New York University Master of Science in Cybersecurity (Online)

NYU's online Master of Science in Cybersecurity is a technical, research-minded degree from NYU Tandon School of Engineering, and it's priced like a top private university. The school is recognized by the National Security Agency for Cyber Operations and Cyber Defense Research, students can work with the NSF-funded OSIRIS lab, and graduates in this field show median earnings of $152,422 in federal data.

It's strongest for people who can already code.

The degree is 30 credits, delivered by the NYU Tandon School of Engineering at a private research university in New York City. Four core courses make up 12 credits, and you choose between two tracks, Cyber Defense and Cyber Operations. Applicants must apply as either online or on-campus students, though a blended option lets online students also take courses on campus.

Class schedule, term length and per-credit price are the first things to confirm with admissions, and NYU posts its tuition on the Bursar site.

Federal data counts 252 master's awards in this field at NYU. It admits 9% of applicants and graduates 88% of its students school-wide.

The credential is a Master of Science in Cybersecurity from NYU. The NYU Tandon School of Engineering is recognized by the National Security Agency (NSA) as a Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Operations and Cyber Defense Research, and the two tracks line up with the Cyber Defense and Cyber Operations names.

The value here is the degree itself, the NSA-recognized school behind it and the research exposure.

Where this degree can lead: Cybersecurity Degree Jobs.

Who It Fits

• You already program in a language like C++ or Python and want to go deeper into security. The program recommends good knowledge of a high-level, general-purpose programming language, with C++ and Python preferred.
• You want research exposure. Up to a combined 9 credits of project, guided studies, readings or thesis can count toward the degree, and students can work with the NSF-funded OSIRIS lab.
• You're choosing between offense and defense. The Cyber Defense and Cyber Operations tracks let you lean toward protecting systems or toward attacking them to find weaknesses.

Who Should Skip It

• You have no programming experience. The recommended prerequisites include strong programming knowledge, and the coursework builds on it from the start.
• You need a posted price before you apply. NYU's tuition lives on the Bursar site, so budget-driven shoppers will have one more step to finish first.
• You want a lighter commitment. This is 30 credits of graduate engineering coursework at a school that admits 9% of applicants, and the optional research credits add depth rather than shortcuts.

The structure is four core courses worth 12 credits, then electives within one of two tracks. Cyber Defense focuses on protecting networks and systems. Cyber Operations focuses on offensive skills such as finding and exploiting weaknesses so defenders know what to look for.

The 30 credits also leave room for independent work. Up to a combined 9 credits of project, guided studies, readings or thesis can count, which is nearly a third of the degree. That flexibility is what draws people planning a PhD or a research-flavored role.

The OSIRIS lab, funded by the National Science Foundation, covers Offensive Security, Incident Response and Internet Security. Ask how online students join its work.

Standout Features

• Blended option lets online students also take courses on campus
• Recognized by the National Security Agency as a Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Operations and Cyber Defense Research
• Work with the National Science Foundation-funded OSIRIS offensive security and incident response lab

Confirm the online per-credit price with the NYU Bursar before you build a budget. Federal data lists a campus charge of $2,243 per credit at NYU. Multiplying by the 30 credits gives a rough ceiling to compare with the figure the Bursar quotes for online students.

The return side is strong in the federal data. College Scorecard shows median earnings of $152,422 for NYU graduates in this field at this credential level. That's a school-level figure covering campus and online graduates, but it shows what employers pay for an NYU cybersecurity master's.

NYU offers the degree online and on campus, and a blended option lets online students also take courses on campus. That helps if you live in or near New York and want some in-person classes without switching programs.

School-wide federal data shows 11% of graduate students enrolled exclusively online, with 77.5% of transfer-in students earning an award within eight years. NYU is mostly an on-campus university, so ask how the online cohort is supported and how often courses are offered online.

The full rubric is on the methodology page.

• Price, schedule and term length need confirming with admissions and the Bursar, so expect more homework before you apply than with a program that posts a flat rate.
• Federal data lists a campus charge of $2,243 per credit, a premium private-university rate. Confirm what online students pay before you apply.
• Programming knowledge is recommended, so career changers from non-technical fields may need prep work before they apply.

• What is the per-credit price for online students, and which fees apply on top?
• How are online courses scheduled, and are any live sessions required?
• How do online students join OSIRIS lab projects or count project credits toward the 9-credit limit?
• Which core courses make up the 12 credits, and which prerequisites does admissions treat as essential?
• How does the blended option work if I move to New York later?
• What does the typical student's time to completion look like while working full time?

Private research university in New York City; the online cybersecurity master's is delivered by the NYU Tandon School of Engineering.

• Best Cyber Defense Degrees Rank 7 of 10, master's
• Best Thesis Option Programs Rank 2 of 9, master's
• Best Online Programs in New York Rank 3 of 8, master's

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