Southern Utah University Online Master of Science in Cybersecurity With Information Assurance

Southern Utah University's online master's in Cybersecurity with Information Assurance suits working adults who want a fast, flexible degree at a public-university price. Published tuition runs $14,880 to $16,368, there's no out-of-state surcharge, and seven-week sessions let you finish in as few as 11 months. The catch is that the page describes the program in broad strokes, so ask for course-level detail before you commit.

Southern Utah University is a public university in Cedar City, Utah. This program is its Master of Science in Cybersecurity with Information Assurance, and it is delivered 100% online with any start semester or session.

Classes run in accelerated seven-week sessions, and the coursework is asynchronous. You can log in when your schedule allows rather than at a set hour. The degree is 30 credits, with a 33-credit version for the Management emphasis.

The school doesn't require the GRE or the GMAT, which removes one hurdle if you've been out of school for a while.

Published tuition for the program is $14,880 to $16,368 in total, and the school says there is no out-of-state tuition. A student in Maine or Florida pays what a Utah student pays.

Utah residents who qualify can receive a tuition waiver, which could cut the cost further. The range depends on the emphasis and credit count, so confirm your exact total with an advisor. Because every student pays the same published range, you can budget from your first application and compare it directly with other programs.

Who It Fits

• You're working full time and need coursework you can do on your own schedule.
• You live outside Utah and want to avoid a higher nonresident rate, since the program has no out-of-state tuition.
• You want to specialize. The four emphases are Cybersecurity Strategy, Cyber Operations, Management and Healthcare Administration.
• You'd like to finish quickly, in as few as 11 months.

Who Should Skip It

• You want a long list of named courses and lab platforms before enrolling. The program page names emphases but not individual courses.
• You prefer live evening classes and the structure they provide. This program is asynchronous.
• You need a research thesis for a doctoral application. The four emphases are professional tracks, so ask the department about research options.

The degree is built around four emphases rather than one fixed path. Cybersecurity Strategy points toward planning and policy. Cyber Operations is the more technical track. Management is aimed at people who will lead security teams, and Healthcare Administration adapts the security material for hospital and clinic settings.

The Management emphasis is 33 credits because it adds a 3-credit Foundations course for students who don't have an AACSB business undergraduate degree. If you do, the 30-credit version applies.

Request a sample plan of study from the department for individual course titles.

Standout Features

• Faculty hold virtual office hours and connect through Canvas, Slack, Discord and Zoom
• No out-of-state tuition
• Utah residents who qualify can receive a tuition waiver

Seven-week sessions mean you take fewer classes at once and finish each one faster. That's good for focus and heavy for weeks when work gets busy, because a missed week is a bigger share of the course.

Faculty hold virtual office hours and use Canvas, Slack, Discord and Zoom to stay in touch. A messaging app channel is a real plus if you like asking quick questions rather than waiting for email replies.

Any start semester or session means you can begin without waiting for fall.

You'd earn a Master of Science from a public university. Federal data shows a graduation rate of 61% at the university, a completion figure of 56% for the program group, and median earnings of $104,483 for graduates.

If you plan to work in government security, ask whether the program holds a national cyber designation.

Where this degree can lead: Cybersecurity Degree Jobs.

The full rubric is on the methodology page.

• The degree covers four emphases, so ask which one matches your job target.
• The Management emphasis runs 33 credits instead of 30 when you lack an AACSB business undergraduate degree.
• A seven-week pace is fast and can be hard to keep up with during busy stretches at work.
• The Management emphasis adds a 3-credit course for students without an AACSB business bachelor's.

• Can I see the plan of study for each of the four emphases?
• Which courses include hands-on labs, and what platform do they use?
• Does the program hold a national cyber education designation?
• How does the Utah resident tuition waiver work, and who qualifies?
• Do I need a business background for the Management emphasis?
• How many sessions can I skip a term without losing my place?

Public university in Cedar City, Utah.

• Best Information Assurance Degrees Rank 10 of 10, master's
• Best Online Programs in Utah Rank 3 of 3, master's

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