American Public University System Online Bachelor of Science in Cybersecurity

American Public University System's online cybersecurity bachelor's is built for working adults and military families who want to start any month and choose a specialty. Five concentrations, 8-week courses and no-cost ebooks are the draw. The completion figure for transfer-in students is the number to weigh before you enroll.

American Public University System, based in Charles Town, West Virginia, is a private for-profit online university system that includes American Military University and American Public University. It is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission. The Bachelor of Science in Cybersecurity is 120 semester hours, delivered fully online, with 12 start dates a year.

APUS enrolls about 50,715 students, and 100% of enrolled students study exclusively online, so you won't be the lone remote student in the room. The size shows in the support structure and in the range of concentrations on offer.

The full rubric is on the methodology page.

The standard rate is $360 per undergraduate credit, which puts the 120-credit degree at about $43,200 in tuition. Eligible military students and families pay $250 per credit under the Preferred Military Rate. Ebooks are included at no cost, so you skip a textbook bill. Transfer credits lower the total directly, so ask for an evaluation before you do the math.

120 credits at $360 a credit comes to $43,200 in tuition, before fees.

Who It Fits

• Active-duty service members, Guard and Reserve members, and military families. The Preferred Military Rate is $250 per credit instead of the standard $360.
• Working adults who need to start between jobs or deployments. Courses start monthly and run 8 weeks, so a missed start costs you weeks rather than months.
• Students who already know their lane. Critical Infrastructure and Digital Forensics are specializations most general cybersecurity degrees don't offer.

Who Should Skip It

• Students who want a public-school price or a state-flagship name. APUS is a for-profit system, and its 41.5% eight-year completion rate for transfer-in students is worth weighing.
• Students who prefer a slower semester rhythm. Courses run 8 weeks, so the pace is quick and a busy month can set you back.

You must choose a concentration, and there are five: General, Critical Infrastructure, Digital Forensics, Privacy and Surveillance, and Wireless and Mobile Security. Critical Infrastructure covers ICS and SCADA security, the industrial control systems behind power, water and manufacturing. Digital Forensics suits people drawn to investigations and evidence handling.

Notable courses across the program include Red and Blue Team Security, where you practice both attacking and defending, plus Cryptography Concepts, Cybercrime, Cyber Warfare and Biometrics. The degree ends with a capstone, ISSC499 Senior Seminar in Cybersecurity, where you pull the concentration work together. Cyber Warfare and Cybercrime also show the program's reach beyond corporate IT, into government, law enforcement and defense work, which fits the school's military roots.

APUS also offers an associate and a master's in cybersecurity, so this is the four-year step between them.

Courses the School Names

• Red and Blue Team Security
• Cryptography Concepts
• Cybercrime
• Cyber Warfare
• Biometrics

Standout Features

• Five concentrations including Critical Infrastructure (ICS and SCADA security) and Digital Forensics

Everything is online, in 8-week terms with monthly starts. Eight weeks is a fast pace, and the student body is large, with about 50,715 students enrolled: you take fewer courses at once and finish each sooner, which many working adults prefer, but a missed week costs more than it would in a 16-week term.

The school's size means a deep bench of online peers and support teams. Ask whether courses run on a weekly schedule with set deadlines and how much live interaction to expect.

The university is institutionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission. Beyond that accreditation, what employers see is the concentration you choose and the hands-on work you can describe from courses like Red and Blue Team Security. Industry certifications are a separate step, and your advisor can tell you which concentration courses line up with the exams you want.

Where this degree can lead: Cybersecurity Degree Jobs.

• Completion is low. Transfer-in students finish at a 41.5% rate within eight years, so plan your support and schedule carefully.
• Federal data puts median earnings for graduates in this field at $86,275, so check that against what you plan to borrow.
• Eight-week terms move fast. Two courses in one term can feel heavy if you work full time.

• Which concentration do most students pick, and what jobs do graduates take?
• How many of my credits transfer, and when do I get the evaluation?
• Do I qualify for the Preferred Military Rate, and does it apply to the whole degree?
• What do the Red and Blue Team Security labs look like, and where do they run?
• What is the pace if I take one course per 8-week term?

Online university system in Charles Town, West Virginia that includes American Military University and American Public University, accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.

• Best Digital Forensics Degrees Rank 4 of 10, bachelor's
• Best Affordable Online Programs Rank 9 of 10, bachelor's
• Best Accelerated Online Programs Rank 4 of 10, bachelor's
• Best for Military Students Rank 4 of 9, bachelor's
• Best for Working Adults Rank 7 of 10, bachelor's
• Best With Multiple Start Dates Rank 3 of 9, bachelor's
• Best Online Programs in West Virginia Rank 1 of 2, bachelor's

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