American Public University System Online Master of Science in Cybersecurity Studies

This 36-credit master's has a standard rate of $470 per credit, 12 starts a year and three different ways to qualify for admission, including a Security+ certification or two years of related work. It is built for working adults and military families, with a $250 per credit military rate. Expect flexibility and a low price, with a lower completion rate than selective campuses.

The Master of Science in Cybersecurity Studies is offered by American Military University, part of American Public University System in Charles Town, West Virginia. The system is private for-profit, accredited by the Higher Learning Commission, and serves a very large online student body. Federal data shows 100% of its graduate students study exclusively online, so the whole operation is designed around distance learners.

The degree is 36 semester credits. Courses run eight weeks and a new one starts every month, which lets you take a single course at a time and still keep moving. The program leans toward the investigative and offensive side of security more than pure management.

The full rubric is on the methodology page.

The standard rate is $470 per master's-level credit, which puts tuition for 36 credits at $16,920. An $85 technology fee is charged per master's-level course, so the fees add up across a full program. Eligible military students and families pay the Preferred Military Rate of $250 per credit.

For comparison, other master's programs on this site charge noticeably more per credit. This one is among the least expensive, and the monthly start schedule means you can pay course by course instead of committing to a large term bill. Ask the school for the current total including the technology fee before you budget.

36 credits at $470 a credit comes to $16,920 in tuition, before fees.

Who It Fits

• Active-duty service members, Guard and Reserve members and military families, who qualify for the Preferred Military Rate of $250 per credit.
• IT professionals without a computer science degree. One admission route accepts a bachelor's degree plus an IT certification such as Security+, and another accepts two years of related work experience.
• Students who want to start soon. With monthly starts, you are never more than a few weeks from the next course.

Who Should Skip It

• Students who want a designated federal cyber defense program or a school with a strong research reputation. Choose a campus-based or designated program if either matters to you.
• People who need a cohort and a fixed schedule. Eight-week courses with monthly starts reward self-direction, and the completion rate in federal data is low.

The notable courses read like a forensics and incident-response track: Offensive Cybersecurity, Cyber Intelligence, Computer Forensics, Advanced Cybercrime Analysis, Intrusion Detection and Incident Handling, and Information Assurance. If your goal is to investigate breaches, hunt for intruders or support law enforcement and intelligence work, the course list matches that goal.

The final requirement is the Cybersecurity Studies Capstone or the Capstone Practical, three credits either way. The school gives you the choice, which is useful if you would rather finish with a hands-on practical than a written study. Ask what each option involves before you pick.

Courses the School Names

• Offensive Cybersecurity
• Cyber Intelligence
• Computer Forensics
• Advanced Cybercrime Analysis
• Intrusion Detection and Incident Handling
• Information Assurance

Standout Features

• Three admission routes: IT education, an IT certification, or two years of related work experience

Every course runs eight weeks and a new one starts each month, 12 starts a year. That pace makes it possible to take one course at a time while working full time, or two if you want to finish sooner. Ask an advisor whether sessions are live or self-paced, because that changes how you plan your week.

With 100% of graduate students online, you will not be the only distance learner in the room. Federal data puts the 8-year completion rate for transfer students at 41.5%, which is a reminder that a flexible schedule needs discipline.

The school is institutionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission. Any CompTIA or (ISC)2 certification would be something you study for on top of the coursework. The Security+ route into the program is a useful signal that the school values industry credentials, but it does not mean the degree prepares you for the exam.

Federal College Scorecard data shows median graduate earnings of $111,755 for this school's graduates, a real figure to weigh against the cost.

Where this degree can lead: Cybersecurity Degree Jobs.

• The completion rate is low. The 8-year rate for transfer students is 41.5%, lower than at most traditional campuses.
• The technology fee of $85 per course adds to the $470 per credit tuition.
• No concentrations, internship or cyber defense designation are listed.
• For-profit ownership means some employers and some doctoral programs treat the degree differently than one from a state university. Check with the employers you care about.

• Which of the three admission routes fits my background, and what documents prove it?
• How much does the full 36 credits cost once the technology fee is added?
• What is the difference between the Cybersecurity Studies Capstone and the Capstone Practical?
• Are courses live, self-paced or a mix, and how many hours a week should I plan on?
• How are military credit and prior training evaluated for a master's student?
• Do any courses prepare for a certification, or is that separate study?

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

• Best Affordable Online Programs Rank 6 of 10, master's
• Best Accelerated Online Programs Rank 7 of 10, master's
• Best for Military Students Rank 3 of 10, master's
• Best With Multiple Start Dates Rank 6 of 10, master's
• Best Online Programs in West Virginia Rank 1 of 4, master's

• Bachelor of Science in Cybersecurity

  B.S., Bachelor's

  Fully Online $360 per credit Score 62.1

• Associate of Science in Cybersecurity

  A.S., Associate

  Fully Online $360 per credit Score 45.7

• Pennsylvania Western University

  Professional Science Master's in Cybersecurity

  Pennsylvania $568 per credit Score 58.8

• University of Wisconsin-Whitewater

  Master of Science in Cybersecurity

  Wisconsin $722 per credit Score 58.9

• Saint Mary's University of Minnesota

  Master of Science in Cybersecurity

  Minnesota $775 per credit Score 58.5

• Boise State University

  Master of Science in Cyber Operations and Resilience

  Idaho $550 per credit Score 59.1