How to choose the right level of cybersecurity degree (2021 Guide)

Choosing the right Cybersecurity degree

Obtaining a cyber security job entails a number of appealing benefits, including a strong level of job security, a high starting salary, good salary progression, and plenty of opportunities for career development. If you are interested in pursuing a career in cyber security, then you are probably going to need a relevant degree. However, there are many types of cyber security degrees to choose from, with each one opening you up to different job opportunities.

In this guide, we reveal everything you need to know about the different types of cyber security degrees, including what to expect from the programs, the cost of the degree, the occupations they can lead to, the salary you can expect to earn after graduation, and the top schools to apply to. We will begin with the least advanced cyber security degree and end with the highest level qualification.

Cyber security Associate degree

An Associate degree in cyber security is between a high school diploma and a Bachelor’s degree. While a Bachelor’s degree will typically take four years to complete, an Associate degree generally takes two years to finish. Since it takes half the time of a Bachelor’s, this option may be ideal if you don’t want to commit to a more time-intensive qualification (a longer qualification will incur greater costs, as well).

But the shorter length of a cyber security Associate degree doesn’t mean that the qualification won’t help you secure a job after graduation. An Associate degree will put you in a good position to apply for a range of junior cyber security jobs. It is worth emphasizing, however, that many employers require the minimum of a relevant Bachelor’s degree for entry-level positions, so it’s important to take this into account when deciding whether to study for an Associate or Bachelor’s degree.

You should expect to pay between $5,000–$20,000 in tuition fees over the course of two years.

Jobs you can apply for with an Associate degree in cyber security

After graduating with a cyber security Associate degree, you will be able to apply for the following entry-level cyber security occupations:

Network or IT security analyst
Cyber security associate
Cyber security or cyber threat analyst
Information system security officer
Cyber security penetration tester

Cyber security Associate degree salary

Based on a few of the cyber security roles listed above, you can expect the following salary for an entry-level position:

Cyber security analyst: $63,000
Penetration tester: $68,000
Information security officer: $67,000
Network security analyst: $57,000

As we can see, an Associate degree can lead to a junior role with a relatively high starting salary compared to many other fields.

The top schools for an Associate cyber security degree

Here are a few examples of the best schools offering an online Associate program in cyber security:

Cyber security Bachelor’s degree

A Bachelor’s cyber security degree is between an Associate degree and a Master’s program. A Bachelor’s degree will usually take four years to complete. Many employers will ask that you have a Bachelor’s degree in cyber security or a related subject before considering you for an entry-level or mid-level position (although for some mid-level jobs, you will need both a Bachelor’s degree and a certain number of years of experience). This is because this type of cyber security degree will provide you with some essential skills and insights that may be absent from an Associate degree.

You should expect to pay between $20,000–$120,000 for your tuition fees, although most programs are in the $35,000–$70,000 range.

Jobs you can apply for with a Bachelor’s degree in cyber security

After gaining a cyber security Bachelor’s degree, you will be in a good position to apply for the following positions:

Certified ethical hacker
Computer forensics analyst
Cryptanalyst
Cryptographer
Data protection officer
Information security analyst
Information security officer
Malware analyst
IT auditor
Penetration tester
Security architect
Security consultant
Security director
Security engineer
Security manager
Security software engineer
Security specialist
System administrator

Cyber security Bachelor’s degree salary

Based on a few of the occupations listed above, you can expect to earn the following in an entry-level role with a Bachelor’s degree in cyber security under your belt:

Certified ethical hacker: $77,000
Information security analyst: $60,000
Penetration tester: $68,000
Security engineer: $71,000

As we can see, gaining a Bachelor’s qualification can lead to junior positions that have higher salaries than an entry-level job that you can obtain with an Associate degree.

The top schools for a Bachelor’s cyber security degree

Here are a few of our top picks for the best schools offering an online Bachelor’s program in cyber security:

Cyber security Master’s degree

A Master’s degree in cyber security is between a Bachelor’s degree and a PhD program. It will take you one to two years to complete a Master’s degree if you study full-time, and three to four years if you take a part-time course. Since a Master’s degree in cyber security is more advanced than a Bachelor’s program, you can expect to study more complex concepts and topics.

It is unlikely that you will need a Master’s cyber security degree for a given entry-level role. However, for mid-level and more senior roles, a relevant Master’s degree may be a requirement. And if it’s not necessary, this type of degree may at least be considered preferable or desirable by an employer. A Master’s degree will provide you with a more refined skill set and knowledge base, making you a prime candidate for more demanding cyber security positions.

