Information Assurance and Cyber Security Degrees in Oregon

Oregon’s $226 billion GDP places 25th in the United States. Following a downturn in the 1990s and 2000s, Oregon has diversified its economy into a mixed manufacturing, services, and tech-based model that has spurred a variety of opportunities for cyber security professionals. Biotechnology, eco-friendly initiatives, and numerous corporate headquarters are expanding their cyber security roles as well to meet the demand for data privacy and protection. To that end, at least eight Oregon colleges and universities offer cyber security programs (several of which are CAE-designated), with more on the way.

Cyber Security Jobs in Oregon

Less than a thousand information security analysts live in Oregon, but the state ranks in the highest tier for annual mean wage, which the Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates to be $100k-120k. (The national average is $92,600.) Portland accounts for a third of the state’s security employment, followed by Salem, Eugene, Beaverton, Corvallis, and Hillsboro, all of which offer quality entry-, mid-, and senior-level roles. Seven Fortune 1000 companies are headquartered in Oregon, including athletic giants like Nike, Columbia Sportswear, and Adidas (American headquarters); and University of Oregon, Salem Health, Oregon State University, Allied Universal, and government agencies like the Department of the Interior, Department of Agriculture, and the FBI are additional IS employers to look up.

Cyber Security Degrees in Oregon

Certificates in cyber security are available at Linfield College, Mt. Hood Community College, Chemeketa Community College, and Portland State University, with specializations in Computer Security, Network Management and Systems Security, Firewall-Security, and Cyber Vulnerability, among others.

Two-year associate degrees in cyber security are offered by Umpqua Community College, Mt. Hood, and Lane Community College.

George Fox University and University of Oregon each offer bachelor’s in Computer Science – Cyber Security and Computer and Information Science – Security, respectively. Common studies include data communication and networking, computer security and forensics, and cyber defense. For those interested, Oregon offers a minor in Computer Information Technology

, as well.

Cyber Security Resources in Oregon

Cyber Security Degree Providers in Oregon

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.