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Cybersecurity

Colleges offering this major Rankings Trends

What you'll do in college

Cybersecurity majors study how to defend networks, systems, and data from attack.

Coursework blends computer science fundamentals — networking, operating systems, programming — with security-specific topics like cryptography, penetration testing, digital forensics, secure software design, and risk management. Programs lean heavily on hands-on labs, capture-the-flag exercises, and industry certifications (Security+, CISSP, CEH).

What you'll do after college

Grads move into roles like security analyst, penetration tester, incident responder, security engineer, and digital forensics investigator. Demand is intense and broad — every organization that runs on technology needs people to keep it secure — and the talent shortage keeps pay high and growth fast.

Clear specialization paths open up into areas like cloud security, threat intelligence, security architecture, and governance, with a strong pipeline into government, defense, and finance.

Selectivity vs. earnings

By acceptance rate

$81,682
977
100–88%
$83,573
2,296
88–75%
$92,079
2,322
75–43%
$86,059
954
43–0%
Acceptance rate · bar = degree-weighted earnings

By SAT median

$76,932
727
400–1090
$83,789
1,694
1090–1190
$94,606
1,654
1190–1330
$103,284
720
1330–1600
Combined SAT composite median (submitters + non-submitters) · bar = degree-weighted earnings

Earnings vs. selectivity rank

$64,905p10 $96,408p90 Arts Military STEM Non-Research Liberal Arts Public University Religious University Private University Public University 1–25 Private University 21–40 Johnson & Wales University - Providence · $61,290 United States Naval Academy · $77,697 United States Military Academy · $81,464 United States Air Force Academy · $80,237 United States Coast Guard Academy · $90,129 Citadel Military College of South Carolina · $89,566 Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University - Prescott · $94,156 Florida Polytechnic University · $85,612 Wentworth Institute of Technology · $94,860 Friends University · $78,036 Drew University · $85,919 Drury University · $77,479 Missouri Valley College · $88,870 Taylor University · $82,062 Ferrum College · $66,857 York College of Pennsylvania · $87,718 Guilford College · $72,029 Keene State College · $76,464 Randolph-Macon College · $78,258 University of California, Irvine · $68,581 Bowie State University · $92,492 University of South Florida · $89,186 CUNY John Jay College of Criminal Justice · $73,192 Florida International University · $82,208 University of North Carolina Wilmington · $84,721 University of West Florida · $83,202 Pennsylvania State University · $108,251 University of South Carolina · $70,154 University of Missouri - Saint Louis · $88,855 Central Connecticut State University · $81,085 Illinois State University · $83,906 Mississippi State University · $83,031 Frostburg State University · $83,811 Northeastern Illinois University · $77,558 University of Central Missouri · $82,739 Winthrop University · $75,342 Central Michigan University · $66,364 Eastern Michigan University · $81,228 University at Albany · $93,967 Lander University · $71,243 University of Michigan - Dearborn · $82,336 Northern Michigan University · $68,344 George Mason University · $141,093 Marshall University · $77,784 Minnesota State University Moorhead · $72,987 Murray State University · $79,031 Northwest Missouri State University · $74,399 Oregon Institute of Technology · $84,818 Radford University · $78,079 Troy University · $69,437 University of Alabama at Birmingham · $69,382 University of Central Arkansas · $70,202 University of Colorado Colorado Springs · $92,150 University of Southern Maine · $63,039 University of Tennessee Southern · $67,540 University of Tennessee, Chattanooga · $80,668 University of Texas Rio Grande Valley · $81,704 Western Illinois University · $73,862 Wright State University · $77,478 Augusta University · $82,784 