Information Assurance and Cyber Security Degrees in New York

New York’s wildly diverse, robust economy presents a range of opportunities for cyber security professionals, from finance and healthcare to tech services, media and entertainment, shipping, and leisure and hospitality. Annual state GDP routinely tops $1.5 trillion, and if the state were an independent nation, its economy would rank as high as the 12th largest in the world. New York also hosts more colleges and universities with degrees in cyber security than any other state in the country, many of which are CAE-designated by the NSA and DHS.

Cyber Security Jobs in New York

New York has one of the highest concentrations of information security workers in the United States, and ranks second behind Washington D.C. for annual mean wage, with IA professionals earning $115,690 per year compared to $92,600 nationally. New York City is the largest employment hub with 4,500 workers earning an average $125,100—first in the country. From there, Rome, Syracuse, Buffalo, Rochester, and Albany rank among the best cities for New York IS jobs. The largest companies in the area include Verizon Communications, JPMorgan Chase, Pfizer, and American Express; and New York City’s “Silicon Alley” features major campuses and headquarters of tech giants like IBM, Spotify, Kickstarter, and numerous bio tech firms, all of which require extensive cyber security talent.

Cyber Security Degrees in New York

Associate degrees in cyber security are available from over a half-dozen schools, including Utica College, ASA College, Pace University, Rochester Institute of Technology, St. John’s University-New York, University at Buffalo, and the United States Military Academy.

Bachelor’s degrees in cyber security are offered by 9 colleges and universities, including SUNY Polytechnic Institute, St. John’s University-New York, and Iona College, and feature specializations in a variety of areas: Information Assurance, Network and Computer Security, and Cybercrime and Fraud Investigation, among others.

Master’s degrees in cyber security can be found at a dozen universities, including CUNY John Jay Col
lege of Criminal Justice, SUNY at Albany, Excelsior College, Fordham University, New York University, and New York Institute of Technology. Utica College, which has one of the largest online security programs in the state, offers five master’s in cyber security, plus two MBA concentrations.

Doctorate tracks in cyber security include NYU’s PhD program and Rochester Institute of Technology’s PhD in Computing and Information Sciences with a Computing Security focus.

The 5 Best Cyber Security Degree Providers in New York

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

RIT is a private, doctoral university in the city of its namesake. It’s known for its fine arts, computing, engineering, and imaging science programs. RIT was founded in 1829, and currently serves over 16,500 students with a cozy 13:1 student-to-faculty ratio. It’s education is career focused, and its offerings include over 200 academic programs, including seven doctoral programs. RIT confers degrees at all levels from undergraduate to doctoral, as well as certificate programs. In 2017 it was ranked 97th in the National Universities category by US News and World Report. RIT is also known for its co-op program, which began over 100 years ago. It requires/allows students to alternate between taking classes and working in their field. A major perk of the program is students are considered full-time students by the school but their tuition is waived while they’re participating.

RIT offers students a wealth of Cybersecurity options including an Advanced Certificate in Information Assurance, a BS Computing Security, a BS/MS in Computing Security, a MS Computing Security, a MS in Computer Science with a Security Cluster, and a Ph.D. in Computing and Information Sciences with a Computing Security focus. The programs build skills in programming, multimedia, and database systems, among many other aspects of Cybersecurity. Students get to specialize through elective courses in different aspects of the field. They prioritize active learning, team projects, research, and co-op opportunities with industry leaders.

• Homepage
• Average Net Price Undergrad: 18th-$29,111

Online Cybersecurity Degree Programs:

• None

2) University at Buffalo

Buffalo is a public research university based in Buffalo and Amherst. It was founded in 1846. Over 30,100 students attend UB, which has an improbably low 13:1 student-to-faculty ratio. In 2017-18, graduate tuition and fees for UB was $13,384 for in-state students, and $24,724 for out-of-state students. UB offers students access to more than 100 bachelor’s, 205 master’s, 84 doctoral, and 10 professional areas of study. It has consistently been ranked as one of the best schools in the state and country by Kiplinger, USNR, the Wall Street Journal, and more, and is noted for its value.

Buffalo offers an Advanced (Graduate) Certificate Program in Information Assurance. It’s a collaboration on behalf of Buffalo’s Computer Science and Engineering (CSE), School of Management (SOM), Mathematics (MTH), and School of Law (LAW). Students can choose to specialize in a Technical Track with courses like Computer Security and Wireless Networks Security, or a Managerial Track with courses like Network Management and a Seminar in E-Commerce. There are also a number of general electives like Operating Systems Internals, Computer Communications, Intellectual Property, Data Mining, Secure Wireless Sensor Networks, and much more.

