Old Dominion University Online Master of Science in Cybersecurity

Old Dominion University's online Master of Science in Cybersecurity is a 30-credit public-university degree with an unusually deep federal designation list and room to specialize through five electives. Tuition is $662 per credit out of state and $672 in state, so the full degree runs $19,860 or $20,160. It's a strong pick for working adults who want a recognized program and a real chance to finish in a year.

Old Dominion University is a public university in Norfolk, Virginia. This master's is delivered fully online with no scheduled meeting times: you access course materials and complete assignments on your own schedule. Courses follow an accelerated 8-week format with six starts a year.

The National Security Agency, through its National Centers of Academic Excellence in Cybersecurity program, has designated ODU as a Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense, Cyber Operations and Cyber Research, per the school. Together those cover defense, offensive operations and research.

ODU also offers an online Bachelor of Science in Cybersecurity, which is the 120-credit undergraduate program with courses such as Ethical Hacking and Penetration Testing, Digital Forensics and Cyber Law. This master's is a separate graduate degree for people who already hold a bachelor's. It has four core courses and five electives, then a capstone.

IPEDS, the federal college data system, shows 23,743 students at ODU and 83 awards a year in the federal cybersecurity program code at this level.

The full rubric is on the methodology page.

Out-of-state students pay $662 per credit hour and Virginia residents pay $672. Over the 30 credit minimum, that's $19,860 out of state and $20,160 in state. The rates are effective Fall 2026 and subject to change.

The in-state figure is built from $510 in standard tuition plus $162 in mandatory auxiliary tuition. That detail explains why the resident rate isn't lower than the non-resident one in this online program. Neither number includes books, so ask what a typical course costs in materials. If you're active military or a veteran, ask the military student office what the pathway agreement could save you in credits.

30 credits at $662 a credit comes to $19,860 in tuition, before fees. At the in-state rate of $672, the same 30 credits come to $20,160.

Who It Fits

• Working professionals who want an accelerated schedule. The program can be finished in as little as one year with full-time enrollment, and eight-week terms start six times a year.
• Students who want to shape the degree. You take four core courses and choose five electives, which is room to lean toward the area you work in.
• Veterans and service members. A signed military pathway agreement may grant academic credit for military training and experience.

Who Should Skip It

• Students who want a thesis. The program does not require one, and ends in a capstone course instead.
• Anyone who needs certification exam prep built into the coursework. The program is organized around core courses, electives and a capstone, so plan on separate study for exams.
• Virginia residents expecting a lower price. The in-state rate of $672 is slightly higher than the out-of-state rate of $662.

The structure is four core courses, five electives and a capstone course that applies your education to a real-world cybersecurity problem. The five electives are what set this degree apart from a fixed-path program, because they let you build depth in one area instead of sampling everything.

Ask the department for the current elective menu before you commit, and pick based on the role you want. The school's Cyber Defense, Cyber Operations and Cyber Research designations give you three directions to lean toward. A thesis is not required, so the capstone is the final deliverable you can point to when you interview.

Standout Features

• Designated by the NSA as a Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense, Cyber Operations and Cyber Research, per the school
• Five electives let students focus the degree

There are no scheduled meeting times. You access course materials and complete assignments online, which makes it workable if you travel, work shifts or live in a different time zone.

The accelerated 8-week format is the part to plan for. A course is compressed into two months, and six starts a year means you can begin in most seasons and keep momentum. It also means a missed week has a bigger effect than it would in a 15-week semester. ODU says full-time students can finish in as little as one year, which works if you take courses back to back.

The headline credential is the NSA designation as a Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense, Cyber Operations and Cyber Research. That's a school-level designation, so it speaks to the faculty and curriculum rather than to this program alone. Still, it's a recognizable signal for federal, defense and contractor employers, particularly in the Norfolk and Hampton Roads region where ODU sits.

Don't assume exam vouchers or certification prep are included. If you want CISSP or similar, ask which electives map to that exam's domains.

Where this degree can lead: Cybersecurity Degree Jobs.

• Tuition of $662 to $672 per credit is not low for a public university, and the full 30 credits come to $19,860 or $20,160.
• The Virginia resident rate is higher than the out-of-state rate, so there's no in-state discount to count on.
• Certification exam prep isn't part of the program, so exam study is your responsibility.
• The 8-week format moves fast, and falling behind in one course can ripple into the next.

• Which electives are offered in the next two terms, and which ones do online students fill most often?
• Is the $672 in-state rate effective for my residency, and does financial aid apply to the mandatory auxiliary tuition?
• How does the military pathway agreement convert my training into credit, and how many credits can it cover?
• What does the capstone course require, and how is it assessed?
• Do any courses use virtual labs or require special software I would need to buy?
• How many courses can I take per 8-week term while working full time?

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