What you’ll learn in this article…
- Gwynedd Mercy University added five programs in fall 2026.
- Information security analysts earned median $129,180 in May 2025.
- BLS projects 21% job growth for information security analysts.
Gwynedd Mercy University is launching five new degree programs in fall 2026. Undergraduate enrollment keeps falling nationally, yet cybersecurity and AI programs are multiplying.
Information security analysts earned a median annual wage of $129,180 in 2025, with 21% job growth. Fully online cybersecurity degrees, including new AI-security tracks, are riding the same wave, and ranked cost and outcome data show which programs justify the price. The enrollment cliff may make admissions and cybersecurity degree funding more flexible, but return still depends on choosing a specialization employers pay for.
Top Fully Online Cybersecurity Schools for 2027 (Ranked)
These fully online cybersecurity programs are ranked using a mixed quality composite that blends cost, outcomes, and completion data rather than prestige or reputation alone. Hybrid programs were excluded, so every school listed below offers its cybersecurity degree entirely online.
- #1
Wayne Community College
Goldsboro, NC · $2,000/yr
Best for: Transfer-ready students seeking low-cost online
Wayne Community College's fully online Cybersecurity AAS has a net price of about $2,245, and schools offering this program have graduation rates of 49%. The curriculum includes hands-on firewall and Linux labs, stackable certificates, and transfer pathways to four-year partners.
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- Associate in Applied Science in Cybersecurity
- Hands-on firewall appliance and Linux system labs
- Average class size 15-20 students
- NSA validated through 2028
- Transfer option to East Carolina University BSIT
- Competencies align with Security+, Linux+, NET+, A+
- Multiple stackable certificates available
- #2
Palomar College
San Marcos, CA · $1,000 – $11,000/yr
Hispanic-Serving InstitutionBest for: California residents leveraging cloud-based cyber labs
Palomar College's Associate of Science in Cybersecurity is fully online with a net price of about $5,763, and schools offering this program have graduation rates of 38%. The curriculum emphasizes risk management, cyber defense, and penetration testing, supported by cloud-based labs.
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- 2-year fully online program
- Ranked 24th nationally among online associate degrees
- Zero unemployment rate in cybersecurity field
- Skills: risk management, cyber defense, penetration testing
- Average salary $92,300 for Information System Security Officer
- Program launched in 2018
- #3
American Public University System
Charles Town, WV · $5,000 – $10,000/yr
Best for: Military-connected learners needing flexible monthly starts
American Public University System offers a fully online Associate of Science in Cybersecurity with a net price of about $9,597, and schools offering this program have graduation rates of 57%. Monthly course starts and 8- to 16-week sessions fit working adults, with a preferred military tuition rate.
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- 60 total credits required
- $360 per credit, military rate $250
- Online delivery with monthly course starts
- 8- to 16-week sessions
- Transfer up to 45 credits
- No application fee and no textbook cost
- Capstone portfolio required
- Prepares for industry certifications
- #4
West Georgia Technical College
Waco, GA · $2,000/yr (net price)
West Georgia Technical College's Cybersecurity AAS is fully online with a net price of about $2,457, and schools offering this program have graduation rates of 35%. The 72-credit curriculum covers network security, computer forensics, ethical hacking, and security policies.
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- Associate of Applied Science degree
- 72 credit hours required
- Minimum 15 general education credits
- Entry-level cybersecurity specialist roles
- Courses must be completed within seven years
- Strong math and problem-solving skills needed
- Covers network security, forensics, ethical hacking, security policies
- #5
Bluegrass Community and Technical College
Lexington, KY · $5,000 – $7,000/yr
Bluegrass Community and Technical College offers fully online Cybersecurity AAS tracks with a net price of about $6,113, and schools offering this program have graduation rates of 43%. Students can choose from four concentrations including Secure Coding, Network Defense, Cyber Forensics, and Cyber Science.
