Cyber Security Degree Online Bachelor's Program

The Bachelor of Science in Cyber Security with a concentration in Data Analytics Fundamentals gives you an introduction to the role data analysis has within an organization.

Throughout the program, you'll gain experience through real-world problems using critical data technologies, methods and tools to share your work in ways that make your findings and results actionable.

By incorporating data analysis courses into your cyber security bachelor's degree program, you'll develop a better understanding of:

• The importance of high-quality data
• Gathering data for analysis
• Using data to solve organizational challenges

Career outlook:

Projections look excellent for information security analysts: Through 2031, employment is expected to grow 35% – much faster than the rate of growth for all occupations.¹

In May 2021, the median annual wages were also desirable at $102,600.¹

According to CyberSeek, entry-level roles in the field² include:

• Cybercrime analyst
• Cybersecurity specialist
• Incident and intrusion analyst
• IT auditor

Courses may include:

• Role of Data Analysis in Organizations
• Data Validation: Quality and Cleaning
• Gathering Requirements and Collecting Data

If you're interested in a career in data analysis, check out our full online data analytics degree.

Learn about the essential methods and tools necessary to lead successful projects when you earn a Bachelor of Science in Cyber Security with a concentration in Project Management Fundamentals.

You'll create project plans based on authentic scenarios and learn to work within the triple constraints of time, cost and scope. You'll also explore the concepts of estimation, scheduling, contracting and procurement.

Career outlook:

The need for information security analysts continues to rise: Through 2031, employment is expected to increase by 35% – much faster than the average growth for all occupations.¹

By taking project management courses alongside your cyber security classes, you can open yourself up to more opportunities in the field. For example, cyber security analysts, incident responders and IT auditors often use project management techniques to plan, prioritize and execute a variety of security-related activities like vulnerability assessment, process improvement and technology risk evaluation.

In May 2021, the BLS also reported median annual wages of $102,600.¹

Courses may include:

• Integrated Cost and Schedule Control
• Project Contracting and Procurement
• Resource Estimating and Scheduling

As part of this concentration, you are eligible to take QSO-345: Project Management for CAPM^® Certification course, which will help prepare you to take the PMI^® Certified Associate in Project Management exam.

If you're seeking a more business-focused education, you may be interested in the online project management degree concentration.

Flexible

With no set class meeting times, you can learn on your schedule and access online course materials 24/7.

Affordable

As part of our mission to make higher education more accessible, we’re committed to keeping our tuition rates low. In fact, we offer some of the lowest online tuition rates in the nation.

Prior coursework could also help you save time and money. SNHU’s transfer policy allows you to transfer up to 90 credits toward your bachelor's degree and 45 credits for an associate degree from your previous institutions—that means you could save up to 75% off the cost of tuition. You could also save time and money by getting college credit for previous work experience, or by taking advantage of military discounts and employer tuition assistance if available to you.

Respected

Founded in 1932, Southern New Hampshire University is a private, nonprofit institution with over 160,000 graduates across the country. SNHU is accredited by the New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE), a regional accreditor, which advocates for institutional improvement and public assurance of quality. 

Recently, SNHU has been nationally recognized for leading the way toward more innovative, affordable and achievable education:

• U.S. News & World Report named SNHU the 2021 Most Innovative University in the North and one of the nation's "Best Regional Universities"
• Awarded the 21st Century Distance Learning Award for Excellence in Online Technology by The United States Distance Learning Association (USDLA)
• A $1 million grant from Google.org to explore soft skills assessments for high-need youth

Network

At Southern New Hampshire University, you'll have access to a powerful network of more than 300,000 students, alumni and staff that can help support you long after graduation. Our instructors offer relevant, real-world expertise to help you understand and navigate the field. Plus, with our growing, nationwide alumni network, you'll have the potential to tap into a number of internship and career opportunities.

93.6% of online students would recommend SNHU (according to a 2022 survey with 17,000+ respondents). Discover why SNHU may be right for you.

