As technology use grows and cyber threats continue to affect organizations and individuals, cybersecurity plays a crucial role in protecting systems, networks, programs, and data from unauthorized access and digital attacks.
Universities in the United States offer cybersecurity programs that teach students how to protect organizations and individuals against cyberattacks and safeguard sensitive information and digital infrastructure.
International students considering these cybersecurity schools should compare the curriculum, delivery format, admissions requirements, and available resources before choosing a program.
The United States has a number of prestigious institutions where international students can study cybersecurity. The schools below offer options ranging from an undergraduate minor and bachelor’s degrees to master’s and doctoral programs.
Check out some of these top cybersecurity schools in the USA to consider, each offering academic opportunities in this important field.
Top Schools Offering Cyber Security in the U.S.
1. Carnegie Mellon University
Our first recommendation is Carnegie Mellon University. The Carnegie Mellon Institute for Strategy & Technology offers a Minor in Cybersecurity and International Conflict. Undergraduate students from any college or major at the university may declare a minor offered through the institute after meeting with the deputy director for academic affairs.
The minor focuses on gaps in the understanding of cybersecurity and international conflict. It introduces students to basic technology concepts, methods of attack and defense, strategies and goals for cyber engagement, and response and forensics for cyber engagements.
The program takes a social-scientific approach to cybersecurity, focusing on the implications of the cyber age for modern statecraft, warfare, elections, and domestic and international politics.
2. Anderson University
Anderson University traces its origins to the Johnson Female Seminary, which was founded by the Reverend William B. Johnson and opened in Anderson, South Carolina, in 1848. Anderson College was granted a charter in 1911 and officially became Anderson University on January 1, 2006.
The Anderson University Center for Cybersecurity trains students to meet the demands of the cybersecurity industry. Students can choose a Bachelor of Science in Cybersecurity or a bachelor’s degree that combines cybersecurity with analytics, criminal justice, or mathematics.
Anderson University also offers a Master of Science in Cybersecurity Management. The 31-credit hybrid program is primarily online, includes an in-person intensive component each semester, and is designed to be completed in five semesters, or 20 months. It prepares students to protect organizations and manage policies and procedures relating to computer systems and networks.
Potential career paths listed by the Center for Cybersecurity include security analyst, digital forensics specialist, security auditor, and security consultant.
3. Purdue University Northwest
Purdue University Northwest offers a Bachelor of Science in Cybersecurity. The program prepares students with the technical knowledge and skills needed to protect networks, systems, software programs, and data from criminal or unauthorized access. It is hands-on and application-oriented and covers cybersecurity areas that include applied data science and artificial intelligence.
PNW also offers a post-baccalaureate certificate in cybersecurity for students who already have a bachelor’s degree. The 12-credit certificate can be applied toward a Master of Science in Technology at PNW.
International graduate applicants are required to pay a non-refundable application fee of $75. International undergraduate applicants who have not attended a previous college must pay a non-refundable application fee of $25. International transfer applicants who have not attended a Purdue campus must pay a non-refundable application fee of $55, which includes the evaluation of college transcripts.
4. DePaul University
DePaul University is a private university in Chicago. Its Bachelor of Science in Cybersecurity teaches students the fundamentals of information security, security infrastructure design and implementation, computer forensics, risk assessment, and the impact of security requirements on business operations.
Students gain hands-on experience in the Networking and Security Lab and DePaul’s Cyber Range, which hosts more than 2,500 virtual systems. Students work with enterprise networking equipment such as routers, switches, and firewalls while configuring and securing realistic enterprise environments. Lab exercises include implementing firewall policies and virtual private networks, monitoring network traffic, performing vulnerability assessments, and hardening Windows and Linux systems.
DePaul University also offers a combined bachelor’s and master’s pathway for cybersecurity students. The pathway allows students to complete 12 graduate credit hours while they are still undergraduates. These credit hours count toward both the undergraduate and graduate degree programs. Students must meet the relevant admission criteria.
5. George Washington University
George Washington University is a private, federally chartered research university in Washington, D.C. It was chartered by an act of Congress on February 9, 1821. The university offers a Bachelor of Professional Studies with a Major in Cybersecurity, a Master of Science in the Field of Cybersecurity in Computer Science, and an online Doctor of Engineering in the Field of Cybersecurity Analytics.
The Bachelor of Professional Studies in Cybersecurity is a degree completion program designed for students with an associate’s degree, an applied associate’s degree, or a non-technical bachelor’s degree who want to advance in the field. Its curriculum includes hands-on learning in labs and virtual environments and covers topics such as attack tools, information technology defense countermeasures, and encryption.
The master’s program provides students with a foundation in computer science and current cybersecurity knowledge and skills. It offers thesis and non-thesis options, both requiring 30 credits. The online Doctor of Engineering program covers areas such as intelligent defense architectures, AI-driven cyber defense, and adversarial machine learning. The doctoral program requires 48 credits.
FAQs: Cyber Security Studies in the U.S.
Is Cyber Security in Demand in the U.S.?
Yes. Cybersecurity professionals are in high demand in the United States. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that employment of information security analysts will grow by 29% from 2024 to 2034, which is much faster than the average for all occupations. About 16,000 openings for information security analysts are projected each year, on average, over the decade.
This demand is partly driven by the growing frequency of cyberattacks and the need for professionals who can develop solutions to prevent hackers from stealing critical information or disrupting computer networks. Businesses also need information security analysts to help protect new technologies against external threats.
These schools offer cybersecurity programs and academic opportunities in the United States. However, it is still essential to research each school’s curriculum, delivery format, admissions requirements, and resources to determine whether it fits your academic and career goals.
We hope this list of cybersecurity schools in the USA will help you narrow down your choices. Visit our Guide to Studying in the USA and Available Programs for International Students for more information about university programs and scholarship opportunities.
