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

Professsional Association

Nashville Cyber Security for Control Systems

Meetup

Meetup

Other Resource: Education and innovation center

Other Resource: Conference

Other Resource: Conference

Other Resource: Conference

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.

Fountainhead College of Technology

Knoxville, Tennessee
$ $ $ $ $
Financial Aid Recipients
100%
Retention Rate
N/A%
NSA Designated
Yes
Degrees
  • Bachelor of Applied Science in Network Security & Forensics

Jackson State Community College

Jackson, Tennessee
N/A
Financial Aid Recipients
N/A%
Retention Rate
N/A%
NSA Designated
Yes
Degrees
  • Associate of Applied Science in Computer Information Systems: Cyber Defense Concentration

Lipscomb University

Nashville, Tennessee
$ $ $ $ $
Financial Aid Recipients
98%
Retention Rate
85%
NSA Designated
No
Degrees
  • Bachelor of Science in Information Security

Middle Tennessee State University

Murfreesboro, Tennessee
$ $ $ $ $
Financial Aid Recipients
96%
Retention Rate
75%
NSA Designated
No
Degrees
  • Master of Science in Information Systems with a concentration in Information Security and Assurance

Nashville State Community College

Nashville, Tennessee
$ $ $ $ $
Financial Aid Recipients
96%
Retention Rate
42%
NSA Designated
No
Degrees
  • Information Security Technical Certificate

National College

Nashville, Tennessee
$ $ $ $ $
Financial Aid Recipients
100%
Retention Rate
20%
NSA Designated
No
Degrees
  • Cybersecurity Associate’s Degree

Tennessee Technological University

Cookeville, Tennessee
$ $ $ $ $
Financial Aid Recipients
98%
Retention Rate
79%
NSA Designated
Yes
Degrees
  • Bachelor of Science in Computer Science – Cyber Security

The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga

Chattanooga, Tennessee
$ $ $ $ $
Financial Aid Recipients
94%
Retention Rate
74%
NSA Designated
Yes
Degrees
  • Advanced Information Systems Security Certificate Bachelor of Science in Computer Science – Information Security and Assurance Concentration Certificate in Advanced Information Systems Security Certificate in Information Systems Security Master of Science in Computer Science – Information Security and Assurance Concentration

University of Memphis

Memphis, Tennessee
$ $ $ $ $
Financial Aid Recipients
96%
Retention Rate
80%
NSA Designated
Yes
Degrees
  • Graduate Certificate in Information Assurance Graduate Certificate Program in Business Information Assurance Master of Science in Information Systems