View 3 programs
- 4 concentration options
- Capstone project required
- May be completed entirely online
- Prerequisites require grade of C or higher
- Offered at multiple KCTCS colleges
- Courses cover forensics, network security, and coding
- Secure Coding specialization track
- 61-64 total credits
- Capstone project required
- Offered completely online
- Network Defense specialization track
- Technical core of 34 credits
- Includes network and cloud forensics
- Covers Linux security
- Focus on ethical hacking
- C grade or higher required in CYS courses
- #6
St Petersburg College
St. Petersburg, FL · $1,000/yr
St. Petersburg College's Cybersecurity A.S. is fully online with a net price of about $1,471, and schools offering this program have graduation rates of 38%. The two-year program integrates security policies, intrusion detection, incident response, and network defense, with embedded industry certification preparation.
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- Two-year A.S. degree
- Fully online program
- Skills in security policies, intrusion detection, router security
- Legal aspects of IT and incident response
- Network defense and countermeasures
- Minimum grade C required
- Industry certifications: A+, Security+, CEH, CCNA CyberOps, CCENT
- National Center of Academic Excellence through 2029
- #7
Herkimer County Community College
Herkimer, NY · ~$13,000/yr (est.)
Herkimer County Community College's Cybersecurity & Digital Forensics A.S. is fully online with a net price of about $13,419, and schools offering this program have graduation rates of 35%. The associate blends criminal justice with computer technology, and adult New York residents may qualify for tuition-free study through SUNY Reconnect.
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- Associate of Science degree
- Blends criminal justice and computer technology
- Hands-on cyber courses
- Computer literacy required for entry
- IACE certified, meets CNSS standards
- Can be completed entirely online
- SUNY Reconnect free college eligible
- #8
University of Charleston
Charleston, WV · $20,000 – $25,000/yr
University of Charleston offers a fully online Associate of Science in Cybersecurity with a net price of about $22,107, and schools offering this program have graduation rates of 46%. The 60-credit, part-time or full-time format includes hands-on labs and certification materials, with three prerequisite courses aligned to A+, Network+, and Security+ equivalency.
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- 60 credit hours
- Online format, part-time or full-time
- Entry-level students
- Hands-on labs
- Industry certification material
- Three prerequisites: A+, Net+, Sec+ equivalency
- General admission required
- Can continue to bachelor's degree
- #9
Bristol Community College
Fall River, MA · $5,000 – $10,000/yr
Bristol Community College's Cybersecurity and Digital Forensics program is fully online with a net price of about $5,547, and schools offering this program have graduation rates of 22%. The 64-credit associate covers information security concepts, digital forensics, risk management, and business continuity.
View program
- Associate in Science degree
- 64 total credits required
- 16 program courses and 5 general education courses
- National Center of Academic Excellence
- Prepares for entry-level positions
- Covers information security, digital forensics, risk management
- Business continuity planning
- Transfer credit and prior learning credit available
- #10
YTI Career Institute-York
York, PA · $15,000/yr
YTI Career Institute-York offers a 100% online Cybersecurity Associate in Specialized Technology with a net price of about $14,637, and schools offering this program have graduation rates of 45%. The 20-month program includes CompTIA Security+ and CySA+ preparation, and entry requires IT credits or professional experience.
View program
- Associate in Specialized Technology
- 100% online program
- 20-month completion time
- CompTIA Security+ and CySA+ preparation
- First exam fee included
- IT experience required for entry
- Flexible online scheduling
- Financial aid available
How We Ranked These Cybersecurity Schools
A ranking is only as useful as the data behind it, and this list of the best online cybersecurity degrees is built on a disclosed formula rather than vague editorial judgment. Fully online delivery carries the most weight because these rankings exist for students who need asynchronous access to coursework, not accelerated online cybersecurity programs. After that, we blend three baseline quality signals: average net price, completion rate, and post-attendance earnings. Other factors, like curriculum and industry alignment, get less weight because they change quickly and are harder to verify. This method is intentionally conservative: we would rather understate a school's appeal than inflate it with unverifiable claims.
