University at Albany Online Bachelor of Science in Cybersecurity

The University at Albany's online B.S. in Cybersecurity is a strong choice if you want a public-university bachelor's with real flexibility in what you specialize in. You pick from Cyber Defense, Cyber Risk Management and Policy, Cyber Operations or a self-designed concentration, and the experiential requirement can be met with a fully online internship or a senior capstone. New York residents pay $366.46 per credit and everyone else pays $424.46.

The University at Albany is a public research university in the State University of New York system, in Albany, New York. The online version of the bachelor's is fully online, and UAlbany is designated a Center of Academic Excellence in Cybersecurity by the NSA at the school level.

The design here is different from a fixed-track degree. Instead of one curriculum for everyone, you choose a concentration. That lets a student who likes breaking into systems and a student who likes writing risk policy both earn the same B.S. while studying different things.

UAlbany lists online undergraduate tuition and fees combined at $366.46 per credit for New York residents and $424.46 per credit for non-residents. Those are the figures for students enrolled below 12 credits, for Fall 2026 or Spring 2027. Ask for a written cost estimate that includes your transfer credits.

You must be enrolled in an exclusively online degree or certificate program to get the online rates. A student who mixes on-campus and online courses may be billed differently, so confirm which category you fall into.

Who It Fits

• Students who are not sure which part of cybersecurity they want and would like to choose a direction after seeing the field.
• Undergraduates who plan to continue to a master's. The accelerated bachelor's-master's path lets up to 12 credits count toward both degrees, billed at the undergraduate rate.
• New York residents, who pay the lower rate of $366.46 per credit.
• Students who want to be able to say they have an internship or capstone on their resume, since one of those is required for experiential learning.

Who Should Skip It

• Students who want a fixed curriculum with no choices. Here you shape the degree through a concentration and an experiential option.
• Anyone who wants a built-in industry certification, since the degree is not built around one.
• Out-of-state students comparing the lowest sticker price. Other public universities may cost less per credit, so compare the full cost.

The concentration choice is the heart of the degree. Cyber Defense points toward protecting systems and networks. Cyber Risk Management and Policy points toward governance, risk and rules. Cyber Operations points toward operational security work. A self-designed concentration lets you build your own path with an advisor.

Every student also completes an experiential learning requirement. There are options, and two are named: Internship for Cybersecurity, which has a fully online version, and the Senior Capstone in Cybersecurity. The online internship matters because online students often cannot relocate for a placement, and this gives you a way to count work experience toward your degree.

The school also offers two online master's degrees, the M.S. in Cybersecurity and Risk and the M.S. in Digital Forensics and Cybersecurity. The accelerated path is how a bachelor's student gets a head start on either one.

Standout Features

• Accelerated bachelor's-master's path counts up to 12 credits toward both degrees
• Choice of cyber defense, cyber risk management and policy, cyber operations or a self-designed concentration
• UAlbany is designated a Center of Academic Excellence in Cybersecurity by the NSA (school-level designation stated on the page)

The program is also offered fully online, and the internship has a fully online version, so you can finish without relocating.

Ask whether courses are live or on your own schedule, and how concentration courses are rotated so you can finish on time.

Federal earnings data lists $95,885 as the median earnings figure for UAlbany graduates in this field at the bachelor's level. UAlbany is designated a Center of Academic Excellence in Cybersecurity by the NSA, a school-level designation, which can matter for federal scholarships and government hiring.

Plan to study for any industry certification separately.

Where this degree can lead: Cybersecurity Degree Jobs.

The full rubric is on the methodology page.

• Confirm the credit total and class format with admissions before you apply.
• The per-credit rates apply to students taking fewer than 12 credits and may change each term.
• The NSA designation is stated at the school level, so ask which specific programs it covers.
• Online rates require enrollment in an exclusively online program.

• How many credits does the bachelor's require, and how many can I transfer?
• Which courses make up each concentration, and can I switch after I start?
• How does the fully online internship work, and who helps me find a placement?
• How do I get started on the accelerated bachelor's-master's path?
• What happens to my rate if I take 12 credits or more?

A public research university in the State University of New York system.

• Best Cybersecurity Management Degrees Rank 8 of 10, bachelor's
• Best Cyber Defense Degrees Rank 5 of 10, bachelor's
• Best Cybersecurity Policy Degrees Rank 2 of 2, bachelor's
• Best Public University Programs Rank 8 of 10, bachelor's
• Best Programs With Internships Rank 4 of 10, bachelor's
• Best Online Programs in New York Rank 3 of 7, bachelor's

• Master of Science in Cybersecurity and Risk

  M.S., Master's

  Fully Online $634.38 per credit Score 55.8

• Master of Science in Digital Forensics and Cybersecurity

  M.S., Master's

  Fully Online $634.38 per credit Score 55.7

• University of Maryland Global Campus

  Cybersecurity Management and Policy Bachelor of Science

  Maryland $499 per credit Score 59.4

• The University of Texas at San Antonio

  Bachelor of Business Administration in Cybersecurity

  Texas $525 per credit Score 59.9

• Purdue University Global

  Online ExcelTrack Bachelor of Science in Cybersecurity

  Indiana Score 58.4

• Purdue University Global

  Online Bachelor of Science in Cybersecurity

  Indiana $371 per quarter credit Score 60.2