission rate: 14%

In-state Tuition: $14,226

Out-of-state Tuition: $43,980

One of the coolest things about studying cybersecurity at UC Berkeley is that you can work on a five-year BS/MS program that will earn you a bachelor's degree in computer science or electrical engineering and a master's degree in information and cybersecurity by the time you finish. 

Berkeley also has a minor program for computer science that you can combine with any other major. With so many options, it's easy to see why we couldn't leave Berkeley off the list.

Georgia Institute of Technology

Location: Atlanta, Georgia

Admission rate: 16%

In-state Tuition: $12,852

Out-of-state Tuition: $33,964

Your jaw will drop when you see the fantastic cybersecurity courses you'll take as part of Georgia Tech's undergrad computer engineering degree with an emphasis on cybersecurity. With courses like internetwork security, advanced malware analysis, and database system implementation, it's easy to see how this program is one of the best for cybersecurity pros.

Johns Hopkins University

Location: Baltimore, Maryland

Admission rate: 8%

Tuition: $58,720

Johns Hopkins offers BS (Bachelor of Science) and BA (Bachelor of Arts) programs in computer science. The BS degree is a little more technical and may be the best fit for students who want to land a cybersecurity job one day. You can apply for the joint BS/MS program once you reach the second semester of your junior year, which provides access to cybersecurity-specific classes.

University of Texas at Austin

Location: Austin, Texas

Admission rate: 29%

In-state Tuition: $11,752

Out-of-state Tuition: $40,996

With UT's cybersecurity boot camp, you can prepare for certification test prep and gain access to several free professional resources that will help you further your career. The 24-week boot camp will connect you with a network of over 250 employers who may want to hire you for a job after you complete the program.

Undergraduate students can also add a cybersecurity concentration to their existing Bachelor of Science degree program. This will give you access to 15 specialized credit hours that implement cutting-edge curriculum and provide practical applications.

What's equally cool is that this specialization doesn't add any additional time to your degree. It may sound too good to be true, but it's not.

DePaul University

Location: Chicago, Illinois

Admission rate: 69%

Tuition: $42,012

DePaul University in northern Illinois offers a bachelor's degree in cybersecurity, where you'll learn the fundamentals of information system security, risk assessment, and computer forensics. Practice your skills in a state-of-the-art laboratory to gain hands-on experience.

Want to take your studies to the next level? After you wrap up your bachelor's, you can get started in DePaul's master of science in cybersecurity program. You'll have your choice between several specific areas of emphasis, like computer networking and infrastructure, computer security, and risk management and compliance.

Purdue University

Location: West Lafayette, Indiana

Admission rate: 69%

In-state Tuition: $9,992

Out-of-state Tuition: $28,794

Purdue developed a cybersecurity degree through the school's Polytechnic Institute. This program will equip you to work as a network security engineer, information technology (IT) security operator, and any other role that interests you in the world of IT or network security.

University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

Location: Champaign, Illinois

Admission rate: 60%

In-state Tuition: $15,442

Out-of-state Tuition: $32,892

The mission of the University of Illinois is to be a world-class research and teaching institution. With this goal in mind, the school developed a world-class cybersecurity program for students through the College of Business and Management.

Is a cybersecurity degree worth it?

Getting a cybersecurity bachelor's degree can give you a competitive advantage against individuals with limited training or experience in the information technology field. As the need for cybersecurity workers continues to grow, companies will prefer people with specific training and degrees.

Some people will try to get jobs in cybersecurity or data science after only attending a cybersecurity boot camp or doing another form of intensive training. While there is value in these programs, they won't prepare you for a career in cybersecurity in the same way as a four-year degree. If you want to work in cybersecurity one day, we think a bachelor's degree is the best possible first step.

What are the top jobs in cybersecurity?

Some of the most popular jobs that cyber security professionals hold include:

• Security architect. Security architects put structures in place to prevent cyberattacks and address potential vulnerability areas. They offer assistance to other team members, as well. 
• Cybersecurity engineer. Like security architects, these individuals put security measures in place to protect servers and data systems from attacks. They also collaborate with other teams to uphold and improve cyberdefense initiatives for operating systems.
• Malware analyst. Individuals who are malware analysts research various cybersecurity threats to understand what they are and what causes them. As they learn about cyberthreats, they track their findings and use what they learn to put measures in place that keep data safe and properly secured.
• Penetration tester. Also called "ethical hackers," these workers look to exploit a system's vulnerabilities to document the results and put more security measures in place against ethical hacking. They try to embody the mindset of a hacker to see where security may be lacking or insufficient to prevent cybercrime. This job normally requires past real-world industry experience.
• Information security analyst. If you work as an information security analyst, you'll spend a lot of your time researching digital forensics (examining different pieces of evidence to preserve data integrity).

What are the highest-paying cyber security jobs?

The earning potential for cybersecurity professionals is pretty high, especially if you've completed the right cybersecurity program. Here are some of the top-paying jobs to consider.

• Chief information security officer. These individuals are responsible for all information assurance inside an organization. Entry-level information security officers can bring home over $120,000 annually, and the number will continue to grow as you move up in your career. 
• Lead software security engineer. A software security engineer's average salary is around $130,000 per year. Supervisors and top contributors can see their paychecks grow even higher. These jobs should continue to grow in popularity as more organizations move their software engineering to the cloud and emphasize software development security.
• Cybersecurity sales engineer. These jobs have less to do with programming and more to do with sales. If you take on a role like this, your salary could exceed $110,000. 

Easily compare the best cybersecurity schools with College Rover

Want to learn more about the state universities for cybersecurity management? Use College Rover's extensive database to learn more about various institutes of higher education. We would love to help you choose the cybersecurity education program that's right for you.

Our vast array of tools will help make searching for a college a little more awesome as you decide which college or state university you want to attend.

You'll learn about accreditation, GPA requirements, and financial aid opportunities from each school on your shortlist. You can even create collections and export your options to a spreadsheet to review offline or share with family and friends.

College Rover gets the majority of its data directly from the U.S. Department of Education (DOE). The DOE publishing schedule "lags" the most current data which some colleges post on their official websites. This may cause there to be a difference in the data you see on College Rover and an individual college website. College Rover's website is updated as the DOE data becomes available and is configured for the College Rover website.