Purdue University Global Online Master of Science in Cybersecurity Management

Purdue University Global's online M.S. in Cybersecurity Management is a 60-quarter-credit program at $420 per credit, about $25,200 in tuition, with four optional concentrations and an NSA Center of Excellence designation. It suits working adults who want a flexible management-oriented master's at a moderate price.

Purdue University Global is an online university serving working adults and part of the Purdue University system. The school says it has been designated a National Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense Education (CAE-CD) for both its Bachelor of Science in Cybersecurity and its Master of Science in Cybersecurity Management.

This is the graduate program, so you need a bachelor's degree to enroll. The school's separate bachelor's programs in cybersecurity, including an ExcelTrack option, are for students starting at the undergraduate level. The master's is for people who already hold a degree.

Tuition is $420 per quarter credit, and the program is 60 quarter credits, so tuition comes to $25,200. The school notes that one semester credit hour equals 1.5 quarter credit hours, and the semester-equivalent rate is $630 per credit.

That quarter-credit detail matters when you compare schools. A quarter-credit rate of $420 can't be set directly against a semester-credit rate without converting. Ask about fees, and ask what military reductions or prior-learning credit would cut. Prior credit reduces the number of courses you pay for, which lowers the total.

60 quarter credits at $420 a credit comes to $25,200 in tuition, before fees.

Who It Fits

• You work full time. The school describes about 15 hours of weekly course effort and an average completion time of 2 years.
• You want to specialize. Four optional concentrations are offered: Amazon Web Services (AWS) Cloud Technologies, Artificial Intelligence, Data Analytics and Project Management.
• You have credits or experience. The school grants credit for prior coursework, prior certifications, work and life experience, and military training.
• You're military-connected. Graduate tuition reductions are 17 to 30 percent per credit for current servicemembers and 14 percent per credit for veterans.

Who Should Skip It

• You want a school with a strong track record on earnings data. Federal data shows a median of $80,691 for graduates of the school in this field, lower than at many other master's programs.
• You want classmates on a physical campus. Federal data shows 100% of graduate students at Purdue Global study exclusively online.
• You want the lowest total price available. Other online master's programs charge less overall.

The degree is 60 quarter credits. Named courses include Ethical Hacking and Network Defense, Platforms, Applications, and Data Security, Wireless, Mobile, and Cloud Security, and Computer Forensics and Investigations.

The school says learning labs simulate real-world, on-the-job situations. You then choose one of four concentrations: AWS Cloud Technologies, Artificial Intelligence, Data Analytics or Project Management. Notice that two of those (Data Analytics and Project Management) lean away from pure security, so pick based on the role you want, and ask what each concentration adds in courses.

Courses the School Names

• Ethical Hacking and Network Defense
• Platforms, Applications, and Data Security
• Wireless, Mobile, and Cloud Security
• Computer Forensics and Investigations

Standout Features

• Designated a National Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense Education (CAE-CD) for the Master of Science in Cybersecurity Management
• Learning labs that simulate real-world, on-the-job situations
• Optional concentrations including artificial intelligence, AWS cloud technologies, data analytics and project management

The program is 100% online. The average student takes about 2 years, with around 15 hours of weekly effort, which the school presents as a fit for working adults.

With an online-only student body, support services and course design are built for remote learners. Ask about live sessions, faculty access and how the learning labs are delivered, since the format of the labs determines how hands-on the program feels.

You earn a Master of Science in Cybersecurity Management from a school accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC). The CAE-CD designation applies to this master's specifically, which helps if you're pursuing federal scholarships or defense-sector work.

Federal data shows the school's graduation rate is 50%, with 96 degrees a year awarded in this field, a large output. The median earnings figure of $80,691 is worth asking about directly.

Where this degree can lead: Cybersecurity Degree Jobs.

The full rubric is on the methodology page.

• Federal data shows 38% of transfer-in students complete within 8 years, one of the lower rates for programs like this.
• Graduate earnings data shows a median of $80,691, which is below the $129,180 field median in the federal data.
• The quarter-credit system makes price comparisons tricky.
• Two of the four concentrations lean toward general business or data skills, not security.

• What's the total cost after fees, and does the $420 rate stay fixed through my enrollment?
• How many of the 60 quarter credits can I satisfy through prior coursework, certifications or military training?
• How are the learning labs delivered, and how long do I keep access?
• What do graduates of this specific program do after finishing, and what's the typical employer?
• What does each concentration add, and can I change my pick after starting?
• What support is there for students who fall behind the 2-year average pace?

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

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• Online Bachelor of Science in Cybersecurity

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