Information Assurance and Cyber Security Degrees in Florida

While Florida lacks the established tech sectors of peers like Minnesota, California and Texas, the state’s government is taking measures to make Florida a future leader in the field. The Florida Center for Cyber Security, established by the Board of Governors in 2014, advances cyber security opportunities through education, innovative research, and community outreach. A growing number of schools have launched programs awarding cyber security degrees, and five of these are recognized by the NSA as “National Centers of Academic Excellence in Cyber Security”.

Florida Cyber Security Jobs

Fidelity Financial Services (finance), Lockheed Martin (defense) and MacAulay-Brown (technical and engineering) are some of the main companies where professionals in Florida find cyber security jobs. The most openings can be found in the cities of Tampa and Orlando, with Miami and Melbourne not far behind. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the annual mean salary for cyber security jobs in Florida is $84,440, about 10% below the national average.

Cyber Security Degrees in Florida

Associate’s Degrees in cyber security are offered by just two schools in the state. Palm Beach State College has an Associate in Science- Networking Administrator program, Pasco-Hernando State College has an Associate in Science- Information Technology Security program, and St Petersburg College has an Associate in Science- Cyber Security Program.

Bachelor’s Degrees in cyber security are offered by six schools in Florida, of which one- Florida Atlantic University- is a NSA-designated “National Centers of Academic Excellence in Cyber Security” (CAE).

Master’s Degrees in cyber security are available through none institutions in the state, of which four are NSA-recognized CAEs.

Certificates in cyber security are offered by a total of ten schools, including two designated as CAEs by the NSA.

The 5 Best Cyber Security Degree Providers in Florida

Perhaps unsurprisingly, there are many high quality cyber security (and related field) degree providers in the state of Florida. We’ve taken a look at all cyber security degree providers in the state (and you can too in our directory below) and pulled out the top programs based on our detailed ranking methodology. Factors in the ranking of a school include whether they are an NSA Center of Academic Excellence, the range of cyber security-related degrees offered, and a wide range of metrics checking out academic quality, affordability, return on investment, and student satisfaction. For a detailed rundown of our ranking methodology as well as national cyber security degree rankings, check out our rankings page.

1.) Florida Institute of Technology

Florida Institute of Technology (FIT) is a private, nonprofit doctoral research university with a main campus located in Melbourne, Florida. Located in the heart of the “space coast” region of the Atlantic, the university is a space-grant university particularly known for quality STEM, management, and aviation educations. The makeup of the university is split about equally between undergraduate and graduate students, with close to 6,500 students total. Besides many sites at science, technology, aerospace, and aeronautical centers throughout the United States, FIT also offers many degree programs online. In line with the university’s commitment to provide quality science, technology, engineering, math, and management degrees, the university is known as one of the highest return on investments in the region.

Florida Institute of Technology currently offers three cyber security-related degrees: an MS in Cyber Security and Information Assurance, an MS in Information Technology with a focus on Cyber Security, and an MBA with a focus on Cyber Security. All three cyber security-related degrees are available online and at FIT’s main campus in Melbourne, Florida. In choosing a cyber security degree at FIT, one can rest assured that programming is in line with national and large employer expectations through the fact the the university is a designated Center of Academic Excellence according to the NSA. Furthermore, the university boasts a quality student-to-faculty ratio that is the best of schools surveyed in Florida (13:1). Student satisfaction measures including retention and graduation rates are also high, at 83% and 60%, respectively. While one of the more expensive universities surveyed in Florida, one can rest assured that one is obtaining a time-tested and high quality degree from this tech university.

• Homepage
• Average Net Price Undergrad: $31582

Online Cyber Security Degree Programs

• MS in Cyber Security and Information Assurance
• MS in Information Technology — Cyber Security
• MBA – Cyber Security

2.) Keiser University

Keiser University (KU) is a private, non-profit university with campuses located throughout Florida, online, and with a main campus in Fort Lauderdale. KU is regionally accredited and offers degrees at the associates through the doctoral levels. Currently 19,000+ students attend the main campus, with several times that many at all campuses combined. Measures of student satisfaction and outcomes perform well against most colleges in the state, with a student-to-faculty ratio of 14 to 1, a retention rate of 92% and a graduation rate for undergraduates of 59%. With degree programs at every level of academic study, the university is able to offer a wide range of subjects including trade education, health care, education, IT, nursing, and sports management. Some degree programs are also offered in Spanish.

Keiser University currently offers a fully online bachelor of science in cyber forensics and information security. The degree, also available at many in-person campuses across the state of Florida is meant to prepare students for entry level roles in cyber security as well as computer forensics, cyber policy, and criminal justice. The course of study requires 120 credit hours with 60 credit hours in upper level courses. Currently 5 courses required for the major are related to different components of info tech forensics, cyber law, and cyber crime, making this a unique degree at the undergraduate level. While Keiser University is one of the more expensive schools surveyed in Florida, many of their program metrics are solid, including retention, graduation, student-faculty ratio, and the percentage of students receiving financial aid.

