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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

$84,178
1,122
100–91%
$87,920
2,525
91–79%
$85,608
2,429
79–55%
$96,354
1,225
55–0%
Acceptance rate · bar = degree-weighted earnings

By SAT median

$82,021
857
400–1080
$84,565
1,918
1090–1200
$94,539
1,920
1200–1340
$105,695
965
1350–1600
Combined SAT composite median (submitters + non-submitters) · bar = degree-weighted earnings

Earnings vs. selectivity rank

$65,389p10 $100,242p90 Art & Music STEM, Business & Military Liberal Arts Public University Religious University Private University Top 61–100 Top 21–60 Johnson & Wales University - Providence · $63,273 Florida Polytechnic University · $90,688 Bentley University · $112,424 United States Coast Guard Academy · $97,014 Rochester Institute of Technology · $133,133 Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University - Prescott · $97,243 SUNY Polytechnic Institute · $77,949 Northwood University · $77,816 Dakota State University · $88,909 Montana Technological University · $97,423 Michigan Technological University · $89,704 Wentworth Institute of Technology · $89,008 Oregon Institute of Technology · $80,181 Citadel Military College of South Carolina · $91,888 University of Richmond · $99,901 Friends University · $92,762 Champlain College · $88,964 Drew University · $90,473 Drury University · $89,466 Missouri Valley College · $71,543 Taylor University · $89,948 Bay Path University · $49,328 Ferrum College · $68,075 York College of Pennsylvania · $89,041 Guilford College · $70,655 Keene State College · $76,073 Randolph-Macon College · $77,740 Simpson College · $73,165 University of South Florida · $93,290 University of West Florida · $86,406 Florida International University · $84,265 University of South Carolina · $81,933 CUNY John Jay College of Criminal Justice · $67,406 Central Connecticut State University · $78,621 Illinois State University · $85,286 Frostburg State University · $80,588 Northeastern Illinois University · $71,205 University of Central Missouri · $88,271 Winthrop University · $77,345 University of North Carolina Wilmington · $89,572 Eastern Michigan University · $79,043 University at Albany · $90,996 Minnesota State University Moorhead · $76,958 Lander University · $73,849 University of Michigan - Dearborn · $84,346 University of Alabama · $103,046 University of Tennessee Southern · $70,146 Wright State University · $80,836 Western Illinois University · $71,739 Augusta University · $86,089 Farmingdale State College · $63,516 Texas A&M University - San Antonio · $69,483 University of Idaho · $85,915 Indiana University · $97,772 Purdue University Northwest · $76,919 University of South Carolina Upstate · $82,211 Angelo State University · $72,680 Eastern Kentucky University · $62,365 University of Missouri - Saint Louis · $101,146 Columbus State University · $75,267 Southeast Missouri State University · $115,225 University of Illinois Springfield · $100,404 Kennesaw State University · $76,248 Metropolitan State University of Denver · $97,775 Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania · $77,131 Bowie State University · $86,894 University of North Texas · $86,398 East Stroudsburg University of Pennsylvania · $101,817 University of North Dakota · $80,342 University of Tennessee, Chattanooga · $92,796 University of Wisconsin - Whitewater · $81,574 Western Michigan University · $77,496 Mississippi State University · $97,550 Boise State University · $67,694 Indiana University - Indianapolis · $88,721 Murray State University · $87,387 Arkansas Tech University · $81,765 Cal State San Bernardino · $70,472 Commonwealth University of Pennsylvania · $75,987 Ferris State University · $78,595 Indiana State University · $60,464 Iowa State University · $102,152 Northern Kentucky University · $79,875 Saint Cloud State University · $72,284 Southern Utah University · $76,361 University of Akron · $67,629 University of Arizona · $95,015 University of Cincinnati · $92,549 West Virginia University · $96,589 Metropolitan State University · $80,211 Northern Michigan University · $64,436 Northwest Missouri State University · $78,427 University of Southern Maine · $62,191 University of Alabama at Birmingham · $82,308 University of Nebraska at Omaha · $123,372 University of Texas Rio Grande Valley · $100,503 University of Wisconsin - Platteville · $85,595 Minot State University · $73,828 George Mason University · $135,997 Radford University · $78,403 Oakland University · $73,386 Northern Arizona University · $87,919 University of Montana · $72,836 University of Texas at San Antonio · $90,804 University of Wisconsin - Stout · $83,868 Old Dominion University · $95,233 University of Central Arkansas · $81,758 Pennsylvania State University - Altoona · $111,393 Pennsylvania State University - Berks · $109,173 Pennsylvania State University - Harrisburg · $108,717 Grand Valley State University · $86,665 Western Washington University · $99,258 Troy University · $68,416 Idaho State University · $62,140 Kansas State University · $106,632 Lewis-Clark State College · $69,175 University of Hawaii - West Oahu · $57,119 University of Colorado Colorado Springs · $99,675 University of North Georgia · $69,345 Marshall University · $82,164 Sam Houston State University · $75,257 Eastern Oregon University · $71,969 Missouri Western State University · $71,010 Shawnee State University · $69,895 Regent University · $67,510 Union University · $83,753 Florida Memorial University · $61,634 Loyola University New Orleans · $76,477 LeTourneau University · $87,998 Quincy University · $74,410 Charleston Southern University · $75,719 Milligan University · $91,405 Olivet Nazarene University · $89,627 Anderson University · $85,237 Cedarville University · $100,242 Defiance College · $64,992 Harding University · $87,725 Messiah University · $87,359 Missouri Baptist University · $63,224 York University · $69,735 Shaw University · $64,067 Our Lady of the Lake University · $68,349 Sacred Heart University · $84,631 St. John Fisher University · $88,096 Brigham Young University · $118,761 California Baptist University · $68,829 College of Our Lady of the Elms · $77,256 William Woods University · $71,964 Concordia University Wisconsin · $70,544 North Greenville University · $73,095 Reinhardt University · $78,783 Elmhurst University · $78,222 Lewis University · $83,794 Saint Leo University · $50,637 Assumption University · $79,659 Felician University · $82,416 Mount Saint Mary College · $84,422 Regis College · $80,718 St. Ambrose University · $91,249 University of Detroit Mercy · $91,092 Saint Francis University · $80,887 Saint Vincent College · $78,772 Seton Hill University · $75,722 Shenandoah University · $76,230 Mercer University · $93,259 Millikin University · $73,039 University of Tulsa · $100,902 Waynesburg University · $64,501 Loyola University Chicago · $92,239 Touro University · $89,130 McKendree University · $69,083 McMurry University · $68,703 St. Bonaventure University · $76,691 Geneva College · $72,202 Methodist University · $81,989 University of Mary · $78,885 Immaculata University · $78,343 Regis University · $84,371 Wayland Baptist University · $64,060 Marywood University · $91,394 Mercyhurst University · $87,016 Mount St. Mary's University · $86,109 Gannon University · $73,871 Marymount University · $84,796 Neumann University · $85,699 Rivier University · $84,281 St. John's University - New York · $70,156 Benedict College · $56,202 Duquesne University · $68,031 Campbell University · $70,410 DePaul University · $109,824 Freed-Hardeman University · $79,199 Montreat College · $68,661 Dallas Baptist University · $85,133 University of the Incarnate Word · $65,233 Virginia Union University · $58,299 Morris College · $63,145 Brigham Young University - Idaho · $86,456 Christian Brothers University · $66,945 University of Saint Thomas (TX) · $67,525 University of Tampa · $95,642 Syracuse University · $106,931 Illinois Institute of Technology · $93,010 Marist University · $91,634 Lindenwood University · $93,016 University of New Haven · $102,812 Hampton University · $104,430 Hofstra University · $93,141 Indiana Institute of Technology · $72,898 Stetson University · $85,861 Bradley University · $84,477 Drexel University · $92,015 Tiffin University · $65,389 Aurora University · $89,597 Rider University · $69,099 Lynn University · $65,099 Davenport University · $77,082 Fairleigh Dickinson University - Metropolitan Campus · $65,017 New England College · $65,532 Norwich University · $89,735 Roger Williams University · $95,819 Utica University · $64,945 Robert Morris University · $90,105 Stevenson University · $83,014 Maryville University of Saint Louis · $87,629 Roosevelt University · $77,510 Nova Southeastern University · $114,727 Thomas College · $70,028 National University · $70,702 Tulane University · $81,801 University of Miami · $92,076 Texas A&M University - College Station · $85,699 Pennsylvania State University · $111,393 University of California, Irvine · $60,540 Florida State University · $92,931 United States Air Force Academy · $92,564 United States Naval Academy · $89,855 United States Military Academy · $91,710 Stevens Institute of Technology · $98,853 University of Southern California · $87,062 Northeastern University · $98,543 George Washington University · $104,481 Purdue University · $94,516 University of Maryland, College Park · $93,979 Art & Music: mean $63,273 STEM, Business & Military: mean $94,106 Liberal Arts: mean $80,510 Public University: mean $83,571 Religious University: mean $78,435 Private University: mean $84,721 Top 61–100: mean $89,742 Top 21–60: mean $95,716 All colleges: p10 $65,389 All colleges: p90 $100,242
Each dot = a college · y = degree-weighted earnings

