Brown University Online Master of Science in Cybersecurity

This is Brown University's Master of Science in Cybersecurity (Sc.M.), taught online or on campus over two years, with a computer science track and a policy track. It is the choice if you want an Ivy League credential, a policy option that most online programs lack, and a chance at an automatic scholarship worth 50% or 25% of tuition.

It is a poor fit if price is your main concern, since Brown's tuition is not low.

Brown University is a private Ivy League research university in Providence, Rhode Island. The Sc.M. in Cybersecurity can be taken online or on campus. This page covers the online version, which the university lists as fully online.

The program takes two years and starts twice a year, in fall and spring. Those two start dates are useful if you do not want to wait a full year after you decide to apply.

The feature that most sets it apart is the choice of track. The computer science track is technical. The policy track is offered with the Watson School of International and Public Affairs and accepts any undergraduate degree, which opens the door to someone coming from law, government, journalism or another non-technical background.

Brown also says that some courses may have synchronous sessions, but attendance is not mandatory and there is no penalty for missing a live session.

You earn a Master of Science (Sc.M.) in Cybersecurity from Brown University. The GRE is not required. You will need an undergraduate degree, three recommendations and a resume.

Brown's federal graduation rate is 96%, and 93% of transfer-in students complete an award within eight years. These are university-wide figures, so treat them as a sign of the institution and not a promise about this program. If you want an industry certification, ask whether any of the courses prepare you for one.

Where this degree can lead: Cybersecurity Degree Jobs.

Who It Fits

• You come from a non-technical background and want the policy track, which accepts any undergraduate degree.
• You have a STEM or social sciences degree plus math and introductory computer science, and you want the computer science track.
• You want a fall or spring start rather than waiting for one cohort a year.
• You want a recognized university name on your resume and may qualify for a scholarship that covers 50% or 25% of tuition, awarded automatically.
• You are a veteran or service member. Brown participates in military and veteran educational benefits programs.

Who Should Skip It

• Price is your main concern. The federal data lists a per credit charge of $2,144 for the university, far above the public programs on this list, and the scholarship is not guaranteed.
• You want the shortest path. The program takes two years.
• You have no college degree yet. The program requires an undergraduate degree, and the computer science track needs specific math and introductory computer science coursework.
• You want an entirely self-paced program. Some courses have live sessions, even though attending them is optional.

The program has two tracks. The Computer Science track is the technical path, and its admission rules require a STEM or social sciences degree plus math and introductory computer science coursework. The Policy track is offered with the Watson School of International and Public Affairs and is open to any undergraduate degree.

The tracks serve different careers. The computer science track is aimed at people who will build, test and defend systems. The policy track is aimed at people who will write rules, advise leaders or manage the legal and international side of cybersecurity. Choosing between them early matters because the admission requirements differ.

A course-by-course list is the first thing to request from the department. Ask which courses are shared between the tracks, whether there is a thesis or a capstone, and which electives you can pick.

Standout Features

• Scholarships covering 50% or 25% of tuition, awarded automatically with no separate application
• Two tracks: computer science and policy (policy track offered with the Watson School of International and Public Affairs)

Brown offers two scholarships for this program. One covers 50% of tuition and the other covers 25%. They are awarded automatically, with no separate application.

The federal data for the university lists a charge of $2,144 per credit, which is the campus figure, so use it as a ceiling to compare against and ask the program office for the current online tuition and the number of courses. Then apply the scholarship percentage to get a real estimate.

Because the scholarship is automatic, you will learn what you are offered when you receive your admission decision, not before.

Brown calls the online option fully online. Some courses may include synchronous sessions, but attendance is not mandatory and nobody is penalized for missing a live session. For a working adult in a different time zone, that matters.

Federal data shows 10% of Brown's graduate students study exclusively online, so online students are a small group within a largely on-campus university. The online program shares its faculty and standards with the on-campus Sc.M., which is part of what you are paying for. Ask how online students meet each other and how they reach faculty.

The full rubric is on the methodology page.

• Brown's tuition is high compared with public online master's programs, and the scholarship covers only 25% or 50%.
• The program takes two years, and the two tracks have different admission rules.
• Three recommendations and a resume mean the application takes more time than programs that only ask for transcripts.
• Online students are a small share of Brown's population.

• What is the current tuition for the online Sc.M., and how many courses are required?
• How is the 50% or 25% scholarship decided, and when will I know?
• How do the computer science and policy tracks differ in required courses?
• How often do courses hold live sessions, and what do I miss if I skip them?
• What does the final project or thesis look like for online students?
• How do military and veteran benefits apply to this program?

Private Ivy League research university in Providence, Rhode Island.

• Best Cybersecurity Policy Degrees Rank 8 of 10, master's
• Best for Career Changers Rank 3 of 5, master's
• Best Online Programs in Rhode Island Rank 2 of 4, master's

• University of Wisconsin-River Falls

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• University of Wisconsin-Green Bay

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• Walden University

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• City University of Seattle

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