University of Advancing Technology Online Network Security (BS)

This is a hands-on bachelor's for someone who learns by building and defending networks and likes the idea of competing in cyber defense events. The curriculum is certified by the NSA's Information Assurance Courseware Evaluation program, and classes run in short 7.5-week modules. The tradeoff is cost and school type: tuition is $10,300 per semester at a private for-profit university, so compare the total carefully.

The University of Advancing Technology (UAT) is a private, for-profit technology university in Tempe, Arizona, with UAT Online degrees delivered in an asynchronous format. Federal data counts 933 students, and 59% of undergraduates are enrolled exclusively online. That's a high share and a small campus, so online students are a central group here.

UAT also offers a Cyber Security M.S., which is a 36-credit graduate degree built from four nine-credit modules. The bachelor's in Network Security is the undergraduate route, and the two differ in level and in focus. The bachelor's builds networking and monitoring skills from the ground up. The master's assumes you already have a technical foundation.

If you're starting from a high school diploma or an associate degree, the bachelor's is your path. If you already hold a bachelor's, look at the master's page.

You'd earn a Bachelor of Science in Network Security from a private, for-profit university. UAT is designated a National Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense (CAE-CD) by the NSA, and the NSA's Information Assurance Courseware Evaluation program has certified the curriculum.

Federal data puts the university's graduation rate at 35% and the 8-year completion rate for transfer-in students at 57%. The admission rate is 98%. Those are school-wide numbers, so ask for outcomes specific to this degree.

Ask which industry certifications your courses prepare you for, since that affects how quickly you can show employers proof.

Where this degree can lead: Cybersecurity Degree Jobs.

Who It Fits

• You like hands-on technical work and want to practice defending networks, not only read about it.
• You're interested in competing. The degree includes a Collegiate Cyber Defense Competition course, NTS442.
• You prefer shorter classes. Modules run 7.5 weeks, and you take two at a time.
• You want internships, community projects and apprenticeship experiences built into your degree.

Who Should Skip It

• You want the lowest total cost. A semester costs $10,300 plus a $495 resource fee.
• You prefer a public or nonprofit university. UAT is private for-profit, so compare transfer and aid carefully.
• You already have a bachelor's and want a graduate credential. The 36-credit M.S. is the better match.

The notable courses show a practical, defender-focused degree. Network Security Monitoring teaches you to watch traffic and spot attacks as they happen. Linux I for Technologists builds comfort with the operating system most security tools run on. Information Governance covers the rules and policies that shape how organizations protect data.

The standout is NTS442, Collegiate Cyber Defense Competition. This course prepares students for the national collegiate competition where teams defend a live network against attackers, which is closer to real incident work than a typical exam. It's a good fit if you learn under pressure.

UAT also says its Network Security curriculum is certified by the NSA's Information Assurance Courseware Evaluation program, and that UAT is a National Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense (CAE-CD). Students also complete internships, community projects and apprenticeship experiences.

Courses the School Names

• Network Security Monitoring
• Collegiate Cyber Defense Competition
• Information Governance
• Linux I for Technologists

Standout Features

• Network Security curriculum certified by the NSA Information Assurance Courseware Evaluation program
• Prepares students for the Collegiate Cyber Defense Competition
• UAT is designated a National Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense (CAE-CD) by the NSA

UAT-Online and Hybrid tuition is $10,300 per 12-credit semester for 2025-2026. A resource fee of $495 per semester is added. Because pricing is per semester and not per credit, taking fewer than 12 credits may not lower your bill proportionally, so ask how part-time pricing works.

The total depends on how many semesters you need, which depends on transfer credit. Ask for a degree plan that counts everything you can bring in, then multiply the semesters by $10,300 plus the fee.

Federal data shows an average per-credit charge of $763, but that's a campus figure that can differ from online pricing, so rely on the school's quote.

UAT describes its online degrees as delivered in an asynchronous learning environment, so you aren't logging in at set times. Classes are structured in 7.5-week modules that you take two at a time, totaling four classes per semester in a 15-week semester.

Two classes at a time keeps your focus narrow, and the short modules mean you finish classes quickly. The tradeoff is pace. A 7.5-week module moves fast, so a busy week can put you behind.

Ask how labs are delivered, how you prepare for the Collegiate Cyber Defense Competition from a distance, and how online students complete internships.

The full rubric is on the methodology page.

• Tuition is $10,300 per semester, plus a $495 resource fee each semester.
• UAT is a for-profit university, so verify credit transfer and compare total cost to public options.
• Federal data shows a 35% graduation rate across the university.
• 7.5-week modules move quickly, and falling behind in one costs you more than in a longer term.

• How many credits does the degree require, and how many semesters will I need after transfer credit?
• How does per-semester pricing work if I take fewer than 12 credits?
• How do online students take part in the Collegiate Cyber Defense Competition course?
• How are internships and apprenticeships arranged for someone who doesn't live in Arizona?
• Which certification exams do the courses prepare me for?
• Will employers and four-year or graduate schools accept UAT credits?

Private technology university in Tempe, Arizona, with UAT Online degrees.

• Best Cyber Defense Degrees Rank 9 of 10, bachelor's
• Best Online Programs in Arizona Rank 5 of 5, bachelor's

• Cyber Security (MS)

  M.S., Master's

  Fully Online Score 39.4

• McKendree University

  Bachelor of Business Administration in Cyber Defense (Online)

  Illinois $430 per credit Score 43.8

• Syracuse University

  Bachelor of Professional Studies in Cybersecurity Administration

  New York $750 per credit Score 43.6

• Western Michigan University

  Bachelor of Science in Cybersecurity

  Michigan $685.50 per credit Score 44.7

• National American University

  Bachelor of Science in Information Technology, FOCUSED (Cybersecurity Focus Area)

  South Dakota $380 per credit Score 43.1