What the numbers do and do not show
The net price we use is an institution-wide average, not a personalized tuition quote. Your actual cost can be higher or lower depending on aid, transfer credits, and residency. Likewise, graduation rates are calculated for the whole college, not the cybersecurity major specifically. A strong overall completion rate is useful, but it does not guarantee the cyber program performs the same way.
Where the inputs come from
Unlike many rankings that leave their method unexplained, we pull directly from U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard data: average net price, median federal loan debt, completion rate, and median earnings after enrollment. Competitor lists rarely tell you whether the numbers are whole-school or program-level; we do. No hidden multipliers, no pay-to-play placement.
AI-Focused Cybersecurity Tracks: What's New for 2027
Cybersecurity hiring has shifted from asking whether candidates understand AI to asking whether they can secure it, audit it, and respond when models fail.
Why AI Security Tracks Emerged
In 2026, cybersecurity hiring trends show employers want analysts who can tune AI threat detection, evaluate generative AI outputs, and recognize adversarial machine-learning attacks. That demand is pulling AI-specific coursework into accredited online cybersecurity programs, not just niche online cybersecurity bootcamps. City College of New York added an AI in Cybersecurity Lab for the 2025-2026 academic year, signaling the same shift at the undergraduate level.5
Programs to Watch in 2026
Purdue University Online offers a cybersecurity graduate certificate online in Applied AI and Cybersecurity, with coursework including AI Applications in Cybersecurity and optional work in adversarial techniques and privacy for large language models.1 Old Dominion University's AI in Cyber Defense Online Certificate starts October 19, 2026.2 The University of Washington's AI-Driven Cybersecurity Analytics and Risk Intelligence Certificate opened for summer 2026 and includes AI-Powered Cybersecurity Analytics.3 Virginia Tech partnered with Simplilearn to launch a Professional Certificate Program in AI-Powered Cybersecurity on July 3, 2026.4
Most cybersecurity ranking pages still treat AI as a side note. For prospective students, these AI-focused tracks are becoming a practical way to enter the field with skills that match current job posts.
Tuition and Cost Comparison by School
This table compares published in-state and out-of-state tuition with average net price for ten fully online cybersecurity associate programs. Net price is a sector-conditional average from IPEDS and College Scorecard, so it reflects typical costs after aid for similar institutions rather than a guaranteed individual quote. The range is wide, from Palomar College's $1,354 in-state rate to Brightpoint Community College's $11,520 out-of-state sticker price.
| School | In-State Tuition | Out-of-State Tuition | Average Net Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| St Petersburg College | $2,682 | $9,286 | $1,471 |
| Durham Technical Community College | $1,986 | $6,594 | $1,664 |
| Wayne Community College | $2,566 | $8,710 | $2,245 |
| West Georgia Technical College | $3,410 | $5,978 | $2,457 |
| Richmond Community College | $1,956 | $6,564 | $5,071 |
| Brightpoint Community College | $5,082 | $11,520 | $5,490 |
| Bristol Community College | $5,832 | $10,776 | $5,547 |
| Springfield Technical Community College | $5,904 | $11,112 | $5,662 |
| Palomar College | $1,354 | $10,650 | $5,763 |
| San Juan College | $1,928 | $5,412 | $5,769 |
Is a Cybersecurity Degree Worth It in 2027?
For most people considering a cybersecurity career change, the short answer is yes, with caveats. National data shows information security analysts earned a median annual wage of $129,180 in May 20251, and the Bureau of Labor Statistics projects 21% job growth from 2025 to 20351, adding about 52,100 jobs between 2024 and 20342. That is roughly four times the average growth rate for all occupations, with around 14,100 openings per year over the decade1.
Where the math gets real
A cybersecurity degree still costs real money and time. But when you compare typical program costs with a median salary above $129,000 and strong long-term demand, the return on investment often looks favorable. The earlier program-level earnings figures show that outcomes vary by school and format, and not every graduate lands at the median right away. Some online programs produce stronger initial earnings than others, and students who pair a degree with internships or cybersecurity certifications tend to see faster pay progression.
