Information Assurance and Cyber Security Degrees in New Jersey

New Jersey’s diverse economy provides cyber security professionals with opportunities in finance, pharmaceuticals, chemical development, communications, food processing, and energy, among other industries. In addition, New Jersey’s proximity to New York City further expands opportunities for IS professionals, and many commute to and from the city. At least four New Jersey colleges and universities offer certificates, bachelor’s, and master’s degrees in cyber security specializations, all of which are CAE-designated by the NSA and DHS.

Cyber Security Jobs in New Jersey

New Jersey is one of the best states in the country for cyber security workers, with one of the nation’s largest populations of IS professionals and the third-highest average pay: according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, New Jersey IS analysts earn $113,990 per year compared to $92,600 nationally. New Jersey cyber security workers also have access to jobs at top-tier companies in a variety of fields, from JP Morgan Chase and BNY Mellon to Lockheed Martin and the FBI. Jersey City, Florham Park, Basking Ridge, Montvale, and Newark are the largest job hubs, but New York City, Philadelphia, and Washington D.C. employ New Jersey cyber experts too.

Cyber Security Degrees in New Jersey

Certificates in cyber security are available from New Jersey City University, including an Information Security Standard certificate and a National Security Agency Certificate for Information Systems Security Officers. Stevens Institute of Technology offers graduate certificates in Secure Network Systems Design and Development of Trusted Software Systems.

Bachelor’s degrees in cyber security are offered by Fairleigh Dickinson University and Stevens Institute of Technology. Concentrations include Security & Forensics, Computer Security and Forensic Administration, and Cybersecurity & Information Assurance.

Master’s specializations in cyber security are offered by New Jersey Institute of Technology, Fairleigh Dickinson, and Stevens Institute, which offers a PhD in Computer Security, as well.

Cyber Security Resources in New Jersey

Cyber Security Degree Providers in New Jersey

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.

The 4 Best Cyber Security Degree Providers in New Jersey

Perhaps unsurprisingly, there are many high quality cyber security (and related field) degree providers in the state of New Jersey. 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.) Stevens Institute of Technology

Stevens Institute of Technology (SIT) is a private, research university with a main campus located in Hoboken, New Jersey. SIT has a long and storied history as one of the oldest technologically-centered universities in the nation as well as the first college in the nation dedicated to mechanical engineering. Over 6,000 students call the university home with a majority of these students at the graduate level. Students enjoy plenty of one-on-one instruction with an undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 7 to 1. Courses of study are split into four colleges that focus on engineering, systems and enterprises, business, and arts and letters. The university hosts three national centers of academic excellence focusing on areas of engineering. One center of academic excellence is cyber security facing, the Center for the Advancement of Secure Systems and Information Assurance.

SIT offers a number of cyber security-related programs at a variety of academic levels and completion times. As of the writing of this guide, SIT offers a Bachelor of Science in Cybersecurity, a Development of Trusted Software Systems Graduate Certificate, a Master of Science – Cybersecurity, a Master of Science in Computer Science – Secure Systems Focus, a Ph.D. program in Computer Science – Computer Security, and a Secure Network Systems Design Graduate Certificate. Whatever academic level one chooses to pursue a cyber security degree at through SIT, one can rest assured that academic programming is up to national and in-demand standards. The university has been designated a national center of academic excellence in information assurance by the DHS and NSA.

• Homepage
• Average Net Price In-State: $37168
• Cyber Security-Related Programs: Bachelor of Science in Cybersecurity Development of Trusted Software Systems Graduate Certificate Master of Science – Cybersecurity Master of Science in Computer Science – Secure Systems Focus Ph.D. program in Computer Science – Computer Security Secure Network Systems Design Graduate Certificate

2.) Fairleigh Dickinson University

Fairleigh Dickinson University (FDU) is a private, nonsectarian university with two locations in New Jersey as well as campuses in the United Kingdom and Canada. FDU is the largest private university in New Jersey, with over 12,000 students. Close to 9,000 students study at the undergraduate level, with the remainder at the graduate level. Academic quality and student satisfaction ratings are high for FDU, including a 13 to 1 student-faculty ratio and a 78% undergraduate retention rate. Among other honors, the university is one of the most collaborative with the United Nations, and was the first university to receive a special consultative status with the United Nations Economic and Social Council.

