Information Assurance and Cyber Security Degrees in West Virginia

West Virginia is on its way to becoming one of the best places for cyber security opportunities in the country. Long known for its energy and mining industries, the state’s biotech and research & development initiatives should produce a variety of security roles in the future, and sectors like healthcare, aerospace, and defense already need top security talent. Another cyber catalyst? West Virginia has at least eight colleges and universities that offer cyber security degrees – an impressive number for a state of its size – and more programs are expected.

Cyber Security Jobs in West Virginia

Information security analysts earn a mean annual wage of $45k-80k in West Virginia, which is below the national average but an upgrade over the state’s median household income. Further, experienced mid- and upper-level workers’ pay is excellent: the 75th percentile makes $93k, and the 90th percentile earns a six-figure salary. Ranked by Forbes as a top-ten small city for business, Morgantown leads West Virginia in cyber security job opportunities, followed by Clarksburg, Charleston, Fairmont, and Martinsburg. In addition to several health insurance companies and medical centers, cyber security professionals work at national consulting, finance, and IT corporations like Leidos, United Bank, IBM, ManTech International Corporation, ActioNet, and Salient CRGT, among others.

Cyber Security Degrees in West Virginia

Certificates in cyber security, digital forensics, information assurance, and more are available at West Virginia University, Marshall University, American Public University, and Blue Ridge Community and Technical College.

APU, Salem International University, and University of Charleston offer bachelor’s degrees in cyber security.

For those interested in an advanced program, APU also offers West Virginia’s only master’s tracks in cyber security, with an MA in Nation Security Studies and an MS in Cyber Security Studies, which are designed for maximum flexibility to accommodate adult learners and working professionals.

Cyber Security Resources in West Virginia

West Virginia Office of Information Security Controls & Complianc

State Government Entity/Resource

Professsional Association

Professsional Association

Other Resource: Conference

Cyber Security Degree Providers in West Virginia

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.

American Public University System

Charles Town, West Virginia
$ $ $ $ $
Financial Aid Recipients
100%
Retention Rate
76%
NSA Designated
No
Degrees
  • Bachelor of Science in Cybersecurity Bachelor of Science in Information Systems Security Graduate Certificate in Cybercrime Graduate Certificate in Information Assurance Graduate Certificate in Information Systems Security Master of Arts in National Security Studies – Capstone Option Master of Science in Cybersecurity Studies Undergraduate Certificate in Cybercrime Essentials Undergraduate Certificate in Cybersecurity Undergraduate Certificate in Information Security Planning Undergraduate Certificate in Information Systems Security Essentials Undergraduate Certificate in IT Infrastructure Security

Blue Ridge Community and Technical College

Martinsburg, West Virginia
$ $ $ $ $
Financial Aid Recipients
85%
Retention Rate
65%
NSA Designated
Yes
Degrees
  • A.A.S. in Cyber Security Information Security Certificate

Marshall University

Huntington, West Virginia
$ $ $ $ $
Financial Aid Recipients
95%
Retention Rate
75%
NSA Designated
No
Degrees
  • Graduate Certificate in Digital Forensics Graduate Certificate in Information Security

Mountwest Community and Technical College

Huntington, West Virginia
$ $ $ $ $
Financial Aid Recipients
83%
Retention Rate
43%
NSA Designated
No
Degrees
  • Associate of Applied Science in Information Technology – Network Systems Security

Salem International University

Salem, West Virginia
$ $ $ $ $
Financial Aid Recipients
92%
Retention Rate
46%
NSA Designated
No
Degrees
  • Bachelor of Science in Information Technology – Cybersecurity

University of Charleston

Charleston, West Virginia
$ $ $ $ $
Financial Aid Recipients
97%
Retention Rate
66%
NSA Designated
No
Degrees
  • Bachelor’s of Science in Cyber Security

West Virginia Northern Community College

Wheeling, West Virginia
$ $ $ $ $
Financial Aid Recipients
90%
Retention Rate
54%
NSA Designated
No
Degrees
  • A.A.S. in Cyber Security

West Virginia University

Morgantown, West Virginia
$ $ $ $ $
Financial Aid Recipients
91%
Retention Rate
79%
NSA Designated
Yes
Degrees
  • Graduate Certificate in Computer Forensics Information Assurance and Biometrics Certificate Program