Farmingdale State College · $70,369 Texas A&M University - San Antonio · $73,049 Michigan Technological University · $91,410 Old Dominion University · $95,465 University of Alabama · $94,307 University of Idaho · $82,213 Boise State University · $67,242 Indiana University · $86,311 Purdue University Northwest · $76,300 University of South Carolina Upstate · $75,067 SUNY Polytechnic Institute · $78,421 Angelo State University · $73,281 Eastern Kentucky University · $59,142 Northern Arizona University · $86,037 Columbus State University · $68,361 Southeast Missouri State University · $104,661 University of Illinois Springfield · $93,555 Grand Valley State University · $87,374 Metropolitan State University of Denver · $93,987 Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania · $77,088 Western Washington University · $105,379 University of Central Oklahoma · $56,046 University of North Georgia · $67,872 University of North Texas · $83,846 East Stroudsburg University of Pennsylvania · $102,295 Kennesaw State University · $79,773 University of North Dakota · $70,973 West Liberty University · $58,661 University of Wisconsin - Whitewater · $76,442 Western Michigan University · $77,730 Indiana University - Indianapolis · $85,745 Arkansas Tech University · $70,896 Cal State San Bernardino · $77,323 Commonwealth University of Pennsylvania · $74,400 Dakota State University · $82,915 Eastern Oregon University · $72,369 Ferris State University · $80,089 Indiana State University · $61,034 Iowa State University · $87,530 Metropolitan State University · $81,130 Montana Technological University · $93,040 Northern Kentucky University · $79,073 Saint Cloud State University · $71,369 Southern Utah University · $75,134 University of Akron · $64,131 University of Arizona · $87,377 University of Cincinnati · $89,304 West Virginia University · $89,962 University of Nebraska at Omaha · $112,214 Minot State University · $71,159 University of Wisconsin - Platteville · $82,463 University of Montana · $73,577 University of Texas at San Antonio · $87,709 University of Wisconsin - Stout · $79,028 Pennsylvania State University - Altoona · $108,251 Pennsylvania State University - Berks · $108,251 Pennsylvania State University - Brandywine · $100,698 Pennsylvania State University - Harrisburg · $108,251 Idaho State University · $59,973 Kansas State University · $96,455 Lewis-Clark State College · $73,288 University of Hawaii - West Oahu · $58,767 Sam Houston State University · $72,924 Missouri Western State University · $67,771 Shawnee State University · $69,919 University of Maine at Fort Kent · $85,150 Brigham Young University · $116,234 Union University · $81,020 Regent University · $63,384 Florida Memorial University · $65,286 Loyola University New Orleans · $77,243 LeTourneau University · $78,728 Charleston Southern University · $74,135 Milligan University · $77,056 Quincy University · $62,262 Olivet Nazarene University · $85,719 Anderson University · $78,274 Cedarville University · $86,838 Defiance College · $64,182 Harding University · $77,945 Messiah University · $79,122 Missouri Baptist University · $59,889 York University · $67,978 Shaw University · $62,986 Our Lady of the Lake University · $67,796 Sacred Heart University · $80,909 Averett University · $67,184 California Baptist University · $73,860 College of Our Lady of the Elms · $80,122 Siena Heights University · $72,497 William Woods University · $67,985 Concordia University Wisconsin · $68,261 North Greenville University · $73,059 Reinhardt University · $73,970 Elmhurst University · $84,568 Lewis University · $84,295 Saint Leo University · $51,875 St. John Fisher University · $89,831 Assumption University · $83,833 Chestnut Hill College · $59,529 Felician University · $87,377 Hilbert College · $49,900 Mount Saint Mary College · $79,870 St. Ambrose University · $89,106 University of Detroit Mercy · $92,870 Saint Francis University · $81,023 Saint Vincent College · $76,978 Seton Hill University · $75,006 Shenandoah