The verdict
In 2026, a cybersecurity degree is generally worth it if you choose an accredited program with transparent outcomes and align it with a specialization employers are hiring for. Check program-level earnings and employment data rather than assuming the national average applies to every graduate.
The question isn't just what you pay; it's what employers will pay you afterward.
New Programs and the Enrollment Cliff: Why Schools Are Expanding Cyber Offerings
New college programs are not being added randomly. They are increasingly aimed at high-demand fields like cybersecurity degree programs and AI because schools need students, and students need jobs.
A Pennsylvania Case Study
Gwynedd Mercy University is launching three new graduate programs and two undergraduate offerings in fall 2026. The university in Gwynedd Valley, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, described the expansion as a strategy to stay ahead of the enrollment cliff, according to an August 24 Philadelphia Business Journal report headlined Gwynedd Mercy University adds new degree programs to stay ahead of enrollment cliff. While the exact names of the five programs were not included in the report, the move fits a pattern of private colleges betting on career-aligned degrees.
The National Enrollment Math
The demographic pressure is real. U.S. high school graduates peaked in 2025, with a projected decline over the next 15 years.1 The number of 18-year-olds is expected to drop roughly 15% by 2029.2 Even though spring 2026 postsecondary enrollment ticked up 1.0% to 18.6 million students,3 that short-term bump does not erase the coming cliff. One private college ceased operations after 87 years, and nearby institutions are spending heavily to reposition, including Villanova's $100 million remake of the former Cabrini campus.
For students, the implication is straightforward: as colleges compete harder for a smaller pool, expect more accredited cybersecurity programs online, more AI programs, more online delivery, and in many cases more flexible admissions or scholarship packaging.
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Choosing a Specialization: AI Security, Cloud, Forensics, and More
A cybersecurity specialization is a focused set of courses and certifications that prepares you for a specific job family, not just a name on a transcript. Start with the role you want, then work backward to the concentration.
Concentrations map to career paths
- AI/ML security: adversarial machine learning, AI risk assessment, and secure model deployment.
- Cloud security: cloud security engineer and architect roles tied to AWS, Azure, and Google Cloud.
- Digital forensics: incident response, evidence handling, and forensic computer analyst positions.
- GRC: auditor, policy analyst, and risk management roles.
How certifications fit into programs
Accredited online programs embed certification prep directly into their courses. WGU's BS in Cybersecurity and Information Assurance aligns courses to CompTIA Security+ and ISC2 CCSP. APUS maps its BS Cybersecurity to Security+ with 2024 equivalencies, and UMass Global aligns a Security+ course to the SY0-701 exam. CIAT's cybersecurity concentration can include up to five certifications, including CISSP. Security+ is the most consistently embedded; CCSP and CISSP are less universal.
Match program to goal
Do not pick a program by name alone. If you want cloud security, look for CCSP or cloud-specific courses. If you want broad entry-level credibility, Security+ alignment matters. If you aim for management-level CISSP later, confirm the program includes CISSP as a degree-level goal, not just a single exam prep course.
Questions to Ask Yourself
Additional Online Cybersecurity Programs to Consider
Look beyond the ranked list for more fully online cybersecurity options. These additional schools are listed in directory form with location and program format so you can keep comparing programs that fit your career goals.
- Associate in Cybersecurity
- Cybersecurity
- Cybersecurity - A.A.B.
- Associate of Arts in Cybersecurity
- Associate of Science in Cybersecurity
- Cybersecurity - A.A.B.
- Cybersecurity, A.A.S.
- Cybersecurity - A.A.B.
- Cybersecurity, Virtualization, & Networking AAS Degree
- Cybersecurity Certificate
- Online Cybersecurity Associate Degree
- Online Cybersecurity Certificate Program
- Information Technology - Cybersecurity
- Information Technology AAS with Cybersecurity Support Certificate
- Information Systems Technology AAS with Cybersecurity, CSC
- Software, Security & Development (Cyber Security Emphasis)
- Software, Security & Development