Fairleigh Dickinson University offers a variety of cyber security-related degree programs at a wide variety of academic levels. Current cyber security and information assurance programs include a B.S. in Computer Science – Cybersecurity & Information Assurance Concentration, a B.S. in Computer Science – Cybersecurity Concentration, a B.S. in Computer Science – Information Security Administration Concentration,a B.S. in Information Technology – Security & Forensics Concentration, a graduate certificate in Computer Security and Forensic Administration, and a M.S. in Cybersecurity and Information Assurance. Currently the graduate certificate program is available online, while the other cyber security degrees are available at FDU’s range of campuses. Whatever program one chooses to pursue, one can rest assured that it covers objectives of major employers as FDU is a designated center of academic excellence for cyber security according to the NSA and DHS.

• Homepage
• Average Net Price In-State: $25257
• Cyber Security-Related Programs: B.S. in Computer Science – Cybersecurity & Information Assurance Concentration B.S. in Computer Science – Cybersecurity Concentration B.S. in Computer Science – Information Security Administration Concentration B.S. in Information Technology – Security & Forensics Concentration Computer Security and Forensic Administration M.S. in Cybersecurity and Information Assurance

3.) New Jersey City University

New Jersey City University (NJCU) is a public, medium-sized university located in Jersey City, New Jersey. Currently around 6,800 undergraduate and 2,300 graduate students attend the university. Student support and academic quality measures are good at the university including a 13 to 1 student-to-faculty ratio for undergraduate studies, as well as a 78% retention rate among freshman students. Over 60 degree programs are offered at the undergraduate and graduate levels. The most popular programs at the university include early childhood education and music. Additionally, the university is the only in the nation to offer a bachelor’s degree in fire science dubbed “professional security.” As a public university, tuition is very affordable compared to comparable schools. Financial aid indicators are also quality.

NJCU offers two certificate options in cyber security including a Information Security Standard (INFOSEC) certificate , and The National Security Agency Certificate for Information Systems Security Officers (ISSO) certificate prep. As with all academic programming at NJCU, courses are quite affordable, particularly for local students. Additionally, quality academic indicators like student-to-faculty ratio, retention, and graduation rates point to a higher potential for student success than many universities. NJCU is also a designated center of cyber security excellence by the NSA and DHS.

• Homepage
• Average Net Price In-State: $11854
• Cyber Security-Related Programs: Information Security Standard (INFOSEC) The National Security Agency Certificate for Information Systems Security Officers (ISSO) – Standard (Entry)

4.) New Jersey Institute of Technology

New Jersey Institute of Technology (NJIT) is a public research university located in Newark, New Jersey. Home to some 11,000 students the university is known for a high level of research and it’s sea grant status. Notable areas of research include applied mathematics, materials science, biomedical engineering, cybersecurity, and solar-terrestrial physics. Among other notable facilities, the university hosts a class-10 and class-1000 clean room for researching bio-terror threats, a 67-node supercomputer cluster, and is a designated center of academic excellence in cyber security according to the NSA and DHS.

NJIT currently offers two degree programs in cyber security, including a Master of Science in Cyber Security and Privacy (MS CSP) and a MS in IT Administration and Security (MS IT AS). A bachelor of science in information technology also offers courses in information assurance. Academic and student support indicators at NJIT are quality with a freshman student retention rate of 88% and 17 to 1 student-to-faculty ratio. Additionally, NJIT is a designated center of academic excellence according to the NSA and DHS. This is the highest academic recognition in the cyber security field for universities.

• Homepage
• Average Net Price In-State: $15406
• Cyber Security-Related Programs: Master of Science in Cyber Security and Privacy (MS CSP) MS in IT Administration and Security (MS IT AS)