Information Assurance and Cyber Security Degrees in Massachusetts

Fortune named Boston 5th on its 2017 list of “Cities that could Become the World’s Cyber Security Capital.” The city largely pioneered the cyber security industry in the 80’s with companies like RSA (now owned by Dell).
Massachusetts is the 8th smallest state in the nation but packs in the 14th largest population. With such density, it’s not a complete surprise that this little state boasts 13 institutes awarding cyber security degrees and 8,506 job openings.

Massachusetts Cyber Security Jobs

Boston is a hub for cyber security opportunities, home to some of the newest stars in the field including Carbon Black and the software analysis firm Veracode, which was acquired last month by CA Technologies. In addition to work in tech companies like Leidos Cyber and IBM, cyber security jobs can be found frequently with defense companies, such as MIT Lincoln Laboratory and Raytheon. The Bureau of Labor Statistics lists a mean wage of $97,750 for Massachusetts-based cyber security analysts, a step up from the national median of $92,600. The high cost of living in Massachusetts, however, significantly detracts from this high figure. This is particularly true for those living in the costly city of Boston, where the majority of cyber security jobs are concentrated.

Cyber Security Degrees in Massachusetts

Associate’s Degrees in cyber security are available from four schools in the state: Bristol Community College, Massachusetts Bay Community College, Quinsigamond Community College, and Middlesex Community College.

Bachelor’s Degrees in cyber security are offered by just two schools in Massachusetts. Bay Path University has a Bachelor of Science in Cybersecurity: Digital Forensics. The University of Massachusetts Amherst awards a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science with a Security & Privacy Track, and is recognized by the NSA as a “National Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Security” (CAE).

Master’s Degrees in cyber security are available through seven different colleges in the state, three of which are designated by the NSA as CAEs.

Certificates and Doctoral Degrees in cyber security are offered by several different institutes. Seven schools offer certificates in cyber security, of which three are CAEs. Two schools offer Ph.D. programs in the subject. Northeastern University confers a Doctoral Degree in Information Assurance. Worcester Polytechnic Institute offers two doctoral degrees in cyber security: Ph.D. in Computer Science with a Cyber Security Focus and a Ph.D. in Electrical and Computer Engineering with a Cyber Security Focus. Both schools are designated as CAEs by the NSA.

Cyber Security Resources in Massachusetts

Professional Association

Professional Association

Professional Association

Boston Network Security Group

Meetup

Massachusetts Cybersecurity Growth and Development Center

Other Resource: Collaboration and innovation center

Massachusetts Cybersecurity Forum

Other Resource: Conference

Other Resourcen: Education partnership

Other Resource: Nonprofit resource center

Cyber Security Degree Providers in Massachusetts

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.

Bay Path University

Longmeadow, Massachusetts
$ $ $ $ $
Financial Aid Recipients
100%
Retention Rate
72%
NSA Designated
No
Degrees
  • Bachelor of Science in Cybersecurity – Digital Forensics Master of Science in Cybersecurity Management

Boston College

Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts
$ $ $ $ $
Financial Aid Recipients
53%
Retention Rate
95%
NSA Designated
No
Degrees
  • Master of Science in Cybersecurity Policy and Governance

Boston University

Boston, Massachusetts
$ $ $ $ $
Financial Aid Recipients
54%
Retention Rate
93%
NSA Designated
Yes
Degrees
  • Graduate Certificate in Information Security MS in Computer Engineering Specialization in Cyber Security MS in Computer Information Systems with Concentration in Security MS in Computer Science with Concentration in Security MS in Computer Science with Specialization in Cyber Security

Brandeis University

Waltham, Massachusetts
$ $ $ $ $
Financial Aid Recipients
63%
Retention Rate
94%
NSA Designated
No
Degrees
  • Master of Science in Information Security

Bristol Community College

Fall River, Massachusetts
$ $ $ $ $
Financial Aid Recipients
80%
Retention Rate
61%
NSA Designated
No
Degrees
  • Associate in Science in Computer Information Systems

Massachusetts Bay Community College

Wellesley Hills, Massachusetts
$ $ $ $ $
Financial Aid Recipients
61%
Retention Rate
59%
NSA Designated
No
Degrees
  • Advanced Cyber Security Certificate Associate in Science – Cyber Security Cyber Security Certificate

Middlesex Community College

Bedford, Massachusetts
$ $ $ $ $
Financial Aid Recipients
69%
Retention Rate
63%
NSA Designated
No
Degrees
  • Information Technology Cybersecurity – Transfer Associate in Science – Liberal Studies

Mount Wachusett Community College

Gardner, Massachusetts
$ $ $ $ $
Financial Aid Recipients
81%
Retention Rate
53%
NSA Designated
No
Degrees
  • Cyber Security Certificate

Northeastern University

Boston, Massachusetts
$ $ $ $ $
Financial Aid Recipients
73%
Retention Rate
97%
NSA Designated
Yes
Degrees
  • Graduate Certificate in Information Security Management M.S. in Information Assurance PhD in Information Assurance

Quinsigamond Community College

Worcester, Massachusetts
$ $ $ $ $
Financial Aid Recipients
78%
Retention Rate
54%
NSA Designated
No
Degrees
  • Associate in Science in Computer Systems Engineering Technology – Forensics Option Certificate in Computer Systems Engineering Technology – Cyber Security

Regis College

Weston, Massachusetts
$ $ $ $ $
Financial Aid Recipients
99%
Retention Rate
78%
NSA Designated
Yes
Degrees
  • Bachelor of Science in Computer Science – Cybersecurity Specialization

University of Massachusetts Amherst

Amherst, Massachusetts
$ $ $ $ $
Financial Aid Recipients
91%
Retention Rate
91%
NSA Designated
Yes
Degrees
  • BS in Computer Science with Security & Privacy Track

University of Massachusetts-Lowell

Lowell, Massachusetts
$ $ $ $ $
Financial Aid Recipients
89%
Retention Rate
85%
NSA Designated
No
Degrees
  • Graduate Certificate in Network Security Online Master of Science in Security Studies: Cyber Security Concentration

Worcester Polytechnic Institute

Worcester, Massachusetts
$ $ $ $ $
Financial Aid Recipients
99%
Retention Rate
95%
NSA Designated
Yes
Degrees
  • Graduate Certificate in Cybersecurity Information Security Management Graduate Certificate MS in Computer Science – Specialization in Security PhD in Computer Science – Cybersecurity Focus PhD in Electrical and Computer Engineering – Cybersecurity Focus