Information Assurance and Cyber Security Degrees in Hawaii

If Hawaii’s climate and culture are not attractive enough, abundant job positions may drive those with cyber security degrees to the Aloha State. The majority of experts in the field find work through the many defense contractors serving the multiple military installations on the island, particularly in the city of Honolulu. Only four schools in the state confer degrees in cyber security, but half are of especially high caliber, designated by the NSA as “National Centers of Academic Excellence in Cyber Security” (CAE).

Hawaii Cyber Security Jobs

Nationwide, Hawaii has one of the greatest numbers of qualified cyber security workers relative to industry demand. The vast majority of jobs in cyber security involve the islands’ many military installations. Most experts in the field here work for defense contracting companies such as Fulcrum IT and The MASY Group. Currently, the consulting firm Booz Allen Hamilton, has the greatest number of openings throughout the state. The most popular location for cyber security jobs is Honolulu, followed by Fort Shafter and Pearl Harbor as distant seconds. The Bureau of Labor Statistics cites a mean wage of $82,120 for cyber security analysts, some 30% below the national industry standard.

Cyber Security Degrees in Hawaii

Associate’s Degrees in cyber security are available through Honolulu Community College, which confers an Associate of Science in CENT with a minor in Information Assurance. The school is one of two recognized by the NSA as “National Centers of Academic Excellence in Cyber Security (CAE)”.

Bachelor’s Degrees in cyber security are offered by the University of Hawaii-West Oahu, which has a Bachelor of Applied Science in Information Security and Assurance, and is another CAE.

Master’s Degrees in cyber security are available through just one school in the state, Atlantic International University, which grants a Master’s degree in Network Administration and Security.

Certificates in cyber security are offered by Honolulu Community College and Hawaii Pacific University.

Cyber Security Resources in Hawaii

State Government Entity/Resource

State Government Entity/Resource

Professional Association

Professional Association

Open Web Application Security Project (OWASP)

Meetup

Other Resource: FBI/private partnership

Hawaii Hacker Hours

Meetup

Other Resource: nonprofit information exchange

Cyber Security Degree Providers in Hawaii

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.

Atlantic International University

Honolulu, Hawaii
N/A
Financial Aid Recipients
N/A%
Retention Rate
N/A%
NSA Designated
No
Degrees
  • Master of Network Administration and Security (MS)

Hawaii Pacific University

Honolulu, Hawaii
$ $ $ $ $
Financial Aid Recipients
95%
Retention Rate
65%
NSA Designated
No
Degrees
  • Professional Certificate in Telecommunications Security

Honolulu Community College

Honolulu, Hawaii
$ $ $ $ $
Financial Aid Recipients
50%
Retention Rate
55%
NSA Designated
Yes
Degrees
  • Associate of Science in CENT – Information Assurance Certificate of Achievement Information Assurance

University of Hawaii-West Oahu

Kapolei, Hawaii
$ $ $ $ $
Financial Aid Recipients
77%
Retention Rate
70%
NSA Designated
Yes
Degrees
  • Bachelor of Applied Science in Information Security and Assurance