Lanier Technical College Online Cybersecurity Degree

This is one of the lowest-priced ways to start a cybersecurity degree online, and it makes the most sense for Georgia residents. In-state tuition is $107 per credit hour, and a flat rate covers up to 15 credit hours a term. Out-of-state students pay double. The one catch to plan around is that every online course requires at least one proctored event.

Lanier Technical College is a public technical college in Gainesville, Georgia, and part of the Technical College System of Georgia (TCSG). Technical colleges focus on job-ready skills, and their associate degrees usually cost far less than those at private online universities.

Lanier lists a Cybersecurity Degree among the programs that can be completed entirely online. It's the only cybersecurity program the school has on this site, so there are no siblings to compare. Federal data shows 35% of Lanier's students study exclusively online, which means most of the school is still on the Gainesville campus. The online program shares its instructors, advisors and campus with the in-person students.

In-state tuition is $107 per credit hour, and out-of-state tuition is double that at $214. The school says the $107 rate covers up to 15 credit hours for degree, diploma and certificate programs. That means a full-time student pays for 15 hours at most, and taking more doesn't raise tuition.

Confirm the total credit count with the school to get the cost of the whole degree. You can still compare it with the other associate programs on this site by per-credit rate, where $107 is at the low end. Georgia residents should also ask about state and federal aid, since a low tuition bill may be covered in part by grants.

Who It Fits

• You live in Georgia and want the lowest tuition for an associate degree in cybersecurity.
• You'd rather start at a small public college than at a large online university.
• You plan to transfer to a four-year school later and want to keep your first two years inexpensive.
• You can get to Lanier or another TCSG college for proctored tests, or you live close enough to do so.

Who Should Skip It

• You live outside Georgia. Out-of-state tuition is $214 per credit, which is double the in-state rate.
• You can't get to a proctoring site. Online courses require at least one proctored graded event.
• You want a bachelor's degree from the start. Lanier's listing is an associate degree.

Lanier's online program list names the program simply as the Cybersecurity Degree, and it sits within the school's computer-related programs. Treat the curriculum as something to confirm with an advisor.

At a technical college, the catalog is the real document. Ask for the program's course list and look for the topics you care about, such as networking, operating systems, security fundamentals and hands-on lab work. Ask which industry certifications the courses prepare you for, since that's often what a technical college degree is built around.

The program is fully online, with one important requirement: each online course needs at least one proctored graded event. Lanier says there's no charge when you're proctored at Lanier or another TCSG college. That means planning for at least one trip to a testing site per course, so check where the nearest campus is.

Federal data shows 35% of Lanier's students are enrolled exclusively online, so online learners are a minority at the school. Ask whether online sections have their own advisors and how the school handles labs, since some hands-on work is harder to do at home.

You'd earn an associate degree in cybersecurity from a public technical college. Confirm the institution's accreditor on the school's website, and ask whether Lanier's credits transfer to the four-year schools you're considering.

Lanier's federal graduation rate is 34%, and a second measure that follows transfer-in students puts completion at 53.5%. Both figures cover the whole college, not just this program. The 53.5% figure is higher than at many online universities, which may reflect the smaller, local nature of the school.

Where this degree can lead: Cybersecurity Degree Jobs.

The full rubric is on the methodology page.

• Out-of-state students pay $214 per credit, double the in-state rate.
• Every online course needs at least one proctored event, which can be a burden if you live far from a TCSG campus.
• The school's federal graduation rate is 34%.

• How many credits does the Cybersecurity Degree require, and what is the total tuition for an in-state student?
• Where can I take proctored events, and is there a charge outside of Lanier or another TCSG college?
• Which courses include hands-on labs, and can I complete them from home?
• Which industry certifications do the courses prepare me for?
• Will credits from this degree transfer to the Georgia public universities I might attend later?
• Is there an advisor assigned to online students?

A public technical college in Gainesville, Georgia.

• Best Affordable Online Programs Rank 7 of 10, associate
• Best Online Programs in Georgia Rank 5 of 8, associate

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