Majors in this category

Major Colleges Degrees ▼ Male/Female Intl Earnings Employment
Cybersecurity 304 8,024 79% / 21% 5% $83,602 97%
Cybersecurity 278 7,497 79% / 21% 5% $83,157 97%
Cyber Forensics 11 146 73% / 27% 2% $69,597 96%
Cyber Security Engineering 1 115 77% / 23% 10% $135,997 100%
Digital Forensics 4 91 78% / 22% 1% $71,804 99%
Cyber Forensics and Security 1 54 83% / 17% 13% $90,105 100%
Cyber Operations 7 50 80% / 20% 2% $77,812
Cyber Security 2 18 78% / 22% 11% $91,694 100%
Cybersecurity & Network Administration 1 13 92% / 8% 8% $97,423
Cybersecurity Management 2 11 73% / 27% 0% $114,727
Cyber and Electronic Warfare 1 9 89% / 11% 0% $92,564
Cyber and Digital Forensics 1 8 50% / 50% 12% $68,031 97%
Cyber Forensics and Counterterrorism 1 3 100% / 0% 0% $66,945
Cybersecurity Defense Strategy 1 3 0% / 100% 0% $49,328
Maritime Cybersecurity 2 2 50% / 50% 0% $67,804
Cybersecurity & Intelligence 1 2 0% / 100% 0% $66,532
Cybersecurity Strategy 1 2 100% / 0% 0% $64,151