Information Assurance and Cyber Security Degrees in Tennessee

Cyber security professionals find opportunities in Tennessee from a variety of sources. With a $330 billion GDP, the state’s economy has steadily grown and diversified over the last two decades to become a leader in health care, information services, manufacturing, logistics, and tourism, which ranks in the top ten nationally. Of course, each of these industries is need of cyber security experts, and at least nine colleges and universities across Tennessee are offering programs in the field to train a growing workforce. (Over half are CAE-designated.)

Cyber Security Jobs in Tennessee

Information security analysts in Tennessee earn an annual mean wage of $80k-90k, which is slightly below the national average but appears to be increasing with demand. Of the current cyber security openings, over half pay over $90k, and 20% offer six-figures. Following statewide trends, Nashville is the sector’s largest employment hub, followed by Memphis, Knoxville, and Chattanooga. Because of Nashville’s prominent health care and financial services economy, many cyber jobs in the area are at medical centers, banks, and health insurers, each of which are among the top five sectors for IS employment nationwide. Nashville also has one of the fastest-growing tech sectors in the country, which produces tons of entry-, mid-, and senior-level information security jobs. Other major employers include FedEx (headquartered in Memphis), Marriott International, Information Technology Resources, Insight Enterprises, Deloitte, AT&T, and Kroll Information Assurance.

Cyber Security Degrees in Tennessee

Two-year associate degrees in cyber security are available from National College and Jackson State Community College, which offers an AAS in Computer Information Systems with a concentration in Cyber Defense.

Certificates in cyber security are offered by Nashville State Community College, University of Memphis, and The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, including specializations in Information Systems and Business Information Assurance.

Bachelor’s degrees in cyber security are available from UT Chattanooga, Tennessee Technological University, Fountainhead College of Technology, and Lipscomb University.

Middle Tennessee State University, University of Memphis, and UT Chattanooga all offer master’s tracks in cyber security specializations, as well.

Cyber Security Resources in Tennessee

Cyber Security Degree Providers in Tennessee

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.