University of Cincinnati Bachelor of Science in Cybersecurity (Online)

This is an ABET-accredited online bachelor's degree from a public research university, built around five semesters of paid co-op work in the IT industry. It's a strong pick if you want real job experience on your resume before you graduate and can take a longer path, since the degree runs five years.

It's a poor fit if you want a quick, self-paced degree you can finish while working a job you already have.

The University of Cincinnati is a public research university in Ohio, accredited by the Higher Learning Commission. Its Bachelor of Science in Cybersecurity is offered online, but it isn't a typical online degree. The school classifies it as online with on-site requirements, because the co-op component puts you in real workplaces.

Cincinnati is a large campus-based university. Federal data shows 13% of its undergraduates study exclusively online, so the online program is a small part of a big school. That can be good, since you share a faculty and a reputation with the campus programs, but it also means the online cohort is a minority.

This is the only cybersecurity program Cincinnati has on this site, so there's no sibling to compare it with.

The classroom portion is online, and the co-op portion takes place at an employer. That makes the experience quite different from a program where you learn at home, entirely on your own time. You'll be coordinating work schedules, relocating or commuting for some co-op positions, and then returning to your online classes.

Federal data puts the share of undergraduates studying exclusively online at 13%, so most of Cincinnati's students are on campus. Ask how the online cohort connects with the co-op office, who finds the placements, and whether you can do a co-op with your own employer or in your own city.

Who It Fits

• You want paid work experience built into the degree. The program requires five semesters of cooperative education (co-op), starting in your sophomore year.
• You're willing to spend five years on a 120-credit degree to graduate with more than a year of full-time IT experience.
• You want a degree from a public research university whose program holds ABET accreditation from its Computing Accreditation Commission.
• You're a transfer student with at least a 2.75 cumulative GPA across all prior colleges.

Who Should Skip It

• You already have a full-time job you can't leave. Co-op semesters alternate paid work in the IT industry with classroom semesters, so you need to be able to take those jobs.
• You want the fastest route to a bachelor's. Cincinnati lists a five-year duration.
• You want a fully self-paced program with no employer placement.

The notable structure here is the alternating pattern. Beginning in your sophomore year, you rotate between semesters of paid work in the IT industry and semesters of classroom instruction. Five semesters of co-op give you more than a year of work experience by graduation, according to the school.

The program ends with a two-semester senior design experience. You develop a real-life IT solution and present it to the community at the annual IT Expo. That's a concrete portfolio piece, and a good thing to talk about in interviews. Ask for the list of required courses so you can see how much time goes to security topics compared with general IT.

Standout Features

• ABET-accredited online program (Computing Accreditation Commission)
• Five semesters of paid co-op, giving over one year of work experience by graduation
• Two-semester senior design project presented at the annual IT Expo

Co-op is the biggest financial feature of this degree. Five semesters are paid positions in the IT industry, so part of the cost may be offset by earnings while you study. The path is 120 credits over five years.

Ask the admissions office for the current online rate and fees, and ask how tuition is charged during co-op semesters, since some co-op programs bill differently when you're working full time. Also ask which scholarships apply to online students and whether your transfer credits can shorten the timeline.

You'd earn a Bachelor of Science in Cybersecurity from a university accredited by the Higher Learning Commission. The online program is also accredited by the Computing Accreditation Commission of ABET, a programmatic credential that some employers and graduate programs look for.

The federal graduation rate at Cincinnati is 75%, and a second measure that follows transfer-in students puts completion at 72.5%. Both are school-wide, but they're higher than at many online-focused schools. The admit rate is 85%, so admission is open to most applicants who meet the requirements.

Where this degree can lead: Cybersecurity Degree Jobs.

The full rubric is on the methodology page.

• The five-year duration is longer than the typical four years for a bachelor's.
• The co-op requirement means you can't complete the degree purely from home.
• Only 13% of Cincinnati's undergraduates study exclusively online, so the online community is small.
• Transfer applicants need a 2.75 cumulative GPA.

• What is the current online tuition per credit, and how is tuition handled during co-op semesters?
• Who finds my co-op placements, and can I do one with my current employer or in my own city?
• Do co-op jobs pay enough to cover living costs, and what do recent online students earn?
• Which security topics do the required courses cover, and which are electives?
• How many of my transfer credits would count toward the 120 credits?
• Can I shorten the five-year timeline by taking more courses per term?
• How do online students present their senior design project at the IT Expo?

A public research university in Cincinnati, Ohio, accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.

• Best Cybersecurity Engineering Degrees Rank 8 of 8, bachelor's
• Best ABET Accredited Programs Rank 6 of 6, bachelor's
• Best Online Programs in Ohio Rank 2 of 2, bachelor's

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