• Homepage
• Average Net Price Undergrad: $26328

Online cyber Security Degree Programs

• BS in Cyber Forensics and Information Security

3.) Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University

Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University (FAMU) is a public, historically black university with a main campus located in Tallahassee, Florida. FAMU awards degrees at the undergraduate through doctoral levels and is a land grant university. Close to 10,000 students call the university home, making it the 5th largest historically black college in the United States. Additionally, the university was ranked as the #1 historically black college or university for research funding and expenditure in 2015. A wide range of types of study are available at the university with 56 undergraduate degrees, 29 master’s degree programs, 2 professional degrees, and 12 doctoral programs. The university is also particularly well regarded for their Architecture and Engineering Technology programs, return on investment, and employment prospects for students upon graduation.

Presently FAMU offers a variety of cyber security courses through their center for Cyber Security. Cyber security-related courses of study include a certificate in cyber security, a minor in cyber security, a certificate in Health Information Privacy and Security, and individual graduate level courses in cyber security. Whatever cyber security degree or learning path you choose, you can rest assured that FAMU provides up-to-date and in-demand programming through their designation as an NSA center of academic excellence in cyber security. Furthermore, FAMU was one of the most affordable universities surveyed in the state of Florida, and had 97% of undergraduates receive financial aid in the most recent school year surveyed. Student satisfaction and outcome measures are also strong, with graduation rates and retention rates for undergraduates coming in at 83% and 48%, respectively.

• Homepage
• Average Net Price Undergrad: $13096

Online cyber Security Degree Programs

• None

4.) University of South Florida

The University of South Florida (USF) is a public member of the state university of Florida with a main campus located in Tampa Florida. Home to over 48,000 students, the university is the fourth largest in Florida and one of the largest in the United States. A wide range of taught and research-based academic degrees are available at the university ranging from the bachelor’s through professional and doctoral degrees. Currently 14 colleges provide more than 80 undergraduate majors and more than 130 graduate, specialist, and professional degrees. USF is currently in the top 50 research universities – public and private – by research spending and funding. Student satisfaction and academic support metrics are strong at the university, and include a 90% retention rate and a 71% graduation rate, the highest of surveyed universities in Florida.

USF currently offers one of the widest spreads of cyber security-related academic programming of surveyed schools in Florida. Cyber security-related academic programs include a Graduate Certificate in Cybersecurity – Computer Security Fundamentals, a Graduate Certificate in Cybersecurity – Cyber Intelligence, a Graduate Certificate in Cybersecurity-Digital Forensics, a Graduate Certificate in Cybersecurity-Information Assurance, and a Master Degree in Cybersecurity with a concentration in Cyber Intelligence. Whatever academic program one chooses at USF, one can be sure that their cyber security education will be in line with national expectations and in-demand skills through the fact that USF is a designated center of academic excellence according to the NSA. Furthermore, USF is one of the best values of schools surveyed in Florida, with in-state undergraduate tuition of just $11398 a year. Additionally, 89% of undergraduate students receive some sort of financial aid, further lowering the price.

• Homepage
• Average Net Price Undergrad: $11398

Online cyber Security Degree Programs

• None

5.) Nova Southeastern University

Nova Southeastern University (NSU) is a private, non profit university with a main campus located in Davie, Florida and satillite campuses throughout the state. NSU is home to over 24,000 students and offers an extremely wide range of study including 175 programs and over 250 majors. Degrees are offered at the undergraduate through doctoral levels in the fields of dentistry, optometry, physical therapy, education, occupational therapy, law, business, osteopathic medicine, allopathic medicine, allied health, pharmacy,and nursing. Student satisfaction and outcome metrics are high quality at NSU, and include a 75% full-time retention rate, a 52% graduation rate, and a 22 to 1 student-faculty ratio for undergraduates. Furthermore, NSU offers a robust financial aid department, with 100% of undergraduates receiving some sort of financial aid offer in most academic years.

NSU offers a variety of cyber security-related degrees including a Graduate Certificate in Information Security Management, a Master of Science in Information Assurance and Cyber Security, and a Master of Science in Information Security (MSIS). Whatever academic option one chooses, one can rest assured that academic programming is up to national standards of large employers and government organizations through the fact that NSU is a designated center of academic excellence according to the NSA. While the average tuition rate for undergraduates is one of the highest surveyed in the state of Florida, NSU offers discounted tuition for a number of large employers in the state of Florida (we should note that there are many large employers of cyber security professionals in the state of Florida).

• Homepage
• Average Net Price Undergrad: $25344

Online Cyber Security Degree Programs

• M.S. in Information Assurance and Cybersecurity

Cyber Security Resources in Florida

Cyber Security Degree Providers in Florida

Below we’ve included some of the most pertinent information for choosing a cyber security degree program. Affordability looked at the average in-state tuition rate (where applicable) and divided the range of tuition rates into five bins. Each bin contains a roughly $8,000 jump in tuition. So one $ contains schools from roughly $1,000 in in-state tuition to $9,000, $$’s contains schools from >$9,000 to $17,000, and so forth. Retention rate is one of the best predictors of undergraduate education quality. While the NSA/CAE designation marks programs deemed excellent by the NSA.