New River Community and Technical College Online Associate of Applied Science in Cyber Security

New River's Cyber Security A.A.S. is a 60-credit, fully online associate degree with a very low price for West Virginia residents: $223 per credit, or $13,380 for the whole degree. It is built for residents who may qualify for the state's Free Tuition program and want security-tool labs in a small rural college. Out-of-state students pay $418 per credit, which changes the math.

New River Community and Technical College is a public college in Beaver, West Virginia, in a rural setting with about 1,571 students. The college says this program can be completed online and describes the degree as 60 total program hours.

The college also offers a Cyber Security CAS, a career certificate. That credential is shorter and is not a degree, so it isn't part of this ranking. The A.A.S. is the one that gives you a full associate degree, and it's the version to choose if you might later move into a bachelor's program.

The college describes what you'll learn as networking, security, cyber operations and ethical hacking.

You would earn an Associate of Applied Science in Cyber Security. Ask which accreditor oversees the program and which certifications the courses prepare you for.

The college's federal graduation rate is 36%, and 29.5% of students who start as transfers earn an award within eight years. Those are school-wide numbers across all programs, and community college students often attend part time, so they aren't a prediction for this degree. The college awards about 10 credentials a year in this field, which tells you it's a small program.

Admission follows the college's general requirements.

Where this degree can lead: Cybersecurity Degree Jobs.

Who It Fits

• You live in West Virginia and would like to check if you're eligible for Free Tuition through WV Invests.
• You want a low-cost start in security without borrowing much, at $13,380 for the full degree as a resident.
• You like working with real tools, since the labs use security tools, firewalls and intrusion detection systems.
• You live in a rural area and need a degree you can finish from home.

Who Should Skip It

• You live outside West Virginia. At $418 per credit, 60 credits comes to $25,080, which is nearly double the resident total.
• You want a full list of course titles before you enroll. The college describes the focus areas, so request the degree plan.

The school says students learn networking, security, cyber operations and ethical hacking. Those four areas are a sensible foundation. Networking comes first because you can't defend a network you don't understand. Cyber operations covers the day-to-day work of watching systems and responding. Ethical hacking is the offensive side, learning how attackers get in so you can close the doors.

The labs are the clearest detail. The college says course labs give you experience with current security tools, firewalls, intrusion detection systems and other relevant technologies. An intrusion detection system watches network traffic for signs of an attack, and working with one is the kind of experience entry-level job postings ask about.

Ask for the degree plan to see course titles and any capstone.

Standout Features

• Course labs with security tools, firewalls and intrusion detection systems
• Free Tuition eligible through WV Invests

Tuition here depends on where you live. The college's 2025-26 Educational and General rate is $223 per credit hour for West Virginia residents and $418 for nonresidents. Over 60 credits, that's $13,380 for residents and $25,080 for nonresidents.

The program is also marked Free Tuition eligible through WV Invests. Check with the college about who qualifies before you count on it. If you do qualify, tuition could be far lower than the $13,380 shown here.

The rates are for the Educational and General line, so ask about other fee lines before you build a budget.

60 credits at $418 a credit comes to $25,080 in tuition, before fees. At the in-state rate of $223, the same 60 credits come to $13,380.

The program can be completed online. Federal enrollment data shows 49% of undergraduates at New River are enrolled exclusively online, a high share that tells you online students aren't an afterthought here.

Ask whether classes meet at set times or on your own schedule, and what the term length and start dates are. Those details matter for a working adult, so ask before you apply. Also ask whether any lab work or proctored exams happen in person, since this is a rural college and the nearest testing site may be far from where you live.

The full rubric is on the methodology page.

• Out-of-state students pay $418 per credit, so the 60-credit degree totals $25,080 compared with $13,380 for residents.
• A small program with about 10 awards a year may have fewer elective choices and fewer classmates than a large college.
• You'll need to ask for course titles, term length and start dates before you apply.

• Am I eligible for Free Tuition through WV Invests, and what are the conditions?
• What fees are charged on top of the Educational and General tuition?
• Do the labs run on virtual machines I reach from home, or do I need to be on campus?
• How often does each course run, and could a missing class delay my graduation?
• Which industry certifications do the courses prepare me for?
• Which four-year West Virginia schools accept these 60 credits toward a bachelor's?

Public community and technical college in West Virginia.

• Best Online Programs in West Virginia Rank 3 of 4, associate

• Texas State Technical College

  Cybersecurity, Associate of Applied Science

  Texas Score 36.5

• Pearl River Community College

  Associate in Applied Science in Cyber Security Technology

  Mississippi $310 per credit Score 36.9

• Mid Michigan College

  Computer Information Systems (IT Infrastructure & Cybersecurity)

  Michigan $375 per credit Score 35.9

• Iowa Western Community College

  Computers: Cyber Security Technology A.A.S.

  Iowa $247 per credit Score 38.1