Opportunities to prepare you for your career:

• Technology competitions: Outside the classroom, participate in National Cyber League (NCL) competitions to demonstrate cyber expertise valued by employers. SNHU students and teams have multiple Top 10 finishes and fielded the first all-female team.
• Cyber Security Center of Excellence: Through our Cyber Security Center of Excellence, SNHU proudly supports cyber security students across the globe. To learn more about our contributions to the field, and connect with our academic leaders, visit our Cyber Security Center of Excellence page.

Expanding access to quality higher education means removing the barriers that may stand between you and your degree. That’s why you can apply at any time and get a decision within days of submitting all required materials:

• Completed free undergraduate application
• Prior transcripts, which we can retrieve at no cost to you
• Test scores are not required as part of your application

Acceptance decisions are made on a rolling basis throughout the year for our 6 (8-week) undergraduate terms.

If you’re ready to apply, follow these simple steps to get the process going:

• Complete a free undergraduate application
• Submit any additional documents required
• Work with an admission counselor to explore financial options and walk through the application process

If you have questions or need help filling out your application, call 1.888.387.0861 or email enroll@snhu.edu.

Notes: 

• Laptop or desktop?  Whichever you choose depends on your personal preference and work style, though laptops tend to offer more flexibility. 

• Note:  Chromebooks (Chrome OS) and iPads (iOS) do not meet the minimum requirements for coursework at SNHU. These offer limited functionality and do not work with some course technologies. They are not acceptable as the only device you use for coursework. While these devices are convenient and may be used for some course functions, they cannot be your primary device. SNHU does, however, have an affordable laptop option that it recommends: Dell Latitude 3301 with Windows 10. 

• Office 365 Pro Plus is available free of charge to all SNHU students and faculty. The Office suite will remain free while you are a student at SNHU. Upon graduation you may convert to a paid subscription if you wish. Terms subject to change at Microsoft's discretion. Review system requirements for Microsoft 365 plans for business, education and government. 

• Antivirus software: Check with your ISP as they may offer antivirus software free of charge to subscribers. 

Of course. Our own BS in Cyber Security is 100% online. That means you'll get the flexibility of learning on your time – all while getting the experience you need to take the next step of your career.

“Our classes are 100% online, but the program is packed with hands-on labs to help you learn how to use industry-standard tools and techniques," said Dr. Denise Kinsey, technical program facilitator of cyber security at SNHU.

"Some courses even include the main concepts on certification exams, helping you prepare for additional credentials while you earn your degree.”

The cost of a degree in cyber security varies depending on the school. At SNHU, we're proud to offer some of the lowest online tuition rates in the nation (just $320 per credit).

As a university built for people, not for profit, we seek any opportunity we can to help make your education more affordable.

For one, you could take advantage of our generous transfer policy. We accept up to 90 transfer credits for all campus and online bachelor's degree programs – helping you make the most of your experience (and save time and tuition along the way).

You may also qualify for one of our grants, scholarships or tuition discounts. If, for example, you've served in the military or are the spouse of a service member, you could qualify for up to 30% tuition discounts.

Looking for more ways to save, or just want to learn more about how to pay for college? Ask your admission counselor.

Cybersecurity is an important field that's projected to grow significantly in the coming years. A bachelor's degree can help you build the skills you need to break into it.

"With a bachelor’s degree in cybersecurity you can begin a rewarding career as a cybersecurity analyst, often specializing in your favorite area of cybersecurity." said Dr. Denise Kinsey, technical program facilitator of cyber security at SNHU. "You’ll have the tools and learn the techniques that are essential for success in the workplace."

"Cybersecurity touches every aspect of our lives," she said. "From the physical locks on our doors to our financial and medical records, our ability to communicate and share information, and essentially function in today’s world. The skills you learn in this program will provide the basis for protecting that information."

If you want a career in a fast-growing field with a variety of job opportunities, a cyber security degree could be a good fit.

With an online cyber security degree from SNHU, you’ll develop a security mindset and be empowered to begin a career building secure systems, protecting information assets and managing technology risks for businesses and organizations.

