Auburn University Online Master of Science in Cybersecurity Engineering

Auburn's online Master of Science in Cybersecurity Engineering is a 33-credit, non-thesis engineering degree from a National Security Agency (NSA) and Department of Homeland Security (DHS) designated cyber school. Tuition is $949 per credit, or $31,317 in total, and it's the same price whether or not you live in Alabama. It's best for software-minded people who want deep technical courses, and it asks for a real computing background.

Auburn University is a public university in Auburn, Alabama, with about 34,145 students. The online degree is run by the Samuel Ginn College of Engineering through its Engineering Online Graduate Program.

The degree takes a minimum of 33 semester credit hours and is non-thesis. The program page says Auburn is one of only ten universities designated by DHS and the NSA as a Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense Education, Cyber Defense Research and Cyber Operations. Students who finish the degree also receive the CAE-CD designation.

The Samuel Ginn College of Engineering runs this degree through its online graduate program, and the degree can also be earned on campus or as a mix of the two.

Engineering online tuition is $949 per semester credit hour, and the degree needs 33 credits. That puts total tuition at $31,317. Auburn says the rate is the same for Alabama residents and non-residents, so out-of-state students don't pay a premium.

Up to 6 semester hours of graduate credit from another accredited graduate school may transfer in, which could trim the total if you already have graduate coursework.

33 credits at $949 a credit comes to $31,317 in tuition, before fees.

Who It Fits

• You hold a bachelor's in computer science, software engineering or a similar software-oriented field and want to go deeper on the engineering side.
• You want the NSA and DHS designation attached to your graduate degree.
• You live outside Alabama and want a public-university price that doesn't change with your residency.
• You are comfortable finishing over about three to three-and-a-half years while you work.

Who Should Skip It

• You don't have a software or IT background; the admission page asks for a software-oriented bachelor's, though related degrees or significant work experience may qualify.
• You want a short, fast master's; the average online student finishes in three to three-and-a-half years.
• You want a management-focused security degree; the course list is technical.

The notable courses are engineering-heavy. Computer and Network Security and Cybersecurity Threats and Countermeasures cover how attacks work and how defenders respond. Secure Cloud Computing deals with protecting cloud systems, and Digital Forensics covers collecting and examining evidence after a breach.

Software Reverse Engineering is the standout. You take compiled programs apart to see what they really do, which is a skill used in malware analysis.

The degree ends with a 3-credit Capstone Engineering Project (COMP7980). Auburn's research notes add that its cryptography course is offered on campus only, so online students choose other electives.

Courses the School Names

• Secure Cloud Computing
• Digital Forensics
• Computer and Network Security
• Cybersecurity Threats and Countermeasures
• Software Reverse Engineering

Standout Features

• Designated by DHS and the NSA as a Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense Education, Cyber Defense Research and Cyber Operations (one of only ten universities)
• Graduates also receive the CAE-CD designation

Non-thesis students can complete the degree 100% online, and Auburn runs on a semester system. The average online student finishes in three to three-and-a-half years, so most students take a part-time load.

Federal data shows about 30% of Auburn graduate students study fully online. That is lower than at schools built around distance learning, because Auburn is a large residential campus first. The online engineering program has its own office and FAQ, which is where to ask about course scheduling.

Auburn is accredited by SACSCOC, the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges, and the degree's strengths are the designation and the engineering college behind it.

What sets the program apart is the cyber designation. Auburn is described as one of only ten universities in the nation with the three-part Center of Academic Excellence designation, and graduates of the MS-CYBE receive the CAE-CD designation.

Auburn's federal graduation rate is 82% school-wide, and 46% of applicants are admitted.

Where this degree can lead: Cybersecurity Degree Jobs.

The full rubric is on the methodology page.

• At $949 per credit it costs more than many online cybersecurity master's programs.
• The three to three-and-a-half year average finish is long.
• The admission page asks for a software-oriented bachelor's, so career changers from non-technical fields may need to show equivalent experience.
• No certification prep is listed, and the cryptography course is on campus only.

• Would my bachelor's or work experience count as equivalent to a software-oriented degree?
• Which online electives replace the on-campus cryptography course?
• Do online courses meet at set times or run asynchronously?
• How many credits can I take per semester while working full time?
• Does my previous graduate coursework fit within the 6-credit transfer limit?

Public university in Auburn, Alabama. The Samuel Ginn College of Engineering runs its online graduate engineering degrees.

• Best Cybersecurity Engineering Degrees Rank 6 of 8, master's
• Best Online Programs in Alabama Rank 1 of 1, master's

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