University · $78,945 Loyola University Chicago · $92,180 Mercer University · $86,087 Millikin University · $74,350 University of Tulsa · $95,747 Waynesburg University · $64,544 Warner Pacific University · $78,740 Touro University · $96,408 Malone University · $70,052 McKendree University · $79,783 McMurry University · $67,661 St. Bonaventure University · $81,365 Geneva College · $73,467 Methodist University · $64,363 University of Mary · $76,967 Immaculata University · $80,697 Regis University · $89,338 Wayland Baptist University · $59,820 Marywood University · $86,030 Mercyhurst University · $78,826 Mount St. Mary's University · $88,508 George Fox University · $85,281 Duquesne University · $67,042 Gannon University · $76,588 Marymount University · $85,606 Neumann University · $86,897 Rivier University · $81,077 St. John's University - New York · $75,884 Benedict College · $49,553 Campbell University · $67,206 DePaul University · $111,372 Freed-Hardeman University · $70,701 Montreat College · $68,908 Dallas Baptist University · $77,519 University of the Incarnate Word · $64,905 Virginia Union University · $60,731 Morris College · $62,428 Brigham Young University - Idaho · $85,603 Christian Brothers University · $64,386 University of Saint Thomas (TX) · $67,406 Rochester Institute of Technology · $136,339 Hampton University · $78,151 Syracuse University · $104,722 Marist University · $97,216 Stetson University · $79,751 University of Tampa · $97,980 Bentley University · $119,634 Hofstra University · $94,655 Champlain College · $88,318 Indiana Institute of Technology · $70,687 Illinois Institute of Technology · $96,655 Bradley University · $83,010 Aurora University · $86,234 Lasell University · $64,545 Robert Morris University · $88,795 Roger Williams University · $94,358 University of New Haven · $94,345 Lipscomb University · $88,892 Tiffin University · $67,255 Lindenwood University · $87,882 Rider University · $69,178 Drexel University · $93,002 Lynn University · $69,510 Northwood University · $77,915 Davenport University · $77,775 Fairleigh Dickinson University - Metropolitan Campus · $74,179 Harrisburg University of Science and Technology · $66,021 New England College · $71,077 Limestone University · $67,919 Norwich University · $88,815 Utica University · $65,308 Stevenson University · $81,992 Maryville University of Saint Louis · $82,655 Roosevelt University · $72,867 Thomas College · $69,436 National University · $79,500 Purdue University · $92,915 University of Maryland, College Park · $101,776 Texas A&M University - College Station · $82,337 Florida State University · $91,964 University of Southern California · $95,174 University of Miami · $100,434 Northeastern University · $103,415 Tulane University · $82,609 Stevens Institute of Technology · $100,194 University of Richmond · $101,272 George Washington University · $109,426 Arts: mean $61,290 Military: mean $85,542 STEM Non-Research: mean $90,236 Liberal Arts: mean $79,369 Public University: mean $80,930 Religious University: mean $76,134 Private University: mean $84,071 Public University 1–25: mean $92,248 Private University 21–40: mean $98,932 All colleges: p10 $64,905 All colleges: p90 $96,408
Each dot = a college · y = degree-weighted earnings

Majors in this category

Major Colleges Degrees ▼ Male/Female Intl Earnings Employment
Cybersecurity 261 6,549 78% / 22% 4% $81,797 97%
Cybersecurity 236 6,011 79% / 21% 4% $81,413 97%
Cyber Forensics 12 185 66% / 34% 1% $66,658 97%
Cyber Security Engineering 1 114 78% / 22% 15% $141,093 100%
Digital Forensics 4 89 80% / 20% 1% $66,075 99%
Cyber Forensics and Security 1 61 89% / 11% 16% $88,795 100%
Cyber Operations 7 49 73% / 27% 2% $74,867
Cyber Security 2 13 100% / 0% 0% $79,835 100%
Cyber and Digital Forensics 1 11 91% / 9% 9% $67,042 97%
Cyber and Electronic Warfare 1 9 89% / 11% 11% $80,237
Cybersecurity & Intelligence 1 4 75% / 25% 0% $62,882
Cyber Forensics and Counterterrorism 1 2 100% / 0% 0% $64,386
Cybersecurity Strategy 1 1 100% / 0% 0% $56,596