Purdue University Global Online ExcelTrack Bachelor of Science in Cybersecurity

This is the self-paced version of the Purdue Global bachelor's in cybersecurity, billed at a flat $2,500 per term. You move as quickly as you can pass the assessments, which makes it a strong match for people who already know much of the material. It is a weaker match if you need deadlines and structure to keep going.

ExcelTrack is Purdue University Global's competency-based format. Purdue Global is an online university serving working adults and is part of the Purdue University system. The cybersecurity bachelor's is 180 quarter credits, delivered 100% online, and you are evaluated on whether you can demonstrate the competencies rather than on time spent in a class.

Federal data shows 99% of its undergraduates study exclusively online. Purdue Global also offers a traditional-pace online cybersecurity bachelor's, and the difference between the two comes down to billing and pacing, covered below.

ExcelTrack uses flat-rate tuition of $2,500 per term. Credits are quarter credit hours. That changes the math: the more you complete in each term, the lower your cost per credit becomes. A student who finishes only a few courses a term pays the same $2,500 as someone who finishes dozens.

No fixed total applies, because the number of terms is up to you. Work it out with an advisor using your transfer credits and a realistic weekly study load. For comparison, the traditional-pace online bachelor's at the same school is billed per credit at $371 per quarter credit hour, so run both numbers before choosing.

Who It Fits

• IT workers who already know networking, operating systems or security basics. The school says assessments let you show what you know and move past those topics quickly.
• Students with prior credits, certifications, work and life experience or military training, all of which can be evaluated for credit.
• Self-directed learners who would like to control their own timeline and their own bill.

Who Should Skip It

• Students who need weekly deadlines and instructor-led pacing to stay on track. The ExcelTrack format puts the pace on you, and federal data shows a low completion rate for transfer students of 38%.
• People who want a fixed per-credit price to budget against, since the cost depends on how many terms you take.

The program is made up of 174 single-credit courses and a 6-credit capstone course. The single-credit courses are what make the competency model work, because each one is a short, focused block you can pass and move on from. Request the full course list and compare it with the skills you already hold.

The capstone is the one place where you finish with a larger body of work. Ask what it involves and whether you can start it before every other course is done. Because the capstone is the only large graded project, it is also the piece you will most likely show to an employer, so choose a topic you can describe in an interview.

Standout Features

• Assessments let students show existing knowledge and move quickly past topics they know
• Self-paced competency-based format with flat-rate tuition, evaluated on demonstrated competencies rather than time spent

The program is 100% online and self-paced. Terms are competency-based and billed at a flat rate, which means you can keep going through assessments as quickly as you pass them. That is a different experience from a program with scheduled classes, and it works best when you have a regular study block set aside each week.

The institution is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission. Prior certifications can earn credit toward the degree. If you already hold industry certifications, that is a direct way to shorten the degree.

Federal data shows median earnings of $87,413 for the school's bachelor's graduates in this field.

Where this degree can lead: Cybersecurity Degree Jobs.

The full rubric is on the methodology page.

• The low completion rate (38% for transfer students) shows how many people stall in self-paced programs.
• No total cost is published, because the bill depends on how many terms you use.
• Request the course list and ask which certifications the coursework supports.
• Competency-based credit is evaluated on assessments, which can be stressful if you do poorly on timed exams.

• How many credits will my transfer, certifications and work experience cover?
• What is the fastest pace students in my situation typically reach?
• What happens if I stop for a term, and is the $2,500 charged anyway?
• How are assessments proctored and what happens if I fail one?
• Is the capstone available early, or only at the end?
• What support do I get from advisors or instructors between assessments?

An online university serving working adults, part of the Purdue University system.

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