• Homepage
• Average Net Price Undergrad: 8th-$15,987

Online Cybersecurity Degree Programs:

• None

3) Utica College

UC is a private university operating from Utica, New York. Utica started as an extension of Syracuse University in the 1930’s, but was officially established in 1946, then became a completely independent institution in 1995. Over 5,100 students attend UC, which offers a 12:1 student-to-faculty ratio. UC serves students through 40 undergraduate majors, 29 undergraduate minors, and 21 graduate programs. It’s known for its accelerated nursing program, chemistry program, teacher educational programming, health science, economic crime management (first in the world to offer a master’s in this field) and of course as a leading college in cybersecurity education.

UC offers 12 online degrees in Cyber Security, which is far more than average. Their programs allow significant specialization in areas like Cybercrime, Cyber Operations, Malware Analysis, Information Assurance, Network Forensics, Cyber Policy and Risk Analysis, and much more. Their programs are divided into 4 Bachelor’s and 8 Master’s. The Bachelor programs include specializations in Network Forensics and Intrusion Investigation, Information Assurance, Cybercrime and Fraud Investigation, and Cyber Operations. The Master’s program has 8 specializations that further delve into areas of Cybersecurity and Information Assurance. Courses cover digital forensics and intrusion investigations, cyber operations, fraud investigations, homeland security and emergency management.

• Homepage
• Average Net Price Undergrad: 12th-$24,153

Online Cybersecurity Degree Programs: 12

• Online Bachelor of Science in Cybersecurity – Cyber Operations
• Online Bachelor of Science in Cybersecurity – Cybercrime and Fraud Investigation
• Online Bachelor of Science in Cybersecurity – Information Assurance
• Online Bachelor of Science in Cybersecurity – Network Forensics and Intrusion Investigation
• Online Master of Professional Studies in Cyber Policy and Risk Analysis – Cyber Policy
• Online Master of Science in Cybersecurity – Computer Forensics
• Online Master of Science in Cybersecurity – Cyber Operations
• Online Master of Science in Cybersecurity – Electronic Crime
• Online Master of Science in Cybersecurity – Intelligence
• Online Master of Science in Cybersecurity – Malware Analysis
• Online MBA in Cyber Policy
• Online MBA in Cybersecurity

4) Columbia University in the City of New York

Columbia is a private research university and Ivy League school that was founded in NYC in 1754. It is the oldest college in NY state, and the fifth institution of higher learning in the country. It is known for its selectivity, and recently was accepting only 5.8% of applicants, making it the second most selective Ivy. Over 29,300 students attend Columbia, which has a 6:1 student-to-faculty ratio. It’s especially known for its graduate schools, and offers a wealth of Master’s and Doctoral degrees. USNR ranked it 5th among “national universities” and 8th in its best global universities ranking for 2017. USNR also ranked Columbia’s Fu Foundation School of Engineering and Applied Science 13th in the nation.

Columbia offers a Master of Science in Technology Management with a Cybersecurity focus. The program is intended to help professionals discuss, build, implement and take care of information, fend off attacks, deal with cyber crises, and much more. Graduates can work as a CISO or other relevant C-level positions, in leadership positions in cybersecurity, and more. Designated electives in this focus include Executive Strategy, Response, and Risk Management and Enterprise Information Security: Threats and Defense. The program can be taken in New York, San Francisco or Paris. It includes flexible online and interactive learning, as well as four multi-day intensive sessions that let students network with peers, faculty and industry leaders. The program can be completed in 16 months.

• Homepage
• Average Net Price Undergrad: 10th-$22,973

Online Cybersecurity Degree Programs:

• Master of Science in Technology Management with a Cybersecurity focus can be taken partially online

5) SUNY Polytechnic Institute

SUNY Poly is a public research university with campuses in Utica and Albany, New York. It was founded in 1966. The school serves over 2900 students and offers a 13:1 student-to-faculty ratio. SUNY Poly offers more than 25 bachelor’s degrees, 12 master’s degrees, and 4 doctoral degrees through six colleges (Arts & Sciences, Business Management, Engineering, Health Sciences, Nanoscale Engineering and Nanoscale Science). The school does significant research into semiconductors and microchips.

Poly offers a Bachelor of Science (BS) degree in Network and Computer Security, as well as a Master of Science program in Network and Computer Security that can be taken online or on campus. Both programs tackle information security principles, data communications networks, and computer system security. They offer a wide range of electives to allow students utility in shaping their education. The Bachelor’s program takes four years, and includes courses like Network Transmission Technology, Data Network Design, Information Assurance Policies, Ethics, and Disaster Recovery, and much more. The Master’s program requires 18 months and students to have an applicable undergraduate degree or complete appropriate pre-requisite coursework with the help of a faculty advisor.

• Homepage
• Average Net Price Undergrad: 6th-$14,410
• Net Price Calculator

Online Cybersecurity Degree Programs:

• Master of Science in Network and Computer Security

Cyber Security Resources in New York

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.