Herkimer County Community College Online Cybersecurity and Digital Forensics, A.S.

Herkimer County Community College's A.S. in Cybersecurity and Digital Forensics is a good fit for New York residents who want a low-cost two-year degree with a strong investigative side. In-state tuition is $225 per credit, the 64-credit degree totals $14,400, and the program is certified by the IACE Program. The cost for out-of-state students is higher at $19,776, and the degree leans toward forensics more than pure network defense.

Herkimer County Community College is a public college in Herkimer, New York. The Cybersecurity and Digital Forensics A.S. can be completed entirely online through its Internet Academy, and the full degree is 64 credits.

The course codes begin with CJ, which tells you the program sits close to criminal justice. That shapes the feel. You'll study cybercrime and investigation alongside networks and defense, and it's a different mix from a computer science curriculum.

The college serves 1,971 students, so classes are likely smaller than at a large university campus.

You'd earn an Associate in Science in Cybersecurity and Digital Forensics from a public community college. The college's program is certified by the Information Assurance Courseware Evaluation (IACE) Program.

To earn the optional CompTIA Security+ microcredential, you must finish CJ 243 and CJ 273 with a C or better. Federal data lists a 35% graduation rate for the college and a 33% completion figure for this kind of program, which is typical for community colleges where many students work or study part time.

Where this degree can lead: Cybersecurity Degree Jobs.

Who It Fits

• You live in New York and qualify for the $225 per credit resident rate.
• You're an adult student who may qualify for free college through the SUNY Reconnect initiative.
• You're drawn to investigating incidents and want forensics in the mix, not just firewalls.
• You want to earn CompTIA Security+ along the way and prefer an optional microcredential built into your classes.

Who Should Skip It

• You live out of state and want the lowest price. Out-of-state tuition is $309 per credit, plus a $10 per credit capital fee.
• You want an associate degree focused almost entirely on networking and system administration.
• You plan to transfer into a bachelor's degree. This is an associate degree, so confirm how credits move before you enroll.

The notable courses show the program's character. Understanding and Managing Cybercrime sets the legal and social background. Computer Forensics and Investigations, followed by Advanced Computer Forensics and Investigations, gives forensics two courses rather than one. Network Defense and Countermeasures covers the defensive side.

The program ends with CJ 274, a 3-credit Cybersecurity Capstone. A faculty member says the cyber courses are 95 percent hands-on and give students access to real-world tools they'll use in the field. That's a claim worth testing in a conversation with the department.

Courses the School Names

• Understanding & Managing Cybercrime
• Computer Forensics & Investigations
• Network Defense & Countermeasures
• Advanced Computer Forensics and Investigations

Standout Features

• Adult students may qualify for free college through the SUNY Reconnect initiative
• Certified by the Information Assurance Courseware Evaluation (IACE) Program
• Cyber courses are 95 percent hands-on, per a faculty member
• Optional CompTIA Security+ microcredential

Resident tuition is $225 per credit hour, which puts the 64 credits at $14,400. Out-of-state students pay $309 per credit, or $19,776. Those are 2026-27 part-time rates.

Fees add up. There's a $20 student life fee and a $10 technology fee per credit hour, plus a $50 curriculum fee for cybersecurity each semester. Out-of-state students also pay a $10 per credit capital fee. Adults who qualify for SUNY Reconnect may pay far less.

64 credits at $309 a credit comes to $19,776 in tuition, before fees. At the in-state rate of $225, the same 64 credits come to $14,400.

The online version runs through the college's Internet Academy, and the school says you can complete the degree entirely online. Meeting times, lab delivery and proctoring aren't described on the program page.

Because the program advertises hands-on work, ask how forensics labs reach remote students. Tools for examining a disk image often need software you'd install or access through a virtual machine, so find out what the college provides.

The full rubric is on the methodology page.

• Out-of-state tuition is $309 per credit, noticeably above the resident rate.
• Fees include $20 student life and $10 technology per credit hour, plus a $50 cybersecurity fee each semester.
• Security+ requires a C or better in two specific courses.
• The mix leans toward forensics and criminal justice rather than systems engineering.

• Do I need to prove New York residency, and for how long?
• Do I qualify for SUNY Reconnect as an adult student?
• How are forensics labs delivered to online students?
• Does the Security+ microcredential include the exam voucher, or is that a separate cost?
• Which four-year schools take these credits?
• How often are CJ 243 and CJ 273 offered online?

• Best Digital Forensics Degrees Rank 3 of 3, associate
• Best Online Programs in New York Rank 1 of 1, associate

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