George Washington University Online Master of Professional Studies in Cybersecurity Strategy and Information Management

This is a premium-priced, fully online master's degree from a well-known research university, aimed at people who want to manage and lead security programs rather than build the technology. Tuition is $54,216 for 36 credits, which is far above most online cybersecurity master's degrees, so it makes the most sense if your employer is paying or the George Washington name matters for the job you want.

George Washington University (GW) is a private research university in Washington, D.C. It offers online cybersecurity programs from two schools, and the difference matters. This review covers the Master of Professional Studies in Cybersecurity Strategy and Information Management, which comes from the College of Professional Studies.

The engineering school runs a separate online Master of Engineering in Cybersecurity, at 30 credits and $1,250 per credit, with two tracks: Cybersecurity Analytics and Cybersecurity Policy & Compliance. The Analytics track requires a bachelor's in engineering, computer science, information technology, mathematics, physics or a closely related field. GW also offers a Doctor of Engineering in Cybersecurity Analytics at $1,750 per credit.

The M.P.S. is the management-minded option. It asks for a bachelor's degree with a 3.0 GPA from a regionally accredited school.

You would earn a Master of Professional Studies from a private research university. GW is designated by the NSA and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) as a National Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Research. That designation is held by the university, so ask whether it applies to this specific program.

GW's federal graduation rate is 84%, and its measure for transfer students is about 79.5%. Both are school-wide numbers, but they are high and suggest students who begin usually finish. Federal data also shows earnings of $130,159 for GW graduates in this field, a figure that mixes engineering and professional programs.

Ask which certifications the coursework lines up with and whether exam vouchers are included.

Where this degree can lead: Cybersecurity Degree Jobs.

Who It Fits

• You work in government, consulting or a large company and want to move into security management, policy or risk.
• Your bachelor's is in something other than computer science, so the engineering school's Analytics track would not accept you.
• Your employer reimburses tuition, which makes a $54,216 degree manageable.
• You value a name recognized in Washington, D.C., where many federal cybersecurity jobs are based.

Who Should Skip It

• You want the lowest price. At $1,506 per credit, this program costs far more per credit than the engineering school's $1,250 sibling.
• You want to be the hands-on technical expert. GW's engineering degree is built for that, and cheaper online technical master's programs exist.
• You want guaranteed live online classes every week. Confirm the meeting format before you apply.

Cybersecurity Strategy and Information Management points toward how organizations decide what to protect, how they budget and govern security, and how leaders manage the people and information involved. The College of Professional Studies builds degrees for working adults, which fits.

The contrast with GW's engineering degree is useful. That one is organized around Cybersecurity Analytics and Cybersecurity Policy & Compliance, and runs live on Zoom one evening a week. If you want to see exactly which classes you would take here, ask for the program's course map and compare it with the engineering degree's tracks before you decide.

One feature is unusual. Students can move between online and in-person courses, which helps if you live near campus or travel to D.C. for work.

Standout Features

• GW is designated by the NSA and DHS as a National Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Research
• Students can transition between online and in-person courses

The 2026-2027 rate is $1,506 per credit hour for 36 credits, which comes to $54,216 in tuition. Add four registration sessions at $35 each, which is $140. Most students take roughly 16 months, so a faster pace means paying the same total sooner.

For comparison, GW's own Master of Engineering is 30 credits at $1,250 per credit, and its eBooks and software are included. Multiply those two numbers yourself to see the gap.

Because the federal data lists a campus charge of $2,020 per credit hour for GW, online tuition here is lower than the on-campus price. Ask about employer billing, military or federal-employee discounts, and whether any course materials cost extra.

36 credits at $1,506 a credit comes to $54,216 in tuition, before fees.

The program is listed as 100% online. It takes as little as 16 months, with students admitted for the fall and spring semesters, so you have two start dates a year instead of rolling starts.

Federal data shows 26% of GW's students are enrolled exclusively online. That is much lower than at online-first universities, which means GW is a traditional campus that also offers online degrees. For you, that can mean strong brand and faculty, but support services built mainly for on-campus students.

Ask how many students are in each online class, how faculty hold office hours, and whether classes meet live or run on your own schedule.

The full rubric is on the methodology page.

• At $54,216 in tuition, it costs more than most online cybersecurity master's programs.
• Only two start dates a year, fall and spring, can slow you down if you miss one.
• Only 26% of GW's students are fully online, so online support may be less specialized than at online-first schools.
• Ask for the course list to confirm the curriculum matches your goals.

• What are the required courses, and can I see a sample semester?
• Do classes meet live online, or can I work on my own schedule?
• Does the NCAE-R designation cover this M.P.S., or only the engineering programs?
• What discounts exist for federal employees, military or alumni?
• How do the M.P.S. and the Master of Engineering in Policy & Compliance differ in coursework?
• What career services are offered to online students?

Private research university in Washington, D.C. with online cybersecurity programs in its engineering school and its College of Professional Studies.

• Master of Engineering in Cybersecurity

  M.Eng., Master's

  Fully Online $1,250 per credit Score 56.5

• Doctor of Engineering in Cybersecurity Analytics

  D.Eng., Doctorate

  Fully Online $1,750 per credit Score 46.8

• Penn State World Campus

  Master of Professional Studies in Cybersecurity Analytics and Operations

  Pennsylvania $1,048 per credit Score 54.5

• Florida Institute of Technology

  Master of Science in Information Technology with a Concentration in Cybersecurity

  Florida $737.23 per credit Score 54.7

• Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University Worldwide

  Master of Science in Aviation Cybersecurity

  Florida $902 per credit Score 53.5

• University of Arizona

  Cyber Operations (Master of Science)

  Arizona $750 per credit Score 54.8