Norfolk State University Online Master of Science in Cybersecurity

This is a 100% online, 36-credit cybersecurity master's from a public historically Black university in Norfolk, Virginia. It stands out for three things: the school says it is a designated Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense Education, online students can use the on-campus Cybersecurity Complex virtually, and about half of its students have no computer science background.

The cost is that there are no electives and most students skip summers.

Norfolk State University is a public historically Black university in Norfolk, Virginia, accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC). Its Master of Science in Cybersecurity is 100% online and takes 36 credit hours, typically 2 to 3 years.

Classes are offered in the fall and spring semesters, and most students don't take courses in the summer. The GRE is not required, and the school says students from any background may apply. About half of its students have no prior computer science experience.

The program sits in the Department of Computer Science in the College of Science, Engineering and Technology.

You would earn a Master of Science in Cybersecurity. The school lists a DHS/NSA Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense Education designation and a National Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense Research, which some federal employers and scholarship programs look at.

Federal data shows a graduation rate of 38% for the university as a whole and an admit rate of 88%. Those numbers cover all students, not this degree.

If you want an industry certification, ask which exams the courses help you prepare for.

Where this degree can lead: Cybersecurity Degree Jobs.

Who It Fits

• You're changing careers from a non-technical field and want a program that expects half the class to be new to computer science.
• You want a federally recognized program. The school lists a DHS/NSA Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense Education designation.
• You like research and want a two-semester capstone with original research under a faculty advisor.
• You want hands-on practice and would use virtual access to a simulation lab.

Who Should Skip It

• You want to choose your own electives. The online program doesn't include any.
• You need to finish in a year. The school's own time frame is 2 to 3 years, and summer courses are rare.
• You want a fast, certification-focused degree. The program is built around a research capstone, not exam prep.

The notable courses show the range: Computer and Network Forensics, Ethical Hacking and Penetration Testing, Database Security and Network Fundamentals. Network Fundamentals matters for the career changers, since it gives you the base the later security courses assume.

There are no electives, so everyone follows the same path. That gives you a predictable plan and a common vocabulary with classmates, but you can't steer toward a narrow specialty.

The capstone runs two semesters and involves original research under a faculty research advisor. Ask what past capstone topics looked like and whether projects can connect to your current employer.

Courses the School Names

• Computer and Network Forensics
• Ethical Hacking and Penetration Testing
• Database Security
• Network Fundamentals

Standout Features

• DHS/NSA Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense Education designation listed by the school
• Online students can use the Cybersecurity Complex virtually, including a simulation lab

The degree is 36 credit hours, which is more than many 30-credit cybersecurity master's programs. Because credit count drives the bill, ask the bursar for the current graduate per-credit rate for online students, separate fees, and whether your residency changes the price.

Norfolk State is a public university, so Virginia residents may pay less than out-of-state students. Ask about assistantships or scholarships for online graduate students.

Federal data lists median earnings of $92,908 for the school's graduates in this field, a Scorecard figure for the field. It's context for the cost, not a promise.

The whole degree is online, and the school says many of the Cybersecurity Complex's capabilities are accessible virtually to online students. That includes one of Virginia's most progressive simulation labs, which is the kind of hands-on practice online students often miss.

The semester calendar is the main limit. Courses run in fall and spring, and most students skip summers, so progress happens in two chunks a year. The school lists 2 to 3 years to finish.

Federal enrollment data shows 25% of graduate students at the university study exclusively online, so you'll have online company. Ask whether class sessions are live or on your own schedule.

The full rubric is on the methodology page.

• There are no electives, so you can't tailor the degree to a specialty.
• Most students take no courses in summer, which stretches the timeline to 2 to 3 years.
• At 36 credits, the degree is larger than many peers, and the per-credit cost is something you'll need to request.

• What is the per-credit tuition for an online student, and does it differ by state residency?
• Which courses are in the required sequence, and are any offered in the summer?
• How do online students log in to the simulation lab, and when is it available?
• What topics have past capstone students researched?
• Are class sessions live or on my own schedule?
• How do the CAE designations help with scholarships or federal jobs?

• Best for Career Changers Rank 5 of 5, master's
• Best Online Programs in Virginia Rank 6 of 6, master's

• University of New Haven

  Master of Science in Cyber Threat Intelligence and Financial Crimes Investigations

  Connecticut $1,185 per credit Score 22.7

• University of New Haven

  Master of Science in Cyber Risk Management

  Connecticut $1,185 per credit Score 26.6

• University of Baltimore

  Master of Science in Cyber Forensics

  Maryland $1,254 per credit Score 27.2

• Roger Williams University

  Master of Science in Cybersecurity

  Rhode Island $1,176 per credit Score 27.5