Information Assurance and Cyber Security Degrees in Georgia

Georgia is home to no less than 21 Fortune 500 companies, including giants like Coca-Cola, UPS and Delta Airlines. It is also the home base for such cyber security companies as NexDefense and Pindrop Security. The state is home to seven schools awarding degrees in cyber security, and no less than six of these are designated as “National Centers of Academic Excellence in Cyber Security” by the NSA. Jobs postings are plentiful, and professionals can find a number of cyber security opportunities in the Peach State. With abundant opportunities for cyber security careers and numerous school programs of outstanding quality, it’s no wonder that the state is a rising star in the field. In fact, Fortune named Atlanta 1st on its 2017 list of “Cities that could Become the World’s Cyber Security Capital.” �

Georgia Cyber Security Jobs

Georgia was ranked 8th in the nation for total cyber security job postings in 2014. PricewaterhouseCoopers, a tax consulting corporation, and the computer company Dell are two of Atlanta’s larger employers of cyber security experts. In Augusta, BAE Systems, an aerospace and defense corporation, is another large source of cyber security jobs, as is Fort Gordon’s United States Army Cyber Command. The mean salary in the field is $89,820, compared to a national median of $92,600. This difference, however, is in line with the state’s lower cost of living relative to the national average.

Cyber Security Degrees in Georgia

Associate’s Degrees in cyber security are available from Armstrong State University, which is recognized by the NSA as “National Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Security” (CAE).

Bachelor’s Degrees in cyber security are offered by three schools: Armstrong State University, Kennesaw State University, and the University of North Georgia. All three are considered CAE’s by the NSA.

Master’s Degrees in cyber security are available through three Georgia institutes, all CAE’s: Georgia Tech, Clark Atlanta University and Kennesaw State University.

Certificates in cyber security are offered by a total of five schools, of which four are CAEs.

The 5 Best Cyber Security Degree Providers in Georgia

Perhaps unsurprisingly, there are many high quality cyber security (and related field) degree providers in the state of Georgia. 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.) Columbus State University

Columbus State University is a public university that is part of the University of Georgia Board of Regents university system. Home to some 8,000+ students, the university awards associates through doctoral degrees with a majority of degrees offered at the undergraduate level. A wide spectrum of degree programs offered through the university are available entirely online. The university recruits students from every state in the nation and also has a strong cadre of international students. Particularly noteworthy programs include those of the business school (including their servant leadership program) as well as being the only school through which to become a licensed teacher of drama in the state of Georgia. The university hosts the Coca-Cola Space Science Center, the Mead Observatory, and the Omnisphere Theater (a planetarium). Columbus State University also hosts a variety of events through their environmental center as well as center for writers and musicians.

Columbus State University currently offers three degree programs focused on Cyber Security. These include a BS in Computer Science Cyber Security Track, an MS in Applied Computer Science – Cyber Security Track, and a MS in Cyber Security Management. Presently both master’s level cyber security offerings are available fully online. Whatever one’s choice of cyber security-related degrees, one should note that Columbus State is regarded as up-to-date according to national cyber security standards through their status as a designated center of academic excellence by the NSA. This designation is bolstered by Columbus State’s strong metrics in student-faculty ratio, retention rates, and graduation rates for states. Respectively, these numbers are 17:1, 73%, and 33% for undergraduate students. Furthermore, CSU is the second most affordable cyber security school in Georgia and has an average of 92% of undergraduates who receive finacial aid. With all that said, CSU provides a range of cyber security offerings in-person and online. They have a track record of quality instruction, are affordable, and are nationally recognized for their cyber security programming.

• Homepage
• Average Net Price for Undergraduates: $11596

Online Cyber Security Degrees:

• MS in Applied Computer Science – Cyber Security Track
• MS in Cyber Security Management

2.) Georgia Institute of Technology

The Georgia Institute of Technology (Georgia Tech) is a public research university located in Atlanta, Georgia. Georgia Tech is a member of the University of Georgia system, and has satallite campuses across the state as well as in Ireland, France, China, and Singapore. The university is commonly ranked among the 10 best public universities in the nation, and is particularly well known for their programs in computing, business administration, engineering, and the liberal arts. Close to 30,000 students call the university home at the undergraduate through doctoral levels. The university is classified as a very high research activity institute and has a variety of research institutes related to technology, health care, business, and engineering. Many startups have been hatched in cooperation with Georgia Tech, particularly through the Advanced Technology Development Center and VentureLab. At last count the university had produced the 4th most startups of any school in the nation, as well as the 9th most patents.

Currently Georgia Tech currently offers an MS in Cyber Security. This degree may be completed through one of three schools, however, each of which provide different emphases in cyber security. The cyber security master’s may be taken through the school of computer science to specialize in technology, the School of Electrical and Computer Engineering to specialize in cyber-physical and energy systems, or the school of public policy to specialize in cyber security policy. As one would expect from a leader in computing research and education, Georgia State is a designated center of academic excellence according to the NSA. Furthermore, they’re relatively affordable for such a top notch school, coming as the 4th most affordable cyber security degree provider in Georgia. 77% of undergraduate students at GA Tech also receive financial aid.