Tuition fees for a Master’s degree will tend to be lower than those for a Bachelor’s degree if you study full-time. This is because the length of a full-time program is half of that of a Bachelor’s. You can expect to pay between $5,000 to $50,000 per year for your tuition fees.

Jobs you can apply for with a Master’s degree in cyber security

If you want to aim for the top jobs in cyber security, then you ideally want to obtain a relevant Master’s degree. Many employers will be using more advanced qualifications to choose ideal candidates for a position. Some examples of mid-level and senior jobs you can apply for with a cyber security Master’s degree include:

Chief information security officer
Cyber security analyst
Security auditor
Cyber security specialist
Security architect
Cyber security consultant
Network administrator
Penetration tester

Cyber security Master’s degree salary

Based on a few of the positions listed above, you can expect to earn the following starting salaries:

Chief information security officer: $106,000
Cyber security analyst: $63,000
Security architect: $79,000

As we can see, starting salaries for some more senior positions are quite high. This means gaining a Master’s degree can offer you a greater earning potential than having just a Bachelor’s degree.

The top schools for a Master’s cyber security degree

Here are a few examples of the top schools offering an online Master’s program in cyber security:

Cyber security MBA degree

A Master of Business Administration in cyber security (MBA) is the same level of degree as a Master’s. The difference is that it combines business topics with cyber security content. An MBA in cyber security will allow you to learn business, management, and leadership skills, preparing you for top managerial IT positions.

Not all employers hiring for a cyber security management or leadership position require an MBA from candidates, but many do. And even among those that don’t ask for this degree, the qualification can still be considered preferable, desirable, or a bonus. In any case, a cyber security MBA will give you an advantage over other candidates when applying for managerial IT roles.

For an MBA cyber security degree, you can expect to pay $15,000–$50,000 for tuition fees.

Jobs you can apply for with an MBA cyber security degree

Once you have attained a cyber security MBA degree, you will be an excellent candidate for the following high-level jobs:

Computer and information systems manager
Security architect
A top executive in cyber security
IT director
Chief information security officer
Cyber security analyst
Business analyst, IT
Systems administrator
Project manager

Cyber security MBA degree salary

Looking at some of the positions listed above, you can expect to benefit from the following starting salaries:

Chief information security officer: $106,000
Cyber security analyst: $63,000
Security architect: $79,000
IT director: $76,000

Just as with a Master’s degree, it is likely you will enjoy a relatively high starting salary with a high-level job you gain from your MBA.

The top schools for an MBA cyber security degree

A few of the top schools offering online programs in cyber security MBAs include:

Cyber security PhD degree

A PhD in cyber security is the highest level of qualification you can gain. It would be rare to see an employer requiring you to have a PhD in cyber security before considering you for a position. However, the degree can still be viewed in a favorable light. This is because a PhD will provide you with a high level of expertise, skill, and knowledge. Also, gaining this degree will allow you to become an authority in a very specific area of cyber security. You can use this to your advantage when applying for the most senior IT positions.

Moreover, A PhD in cyber security opens you up to job opportunities in academia. For many of these academic positions, a PhD is considered necessary. You should keep in mind that a PhD is the longest type of program, taking up to seven years to complete. It involves a serious commitment of time and energy.

The cost range for PhD tuition fees is about $30,000–$100,000.

Jobs you can apply for with a PhD degree in cyber security

Once you’ve gained a PhD qualification in cyber security, you’ll be in a great position to apply for the best vacancies in the following occupations:

Chief information security officer
Cyber security consultant
Penetration tester
Cyber security analyst
Security auditor
Security architect
Network administrator
Cyber security consultant
Researcher
Professor
Author

Cyber security PhD degree salary

With a few of the above positions in mind, you can expect to enjoy the following starting salaries:

Chief information security officer: $106,000
Cyber security analyst: $63,000
Security architect: $79,000

It is also worth underscoring here that, once you have a PhD degree in cyber security, this can open you up to opportunities such as delivering paid talks, writing articles, and publishing books, all of which can be ways to supplement your income.

The top schools for a PhD cyber security degree

Here are a few examples of the best online degrees in cyber security:

This discussion of the different degrees in cyber security should give you a sense of which type of program is the right choice for you. When deciding on a degree, you should take into account factors such as cost, duration, and flexibility. You want to make sure that the degree will be practically feasible. At the same time, we recommend choosing a program that aligns with your interests, values, preferences, and career goals. After all, you want to enjoy your studies and end with a qualification that will lead you toward a fulfilling career path.

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