As technology continues to become more ingrained in our personal and professional lives, cyber crimes like phishing schemes and data breaches have also grown and evolved.

A 2022 report reported that global cybercrime costs are expected to grow by 15% per year over the next five years, reaching $10.5 trillion annually by 2025 – up from $3 trillion in 2015.³

According to the international cybersecurity organization (ISC)², even with the economic challenges presented by COVID-19, the Cybersecurity Workforce Gap remained high at 4 million worldwide and a US workforce gap of 400,000.⁴

The kind of cyber security degree you need depends on the job you want.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics says that information security analysts typically need a bachelor's degree.¹ And earning a master's degree in cyber security could help you specialize in a specific area of the field or prepare you for leadership positions.

Cyber security jobs often also look for workers with industry certifications. There are many cyber security certifications available from a variety of organizations and institutions that improve and test your knowledge in specific areas of the cyber security field and ensure prospective employers of your skills and expertise.

A bachelor’s degree in cyber security is the first step to a rewarding technology career, and can prepare you for jobs with strong salaries and career growth potential.

According to the BLS, the median annual wage for information security analysts was $102,600 in May 2021 with top 10% make in more than $165,920 annually.¹

Demand for skilled cyber security workers is also expected to continue. The BLS predicts cyber security jobs will grow 35% by 2031 – much faster than the national average job growth for all occupations.¹

If you’ve earned college credit before or have earned industry certifications like CompTIA A+, Network+ and Linux+, you may be able to transfer credits to your degree program so you can save time and money.

If you can attend school full time, you’ll complete your degree faster. If you work full time or have a family and need to fit your coursework into an already busy schedule, you may need to complete your degree at a slower pace.

As a cyber security major, you’ll explore the security risks that organizations and individuals face in today’s technology-driven world.

With courses including Network Security, Application Security and Incident Response and Investigation, you’ll prepare to solve complex problems, respond to cyber threats, assess risk and apply cutting-edge security techniques.

You’ll have access to real-world learning opportunities through SNHU’s virtual labs that simulate actual operating environments so you can test your skills and gain key hands-on experience.

Additional learning opportunities outside of the classroom, including SNHU’s Center for Academic Excellence - Cyber Defense, online student clubs and National Cyber League competitions, will allow you to connect with other students and industry professionals who share your interests and career goals. Another plus? They'll look great on your resume.

Getting started in cyber security does require some knowledge of basic IT principles and tools, as well as a strong understanding of mathematics.

But if you’re new to the information technology world, a cyber security online bachelor’s degree program can help provide much of this foundational knowledge and experience. You’ll study the fundamentals of programming concepts, learn common scripting language and gain an introduction to computer programs with hands-on activities designed for beginners.

And while coding and mathematics are key to cyber security careers, soft skills like communication, critical thinking and problem-solving can be just as valuable.

"A lot of what you do in IT is building relationships," said SNHU adjunct instructor Gary Asp, a senior security and compliance analyst. "Good communication is 80% listening and 20% talking. That helps build those good relationships because the people that you're communicating with feel heard, which opens the pathways for good collaboration. And you absolutely need collaboration for good IT security."

¹ Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, on the internet, at:

• https://www.bls.gov/ooh/computer-and-information-technology/information-security-analysts.htm (viewed October 19, 2022)

Cited projections may not reflect local and/or short-term economic or job conditions and do not guarantee actual job growth.

² CyberSeek, Cybersecurity Career Pathway, on the internet, at https://www.cyberseek.org/pathway.html (viewed April 25, 2022)

³ Cybercrime Magazine, 2022 Cybersecurity Almanac, on the internet, at https://cybersecurityventures.com/cybersecurity-almanac-2022/ (viewed July 20, 2022)

⁴(ISC)², Cybersecurity Professionals Stand Up to a Pandemic: (ISC)² Cybersecurity Workforce Study, 2020, on the internet at https://www.isc2.org/-/media/ISC2/Research/2020/Workforce-Study/ISC2ResearchDrivenWhitepaperFINAL.ashx (viewed April 30, 2021)