• Homepage
• Average Net Price for Undergraduates: $13340

Online Cyber Security Degrees:

• Master’s in Computer Science

3.) Kennesaw State University

Kennesaw State University (KSU) is a public research-oriented university with main campuses in Kennsaw and Marrieta, Georgia and satallite campuses throughout the state. KSU is also known as a comprehensive provider online degrees, with a wide variety of online options at nearly every degree level (70+ total). An additional offering of the university is their center for continuing education, the largest in the nation. Close to 36,000 students call KSU home at the undergraduate and graduate levels. Particularly noteworthy programs at the university include their continuing education department, business programs, and undergraduate engineering degrees. KSU is also one of the most affordable universities surveyed for cyber security degrees in Georgia. Additionally, 90% of full time undergraduate students receive financial aid to lower the cost even more.

Kennesaw State University currently offers perhaps the widest range of cyber security degree and certificate programs in the state of Georgia. Current offerings include their programs in Bachelor of Science in Information Technology (BSIT) concentration on Information Security and Assurance (ISA), their Graduate Certificate in Information Security, their Graduate Certificate Program in Information Security and Assurance, their Information Security & Assurance Major, their Master of Science in Information Technology (MSIT) specialization in information security and assurance, and their Undergraduate Certificate in Information Security. Whatever your choice at KSU, you can rest assured that academic programming is up to the highest standards and in line with national standards as KSU is a designated center of academic excellence by the NSA. Additionally, KSU has great student support and outcomes measures including quality retention rates, graduation rates, and student-faculty ratios.

• Homepage
• Average Net Price for Undergraduates: $17441

Online Cyber Security Degrees:

• Bachelor of Science in Cyber Security

4.) University of North Georgia

The University of North Georgia is a public institution that is a member of the University of Georgia System. Home to some 16,000 students, the university primarily offers degrees at the associates and bachelor’s. Master’s degrees and one doctoral program are also available. A number of fully online degrees are also available. Due to the high number of ROTC member students at the university, the motto is “The Military College of Georgia.” Besides the wide range of degrees, one particularly noteworthy selling point for the University of North Georgia is that it is the most affordable school surveyed in Georgia for Cyber Security degree programs. Additional indicators including full-time retention rate, graduation rate, and student-faculty rate are also quality.

Perhaps unsurprisingly for Georgia’s military college, the University of North Georgia offers a wide array of academic programs in cyber security. Currently infosec programs inclde a Graduate Certificate in Cybersecurity, a Bachelor of Science degree in Computer Science centered on cyber security, a BSCS Concentration in Information Assurance and Security (IAS), a Bachelor of Business Administration in Information Systems, an Information Assurance and Security Minor, and a Cyber Security Minor. Students can rest assured that whatever cyber security degree they choose that it aligns with internationally recognized standards as the University of North Georgia is a designated center of academic excellence according to the NSA. Furthermore, student support and outcomes are high quality. UNG ranks high in the middle of the pack for retention, graduation, and student-faculty ratios of universities surveyed for cyber security in Georgia.

• Homepage
• Average Net Price for Undergraduates: $9608

Online Cyber Security Degrees:

• None

5.) Georgia Southern University–Armstrong Campus

Georgia Southern University–Armstrong Campus (previously Armstrong State University) is a public four-year college with a main campus located in Savannah, Georgia. Though the university is classified as “four-year” a decent offerings of graduate degrees are also available. Currently the university is home to some 8,000 students, 7,000 of whom study at the undergraduate level. As a new memver of Georgia Southern University, a wide array of online degrees are also available at the university, particularly graduate degrees in education, engineering, information technology, and human resources. The latest reported data ranks Georgia Southern University’s Armstrong Campus as having some of the best measures of retention rate, graduation rate, and student-faculty ratio of surveyed schools in Georgia. The student-to-faculty ratio is currently 16:1 at the undergraduate level.

Georgia Southern University’s Armstrong Campus currently offers a number of cyber security related degree programs including an Associate of Science in Cyber Security, a Bachelor of Information Technology – Cyber Security Track, a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice – Cyber Crime Track, a Cyber Crime Graduate Certificate, a Cyber Crime Minor, a Cyber Security Minor, and a Cyber Security Undergraduate Certificate. Currently the cyber crime certificate is the only option available online. One can rest assured that whatever choice of cyber security degree through Georgia Southern University’s Armstrong campus is chosen that it aligns with national standards as Georgia Southern’s center for applied cyber education is a designated center of academic excellence according to the NSA. This designation originated on Armstrong State University, which has now been integrated into Georgia Southern University’s range of cyber security offerings.

• Homepage
• Average Net Price for Undergraduates: $18854

Online Cyber Security Degrees:

• cyber crime certificate

Cyber Security Resources in Georgia

Cyber Security Degree Providers in Georgia

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.