Mid Michigan College Online Computer Information Systems (IT Infrastructure & Cybersecurity)

Mid Michigan College's IT Infrastructure and Cybersecurity A.A.S. is a 60-credit, fully online associate degree that mixes networking with security and builds in three Cisco certifications. It suits someone who wants an IT career with a security specialty, not a pure security degree. The built-in certification prep is its main selling point.

Mid Michigan College is a public community college in Harrison, Michigan, with a second campus in Mt. Pleasant and about 3,692 students. Its IT Infrastructure and Cybersecurity pathway sits inside the Computer Information Systems (CIS) degree, and the school describes the online option as new, saying the pathway is 100% online.

That naming matters. This isn't a stand-alone cybersecurity major. It's a CIS associate degree with an infrastructure and security focus, so expect networking and systems classes next to the security ones. The school refers to its CIS associate degrees in the plural, so make sure you register for this specific pathway.

The college also lists a Data Center Technician certificate pathway, which isn't a degree.

You would earn an Associate of Applied Science in Computer Information Systems with the IT Infrastructure and Cybersecurity pathway. The certifications are the credential story here: the degree includes three Cisco certifications, and the coursework is also built to prepare you for Security+, PenTest+, Network+ and CCNA.

The college's federal graduation rate is 28%, and 19.5% of students who start as transfers earn an award within eight years. Those are school-wide figures for a rural community college where many students work or attend part time, so don't read them as a verdict on this pathway. The college awards about 10 credentials a year in this field.

Ask the college which accreditor covers the pathway.

Where this degree can lead: Cybersecurity Degree Jobs.

Who It Fits

• You want a broad IT foundation with a security focus, so you can apply for network or help desk jobs as well as security roles.
• You want certification prep built in, with CompTIA Security+, PenTest+ and Network+ plus Cisco credentials.
• You live in Michigan and can claim the $168 in-district rate.
• You like working on real equipment and simulators, not only reading about them.

Who Should Skip It

• You want a pure cybersecurity curriculum. The degree is a CIS pathway, so a good share of the classes will be general infrastructure.
• You live out of state. At $375 per contact hour, the cost more than doubles compared with the in-district $168.

The notable courses are Introduction to Cybersecurity, Ethical Hacking (CIS.265), Cybersecurity Operations and Cisco Internetworking I. Read that list as a ladder. Internetworking comes first, because Cisco routers and switches are the backbone of most company networks. Then Introduction to Cybersecurity sets the vocabulary, Cybersecurity Operations teaches monitoring and response, and Ethical Hacking covers attack techniques.

The college is an official Cisco Networking Academy site, and you learn on real equipment in hands-on labs, practicing skills on Cisco routers, switches and simulators. The degree includes three Cisco certifications along the way.

The college also lists certification preparation for CompTIA Security+, CompTIA PenTest+, CompTIA Network+, Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA) and Cisco Cybersecurity Operations. Ask which exams are included in tuition.

Courses the School Names

• Introduction to Cybersecurity
• Ethical Hacking
• Cybersecurity Operations
• Cisco Internetworking I

Standout Features

• Hands-on labs on real Cisco routers, switches and simulators
• Mid is an official Cisco Networking Academy site, and the degree includes three Cisco certifications

Tuition is charged per contact hour, not per credit: $168 in-district, $279 out-of-district and $375 out-of-state. Additional per contact hour fees apply. The degree totals 60 credits, and if each credit equals one contact hour, in-district tuition comes to $10,080 and out-of-state tuition to $22,500. Contact hours can differ from credits in lab classes, so ask for the real total.

In-district is the lowest rate by a wide margin. If you live in Michigan but outside the district, you'd pay the $279 rate, so check which category you fall into.

60 credits at $375 a credit comes to $22,500 in tuition, before fees. At the in-state rate of $168, the same 60 credits come to $10,080.

The school says the pathway is 100% online, and it lists the online format as having weekly due dates throughout the semester. That structure keeps you moving, and it suits students who need a regular rhythm. It's less flexible than a self-paced model if your work hours change week to week.

Full-time students can finish in less than two years. Federal data shows 30% of the college's undergraduates are enrolled exclusively online, so many students still attend in person. The labs rely on real Cisco equipment and simulators, so ask exactly how an online student reaches that equipment.

The full rubric is on the methodology page.

• The degree is a CIS pathway, not a dedicated cybersecurity major, so security is one of several themes.
• Per contact hour fees come on top of the $168 to $375 tuition rate.
• Weekly due dates keep you on a schedule, which is harder if your job hours change.

• Which of the certification exams are covered by tuition, and which do I pay for?
• How do online students use the Cisco routers and switches in the labs?
• How many contact hours does the pathway require, and what is the full in-district and out-of-state cost?
• What are the per contact hour fees?
• Which Cisco certifications are the three included in the degree?
• Do any of my earlier IT credits or certifications count toward the 60 credits?

Public community college in Harrison, Michigan, with a Mt. Pleasant campus.

• Best Online Programs in Michigan Rank 2 of 2, associate

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